A couple years back during lockdown, a friend of mine who is much more well-versed in Internet memes and trends than I am, sent me a link to a video. The preview picture was of a bald Asian guy with his face painted white and his lips black. His gaze is off to the right and his mouth is open. Was he singing? Laughing? Vowing to crush someone?
The face belonged to Ken-ichi Suzuki, the bassist in the Japanese metal band, Ningen Isu. The video was for the song "Heartless Scat" from their 2019 album Shin Seinen (New Youth) and it achieved Internet fame with well over a million views on YouTube not too long after its release. The song is awesome and the video no less so with Suzuki strutting around in his kimono, making hilarious faces, and just doing a fine Gene Simmons impression.
Ningen Isu started in 1987 and the name means "The Human Chair" after a short story by Japanese author Edogawa Ranpo. I've seen them described as "the Japanese Black Sabbath" and it's a good starting point. Guitarist Shinji Wajima cranks out the riffs on what looks like a Gibson SG, just like Tony Iommi. But their sound seems influenced by 70s hard rock/heavy metal generally.
Like Suzucki, Wajima wears a kimono but, instead of being a tall, burly fellow with no hair and with his face covered in white grease paint, he's bit nerdy looking in contrast as he's shorter, has a slighter build, and wears glasses. Plus he sings songs about cursed villages and aliens whispering to us via telepathy. Rounding out the line-up is drummer Nobu Nakajima whom the Internet describes as looking like a Japanese gangster. I guess I can see him visiting mom & pop noodle shops to extort protection money and making offers they cannot refuse.
One of my favorite songs of theirs is "The Colour Out of Space" which is a nod to the H.P. Lovecraft story of the same name. Some vaguely sinister guitar notes begin the song but give way to slashing chords which sound like a warning klaxon. Then the song kicks into high gear and is off to the races. Nakajima propels the song forward as Wajima riffs away and sings of hideous, shapeless creatures from another world who have come to Earth and wreak havoc, death, and destruction. The band really kick into high gear for the guitar solo which is short but sweet.
The video is great as it cuts away to Suzuki who hams it up for the camera. I really wish these guys could tour the States. I think they were scheduled for a few dates here including SXSW but that mini-tour had the kibosh put on it by Covid. Let's hope they can make it here soon.
2 comments:
Errr, wait a moment...
Having been to Japan fourteen times, and digging into much of its entertainment offerings {ahem}, the "Japanese Author" Edogawa Rampo is really the Japanese pronunciation of "Edgar Allan Poe", who is not Japanese. !=)}
I cannot tell from your text whether you knew this and were playing along, or that you really did not know this. I do not do snark well at all, so I hope this doesn't come across as snarky.
My understanding is that Edogawa Rampo is a pen name that is meant to sound like Edgar Allan Poe. The author's real name is Tarō Hirai.
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