Monday, December 2, 2013

manchester school≡ new EP review

In this post I discuss my experience with the Osaka punk band “manchester school”, review their new EP, and translate the lyrics for their music video. Japanese translation included.

今回の投稿は、”manchester schoolという大阪のパンクバンドについて発見経験、最新EPのレビュー、そしてPVの曲の歌詞英訳という内容です。日本語訳も書いていますのでゆっくりご堪能を。

My friend invited me to an event in Kyoto called Kansen Live. This is a live event held every month in a low-key venue called Metro which is in a subway station on the east edge of Kyoto City.

友達に「感染ライブ」というイベントに誘われた。感染ライブは毎月ぐらい京都市内の東の端っこの地下鉄駅の中のライブハウス「メトロ」で開催されているイベント。

From my few visits, Metro always seems to attract a welcoming, young crowd with a variety of quality events, including drag nights, British rock nights, and reggae shows. It is a nice place considering the location and I recommend checking the venue schedule if you are in town and want somewhere to hang out at night. If you can pick up a flyer at nearby stores, they often have discount coupons for non-Japanese guests. Check it out here: http://www.metro.ne.jp/

メトロは何回かしか行ってないけど、いつもいい感じの若い客が集まり、レベルの高い様々なジャンルのイベントがやっているところ。その中では女装ナイト、イギリスロックナイト、レゲーイベントなどなど。雰囲気がいい箱なので、京都市内で気軽に遊ぶ場所を探している方にはおすすめ。イベントスケジュール確認しといて!http://www.metro.ne.jp/

The event Kansen Live is something special. It is generally held on a weekday night, with a cover charge of just under 1000 yen, and no drink charge. There are a half-dozen or so bands that play, and you never know what to expect. Pop-punk, grindcore, mellow indie, electronic projects, and rap-rock are some of the genres I’ve seen in my few times at the event. I really have no idea how they get these bands together.

「感染ライブ」は本当に特別なイベントだと思う。たいてい平日にやってて、入場料はドリンクチャージ不要で1000円弱。出演バンドは6個程度かな?でジャンルは本当に予想のできないミックス。数回しか行ってないのに、ポップパンク、グラインドコア、インディーロック、エレクトロ、ラップぐらいのバリエーションを見てきた。どうやってこんな面白いバンドを集めてるんだろう?とよく思う。

The venue has a small stage, but Kansen Live is a “floor live”, so all performances are done on the floor in front of the stage, leaving only a small space between the band and the bar, with everyone who doesn’t fit there struggling to watch from either side.

このライブハウスには小さいステージもあるが、感染ライブ自体は「フロアライブ」なので、全出演バンドはバーの前の狭いスペースで演奏していて、バー前で入らいない客は両側で頑張ってどっかからバンドを見ようとして頑張ってる姿もある。

So what happens when you get a crazy hardcore punk band with everyone moshing around in that small space? Well manchester school answered that question for me. Pure chaos. At first the lead vocalist played along with his guitar, and as things got heated up, he threw that guitar down and went crazy screaming into the microphone moshing around with the rest of the kids. At one point I think he was doing a handstand on the bar, and by the end he was butt naked.

こんな状況でイカれているハードコアパンクバンドとモッシュしまくる客を集めるとどうなるだろう?manchester schoolがその疑問に答えてくれた。もちろん、カオスが起こる。最初はボーカルの人がギターを弾きながら歌ってて、そして何曲か弾いて盛り上がると、彼はギターを投げ捨てて、モッシュキッズと暴れながら叫びまくりだした。途中でバーの上で逆立ちしてたと思うし、最後には真っ裸になってた記憶がある。

The second time I saw them was at an amazing punk fest in the summer called Stormy Dudes Festa hosted by Osaka hardcore punk veterans Razors Edge, and this time the audience watched a bit more calmly, letting me get a feel for what their music was like.

二回目ライブを見たときは、RAZORS EDGE主催の「STORMY DUDES FESTA!」というパンクフェスイベントで、その時は客はもうちょっと落ち着いてみたので、俺もちゃんと音楽をしっかり聞いて雰囲気をつかめることができた。

About half of their songs are like tributes to their self-proclaimed influenced the Buzzcocks with Japanese lyrics, which they do a great job of getting the right vibe with Japanese lyrics. Then, when Haruro puts his guitar down to focus on screaming and jumping around, they get into a crazy hardcore screamfest, closer to their self-proclaimed influence Gang Green.

曲の半分ぐらいでは、自ら影響を受けているという「Buzzcocks」の雰囲気を日本語の歌詞にいい感じに乗せている。そして、そのボーカルのハルロヲがギターを置いて叫びと踊りに集中すると、クレイジーハードコアモードになり、自ら影響を受けているという「Gang Green」よりな雰囲気に切り替わる。

I remember at this show Haruro mentioned a record in the making, which piqued my interest and which I finally found when I was wandering around in Time Bomb Records in Osaka in November.

