Utterly unhinged, manic, and crazed, Tatsuya Yoshida doesn't need a duo partner to create one of the wildest -- and most diverse -- albums ever to carry the Ruins name. Herky-jerky Meshuggah-esque metal on steroids, shouted and howled vocals, synth-phasers set on stun -- it's all here in 23 tracks ranging in length from less than a minute to a bit less than four, with Tatsuya sampling a universe of instrumental voicings and not merely flailing away on drums. Some of these tunes are nothing less than mini-avant-prog epics, and Tatsuya even harmonizes nicely with himself on "Sanctuary," opting for over the top vocal histrionics on "Glaschzenck," which begins with Philip Glass-like ostinatos but doesn't stay minimalistic for long. Tuned gongs and arpeggiated classical guitars begin "Ahftsivepha," which swiftly introduces astringent Univers Zero-ish medieval harmonics and timbres, but with mile-a-minute changes more akin to the impossible density of Steven Kovacs Tickmayer's Repetitive Selective Removal of One Protecting Group (remember that one?), although more forceful and abrupt. And madness-inducing metal is always waiting in the wings, although Tatsuya might suddenly veer off into angelic harps and operatic vocals in the same track, as in "Villanzyats," leaping across the widest possible musical chasm in an instant. Back in the days when Ruins were a duo pairing Tatsuya with a bassist, their performances and recordings married lunatic-level energy and changeups with punky, noisy sonics, and some fans of earlier Ruins may find some of Alone to be on the proggy side.

1		Jemvlesqapp
2		Laipthcig
3		Ixzelgriver
4		Stonehenge
5		Baxcemgilasz
6		Hyderomastgroningem
7		Equesspaldho
8		Sanctuary
9		Glaschzenck
10		Pallaschtom
11		Ahftsivepha
12		Dagdad
13		Villanzyats
14		Grubandgo
15		Lockssomblez
16		Schvostess
17		Nefestorxiss
18		Cambodia
19		Obthecklomtz
20		Dhaskrive
21		Notturuno
22		Progrock
23		Hardrock