SOKONINARU - SAITEI - Ryan Mear Reacts!!

[@JuanSan66]

They are masters. The three drummers that have completed the trio have always been extraordinary. It seems that in Japan they grow from trees. The amount of musical talent out there is insane.

[@killiansred1000]

The one note cowbell is genius.

[@785boats]

I'm so glad you like these guys as much as I do. I can't agree more than with anything you have said about them. At 64yo, they have opened my eyes to a new facet of music. They have truly broadened my perceptual horizons to what music can be. Cheers.

[@RyanMear]

So many "experienced" people love this seemingly chaotic music. I wonder why??

[@785boats]

@@RyanMear It might be chaotic, Ryan, I think 'Math Metal' is the term. But it is so "real". I just love them. What a bassist. What a drummer. What a guitarist. 'nuff said.

[@2abug]

I had the same reaction as you when I've watched the MV during the KZbin premier. What an amazing song! The vocals and the drumming are outstanding. Sokoninaru are in my top 5 Japanese bands and like BAND-MAID, they are in the top of my bucket list of bands to absolutely see live. And like BAND-MAID, they never cease to amaze me. Thank you Ryan

[@RA57727]

I had just listened to this earlier today. And then, I get to hear your reaction/review. How lucky can someone be? They are a fantastic group!! I am constantly blown away by their (best phase I can use) musical tonal painting. It reminds me of an artist, years back on Monday night football, that would paint, what appeared to be chaotic brush strokes on a canvas, and at the end, you finally saw the image they created. Some of you old enough may know what I'm talking about. Others will think I'm out to lunch - oh well. Thanks again, Ryan. I enjoyed your reaction as usual.

[@RyanMear]

Thank you👍

[@PaulEngineer]

I have a special play list for the likes of Sokoninaru (and very few others) for super busy, detail-filled motifs that take time and attention to fully appreciate. Regular doses recommended. Thanks for this one Ryan! Is it bad that I had only heard about the cow bell before your reaction?! ;)

[@RyanMear]

I'm not surprised at all

[@GeographRick]

Growing up in the 1980s, I wouldn’t have believed that rock and metal is pretty much gone. Thankfully Japanese musicians have revived rock for me.

[@isana07]

Pretty happy to see you do their new song reaction so fast ,and I also notice that you’re tired,plz get some rest ~

[@jmcm7291]

I'm not a big fan of this kind of sound, but Sokoninaru imprint in their songs a feeling and a musicality that hooks me, I don't know how to describe it better. It's obvious that they have huge talent but it's the feeling they convey what really keeps me trapped in their world. Another awesome song by them, by the way. 🤘

[@RyanMear]

Yes, I agree. It may be something about the calm and soothing vocals then with these sheer bursts of ferocity. Yet none of that ferocity relies on screaming or tons of distortion. It's all feel.

[@cholatse6745]

Thank you very much that you give this incredible band your attention and a great reaction. I had the privilege to see them live twice, right before the world shot down because of Covid 😕 I hope they get more recognition, but probably not the easiest band for the „masses“. To pull this out live is not just musicianship of another level, it’s also an intellectual masterclass. How do you remember all that and I mean sing over simple chords can already be a challenge, but sing over this madness? Hell no, not me 😊 They also have wonderful covers on their channel. And yes if I get banned on a remote island with just music of 3 groups Band-Maid and Sokoninaru would be on it, the third … huh tough decision.

[@RyanMear]

Right!?

[@powbobs]

Pink Floyd, Band-Maid and Sokoninaru.

[@lou4073]

Just heard your original songs- So, Go On, and I see. Great stuff, loved them. Would love to see you performing them.

[@RyanMear]

Thank you so much for checking out my music! 🤟👍

[@MrEmatthewh]

New Ryan Mear post! Really enjoy listening to this band

[@jenniferread7562]

I liked the low harmonies.. the static sound of the music .. cool

[@Sergof]

They were talking about how the difficulty jump for the upcoming album was much higher than with previous albums which I find simultaneously easy and hard to believe 😅 Judging by the previews on their last stream the drummer sings a lot in the new songs. It's incredible how well he fits into the band. Not only his playing, but the way he interacts with the other members. It's like he's been there from the beginning. The effort they put into playing their songs live is very impressive, especially Suzuki doing all these acrobatics with his pedalbaord to do things most bands would just use a backing track for. I'm still beating myself up that I didn't find them earlier, since they played fairly close to me in 2019 and 2020...

[@RyanMear]

Well said!

[@srhiers29]

I'm curious to see if Shouto will be doing any screaming parts on their new stuff. Given their "Alien" cover, he's clearly got the vocal chops to pull it off.

[@Shiroar]

They really do just define mind blowing. And there’s this wholesome energy about them too. I can’t help but adore this insanely talented band 🖤 Really looking forward to the mini album release in a few weeks. If this is the sound with this permanent drummer then I definitely want more!

