Sekai ga Kawaru Toki 「世界が変わる時」
Haku.
genre: rock/ indie rock • release date: 2026
Haku. is up against a lot of competition lately with lots of indie rock inspired bands finding great success in varying ways. their newest entry Sekai ga Kawaru Toki is their attempt to bring an honest take on what this sound means for them today. sometimes the picture doesn’t seem quite so clear, with the first half of the album feeling its weakest. yet, come the halfway point, something finally kicks in, Haku. brings some of their best and diverse sound across both their album. nevertheless, there is a strong feeling of identity throughout the album, ensuring that the entirety of the experience is a cohesive one. a win in its own right, only giving a better shine to when the music does work.
my primary and only issue with the album is that it lingers in the higher end sound register for most of the album. not a bad thing on its own, but a signature that begins to hamper the experience over long term listening. there is a lot of bright guitar and nearly squeaky vocals found in most songs across the album. a defining factor and deliberate choice of the band. yet i find it too be a bit tiresome after a full album listen. it’s a weariness that i find bounces me off the album a bit until i finally reach the midpoint. this will be a make or break factor for many listeners, i think. some days, i find the sound signature energizing, and others it feels like a bit more than i am willing to interact with.
outside of this is a really solid production. i find the breadth and variety of the album a strong point of the album. across the work, each song has its own place and feel that fit right in, it doesn’t feel like there is much of any bloat or waste. a factor i can sincerely appreciate. even when tapping too much into these upper sound registers, it feels like deliberate choices of the band. not novice choices, but well considered ones. for that i can also give credit. intentional work, whether received well or not, is always an important mark of strong work. one i wanted to make note of, especially when starting with such criticism. it is merely the case that these choice don’t work for me, especially in a full album listen. i expect others to find a lot to enjoy here. the album actually reminds me a lot of the kind of Japanese rock i would listen to growing up, such as Kana-Boon. a bit punchy and upbeat, vibrant, pop rock forward, relentless energy. because of this, i expect it to land much better with certain audiences.
my turning point on the album came with “Sore Shika Ienai”. the song has a much deeper sound, finally dipping into some strong bass and drum beats. it feels like a jump in the deep end of the pool after splashing around for so long in the shallow end. the song has a delicious amount of static and edge, a quality that made me think “ah, finally”. it was the point that showed me the album could do with a little more contrast in its range. especially after the first half the album felt a bit too lush. the inclusion of a song with some teeth was a much welcome track. beyond this, the song is also a great powerhouse. it contains a wild momentum and chaos that feels like Haku. finally picked the album up off the table and gave the whole thing a good hard shake.
from this midpoint the album gains a heavier signature, making the whole experience much more palatable. “dedede” plays well between both halves of the album’s identities. ranging from a pleasant reliance on bass to a balancing from the vocalist (Ai). it was one of their singles leading into the album and a decent showcase of what the whole thing has to offer. “Fuwarin” is another balancing effort, bringing the album into a much more relaxed form of listening. the beachy/ bouncy drive of the song is both playful and kicked-back. its here the album feels more like an enjoyable ride, and less like an effort. as well as “Minami-Shinchou” which also manages to play to the band’s strengths best, its both energetic and a nice wavy ride. i especially enjoy the chorus shake-up, where Ai bursts in to make sure the song doesn’t chill out too hard.
Sekai ga Kawaru Toki is at its best in the second half of the album. specifically when Haku. sinks some teeth into the performance. its clear they are capable of doing so, with song likes “Sore Shika Iena” adding a glorious level of grunge and filth to an experience a bit too pristine. the album certainly proved Haku. as a band to me, i see their ability to compose and perform with competence. yet i want a bit more. i want to hear them crush a bit more bass and play with a darker side, if only to introduce a bit more contrast. a contrast that would, not hide their bright and shimmering persona, but to aide it to feel all the more alluring. Haku. doesn’t need to compete in this modern expanding genre of rock, they just need to widen their scope a bit to emphasize their unique strengths.
written by
Marcus Landeros
- highlights -
Hikou 「飛行」
Sore Shika Ienai 「それしか言えない」
dedede
Fuwarin 「ふわ輪」
Minami-Shinchō 「南新町」
track list:
Shibuya kara 「渋谷から」
GO
Uchūsen Heart-gō 「宇宙船ハート号」
Isshin 「一進」
Daiji na Mono 「大事なもの」
Teitai midnight 「停滞midnight」
Okubutae de Miru 「奥二重で見る」
Hikō 「飛行」
Sore Shika Ienai 「それしか言えない」
dedede
Muchūneko 「夢中猫」
Fuwarin 「ふわ輪」
Minami-Shinchō 「南新町」
Sekai 「世界」