Packaged with style and recorded with satisfying sound quality, the record really gets across the great sound that they put out at every show, from the melancholic melodies to the chaotic shout-alongs.

このライブの時、ハルロヲは確かにレコードリリースの話していたから気になっていたので、この11月に大阪のタイムボムをうろうろしてたらあった!と思って買ってみた。

このアルバムはおしゃれなパッケージになってて、いい感じの音質で出来上がってると思う。ライブの雰囲気がよく伝わるし、その切ないメロディーからカオティックなハードコアフレーズまで。

I recommend this record to anyone who likes the bands they mention as influences (Gang Green side: FRUITY, Idol Punch, BOREDOMS) (Buzzcocks side: Descendents, Pixies, Kenji Ozawa, Kaseki Cider, Spitz), and anyone who wants to support a new, young punk band from Osaka, Japan. Check out their website for tour dates.


このレコードは、manchester schoolが指摘している影響のバンド(FRUITYIdol PunchGANG GREENBOREDOMSなどに影響を受けた今作での「ENID」「futon」などのハイテンションなハードコアと、BUZZCOCKSDESCENDENTSPIXIES、小沢健二、かせきさいだぁ≡、スピッツ)が好きな人と、大阪の新しいヤングパンクスを応援したい人にはおすすめします。ツアーデートはオフィシャルHPに載っている。

  
They also uploaded a music video from their album with lyrics, so I will take the liberty of providing the pronunciation and English translation.



Title: KIDS

hikitomeru   machi wo furiharau
tachikogi no “Is this my world?”

Shake off this world that is holding me back.
Stand up and pedal as I think, “Is this my world?”

daitai hiruma ni okite ru.
kurage ni riyuu wa nai desho
kuragari ni nareta kono me wo
kanojo no oya wa kiratta

Usually wake up in the afternoon.
Jellyfish don’t need a reason [unsure about this part…jellyfish? / ここは自信がない…なんでクラゲ?]
These eyes that have accustomed to darkness
Girlfriend’s parents hated them

MY LIFE
FAKE MY LIFE

hoshikuzu mitai na aitsu no
gita- no rihu yatara dekakute
“nanji da to omottenda!”
“nanji da to omottenda!”

That guy's stardust-like
riffs are way too loud
“Do you know what time it is?!”
“Do you know what time it is?!”


That's all! And for good measure, watch their other video! It's so good!
終わりです!もう一つPVありました!見て見て!



Monday, October 7, 2013

Interview with Sobbed, Grind Band from Kyoto / 京都のソブドとインタビュー

今回のブログは、初めてのインタビューとなる!これからたくさんの地域のバンドのインタビュー載せさせていただけたら嬉しいなと思います!ソブドは京都のめっちゃ楽しいグラインドバンドで、イベントを定期的に企画するなど京都のシーンを盛り上げています。快くインタビューにこたえていただいて本当に感謝です。では、日本語・英語訳という形でお楽しみください。

For this blog entry, I have conducted the first of what I hope will be many interviews with local bands! I was so excited when Sobbed agreed to my interview. They are a really fun grind band in Kyoto that does a lot of work to create a great music scene in Kyoto and just to play awesome grind. I highly recommend you check them out! Check out the original Japanese followed by the English translation.

Official website: http://malebolgiakyoto.xxxxxxxx.jp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malebolgiagrind

Recommended video:



SOBBEDのメンバーを簡単に紹介してください。

TAKU(以下T)/Left
YUJI(以下Y)/Right
SIN8(以下S)/Center

Please tell me the names of Sobbed’s members.

Taku (below: T) / Left
Yuji (below: Y) / Right
Sin8 (below: S) / Center

バンド名は何回か変わっていますよね。前は「Malebolgia」でしたよね?「SOBBED」という名前には特別な意味がありますか?
T-屈辱、MALEBOLGIA、SOBBEDは全く別の表現活動です。ネーミングに関してはノーコメント。

S-SOBBED(ソブド)って辞書引くまで意味知らなかったけど機械みたいな冷たい感じがして良いなと思った!ターミネート!

Your band name has change a few times, right? I think it was “Malebolgia” before? Is there a special meaning to the name “Sobbed”?

T - Kutsujoku, Malebolgia, and Sobbed are entirely different forms of expression. As for the name choice, no comment.

S - I didn’t know what “Sobbed” meant until I looked it up in the dictionary, but I liked it because it seemed cold and mechanical! Terminate!





