Finale (Pierrot album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Finale
| type = studio
| artist = Pierrot
| cover = Pierrot - Finale.png
| alt =
| released = July 7, 1999
| genre = {{hlist|Rock|psychedelic rock|punk rock}}
| length = 59:52
| label = EMI
| language = Japanese
| producer = Shinobu Narita
| prev_title = Celluloid
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Private Enemy
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Finale
| type = studio
| single1 = Clear Sky
| single1date = September 10, 1998
| single2 = Mad Sky -Koutestu no Kyuuseishu-
| single2date = December 2, 1998
| single3 = Haruka.../Kanata e...
| single3date = February 24, 1999
| single4 = Last Letter
| single4date = April 28, 1999
}}}}
Finale is the fourth studio album by Japanese visual kei rock band Pierrot, released on July 7, 1999, produced by Shinobu Narita.{{Cite web |title=FINALE - この曲を聴け! |url=http://hvymetal.com/27098.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=hvymetal.com |language=ja}} Album's singles are "Clear Sky", "Mad Sky -Koutestu no Kyuuseishu-", "Haruka.../Kanata e..." and "Last Letter".{{Cite web |title=Pierrot / FINALE [廃盤] |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/finale/3199051309 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=CD Journal |language=ja}}
It is the band's debut major album, released by EMI. The first edition was limited, with special packaging including bonus items.{{Cite web |title=Pierrot / FINALE [廃盤] |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/finale/3199051309 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=CD Journal |language=ja}}{{Cite web |title=FINALE - この曲を聴け! |url=http://hvymetal.com/27098.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=hvymetal.com |language=ja}} It was re-released on December 19, 2001.{{Cite web |title=PIERROT / FINALE [再発][廃盤] |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/finale/3201101857 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=CDJournal |language=ja}} Finale became available on subscription streaming services along with the group's major works on September 10, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=PIERROT、メジャー・デビュー日である9月10日に全26作品サブスク解禁！ |url=https://vif-music.com/2024/09/09/pierrot/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=ROCKの総合情報サイトVif |language=ja}}
Musical style
OK Music website stated that the lyrics have many romantic and dramatic passages, comparing them to a shōjo manga. In terms of musicality, they said the band has "rock standards" with a bit of avant-garde, and also mentioned that some tracks incorporate psychedelic rock and others punk rock.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-19 |title=PIERROTの『FINALE』に息づくロックへの敬意 |url=https://okmusic.jp/news/191714 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Ok Music |language=ja}} CD Journal said the lyrics depict a "decadent world" and mentioned the digital guitar sounds and traditional Irish elements in the songs. They also said producer Narita brought a "retro '80s" feel to the music.{{Cite web |title=Pierrot / FINALE [廃盤] |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/finale/3199051309 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=CD Journal |language=ja}}
Commercial performance
Finale debuted at number five on Oricon Albums Chart and stayed on chart for seven weeks,{{Cite web |title=FINALE {{!}} Pierrot |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/19737/rank/album/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Oricon |language=ja}} selling 171,180 copies while on chart.{{Cite web |title=ヴィジュアル系のオリコンまとめ。 |url=http://oriconv.seesaa.net/article/158685897.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223141404/http://oriconv.seesaa.net/article/158685897.html |archive-date=2010-12-23 |language=ja}} It sold over 190,000 copies in total.{{Cite web |title=FINALE - この曲を聴け! |url=http://hvymetal.com/27098.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=hvymetal.com |language=ja}}
It was certified gold disc by RIAJ for selling more than 100,000 copies.{{Cite web |title=ゴールドディスク認定 |url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd_search.html |access-date=2021-01-20 |website=RIAJ |language=ja |format=Search for "Pierrot" on "アーティスト" field and select "検索".}} It is Pierrot's best-selling studio album and the one that reached the highest position on Oricon.{{Cite web |title=FINALE {{!}} Pierrot |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/19737/rank/album/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Oricon |language=ja}} Finale reached the same number on Billboard Japan.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lQgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=finale+pierrot+billboard+japan&pg=PA70 |title=Billboard |date=1999-07-31 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|headline = Finale track listing
|title1 = Finale
|length1 = 4:40
|title2= Haruka..
|note2 = ハルカ...
|length2 = 4:43
|title3= Creative Master
|length3 = 3:57
|title4= Kanata e...
|note4 = カナタヘ・・・
|length4 = 3:45
|title5= ECO=system
|length5 = 4:12
|title6= Magnet Holic
|length6 = 3:17
|title7= Mad Sky -Koutestu no Kyuuseishu-
|note7 = MAD SKY -鋼鉄の救世主-
|length7 = 4:18
|title8= Sacred
|length8 = 5:40
|title9= Icaross
|length9 = 3:59
|title10= Last Letter
|note10 = ラストレター
|length10 = 6:01
|title11= Clear Sky
|note11 = クリア・スカイ
|length11 = 5:32
|title12= Child
|length12 = 6:02
|title13= Newborn Baby
|length13 = 3:29
|total_length=59:52
}}
Personnel
- Kirito – vocals
- Aiji – guitar
- Jun – guitar
- Kohta – bass
- Takeo – drums
- Shinobu Narita – producer