F*CK ME! Brit Reacts to Ningen Isu - Heartless Scat (LIVE) | REACTION

[@sylbaryn]

If it wasn't me who suggested this, then I meant to. Yer pus was a picture when they ramped it up. Never seen them live before. Official video definitely worth a swatch

[@melvinthinks]

I am almost 99.9% certain it was you, Tom. And for that... I FUCKING SALUTE YOU!!!

[@sylbaryn]

@@melvinthinks laid up at the moment with a touch of COVID so that was a wee treat for me this evening. Thank you. You'll like this - I'm off to Graspop this year so have a Google sheet set up with all the bands in the line name , filterable by genre, country of origin. I even have a column for number of words in their name so I can prove or disprove my theory that I don't like some bands purely because they have 4 letters in their name. Pivots and everything.

[@melvinthinks]

Love it! That's the kind of thing I do. Dude - you need to check out my rubbish Excel tutorial videos. If I wasn't already in a relationship, I think we were destined for one another. Sorry to hear about COVID. I've heard metal music, KZbin and alcohol cures it. Probably doesn't. But worth a try.

[@sylbaryn]

@@melvinthinks that's funny. I have checked them out. There is definitely a new icon on my tool bar that was there before.

[@melvinthinks]

Hardcore fan. I'm touched 😀

[@chriso6719]

They only recently started gaining in popularity worldwide despite being around that long. I've only heard a couple songs so far, haven't done the deep dive yet. Drop jaw, and "F___ ME!!" , yup that just happened.🤣🤣. 🤘🤘.

[@melvinthinks]

That's what I read too - leading up to the video. It was apparently this song which gained them more attention in the western world and outside of Japan

[@twoffo]

I was fortunate to see Ningen Isu when they played in London back in 2020, flew from the US just for that reason. With 23 studio albums you can imagine they have covered a lot of ground in their discography. If you do another song from them I would suggest the live version of At the Mountains of Madness (yes, inspired by the HP Lovecraft story) that is available on KZbin. 11 minutes of atmospheric bliss. (NINGEN ISU / At The Mountains of Madness (人間椅子 / 狂気山脈) Live 2016)

[@melvinthinks]

Awesome thanks! And am in awe of your commitment too. Must have been some experience.

[@WNYretiree]

Your face! When they kicked in full bore, I just loved the look on your face. This band blows me away, every time I hear them. I don't know them well enough to suggest anything but I sure hope that whoever suggested this come back and lets you know some more tracks to react to.

[@melvinthinks]

I just played this video to my partner, Gaye, and she had the exact same reaction as me!!! Was flipping brilliant to see it have the same effect on someone else. I love doing reactions like this. I was fearing the worst after 60 seconds, contemplating "Oh, I'm gonna have to scrap this video as it's a bit crap". And then it kicked in. BLOODY HELL!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@wilsonwade2970]

They make a *lot* of references to HP Lovecraft as well. Check out their song "The Colour From Outer Space" - they make direct references to the traveling creature flying through space.

[@melvinthinks]

Thanks Wilson! Think you can tell from my reaction I was buzzing off of this track. I'm definitely craving some more 😛

[@wilsonwade2970]

@@melvinthinks I don't remember if there's a live version of Colour From Outer Space but there is one of Namahage and it's damn good, and you get the bassist doing the lyrics/singing.

[@melvinthinks]

You're like a Ningen Isu disciple, teaching me their faith 😜

[@wilsonwade2970]

@@melvinthinks Oh no, I'm more a zealot. Check out their cover of King Crimson's 21st Century Skitzoid Man from decades ago: Notice, the title isn't even in English. I found it by ACCIDENT. Now it's on my favorites playlist. I've heard actual King Crimson fans say this is too good in it's own right: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJLUZ5mYjr6tjqssi=Izd4rV_FaFMQt4SF

[@melvinthinks]

Will defo check it out. Cheers!

[@kurtn4819]

You're the first I've seen that's done the live version! Thanks. I think I like the live version best because it demonstrates that they don't need the multi tracks to pull this epic song off. Also his vocals are much more raw & personal here than in the polished version. Yeah the bassist loves Simmons but the white face is classic Japanese Noh or Kabuki, not to mention San Kai Juku and all the Butoh people where white face (& body) are the norm. So he mixed the two. btw All of them have ordinary jobs and until recently did this just for the love of it. Now they are doing some worldwide touring so they're making some serious cash for once. May all your hobbies be equally blessed.

