4 of the best JRock songs from August

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The JRock scene never really quiets down, which is great because it means that some of our favourite acts are always putting out fresh new music. For this month’s round-up, we’ve got new songs from acts we love as well as some older tracks we’ve just stumbled upon. A healthy mix of old and new to celebrate the closing weeks of summer.

As always, you can find loads more new music on the Rice Digital Spotify Playlist, which we update monthly to make sure we’re bringing the best JRock into your lives.

Unleash by Band-Maid

We can’t get enough Band-Maid around here, and for good reason. They continually put out incredible music that is both familiar and fresh all at the same time. They never fail to deliver and have continued to put out music consistently despite the pandemic hitting Japan harder than most nations.

Unleash is a very classic Band-Maid song, with Atsumi’s distinctive vocals fitting in perfectly with Tono’s shredding guitar. It doesn’t hurt that the music video is extremely well animated and fun, giving us the kind of light-hearted humour that we’ve come to expect from the group. This is easily one of the most exciting groups in JRock and we’re hoping that this new track leads to a follow-up to 2021’s Unseen World. More Band-Maid, please!

The Six by FEMM 

Another of our favourite groups here with their latest track. FEMM make JPop unlike anyone else in the world and it is always a delight to see them try something new with their vocals. This song is a bit heavier on effects than their previous work but that doesn’t stop it from being a great addition to the duo’s catalogue.

The video has a very indie feel, with the two mannequins seeming to wander free along, with striking makeup that drives home the fact that FEMM isn’t here to play it safe. There is something very punk about the way that the two carry themselves and we’re always happy to celebrate a group that tries something different with their sound.

Save Yourself by One OK Rock

One OK Rock exists at a timeless spot in the world of JRock. Their sound feels like it could have come from the late 90s or early 00s without ever feeling dated. The fact that they can weave together genres like industrial, emo, and pop rock so seamlessly is a testament to how talented these boys from Tokyo are.

This track is similar to many of their other tracks, with passionate, powerful vocals from singer Takahiro Moriuchi being the easy thing to focus on. Drummer Tomoya Kanki really shines in this song, providing a solid base from which the rest of the song builds.

Shunkan Sentimental by Scandal

There aren’t many bands in JRock that have had the staying power of Scandal. They have continually put out new music over their 17-year career, averaging nearly an album a year. These four young women have proven that they can play almost any genre of rock that you throw at them, with songs that incorporate punk, funk, and pop elements. They were one of the bands that first got me into JRock in the first place and I can’t wait to finally see them live next month.

Shunkan Sentimental is one of their earlier hits and was used as an ending theme song to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The whole track from start to finish feels like barely controlled energy is bursting out at the seams, making it easy to see why it has become a favourite among fans. It is difficult to imagine their career without this massive hit to boost them in their early days.

Got more music you want to share with us? We’re always on the look out for new bands to get excited about, so give us a shout in the comments or on the Rice Digital Friday letters.

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