Sunday, February 21, 2010

The last breath of the shooting star

Hands down my favorite Japanese band for the past 2 years...

9mm Parabellum Bullet - Supernova





Genre: according to Wikipedia Japan, hardcore punk, heavy metal, and emo. I would also add in post-hardcore
Song style: heavy yet very melodic, fatalistic

This band has just really blown me away. It has been so hard for me to wait this long to make a post about them. I discovered them walking around on the streets one day and seeing a music video advertisement. I'm sure all you music lovers go through phases in your life defined by one main band (like for me, middle school was Korn, high school was half Nine Inch Nails, half Muse, etc). My life right now is 9mm Parabellum Bullet. Their extremely intricate guitar parts and effective mix of melody-driven vocals but intermittent screaming makes the band so fresh. The singer has a voice very unique to Japanese music, yet the melodies are all something you would never find in America. They started out pretty unknown, but in the recent couple of months have gained huge popularity, their singles constantly making it into the top ten. Their heavy touring also generates a strong fan following. I saw them almost exactly a year ago in Kyoto in a small club. Though the venue was small, it was the first concert where I couldn't see the band at all and instead watched their reflection on a shiny poster.

Another thing that really stands out for me is their beautiful, cryptic lyrics. Check out the English translation for this song thanks to this site and some editing from me:

When I embraced the 100,000 degree sun
My mind became a desert
And every time the chilling wind blew through my head
The rain drops of my tears glistened

With just the touch of my fingertip

Maybe everyone’s hearts fall apart without making a sound
I won’t gather those pieces even if they get scattered
What was I looking at beyond the full moon?
A sea of broken stars

If I want to help that girl
Who embraced my 100,000 degree body

With just the touch of my fingertip
Only a scar is opened

I won’t forget the things I burned in order to shine
Even if it all falls apart

Was I looking at the darkness beyond the full moon?
A sea of broken stars

Maybe everyone’s hearts fall apart without making a sound
I won’t gather those pieces even if they get scattered
Beyond the full moon, beyond the full moon
Was god watching from beyond the full moon?

A sea of broken stars
The death of shooting stars

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