[@melvinthinks]

Really? I'm surprised by that. I generally gravitate towards live performances vs MV's for my reactions, as I think it helps me get a better impression of the band. They've got nothing to hide behind 😊 Thanks for tuning in and the comment 🙏

[@gedece]

Wow, I didn't expect to be sooo amazed. I'll have to search for more.

[@melvinthinks]

Me too, Gustavo 😁 What a a discovery!!!

[@andreasbahl9816]

Progressive Rock ... Very Cool

[@melvinthinks]

Definitely progressive 😁 It takes twists and turns all over the place. Smashing track 🤟🤟🤟

[@Simon-jh1hf]

just do more, theyre doomy as hell. Farewell to the world pls : D

[@melvinthinks]

Oh.. I will, Simon. I will (evil laugh) 🤟🤟🤟

[@Wirmish]

Some Japanese bands, old and new. Take your pick: BAND-MAID [All their songs... really!], LOVEBITES [Break the Wall, Raise some Hell, and all the other songs], BABYMETAL [All their songs, because they are all different], MAXIMUM THE HORMONE [Yoshu Fukushu], DEXCORE [Earthworm], CROSSFAITH [Catastrophe], SiM [Killing Me], NINGEN ISU [Heartless Scat], ADO [Unravel (LIVE)], UNLUCKY MORPHEUS [Black Pentagram], YOUSEI TEIKOKU [Astral Dogma, Patriot Anthem (Live)] and their other band: DenKare [Detonator], COLDRAIN [Die Tomorrow], CRYSTAL LAKE [The Circle], GIVEN BY THE FLAMES [Ronove], LONESOME_BLUE [Face the Fear], ANGRY FROG REBIRTH [2Step Syndrome], SILENTLY SHOOTING TRAITORS [Manipulate], ALDIOUS [Dominator], TRiDENT [Ambivalent, Spoopy], KOKESHI [Fetal Sea], BRIDEAR [Light in the Dark, Ignite], CINQ ELEMENT [Destiny], MARY'S BLOOD [Marionette], GRAUPEL [Bereavement], DOLL$BOXX [Take my Chance], SOKONINARU [Tenohira De Odoru], HELLO SLEEPWALKERS [Flying Saucer], TELECiDE [Tied up Memories], NEKO [Ghost on a Record], MARDELAS [G-Metal], FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS [Tear Down], MERGINGMOON [Greyen], ROTTENGRAFFTY [Hallelujah], JILUKA [Mephisto, Overkill], BROKEN BY THE SCREAM [Emotion Cross-Counter], FATE GEAR [Unbreakable Wings], LYNCH [Devil], GACHARIC SPIN [Mindset], DIR EN GREY [Ningen wo Kaburu], X JAPAN [Kurenai], DAZZLE VISION [Second], DEVILOOF [Torture] (Deathcore Band), JUPITER [My Enemy], NOKUTO [Life of Desire], GALNERYUS [Angel of Salvation], SAISEIGA [Ride On], BLOOD STAIN CHILD [Del-Sol], NEMOPHILA [Rise, Hypnosis], DADAROMA [Lucid Dream], PaleNeØ [aLiVE], Takayoshi Ohmura [THE CATACLYSM], JILUKA [Overkill, Lluvia, or Venom] (Electro Gothic Metal Band), HANABIE [We Love Sweets, Be the GAL], ZEILE [Deathside], A CROWD OF REBELLION [Re:Create of the Re:d], PALEDUSK [Area PD], POLKADOT STINGRAY [any song], MUTANT MONSTERS [Abnormal], BLACKLAB [Insanity], ASTERISM [Fiction, Rising Moon, Unravel, or Church], NOISEMAKER [Hunter or Prey], BiSH [The Night When Stars Twinkle], SCANDAL [A.M.D.K.J.], DEEP GIRL [I kill], Mrs. GREEN APPLE [Inferno], BRATS [Doudatte Yokatta], THE ORAL CIGARETTES [Frenzy Hey Kids!!], GIRUGAMESH [Drain], LiLiHoLi [From Darkness to Light], THE DEVIL’S KILLING MERRY-GO-ROUND [Diabolos], OTOBOKE BEAVER [Don't Light My Fire, Love is Short], and many many more...