[@Shiroar]

Back and just gotta say, I don’t think any other band can throw in a cowbell like that making you laugh/smile but without the song getting silly. Does that make sense? Tasteful use of cowbell. Who knew that was possible lol

[@fikriharswa1429]

They play above 180bpm with that stop and go, crazy transition, on top of awesome harmony on the vocal is amazing. I saw they live performance and they going crazy. Thanks for the reaction ryan

[@RyanMear]

You're welcome!

[@russ_henry]

It is just brilliant. Sokoninaru for the win.

[@dsn287]

Awesome reaction again! >COWBELL!< I think with the addition of Saito's vocals and drumming, it really pushes them over the edge to possibly one of the best power trios I can think of in quite some time. Yeah at first listen it's like trying to jump into a car at 100mph, but if you can hang on, you will find depth like no other band out there. Many folks can't get past the time changes, the rests, the EVERYTHING, and they end up missing the harmonies, the perfect chorus, and the emotive brilliance this band puts into their music. Some people even take offense that this band is simply showing off. Those folks are missing the point blasting past them at 100 mph. Hang on, it's going to get amazing. >COWBELL!

[@RyanMear]

LOL. ...I was listening to them at work today. Whenever that cowbell sounded I still laughed! I love it

[@srhiers29]

They have singlehandedly cured Christopher Walken's fever.

[@RyanMear]

OoOOOoohhh! LOL

[@charlessmitherson5588]

Great reaction really enjoyed it and really enjoy listening to SOKONINARU another group that just needs more love like many Japanese groups out there. I recall watching another reaction to maybe a year ago by another KZbinr and they said something to the effect of "They are just too busy, Jumping around just trying to show-off and are not really that good it sounds horrible". Now everyone is welcome to their interpretation of art whether it is pleasing to them or not. As, well as having their opinion of said artists and the way they perform. However, to suggest SOKONINARU with whichever drummer they have had playing is not talented was the most asinine thing I had heard a reactor ever say.

[@TheJerm]

New Sokoninaru. New Band-Maid. New Glim Spanky. New Asterism. ALL AFRIGGENMAZING! How lucky are we?! Thanks Ryan! 🕊

[@muto4055]

Misa wears the same Mode fashion as Sokoninaru :)

[@TehPhysics]

That was insane. I giggled every time the drummer thumped that cowbell. And, no, this is a song that does not need more cowbell. It does, however, need me to investigate them further. And I'm not really supposed to believe you didn't put that Darth Vader filter on intentionally. 😜📢

[@RyanMear]

What? Oh! LOL

[@srhiers29]

Christopher Walken agrees with you.

[@deathsyth27]

This song is great! The drummer just joined about a year ago and he fits in perfectly. Was this the same drummer as the DVD?

[@pohojisan1287]

Ryan mentioned that I sent him the DVD, so I will explain. As you may know, there are actually two 2019Live DVDs of Sokoninaru: "破壊と再生 Destruction and Rebirth ~Sokoninaru 1st One Man live "力 Strength is Power"" at 下北沢 Shimokitazawa SHELTER, Tokyo on 1/29, and "一閃 Issen (Flash) release tour ~ ULTIMATE IMPACT~2019" at 新代田 Shindaita FEVER, Tokyo on 6/21. The former is incidental to the CD "COMPLICATED SYSTEM" which is still in the catalog. Most of the Sokoninaru live videos available on KZbin (with the exception of the European lives) are of the former. The latter, however, was only included with the limited edition CD "超越 Choetsu (Transcendence)", and while the CD alone is still in the catalog, the limited edition with DVD is now very difficult to find, although it is rarely sold at auctions. It was the latter that I sent to Ryan. And the drummers in the above DVDs are all 志雄 Shiyu who at that time was performing in music videos as an Additional (Support) Musician.

[@VGVindaloo]

Fun fact: They put a timestamp for that first cowbell in their pinned comment in the video with no further comment.

[@RyanMear]

THAT'S AWESOME LOL

[@powbobs]

I bet Misaki did that.

[@omdtdz]

Hey Ryan they posted the cams for each instrument on their KZbin channel.

[@broly54]

they release 3 video of this song focus only on each members play

[@RyanMear]

I saw that!

[@ロベルさん菜園]

Ryan! Greetings! For once all three sing together! Incidentally, the title "SAITEI" means "Worst/This is worse than anything/He, she, it, is the worst"! impossible to classify, are they not? Do not remind me I introduced them to you, lol! I am not going to take responsibility for your enjoyment! Best regards, Robert-Gilles

[@ronfredricks6752]

You said nobody sounds like Sokoninaru, but they sound quite similar to Ling Tosite Sigure (凛として時雨), probably because the guitarist started in a Ling Tosite Sigure cover band in High School. Like Sokoninaru, Ling Tosite Sigure is a 3 piece band that plays at the same frenetic pace, with unbelieve virtuosity, and insane changes every few seconds. Sokoninaru has made the style their own, most notably their vocals are much more accessible (unless you've listened to a lot of 90s Japanese punk/hardcore bands, TK's falsetto screaming can be a little much). If you search "Ling Toshite Sigure" you'll see a lot of results for "TK of Ling Toshite Sigure" which is actually the guitarist's solo projects that can sound quite different from Ling Toshite Sigure proper. While Toru Kitajima was doing his solo thing, the bassist, 345 (miyoko), played in several other groups most notably the supergroup Geek Sleep Sheep. It looks like Ling Toshite Sigure are back together, putting out a couple new singles last year and touring this year 2022.

