With a large music industry such as Japan has, the second largest in the world, it is inevitable that music fans will be inundated with a profusion of good (and also less good) music from this country. It is impossible to keep track of this and write a review about it per video. But to avoid missing out on gems, it is time for a weekly list of new music videos from lesser-known Japanese musical acts that are definitely worth watching.
We are now looking back on a couple of videos that were released in week 47 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries!
鍵を返せ (Kagi wo Kaese) – INORGANIC
After releasing and selling out the first demo, the four-piece Kagi wo Kaese aka Return the Key thought it was time to put out their first EP, titled 評論家 (Hyoron-ka). The young pop band is currently active in Hiroshima prefecture but they are already reaching audiences beyond that, even outside Japan. A band to keep an eye on. — Recommended by Francisca
SLOTHREAT – Rebels
The five-piece hybrid rock band SLOTHREAT got formed in the spring of 2019 and is centred around guitarist Katsuya, who was previously active in the band CodeRebirth. They are currently part of the label Wolves anchor DC, where ex-girugamesh Яyo Trackmaker is the label head. Last year they put out their first album, titled THEMIS and now they have a brand-new single, Asymmetrical Harmony. — Recommended by Francisca
AFTER SQUALL – KUDARANAI
We mentioned this Nagoya-based rock band before on AVO Magazine, somewhere last year, but in the meantime, they have been working hard on putting out new music and accompanying them with noteworthy music videos. HOPEMARKET is AFTER SQUALL’s most recent release, their second mini-album with five rock tracks and something extra. It seems that they like to hop around melodic sounds from hardcore to trap, creating an intriguing new sound. — Recommended by Francisca
死んだパンダ噛んだズ (Dead Panda Bites) – 胸中 IGNORE QUIET (Kyouchuu IGNORE QUIET)
Shortly after opening their official YouTube channel, Dead Panda Bites presented their first music video with AKI of THE DEAD P☆P STARS. They have been on and off with activities in the last couple of years and returned in January of 2021 with their first release. The three members of the band are old friends and have been active in other bands, such as the butterfly nine cord, GAIKOTSU and April in 85, just to show the diversity of the members’ backgrounds. — Recommended by Francisca
The Florist – Apocalypse
Emo-shoegaze band The Florist got formed by Imamura (ex-STARBOARD), Shiina (ex-ICK2HAND), Sunaga (ex-EVERLAST, TRIBAL CHAIR) and Hiruma (ex-The Feather Side, START OF THE DAY), all members have been at the forefront of the emo hardcore guitar band scene. The new album of The Florist, titled IN CVLT, was produced in the midst of the pandemic, this aspect can also be heard in the lyrics where they express what happened and what they felt. — Recommended by Francisca
synker – stum as noia
The five-member band synker from Tokyo got formed in 2019, consisting of Japanese and Taiwanese musicians. Their alternative music is based on shoegaze and garage rock, with the two vocalists, one male and one female, bringing together abstract lyrics, liberating and an immersive sound. This music could be reminiscent of 90s music from the UK and the US. This is their second single. — Recommended by Francisca
The fin. – Outer Ego
The fin. is the brainchild of Japanese producer/songwriter Yuto Uchino who single-handedly writes, records, mixes and produces the music for this Kobe-based music project. Bassist Kaoru Nakazawa joins Uchino in the touring incarnation. Formed in 2010, the band drew attention outside Japan thanks to their blend of synth-pop and shoegaze from the ’80s-’90s with nowadays American indie-pop and chillwave. They recently released the third album, titled Outer Ego. — Recommended by Francisca
Next week we will be back for a new list of new music videos to check out. But you can also look back to the earlier editions of this weekly article series for when you yearn for more musical gems! Want to read more about how this project started or check out the YouTube playlists? Click here for all the information.