[@melvinthinks]

Thanks 👍

[@gbulmer]

Correct Reaction! 😀🤘 Your face is a joy to behold. 🤩I had a huge smile when I first heard Ningen Isu too. I agree, the notes weren't 'clean' and confident compared to the MV, so the intro wasn't as portentous. However, it quickly improved. The audio quality on this is noticeably better than many of their live performances I've heard. Sadly, most of their live performances sound like a camera phone or room mic, and not straight from the 'desk'. FWIW I like these MVs: _NINGEN ISU / The Colour out of Space (人間椅子 / 宇宙からの色)_ (6m:30s) _人間椅子「さらば世界」（NINGEN ISU / FAREWELL TO THE WORLD）_ (8m:14s) _NINGEN ISU / Toshishun（with English lyric ver.）_ (7m:48s) To be fair, all the recommendations are well worth yor time reacting to. With well over 30 years of recording, 'rabbit hole' is an under statement. They deserve much more attention from the West. Best Wishes. ☮

[@melvinthinks]

Thanks! I remember watching my partner's face when she was watching this reaction video back, and she was exactly the same! Like a mirror of mirrors effect 🤣 Wholeheartedly agree with you in that they deserve a lot more attention. My channel clearly isn't very big, but even if one person gets turned on to them via my video that hadn't heard them before, then that's a win for me.

[@gbulmer]

@@melvinthinks I liked your reaction a *LOT.* Hopefully you'll grow your channel through open reactions and honesty. AFAICT, you do have the huge benefit of not being too needy. Some reactors are unbearable. I hope you do some more. Best Wishes. ☮

[@melvinthinks]

Mate, I can't be anyone else other than me tbh. Some people like it. A lot of people don't! 😂 Get told I talk too much. Pause too much. Don't have enough hair. I just wanna listen to new music and more importantly SHARE new music. I love reacting to new tracks because it's clearly great for the familiar and die hard fan base. But I also love being on the reverse side. Recommending tracks and bands that I've heard to death, in hope some random individual will discover them through my channel. Some videos I make might only get a handful of views, but if I think the band/song warrants my attention and I'm helping spread the word, it's all good with me 👍

[@melvinthinks]

Oh, and I am super needy 😁 Just not in a "Tell me the most popular songs and artists I should react to which will gain me the most views and subs" kind of needy 🤣 I'm 41 years of age. I'm beyond trying to appeal to the masses and trying to follow the crowd. I don't even know what cool and trendy is anymore! There's plenty of songs and artists I know I could react to due to the volume of recommendations, but I won't because it would be fake of me to do so. I genuinely hope I don't ever deter from this mindset. And if I do, please call me out 😁

[@gbulmer]

