For me, this remains their best song (although they don't really HAVE weak tracks). "Catchy" doesn't even begin to describe it...

youre hooked! :D

I love them so much

I hope everything is going well with the house! BTW I can recommend the two new music videos by Tears of Tragedy, if you are interested in some more female-fronted Japanese power metal.

i recommend Ether - Ave Mujica

Amazing！ and fantastic！ 😆😆😆❤

Kennst du eigentlich schon Zenbukiminoseida. ?! 🤘🤩

As someone studying Japanese, the level of language she used is insane sometimes. Very interesting.

You should check out their first full album called "Hisohiso Banashi" it's amazing ❤ see you in 3 weeks i guess 👁️👄👁️ happy moving 😂

❤🤘🤘🤘

I’m happy you liked the whole EP. Maybe you can stay on the EPs and do the previous one I suggested. Because ZUTOMAYO will drop another EP in October 23rd. But a full album would be cool too. It’s up to you. Also, Ave Mujica dropped an MV for the song “Symbol IV: Earth” and they also released an audio version of a song called “Ether” which is my favorite from the recent releases. See you in 3 weeks, take care ✌🏻

I do really like this one. I agree, there is a lot to discover in their music. This together with the funkyness is probably why I enjoy a lot of their stuff as much as I do.

Nice reaction. Jinjer sit in the intersection of several genres, and they can dip in and out at will, while the song remains cohesive and unified. This song is a lot like a classical composition. No real verse or chorus. A through composition of evolving parts. Very advanced for a rock song. I love every second of it. It's like a highlights reel of awesomeness, while still making sense as a song. Brilliant!

I agree with you. I'd actually decided Zutamayo weren't for me after the first few songs, but this song and the last one on the EP, even with the pop/easy-listening studio production that I find off-putting. I would absolutely add live versions of these two songs to my playlist.

I enjoyed this one. I actually only clicked so I could wish you well for the next few weeks, but it's easily my favourite of the songs I've listened to (I didn't listen to the previous one though - I will since you recommended it). It's a shame there doesn't seem to be a live version of this on their channel because I'm sure I'm sure I'd prefer it with a more raw sound.

"let me know why they have two drummers" 😅 oh man, you really havent seen anything yet

This one is definitely one of the highlights of this EP. Strangely, when ZUTOMAYO announced the song list for their 2023 album, all the songs from this album were included except this one. I was so sad that it didn’t make the cut. I really love the mood of the song, it’s like a slow disco song (someone on KZbin made a video from the movie Saturday Night Fever with this song and it kind of fits 😄). I’m glad you start to appreciate ZUTOMAYO more and more. And yes, the arrangements are exquisite 👌🏻

I agree with you about "One Way or Another", as to me it feels like they are playing within themselves, like they were restrained.

Check out Zutomayo on The Forst Take next!

Ups forgot the thumbnail 😅

I think I’m firmly in agreement with your thoughts on this EP. It’s probably a little too guitar focussed to become one of my absolute favourites but definitely up there amongst recent releases. Would be nice to have a live piano player also given the piano parts in their tracks are really well done.

One of their tracks that is a bit less for me, it's a bit too slow for me and more akin to a ballad. But it's certainly not bad and I can certainly see why it would be your (and probably others) favourite. It is really well made and I agree, a lot of their music has a lot of layers which makes it fun to listen to multiple times. It also shows versatility, a bunch of the newer tracks they released (that are probably on the upcoming EP) have a more hip-hop style which isn't necessarily my favourite either since I love their funky style, but it still works really well overall and I would have no issue with them mixing it in with the funky tracks and the same goes for a track like this one.

🤘🤘🤘

This is the first song in a while out of my typical that I actually enjoyed in a while. Thank you for showing this!

Yeah same four of the five for me and they are in heavy rotation. Great EP and look forward to hearing the rest of soon to be released one.

I really enjoyed this one too! Very cool.