最近リリースされた「Grind on the Doorstep!!」では日本の素晴らしい4バンドが集まっています。アルバムについて一言お願いします。

T-4組それぞれ、土地も違えば年齢も違う、そして活動して来た畑も違う。ただ一つ共通しているのは、この参加4組それぞれが「自分のバンドが一番かっこいい!」と言うプライドを持っている事。あとはブラストビート。そんな4組それぞれの"GRIND"を楽しんで頂けたら幸いです。

S-最初は3wayスプリットだったのが、結果として4wayスプリットになってグラインド若手チームVSベテランチームみたいな形になって面白くなった!物事、どう転ぶかわからんね!

You were included on the recent 4-way split featuring four great Japanese grind bands [Sobbed, MassCollapse (Fukuoka), Orgasm Grind Disruption (Tokyo), and Corbata (Tokyo)] titled “Grind on the Doorstep!!” Can you tell us something about this record?

T - The members in each of the four bands are from different parts of the country and are different ages and from different backgrounds. But the one thing we have in common is that we are all proud of the fact that “our band is the awesomest!” That and blast beats. We definitely want you to enjoy the “GRIND” of each band.

S - What was at first a 3-way split turned into a 4-way split, becoming a truly interesting match-up with the young grinder team vs the veteran team! You never know how things will turn out!


SOBBEDはこれからどんな活動をしていきたいですか?
T-国内外問わず、ジャンル問わず、調整が可能な限り何処ででも演奏していきたい。音源も可能な限り沢山発表していきたい。自主企画である"HOMEPARTY"シリーズはこれまで通りコンスタントに、且つもう少し責任感を持って運営していきたいと思っている。場所はこれまで通り京都SOCRATESで。そして我々に共感してくれ、且つ京都に少しでも恩返ししたいと考える共同企画者を探しています。しかしながら私自身、共同企画者に関しては少し慎重になるべきだと痛感しているので、責任感と行動力がある、という事が前提です。

S-とにかく色んな場所でライブして、レコード出して・・・でも一番(大切なのは)はずっと続ける(グラインドを)!

What’s in store for Sobbed in the near future?

T - We want to perform anywhere possible, regardless of region, country, or genre. We also want to release as much music as possible. I want to keep hosting “HOMEPARTY” events as we have been doing, and take on an even greater level of responsibility in the events. The venue will for the event will continue to be Socrates in Kyoto. We are on the lookout for anyone who has common interests and wants to give back to Kyoto to co-host events with us. However, I feel that co-organizers should be somewhat serious about their role, and that it is required to have a sense of responsibility and to be proactive.


S - Most of all, to perform in many locations, release records...and most (important) of all, to keep going (playing grind)!

どんなバンドの影響を受けていますか?そしておすすめの日本のバンドはなんですか?
T-これまでに一緒に演奏させてもらった全ての仲間に影響を受けています。日本全国にオススメしたいバンドは沢山ありますが、ここは京都のバンドを2組オススメさせて下さい。

破壊的極悪激重ビートダウンハードコア

BLOODBALL



超絶暗黒激重遅黒金属泥沼地獄スラッジ

SINCERITY

です。

前者は私が言うまでもなく、日本全国で土日平日関係なく、ジャンルの壁も全て破壊し、文字通り己の身体をも破壊する勢いで猛り通る京都アンダーグラウンドの激鉄です。まだ未聴、未見の方は急いでライブ観に行きなさい。そして圧倒されなさい。確かまだデモも在庫しているハズ。
後者はこのアンダーグラウンドエクストリーム不毛の土地京都で突然変異的に産まれたドゥームスラッジブラックメタリックハードコア!!

ギター、ベース、ドラム、ボーカルに加えノイジシャンを擁する独特の編成に加え、ヘヴィさのみに重点を置いた拷問的フレーズの、これまた拷問的爆音により拷問的回数反復される残酷で陰湿なコールタールスラッジ!!

彼らもまた全国垣根無く活動の場を広げているので未聴、未見の方はとりあえず早く、彼らにコンタクトを取ってライブを目撃するべきだ!!

以上です。

S-個人的にはREGURGITATE、EXCRUCIATING TERROR、DESPISE YOUのレコードでグラインドをやりたいって思ったよ!

おすすめの日本のバンドは沢山ありすぎて書ききれない!でもあえて言うなら大阪のFORTITUDEと長野のZagio Evha Diledgj!

Y-FORTITUDEとFIVE NO RISKが最高です。

What bands have influenced you? And what Japanese bands do you recommend?

T - I would like to recommend, but here I will introduce 2 bands from Kyoto.

Destructive evil ultra-heavy beatdown hardcore band

Bloodball

and

Excessively dark ultra-heavy slow black metallic sludge hell band

Sincerity.

The former is a powerful band in Kyoto’s underground scene who break down the boundaries and play with the ferocity to break their own bodies, and they play all over Japan on any day of the week. If you haven’t seen them play yet you should go see them right away. And be astonished. I think they have a demo available.

