Tokyo’s Yahyel have a new album out this spring, titled Human. “Pale” is the latest look at their sophomore album, and it underlines the elements of the band that make them stand out from similarly tipped groups coming out of the capital. Musically, “Pale” features a lot of the unnerving touches that have always crept around in Yahyel’s music, from the slightly fuzzed-out vocals to the clattering percussion that would feel at home in Resident Evil. But their best strength remains the ability to generate tension and release — while “Pale” doesn’t erupt like “Iron,” it builds to a dizzying climax that makes all the moving parts that came before click together. Listen above.