​@@melvinthinks All reasonable reasons and actions. 👍👍 I investigate 'the algorithm' recommend stuff, and occasionally search for favourites. I stumbled across Ningen Isu a few years ago during lockdown. I am not a 'metalhead', but I very much liked their sound. I did a bit of wikipedia research and read comments. AFAICT, they have struggled since forming in '87, taking 'daytime jobs' to keep their heads above water. They were invited to Ozzfest 2013 which seems to be their first significant recognition in the west. Then the music video of Heartless Scat in 2019 got them much more recognition in the west. Ningen Isu embarked on their first "World Tour", unfortunately in Feb 2020. They seem to suffer misfortune. Weirdly the lyrics of Heartless Scat are about their persistent bad fortune, asking 'the gods' for help. However the story develops, they recognising everyone suffers, and so they ask for help for us all. That seems like the perfect song for 2020. Plus, they have an impressive 'doomy' sound, Apparently Shinji Wajima, has made his own guitar pedals. I'm into electronics (audio when younger, digital this century), so that endeared him even more to me. AFAICT, you understand they base songs on 'classic' literature including 'horror' or philosophy, and Ningen Isu means 'Human Chair', a reference to a *_very_* creepy horror story. You might enjoy 'uber talented' guitarist Tina S, eg: _Ludwig van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata ( 3rd Movement ) ..._ kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWfVc35md9Z_aNk I also discovered other Japanese music during 'lockdown'. I'm very fond of Band Maid too. You might add another instrumental to your list of Band Maid reactions: _BAND-MAID / onset (Official Live Video)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4fVf2CglLqWZrc You are probably too young to enjoy her, but my favourite 'lockdown discovery' is Yoyoka, a young Japanese female drummer. She has 'it'. She gained fame first from: _Good Times Bad Times - LED ZEPPELIN / Cover by Yoyoka , 8 year old_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2LTq2R7bdV0hbs which is pure joy. This won a stage in a global drum competition "Hit Like A Girl'. She got me through 'lockdown'. Her video was boosted by Robert Palmer reacting to it during an interview: Robert Plant reacts to 8-year-old girl playing Led Zeppelin on drums kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4m8o2l-Z9J6rs0 Predictably, he was lovely. More recently she covered Deep Purple: _Burn - Deep Purple / Covered by Yoyoka Soma_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5ndiWyHl61moNU she was 11yo; she'd stopped putting her age in her video's titles by then. Ian Paice reacted: _Ian Paice Deep Purple 'Yoyoka' Burn Reaction_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoPce36fpNGfmaM (10m:58s). Like Robert Palmer, he's 'Rock Royalty' and a 'real gent'. However, he went a step further, and collaborated with her. They made a cover of 'Space Trucking' but it's behind a paywall. Yoyoka was inducted by the site 'Drummer World' into their 'Top 500 Greatest Drummers' soon after. She plays most genres very well, though not metal. Unlike some KZbin drummers, her videos are one continuous take, no edits. She also plays live. One of my favourites is: _Onyx - 川口千里 (Senri Kawaguchi) 7歳女子ドラマー”よよか” / Seven year old drummer ”Yoyoka"_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5zLeJqnjd6qi5o The audience reaction after they realise what they've just seen is worth listening to. She co-composed: _Sparkling - YOYOKA / Self Drum Cover Ver._ kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3vbe5xupM2pras AFAIK, when she was 11yo. It has a 'proper' MV, but this was made later. Derek Sherinian of dream theatre played keyboards, and Prince's bassist Rhonda Smith. Her co-writer was guitarist and arranger Yukihide YT Takiyama. She's covered most rock drummers, including session greats. She also makes covers to commemorate great drummers and musicians 'passing'. For example an anniversary of John Bonham's death: _Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand / Drum Covered by YOYOKA_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5CQkIl3p96sn6M She covered 'Led Boots' when Jeff Beck died. The original drummer invited her to a charity event to play it: _Led Boots - Yoyoka Soma at the 2023 NMW Foundation Holiday Jam_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3irfXp9paZ1lck She put out a call (and made the guide drum track) for other kids to help make a tribute to Kevin Clark, the film's drummer, when he was tragically killed in a 'traffic incident' while riding his bicycle: _School of Rock - YOYOKA and talented kids from around the world_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2itepZrgsSsosk She even started making her 'Drumming course' when she was 6yo. She's self-taught from 2yo. Her parents wanted her to have a normal childhood, so they restricted her to 30 minutes/day practice. You can hear some of her solutions she invented for herself to thinking about drumming in her drum course (on CC: "how to teach tuktuk pakutuku"): _よよかのドラム講座 2 "16ビート" / ”YOYOKA” Drum course ＃2 "16 beat"_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/eV7VqZysh5uDl9k Her 100+ covers of Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, etc are immaculate, and sometimes better than the originals. IMHO, her drum part is more appropriate to the song than Ginger Baker's original: _Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love / Covered by YOYOKA_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnaloaRmgJx6pck Baker composed the 'Tom' pattern, but Yoyoka's added bounce and joy, right for "Sunshine Of Your Love" You can probably tell, I'm a fan. 😀 Best Wishes. ☮

[@marcoskazu_]

🤘🤘🤘👹👺👹🔥🔥🔥

[@melvinthinks]

Hahahaha! Nice one 👍

[@moamlbeastineast772]

Why not the studio version?

[@melvinthinks]

I'll always choose a live recording over a MV or studio recording. Especially for a new band I've never heard before. I want to see, hear and feel them. You can't hide a great band in a live environment. And Ningen Isu are GREAT band based upon this 🤟🤟🤟

[@moamlbeastineast772]

@@melvinthinks awsome 🤟🤟🤟🔥 rock on

[@melvinthinks]

Thanks!

[@robertpraetorius4007]

@@melvinthinks I'm glad you found this live version - the only other live version I'd seen was a rather pathetic fan video from Germany (on their recent European tour). In the live version you found, the instruments are even crunchier in the verse than they are in the MV - but the overall sound quality and singing are much better in the MV, and it's beautiful, cool video. I was raised on classical (my mom was a piano teacher) and I feel like there's an element of classical structure in Ningen Isu (especially Heartless Scat), the way they develop themes and motifs. Not unheard of in metal, but I don't think I've heard anybody do it better than they do.

[@melvinthinks]

I think I just searched for it on KZbin, and seemed like it had a lot of views and was from their official channel. Lucky me 😀 I will defo check out the MV and they've already been added to my Spotify bands. Can't wait to hear some more 🤟🤟🤟