[@RyanMear]

Thanks for that, I hadn't been told about them

[@gustavom719]

From twitch chat fam

[@Wirmish]

React to this Japanese band: HELLO SLEEPWALKERS - 円盤飛来 (Flying Saucer)

[@joki5346]

If you listen to their song 神話崩壊 (Myth Collapse) from 2016 you realize, where BAND-MAID could have gotten the inspiration for their current style of playing. Dilemma from Conqueror is a good example.

[@fransiskojacobus1878]

This is the results when Naked City - Dillinger Escape Plan and L arc En Ciel having 3 some

[@cecilthetermite]

They are the best progressive band out right not, but the bass is what won me over.

[@srhiers29]

Serious question: from a reactor's perspective, what do you think keeps other reactors from reacting to Sokoninaru more often? Is it an algorithm thing because their songs tend to run short? Is it because they're more obscure than a Band-Maid or Lovebites? Is it because, musically speaking, they're too difficult for most reactors to follow? Or, something else entirely? I ask because you're one of the few reactors that I see consistently reacting to their stuff.

[@RyanMear]

I think if you are more concerned about views, you might note see a reason to watch them. I'm not really concerned about that, I just want to discover awesome music and share it when I find it! Other than that, it's not for everyone. It takes a certain kind of music fan to see past the chaos in their music and find the beauty. It is a lot to unpack and absorb! That being said, if they got lots of views, they'd be reacted to more often, regardless of whether it not the reactors liked them.

[@srhiers29]

@@RyanMear that makes sense. As I've said to a couple reactors who didn't like them, they're doing art for art's sake. As such, I'm under no delusion that they'll ever rise to prominence the way some of their more commercially-friendly counterparts have. Though, I've always got the sense that they're just on the other side of a wall -- that their talent has created for them -- which is paradoxically holding them back from reaching a wider audience. On the one hand, I'm glad they're niche, because I've seen too many bands sell out; on the other hand, it's always saddening to see great artists toil away in relative obscurity. Also, before I forget, check out 88 Kasyo Junrei; they're what I would expect to see if Sokoninaru did [Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, not the song, but the thing for which its a euphemism].

[@miqoto]

Just for context the title means "the worst" like in "you're the worst" 😉

[@RyanMear]

Thank you!

[@Greg-om2hb]

MORE COWBELL!

[@powbobs]

Did you watch Misaki bungee jump on her 30th birthday? I can’t believe she did that considering her strong fear of heights.

[@RyanMear]

No I didn't see that... AND she has a fear of heights?? Strong

[@powbobs]

@@RyanMear And she didn’t go the easy route. It was a 215 meter jump into a gorge. She didn’t seem scared until she actually got onto the small platform. Very brave.

[@maidthehormone]

​@@powbobs I saw it too, it was awesome. And Misaki was in such a good mood afterwards😅. I would have puked and gone home... great band by the way👏🏼✌🏼

[@shabbo84]

In my opinion this song is closest to prog-punk music I've ever heared a band come to. :) Pretty cool I must say. PS Can there be such a thing as a prog-punk? 🤔

[@RyanMear]

Sure!

[@srhiers29]

Prog, punk, math rock, standard j-rock, hell, a bit of every band they've ever covered seems to find it's place in their music. That's why, from what I can tell at least, they've basically gone beyond all of them and created their own unique genre. It's why they always keep me interested: they never do the same thing twice, even though they do have certain artistic and musical themes that they tend to incorporate more than others.

[@nny2055]

I'm so sorry Mr, I was really enjoying you suffering struggling and can't but laughing for entire this movie. Yeah, that's exactly what I've done to this song so I can tell that you are definitely enjoying this. Well in japan sometimes this kind of stuff is happened like mutation. Messiness and deconstruction, cliche and mannerism. Beyond those one would finally get to stylized complex. Yeah,last part is totally bullshit. But I feel quite not wrong.

[@srhiers29]

It is of no surprise to me that my favorite band has finally satisfied Christopher Walken's perennial request from all those years ago.

[@RyanMear]

Ya got me on that one....

[@srhiers29]

@@RyanMear kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYfWgn-ioJKHZtU

[@洋-u7e]

I've never seen you laugh so hard.

[@夏樹七五三木]

Japanese Female New Metal Band "Lonesome_Blue" MV「Parallel World(Lonesome_Blue feat.Ayasa)」 MV「Welcome To Heavenly Secret Base」 check it please

[@tankman7049]

Hey! Sokoninaru new MV comming! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKHLpmmgmNSSa6M