The latter is doom sludge hardcore that mutated out of Kyoto, a barren underground extreme music wasteland!! In addition to the guitar, bass, and drum players is a noisician, giving this band a unique lineup. With torturous phrases focused only on heaviness and torturous explosive sounds repeated a torturous number of times, this is some cruel and malicious coal tar sludge!

They are also expanding their presence nationwide without barriers, so anyone who has not yet seen them yet should get in touch with them right away and witness their performance!

S – I personally got interested in playing grind from records by Regurgitate, Excruciating Terror, and Despise You!

There are so many Japanese bands I recommend that I can’t list them all! But here I would like to recommend Fortitude from Osaka and Zagio Evha Diledgj from Nagano.

Y - Fortitude and Five No Risk are awesome.


個人的に、最近日本のグラインドにめっちゃはまってます。日本のグラインドの現状はどう思いますか?

T-話が脱線するが、私としてはグラインドの現状云々に留まらず、所謂アンダーグラウンドエクストリームシーン全域にもっと若い人達が増えtていってほしいと思っている。我々で最若手と言われる様では高齢化が過ぎる。

その為には、若い人達が心から興味を持つ様な魅力的な事を我々がやらなければならないし、やり続けなければならないと思っている。

S-日本のグラインドの現状っていうかグラインド人口自体はたぶん昔から変わってないんちゃうかな。もっとパーティ野郎が増えたらいい!

ジャンルとか気にすんな!飲んで暴れて騒いだらOK!
I am personally really into the Japanese grind scene right now. What do you think of the state of grind in Japan?

T - This is off topic, but, not just focusing on the state of grind, I want more young people to get into all aspects of the underground extreme scene. We are way too young to be called the youngest band on the scene. In order to accomplish this, we must only provide something that will interest youth, and also keep on playing.

S - I think that the Japanese grind population, or even the grind population as a whole hasn’t changed much since the past. I wish more party animals would join the scene! Don’t worry about the genre! All you have to do is get drunk and go crazy!


ほかに伝えたいことありますか?
T-我々のSHOWに参加して下さい。お待ちしています。keep on GRIND!!

S-誰か、金あって英語バリバリな奴!一緒に海外行こうぜ!

Anything else you would like to say?

T - Please come join our show. We await you. Keep on Grind!!

S - Someone with money and that can speak English, come abroad with us!


最後に、メンバー全員の一番好きな料理を教えてください。

SOBBED-ラーメン!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lastly, what is your favorite food?

Sobbed - Ramen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Japcore Recommendations By Maximum the Hormone's Daisuke-Han

This entry is a collaboration with my other blog, the Maximum the Hormone Lyrics Translation Project. Here, I translated a blog entry of recommendations of awesome Japanese punk bands by the semi-punk MTH. Check out the above blog as well for English translations of this weird bands's lyrics!


※以下はマキシマムザホルモンの公式ブログより連載したもので、多くの人に知られるために英訳してみたものです。オリジナルの日本語版はこちら:http://ameblo.jp/mth-33cjl/entry-11345482920.html

Maximum the Hormone is not quite punk, and not quite metal. In fact they sound more like Nu Metal. So it only follows that a lot of "punks" and "metalheads" aren't too fond of them for whatever reason. This is also partly because they are pretty mainstream in Japan (while simultaneously making choices to stay out of the mainstream, like refusing to be on national TV).

As for me, I love them. One of few Japanese rock bands that sings in Japanese without the stereotypical mopey dopey lyrics; in fact these lyrics are just genius. So funny and revolutionary. I learned their songs while studying Japanese and they really kept up my motivation to study Japanese.

Once I was looking up an American punk/metal band called "Ghoul" and accidentally stumbled on to an old-school Japanese hardcore band "Ghoul". True punks.

Then, one day, I was watching Japanese TV, and MTH's vocalist came on. I was surprised to see that he was wearing a Ghoul t-shirt! I thought, wow! This guy knows his punk! Now, I know that MTH do not play pure punk. But I am glad to see they respect their punk roots.

I was especially excited when their staff published a blog entry about Japanese punk bands recommended by MTH's lead singer Daisuke-han. The recommendations were so good that now I want to share them with you. I will translate the entire blog post for your enjoyment. These bands are the punkest of the punk. The crustest of the crust. Even if you don't like Maximum the Hormone, these recommended bands are some of the best Japanese punk bands, and I strongly encourage you check them out. Enjoy.

The original blog post is at the following link: http://ameblo.jp/mth-33cjl/entry-11345482920.html

JAPCORE RECOMMENDATIONS BY DAISUKE-HAN

Originally published: Wed., Sept. 12, 2012

Topics: Mimikajiru, staff blog

Greetings from Akatsuka at Mimikajiru.

It has already been about 9 months since I became a staff member for Maximum the Hormone.

I have had more opportunities to interact with the "MTH members in their natural state" while they are not on stage, and I have gotten used to feeling as if I'm watching the outtakes of a DVD (lol).

