There is no point hiding my fondness for IRyS as a songstress. I first came across her single Carbonated Love in 2024, completely by chance. It was not until later that I would happen upon her again, as part of Hololive EN Promise. For this reason, when the name comes up, I think of the musician first and the Vtuber second. It’s only natural, then, that I would sit down and give DANGERyS, her most recent effort, a proper listen.
Following her 2025 EP YaBAI, DANGERyS wastes no time kicking into gear, in an almost direct continuation of the EP’s closer, DIAMOND GIRLFRIEND, featuring MOTSU, former member of m.o.v.e whom anime afficionados will recognise for Around the World and Rage your Dream, the respective first opening and ending of Initial D First Stage. DANGERyS, for its part, opens with My car is in danger, a solid album opener composed and written by dave rodgers, a name equally familiar to Initial D enthusiasts for his tracks DEJA VU and BEAT OF THE RISING SUN off the Second Stange and Third Stage soundtracks.
Whereas My car is in danger serves as a proper textbook Eurobeat anthem, its follow-up, Eclipse, rides at a much higher speed. Darker, more intense, while the signature Eurobeats synths remain, Eclipse offers a more distorted soundscape, perfectly complimenting IRyS’ own powerful vocals.
Following Run To You, another solid Eurobeat effort, comes the album’s lead single, MUSE. Keeping up with the album’s high energy so far, MUSE nevertheless takes a sharp turn, swerving from Eurobeat into a strong Funk and Hip-Hop flavour, making for a very, very strong track. For a bragging song, wherein IRyS sings about how perfect she is, the playful tone and soundscape makes it hard to not be overwhelmed with enthusiasm and agree with her. Why do we stay? closes the album’s A-side by slowing things down. Moderate tempo; slow, warm bass; and IRyS’ own harmonies on the chorus make for a nice breather, keeping the momentum going with its weightless atmosphere.
Kicking off the B-side, Because of You nicely shakes off the weightlessness of Why do we stay? with a Pop Ballad allowing IRyS’ singing prowess to shine front and centre, right before the adrenaline rush of LIVING DEAD. Abrasive synths, crunched-up and aggressive Break drums, and a faint smell of burnt rubber. The harshest, most blood-pumping track on the record, by far, and a standout favourite for this reason.
At this point, one of the album’s biggest strengths becomes very clear: DANGERyS has excellent sequencing. Beyond each individual song’s qualities, the tracklist never leaves a dull moment. The high energy never becomes overwhelming, while the mid-album break never falls into a slump. The sequencing particularly shines with the next track, Unspoken, opening with slow arpeggios picking up speed, offering a crescendo into the last leg of the album, back into Eurobeat territory. A choice that only fully makes sense in context of the album.
The penultimate track, Escalate, picks up the pace for an exhilarating final rush, going as far as to be one of the only two songs on the album, along with BE MY FLAME, to include a guitar solo. (Both of undeniable quality.)
With BE MY FLAME keeping up the high octane energy to the last moments of the album, DANGERyS proves to be a fantastic record. Fast, full of fire with ecstatic highs, DANGERyS did kickstart my heart like few others can.