❤❤❤🤘🤘🤘Japan is to guitarist what Valhalla is to Warriors and Lisa-X and Hazuki from KOAI and Midori and Miyako from LOVEBITES are the High Priestesses !

The first EP, Deep Indigo still has some good tracks and is worth a listen. But it's poppier sounding overall, so it'll likely be less your thing and not necessarily worth reacting to in that regard. Better to hold out for the release of the 3rd EP.

This one was composed by Hazuki. I'm impressed with their songwriting skills. The progressions sounds pretty unusual. BTW the Broken By The Scream tour was great last week. And there is a new album by folk metal band Bloody Tyrant from Taiwan, called Haisen Monogatari. Definitely recommended.

They don't have a fulltime bassplayer, not sure who recorded the bass on here but probably somebody of the production company. I know Li-Sa-X's brother played bass when they first played live (when they were formed for a couple of months at most and hardly had any songs, but you are not going to decline an invitation from Guthrie Govan) and in their latest concert Wakazaemon was the gues bass player, but she was not involved with this EP. The 3 people on the cover were the only members of the band back then.

❤❤❤🤘🤘🤘

Good luck with the move!

I posted a comment on your previous reaction to ZUTOMAYO. They released a live performance of their last year’s “ROAD GAME” concert. There’s a live version of “Neko Reset” that starts at 23:51. After that, there’s a little acoustic interlude and then, there’s an acoustic performance of the last song of the EP “Stay Foolish”. It would be really cool if you can do a reaction to these two songs (plus eventually the interlude). I don’t know if it’s a limited time video or if it’s going to stay on their KZbin channel. So if you can find a little room on your schedule, it would be great. 🙏🏻 I’m glad you liked the song, it’s my favorite from this EP.

I like this track a lot as well, the more funk or jazz influences the bigger the chance I will love it. Also. they just announced a new EP for the end of October and a live Blu-ray for the end of September, I am really curious what those are going to be.

the live version was way better🤘🏻🔥

Off the charts musicianship and phenomenal songwriting. Thanks for checking this out.

This is definitely a stand out track for me and one that’s got me definitely interested to follow what they will release next. The poppier side I’m not sure on, but then that was probably the same for GS when I first listened to them so will have to see. Guitars also more shreddy than I usually go for, but works really well here, and Kanade rapidly becoming one of my favourite drummers. I hope you can check out Muses sometime.

The Bluray is great. Hazuki was having such a good time, I think she would choose Koiai over Nemophila. But because Mayu and Tamu have young children at home, they probably won't tour extensively so Hazuki will not have to choose.

Having watched the video, any new thoughts about the drumming? Definitely not computer generated. Kanade is the real deal and probably one of the few drummers who is actually capable of playing the part. She is truly spectacular! But so is the entire group. Great guitar playing, Waka is a great bassist and Kotono has a great voice and style.

Love Kanade on drums, she looks like she reading a book🤭 ...so good

❤❤❤🤘🤘🤘🎸🎸I can not wrap my head around how those two play even slowing down the playback speed of the video their fingers move so fast and complexly they are just a blur of pure magic. I can imagine Yngwie Malmsteen watching this and exclaiming " damn how do you do that !!! "

A New Picture got my attention, but ‘Come See Me’ made me a fan. I still don’t prefer much of their older stuff (except for A New Picture), but am very much looking forward to their upcoming EP. Because ‘Come See Me’ will appear on their new EP, it’s off to a really good start.

It's the creativity more than the technicality that makes this song a masterpiece for me. Like most people, I wasn't sure what to make of the vocal parts and the ending at first, but I love it all now. It's just so different in the way it's put together that it took a bit of mental adjustment. Before I heard this, I viewed Koiai as an insanely talented (partial) band who made music that wasn't really my thing. A New Picture made me go back and reevaluate them, and I've started to enjoy their poppy stuff whenever it has even a small prog element.

😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

Their drummer Kanade Sato wasn't an official member yet when this was recorded/released, so I wouldn't be surprised if the drums are programmed (I agree, they sound programmed on the studio version). It is without question the thing I liked the least about the studio version and this EP in general. That said, I assume that's going to not be the case too often any more now that they have such a talented drummer (yes, I have been a fan of her for years now). The live version clearly shows that they can pull it off, so I have high hopes for at least a couple of tracks in this direction. The guest bassist for the live version is Wakazaemon from East Of Eden, who also plays live with Marty Friedman and used to be mainly a studio musician. Not sure if they will be able to grab her as a fulltime member, but I would love for a bassist with comparable skills to team up with them.

LOVEBITES - Soul Defender lyrics (German): Die Pferde laufen schnell Durch die Schlachtfelder Es ist viel schneller als Licht Die Kräfte gehen schnell Mit den Metallschilden Mach weiter, reite in die Nacht Niemals wird die Gerechtigkeit gebrochen Gerechtigkeit Überwinden Sie Ihre größte Krise Krise Haben Sie keine Angst davor, jemand zu sein, der sich selbst verteidigt HELD! Denken Sie an Defender Kämpfe für deine innere Seele Erinnere dich für immer Du bist derjenige Denken Sie an Defender Feinde im Inneren niederschlagen Erinnere dich für immer Steh auf und schreie Schmiede dein Schwert und deinen Schild Lebe als Seelenverteidiger Reiten auf dem Weg mit einer verwundeten Seele Mach weiter, reite in die Nacht Geben Sie einem bösen Meister nicht nach Master Besiege dein kaltblütiges Monster Monster Haben Sie Angst davor, jemand anderes zu sein, der sich selbst betrügt TEUFLISCH! Gib den Betrüger auf Ich lebe irgendwo im Dunkeln Gib dich für immer hin Du warst der Verdammte Gib den Betrüger auf Verwandelt sich in Staub Gib dich für immer hin Du bist gereinigt Schmiede dein Schwert und deinen Schild Lebe als Seelenverteidiger Twin Solo: Midori & Miyako Niemals kaputt gehen Gerechtigkeit Gerechtigkeit Überwinden Sie Ihre größte Krise Krise Haben Sie keine Angst davor, jemand zu sein, der sich selbst verteidigt HELD! Denken Sie an Defender Kämpfe für deine innere Seele Erinnere dich für immer Du bist derjenige Denken Sie an Defender Feinde im Inneren niederschlagen Erinnere dich für immer Steh auf und schreie Schmiede dein Schwert und deinen Schild Lebe als Seelenverteidiger --

This reminds me of DragonForce from the little I know of them. Way too cheesy/epic power metal for me, but it's well done for what it is, it's just a taste thing. To me it sounds like it was written for a children cartoon/Disney movie, but I have a similar reaction to this compared to a lot of ballads actually and I know a lot of people love those too, just like this type of power metal. The musicianship is very high again, like always and like with a lot of power metal bands in this style. I like the musicianship a lot I just wish they toned down the overly cheesy/epic melodies. I also like HeroTime the most, by a long shot, I actually like that track a lot. Overall it's not a bad EP, and I will check out their next release (like I said before), they just often play a type of power metal that is not for me.

W I N !!!!! 🎀 W I N !!!⚡I think we can just say, at their level, Band-Maid and The Warning are equal peers at the very top of the "Rock" pile. I’ve watched “Show Them” 50 times now and still haven’t been able to drop my eyes down to the lyrics.🤘😂 Thx, Benedikt! Btw -- I was just thinking: Band-Maid and The Warning, two very different bands, found something that would bring them together -- music! If only the people of the world could find something that would bring them together. I know... if peace and prosperity isn't enough, how about uniting for the very survival of our species! 🤔

Perfect song.

This is a fantastic EP. It's rare for a band to change sound so little across three album/EPs even with no line-up changes, but for my taste this is the best of the three. I expect there'll be some evolution for the next release as the new members become more established, but I won't be too upset if there isn't. Good luck with the move!