For the first time, I was able to participate as a staff member in festivals in different areas of Japan.

I have witnessed the members horsing around backstage until the very last moment before the show, almost like a comedy.

And after our show is over, even after each of the other artists go home, they sit in the artists' area until the very end, tasting and feasting on each offering by the caterers, lol.

This the MTH that everyone knows,
but off stage, I noticed the band T-shirts that they wear everyday.

That's right, they love rock!

Band t-shirts are the ultimate fashion!

What's that? You don't wear Maximum the Hormone T-shirts on a daily basis? Who do you think you are?! lol.

I think that your favorite band t-shirts are the best thing to wear on a special occasion.

Because even MTH members wear their favorite band shirts everytime I meet them!

Ryo-kun wears shirts of bands such as "TOOL", which is seen in some of the MTH music videos, as well as hentai chaotic core bands, metal bands such like Pantera, and more.

Nao recently bought and wears shirts such as "I See Stars" and "Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!"

Ue-chang apparently likes to wear shirts that feature his favorite designs of "Mudvayne" and "CONVERGE".

And then there's Daisuke-han.

I have really liked the band shirts that Daisuke-han wears for a while now.

Actually, I just recently found out that they are almost all Jap-core (Japanese hardcore) bands. (I am ashamed to say that I have not done enough research.)

Now then! This is kind of a sudden thing, but I got Daisuke-han to give serious introductions to about his recommendations based on his favorite Japcore t-shirts and what he wants people to listen to, along with some of his memories!

The content is pretty much good enough to be published in a magazine, full of great content, so please take the time to read it.

OK, first have a look at "Daisuke Han's Favorite T-Shirt Reviews"!

↓↓↓↓↓

=================

1. DISCLOSE




When I was in Takamatsu, there were almost no stores carrying Japcore CDs.

I mostly ordered stuff from record shops listed in DOLL (an out of print punk magazine).

When I decided to move to Tokyo, I was looking forward to actually going to the record shops I had been ordering from.

And when I finally went to the record shops I had looked forward to (I was really happy about this!) this is the T-shirt I bought.

I like this band and I like this shirt, but this shirt represents even more, the fulfillment of a wish I had up to that point.

(By Daisuke-han)

--------

2. FUCK ON THE BEACH




A power violence / fast-core band from Tokyo.

I wore that short in "that" photo where we are wearing pantyhose.

*"That" photo.




I often go to watch Big Japan Pro Wrestling, and I would often see another fan of BJW, Tsuyoshi (Vo./Gt.),but we never really interacted.

But then I met the person that designed this shirt, and through him I had the pleasure to be introduced to this F.O.B. member!

What's more, when I went to an F.O.B. show, I ran into a friend of one of the members who was one of my university friends from over 10 years before!

Thanks to this shirt, I was able to meet very special people.

(By Daisuke-han)

--------

3. ORIGIN OF [M]



The Hiroshima hardcore band featured on this T-shirt includes Mr. GUY (Vo.), and important figure who runs the record shop Misery, founded Blood Sucker Records, and is a member of Gudon and Warhead Junk.

Whenever I go to Hiroshima, I always stop by the shop. Once, all of us MTH members visited the shop together and stocked up on studs (see "*" below).

This January, when we went to Hiroshima on ROTTENGRAFFTY's "GOLD" tour, I was happy to see that GUY had come to see us play!

In the past, when Nao was taking a break from live performances due to her pregnancy, us remaining 3 members played Japcore covers as the "Maximum the Hor-men" (I was on drums), and one of the songs we played was "Mosquito" from their first CD.

(By the way, other songs we covered include Hazard's "Future is Chaos" from "War is Over", and "D.S.B.'s "WINGS CONTINUE TO STRIVE WITH UNCHANGED MIND" from "Humanity".)

(By Daisuke-han)

=================

*This is a leather jacket with the aforementioned "studs", known as a "studded jacket".




*Recently, on Twitter, Ryo-kun mentioned:

"The other day, for the first time in a long time, I went to the house of an old friend I knew since I was a teenager. This friend and I grew up together and we always wore bathroom sandals instead of shoes. When I went to his house, his bathroom sandals were still in his entryway! And his bathroom sandals were studded...lol. By Ryo-kun"

Ryo-kun uploaded the picture of these "studded bathroom sandals", as seen below (lol).




Each of Daisuke-Han's t-shirts are of course all very cool, but I found out that they are all appreciated in a special way.

I thought the stories of re-encountering old friends thanks to the t-shirts were great, and the part where he finally got a CD after moving to Tokyo really hit home for me!

These days, thanks to online shopping, you can buy a CD you want easily, but at that time, there was nothing like the internet.

Stores in the rural town where I lived definitely did not stock my indie band's CD, that's for sure.

The first time I went to Disk Union in Shinjuku, I remember losing track of time looking for CDs to buy.


