New Samurai metal band, Ryujin, have delivered a new track and video, “The Rainbow Song”. It comes from their self-titled Napalm Records debut, set for release on January 12, 2024, and is one of several tracks on the album to feature Matthew Kiichi Heafy (Trivium, Ibaraki). It follows first single, “Raijin & Fujin” (the gods of thunder and wind) as their second song released from the long-player. Check it out below.
Pre-Order Ryujin here.
Ryujin mastermind Ryoji Shinomoto says about the new single, “We are very proud of this song. The song is a fusion of Japanese ’90s anime songs and power metal. We all absolutely love it! The video features nature footage of my hometown, Hokkaido, and Ainu tribal costumes, as I am very proud of the beautiful nature we have here. Matt arranged the lyrics, which were originally written about trout, and he also sings the chorus with me! Also, it’s the first song without growls and you can also hear my first high tone shout before my solo!”
Matthew Kiichi Heafy adds, “Ryujin is a band who will take over the world. “The Rainbow Song” is a track that I believe will bridge the gap, taking a whole new slew of fans to become Ryujin-devotees. You’ll find yourself singing along on the first listen!”
Blending both Japanese and English lyricism, the band’s high speed riffs and breakneck guitar descents pair with traditional Japanese elements (including instrumentation on Shamisen, Dragon Flute, Erhu, and Taiko), delivering a sound influenced by everything from ancient orchestral Gagaku to even modern anime themes.
Ryujin features production by Matthew Kiichi Heafy and mixing/mastering by Mark Lewis, with guest appearances by Heafy (vocals and conducting on various tracks) and Mukai Wataru of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra (cello). Ryujin’s tracks feature titles based on the words of the Ainu people of Hokkaido (Ryujin’s home region), as well as famous Japanese paintings and idioms.
Ryujin trackliisting:
01 Hajimari
02 Gekokujo
03 Dragon, Fly Free
04 Raijin & Fujin (Feat. Matthew K. Heafy) (watch)
05 The Rainbow Song (Feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
06 Kunnecup (Feat. Mukai Wataru)
07 Scream of the Dragon
08 Gekirin
09 Saigo No Hoshi
10 Ryujin
11 Guren No Yumiya (Feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
12 Saigo No Hoshi (Feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
Available in the following formats: CD digi-sleeve, gatefold clear orange vinyl, and digital album.
Opening instrumental track “Hajimari” sets an ominous stage for “Gekokujo” – a thrash-ified death metal riff-fest with folk-inspired passages. First single “Raijin & Fujin” is an epic power metal storm featuring guest vocal contributions from Matthew Kiichi Heafy, while “The Rainbow Song” blends modern melodic heavy metal and power metal innovation. Tracks like “Dragon, Fly Free” and “Kunnecup” invite the listener to sing along with Ryujin as they paint musical canvases of adventure and positivity. “Scream of the Dragon” embraces their extreme influences amid uplifting choruses and a story blending English and Japanese lyrics, before “Gekirin” ventures into darker death metal hints and nautically-inspired melodies (as “Ryujin” is a dragon god of the sea in Japanese mythology, these oceanic musical themes weave seamlessly throughout the album).
The album nears the end with three primarily Japanese-language opuses – the rock-opera-like ballad “Saigo No Hoshi”, the traditionally-inspired title track “Ryujin” and a cover of Linked Horizon’s “Guren No Yumiya” – widely known as an opening theme of popular anime series Attack On Titan. The album finishes with a bonus English-language version of “Saigo No Hoshi”, with vocals once again performed by Matthew Kiichi Heafy.
Ryujin Is:
Ryoji Shinomoto – Guitar, Vocals, Shamisen, Erhu, Dragon Flute & Orchestration
Shuji Shinomoto – Drums, Vocals
Aruta Watanabe – Bass, Vocals
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