This is another off topic story, but the first band t-shirt I ever got was Maximum the Hormone's "Hongorian t-shirt", (a black t-shirt with orange), and I it meant so much to me that I did not wear it and hung it up in my room instead.

However, I thought to myself, "For goodness sake, wear it when the time is right!" and I wore it for the first time at an MTH concert.

You could say this is the fate of any band t-shirt, but after being tossed about by heavy moshing and sweat, you may know well that these t-shirts always pill up! (tears of sadness)

This was the case for my Hongorian t-shirt, and live "pills" had formed all over it. (lol)

Still:

"Yeah...that was such a wild live show and I rocked out and came close to running out of oxygen so much that my t-shirt got this messed up..."

And years later, you still remember the great events of that day.

The more the print on the t-shirt fades, your affection for it grows instead of going away.

When you hang it to dry after washing it, you carefully insert the hanger so that the collar doesn't stretch.

There is a lot of drama involved with any band t-shirt.



Now then, next up I we have Daisuke-han's recommended music!

I had him introduce some records of Japcore bands.

Please take a look at his reviews below!


↓↓↓↓↓


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Daisuke-han's Recommended Japanese Hardcore Records


1. DEATH SIDE: "WASTED DREAM"




This is the first album of Death Side, a legendary band not only for Japcore history but for me personally.

It's metal and lyrical, with sad elements that release an epic emotion while driving forward a sublime, ultimate hardcore sound that shouts "This is Japcore!", a masterpiece among masterpieces. (Actually, all of their records are masterpieces!)

A former drummer myself, I especially love the clear-cut drumming of Muka-chin.

In the past when I worked part-time at the newly-opened Shibuya Cyclone, I went to a party with staff from the affiliated Shinjuku Antiknock.

At the time, Muka-chin was a staff member at Antiknock, and he sat right next to me. I trembled from nervousness.

He poured me a beer. I trembled even more.

I will never forget that night when I was so happy I trembled: "The Night My Whole Body Was in Silent Mode".

(By Daisuke-han)

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2. INSANE YOUTH "REST IN PEACE"



KOCHI CITY HARDCORE!!!!!

I am very proud to be from the same island of Shikoku as this band, who is from Kochi prefecture, next to my hometown prefecture of Kagawa.

This is the discography CD of the band Insane Youth, split up in 1996, and includes the song "Cries from Under the Kamikaze Grave", famous in "Tsuda" Japcore history, and used for a commercial for a jeans shop in Chugoku region at the time.

To put it in soccer terms, this band does not have a "one-forward" or "two-forwards" formation, but rather it is full of the aggression of an "all-player eleven-forward" formation.

The demonic screams of Souichi (Vo.&Gt.), who was also a member of Gudon and Warhead Junk (these two bands are also essential Japcore!), and the raging drumming of Doi are awesome!

Speaking of "forwards", after splitting up, Souichi (Vo.&Gt.) and Doi (Dr.), along with the disbanded Death Side's Ishiya (Vo.) and You (Ba.) got together to form Forward.

After that, Souichi returned to Kochi and was playing in Insane Youth A.D.

Speaking of aggression, after breaking up, Hiro (Ba.) formed Aggression.

(by Daisuke-han)


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3. Disclose "RAW BRUTAL ASSAULT vol.1"




KOCHI CITY HARDCORE!!!!!

I am very proud to be from the same island of Shikoku as this band, who is from Kochi prefecture, next to my hometown prefecture of Kagawa.

...I am not just copy/pasting this from the last band!

"D-beat" is a rushing mix of noise and 2-beats created by the legendary UK hardcore band Discharge.

There are bands all over the world influenced by Discharge, but when Disclose came on the scene from Kochi, they soon took over not just Japan but the world.

They were soon known all over the world as "Disclose from Japan".

One of the members, Kawakami (Vo.&Gt.), became known as the rightful successor to Discharge as the "D-beat Master" and made that title known around the world.

Kawakami passed away in 2007, but he continues to display his brilliance even to this day. (R.I.P.)

This is Disclose's discography CD.

Vol.1 and vol.2 are both available, but the reason I chose vol.1 specifically is that it includes a historical masterpiece that accelerated the Kochi scene, Disclose's split 7"EP with Insane Youth: "Kochi-City Hardcore".

(by Daisuke-han)


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4. Warhead "Kono omoi wo doko e//THE LOST SELF AND BEATING HEART"




This is a CD that includes the 1993 album and 1995 single of the Kyoto-based band Warhead, a band full of insanity, insanity and insanity.

From the moment you push the play button, until the very end, this is roaring hardcore that attacks with a whirlpool of pandemonium, with the crazy screaming of Jun that cuts through the music. This is awesome stuff!

All of the songs are masterpieces! They shake your soul! Sit up and listen!

The first time I encountered Warhead, I was KO'ed with a single punch by their compilation CD that included their first 7"EP "Cry of Truth", as well as their 2nd & 3rd 7"EP / VA "HARD CORE BALL 3"/ VA "ONE SHOT ONE KILL" / 7" split with ORdER (another super essential band!).

"NEVER GIVE UP!!!! -SINGLE COMPILATION-" is another masterpiece of ultimate agony!

(by Daisuke-han)


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5. Slang "Super Chaos"




SAPPORO CITY HARDCORE!!!!!

The moment when I heard this first album released in 1995, I was instantly penetrated from head to toe by this hardcore from the north!

Not only is it aggressive, but there is a lot of passion felt in this album. I listened to this album every day and was practically Slang's prisoner.

I really wanted to list the single "Single" released in 1997 on the label founded by Ko, "Straight Up Records", which includes the immortal masterpiece "Nani mo shinai omae ni nani ga wakaru. Nani mo shinai omae no nani ga kawaru!" (You don't do anything, what would you understand? You don't do anything, how can you change?). However, I would like to present to you this powerful record that was a visceral discovery for me.

I love Slang's current lineup, with Ko on vocals, but I also love the rage of the lineup for this album with with Ko on guitar and Haru on vocals.

I was blown away the first time I saw them live at Klub Counter Action.

"This is where Slang plays live and does their recording!"

"Wow! Kuwata, the guy who does recording for Slang and other bands is on the PA!"

I was such geek. (lol)


A few years later, I got to met Ko, a legend to me, and I would have never imagined that I would be able to share a stage with Slang.


(By Daisuke-han)

=================

Just reading Daisuke-han's reviews bursting with love of Japcore and filled with serious respect for all the bands, I can feel the aggressive and raging sound rush through me!

Now that I think about it, during Maximum the Hormone's "Tsume Tsume Tsume Dispatch Secret Final" Tour, when they played in Zepp Sapporo, I joined the crowd along with all the other hara-peko kids [=hungry kids. Translator's note: This is MTH's nickname for their fans], and the opening band was Slang, which reviewed above by Daisuke-han .

I was so happy to be able to see Slang, who are overwhelmingly cool and powerful, who I had seen before, together with Maximum the Hormone, at the same show!

I couldn't help but think "This is amazing", so much that I seriously shook with excitement!

Slang's performance clutches the hearts of even the weak-hearted like myself, and without even thinking twice, I jumped into the mosh pit together with big tattooed guys. The show had a powerful impact on me.

Japanese hardcore.

A roaring sound like a brutal interrogation, and above else, a message, in cutting Japanese, that constrains even stoic beings.

To anyone who finds interest in these bands thanks to Daisuke-han's reviews, I definitely recommend that you take a step into the world of Japanese hardcore.

Daisuke-han said that there are lots more great Japanese hardcore bands that he couldn't introduce here, and I personally plan to listen to different bands.

The other day, I was talking about Japcore with Ryo-kun, and he said, "That popular technical stuff that DJs play at events these days is good too, but a real man should raise his fist to Japcore!" He said that as he was listening to Momoiro Clover Z (he is a really random person, lol).

Anyhow, Daisuke-han, thank you for very much for taking the time to give these great reviews!

I hope to continue with this blog and introduce things like members' memorable possessions and other ideas!

by Mimikajiru Akatsuka

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Look at new Zyanose album: Why There Grieve?

Not only did I discover a punk record shop in Kyoto, and not only did it have my favorite hometown hardcore band's record in it, but it finally gave me the chance to purchase Zyanose's newest album.
同じ日に、京都でパンクレコードの店を発見しただけではなく、地元の好きなバンドのアルバムが置いてあったし、さらにZyanoseの新譜が置いてあったから最高な日だった!

I first heard of Zyanose when I went to an amazing crust punk show in Osaka last year, at an event called "It Looks Forward to a New Life". Just look at these bands!!! If you haven't heard of any of them start Googling!! Now! Don't even care if you stop reading here!
初めてZyanoseを知ったのは去年の素晴らしいパンクイベントの「It Looks Forward to a New Life」だった。このメンツを見てください!知らない人はすぐググってください!このページを読むのをやめても今すぐ調べろ!w



I walked into the Zyanose set half drunk, a trio of ratty-looking punks saying stuff like "We just toured America, we played in Boston and really picked up the Boston hardcore influence." I thought WTF! They can't be serious! And they started playing...They were serious. Not about Boston hardcore, but about violent raging punk music. Not only were they hilarious but they got me so pumped!
半分酔っぱらっていてZyanoseのセットに途中で入ったら、三人の汚そうなパンクがしゃべっていて、「この間アメリカでツアーをして、ボストンでライブをやったから、ボストンハードコアの影響を受けてきた」などと変なことを言いだした。そんなばかな!と思ったが、曲をやりだしたら・・・衝撃!!もちろんボストンハードコアではなく衝撃迫力パンク!トークもめっちゃ笑ったし、音楽もメッチャのりのりだった!

Having been half-drunk, after that I wasn't quite sure just how cool the band was...sometime later I found some footage of them playing the US on youtube! So cool! This is everything I want a live performance to be! Check it out!
半分酔っぱらっていたこともあり、次の日から「本当にかっこよかったかな?」と疑問を持ちながら、次の映像に出会った。ライブパフォーマンスにすべてを求めている要素が入って、めちゃめちゃかっこいい!見てくださいよ、これ!



Finally, last month, my friend showed me to a punk record shop in Kyoto called Avis (http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~avis/).
そしてとうとう、先月、友達が京都のレコードの店、アビスを紹介してくれた。(http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~avis/)

I was surprised to see my favorite hometown band's record there. In Defence's Party Lines and Politics. This band is awesome. Great mix of humor and strong statements. They are anti-war except for when it comes to Star Wars, and some members are straight edge yet they seem to have taken sides on the Taco vs. Pizza debate.
この店で好きな地元のハードコアバンドのアルバムも置いていた。このバンドはメッチャおもろいよ。ユーモアにも富み、スラッシュクロスオーバーの要素もばっちり。反戦といいなが、スターウォーズなら戦争をサポートする、という。あと、ストレイトエッジのメンバー入っているのに、ピザ対タコス戦争で、タコス側で戦うらしい。

Here is a pic of their record at the store, and one of their best moshariffic music videos.
下にはレコード屋に入っていたアルバムと、モッシュしたくなるPV。



Finally, the album, entitled "Why There Grieve?". Released as an LP, the included liners looks like they were intended for the LP (considering the track listing shows "side 1" and "side 2"). I don't have a vinyl player, so I'm glad they released it on CD.
では、この記事の本題、Zyanoseのアルバム、「Why There Grieve?」。同梱の歌詞カードや表紙見ても、ビニールLPのリリースがメインだった様子。俺はレコードプレイヤーないから、CDで聴けて嬉しい。

The album sounds really fuzzy. Really noisy. Someone new to the genre may not get into this easily. I can tell it would be much more enjoyable on vinyl with some speakers rather than headphones. But if you just want to unload some noisy rage into your ears, headphones will do the job too.
アルバムのサウンドというとノイズ・ファズがおおい感じ。このジャンルに慣れてない人ならいきなり入りにくいかもしれない?どっちかといえば、ヘッドホンよりもレコードプレイヤーと中古のスピーカーで聴いた方が心地がいいかもしれない。でも、ただただ憤りのノイズを耳にぶっ飛ばしたいのであれば、ヘッドホンで十分ではないかと思う。

To be honest, having purchased Framtid's album last year and being blown away by the balance between chaotic noise and high quality sound production, I wish more bands like Zyanose would use more "audible" sound production. I would just play it in my ipod so much more.
正直にいうと、Framtidのアルバムを去年購入して、ノイズと高音質のバランスに圧倒されたから、Zyanoseとかもっとみんな「聴きやすい」音質にこだわってほしい思いがある。そしたら、ipodに入れて何回も聞くのにな。

Still, the noise was intentional and sounds really good for what it is. I will keep it in my ipod and play it when I am really angry and just want to shut everything else out.
といっても、この「ノイズ」感が意図的なものでそれはそれでものすごくいい音を出している。だからipodに入れといて、怒って全部黙らせたい時に高音で流そうと思う。

The lyrics are perfect. The English is not perfect. As if they just said "Fuck perfect English! I have a fucking message!" Anti-society, anti-corruption, anti-apathy, one song whose lyrics are "Aaaaarrrgghhrrrrr!!!!". Good stuff all around.
歌詞について。英語は間違いだらけ。まるで「完璧な英語どうでもいい!俺には伝えるメッセージがある!」かというように。これはまた最高だと思う。洗練されてないノイズと同様、洗練されてない英語もそれなりのかっこよさがある。なんか、日本人しか書けない英語のかっこいい歌詞。というがあるよ!最高だと思う!反社会の曲、反贈賄の曲、ただ"AAAAARRRRGGHHH!!!"だけと叫ぶ曲も。色んなテーマがあって、最高。自分の思考にも影響をもらって行きたい。

They are touring Europe this October, and I heard they are touring the US soon, so keep an eye out! Not to be missed!
10月にヨロッパツアー発表されている!しかもその後アメリカツアーの噂を聞いている!というか大阪で早くライブ見たいよ!

They seem to put updates in English on their facebook page:
FBページもだけど、HPはこちらみたい:

Here are some photos of the album contents! Please leave some comments and let's talk about Japanese punk rock!
以下はアルバム開封の写真で~~~す。みなさんと話したいので是非コメントを残してください!