Ryujin – Ryujin
Release Date: 12th January 2024
FFO: Trivium, Children of Bodom, Dragonforce
Ryujin is the new self-titled debut album by three-piece metal wizards, Ryujin. Hailing from Hokkaido, Japan, this Napalm Records release demonstrates a band possessing mastery in technical songwriting, water-tight musicianship, and story-telling rich in Japanese tradition, dexterity, art and folklore.
Ryujin is an album that shines from start to finish, with polished production from Trivium frontman and six-string aficionado Matthew K. Heafy, whose mark can be heard here from the offset. Heafy also features on three of the eleven tracks which span the album, with his guest vocals intertwining effortlessly with frontman and Ryujin mastermind, Ryoji Shinomoto.
The debut starts off with the forty-second prologue ‘Hajimari’ (which translates to “Beginning” in English), providing an ominous “calm before the storm” introduction. Folk-inspired passages accompany sounds of an emerging battle, creating a brief feeling of serenity amidst growing tension. That serenity is short lived though, as second track ‘Gekokujo’ blasts straight into the middle of the aforementioned battle, controlled chaos ensues, double bass drums fire up, and the formidable guitar work, which flows thick through the whole album, is introduced.
From this moment, the word “epic” will prove to be a key one, as power-metal-infused dual riffing, screamed vocals, soaring melodies, and laser-focused drumming blend to create a destructive yet uplifting sonic adventure. The electric pace doesn’t let up through ‘Dragon, Fly Free’, and debut singles ‘Raijin & Fujin’ and ‘The Rainbow Song’ (both featuring Heafy). Offering their own slices of power-fun, you could easily dance along to the plethora of catchy choruses Ryujin so masterfully create. Following this, ‘Kunnecup’, ‘Scream of the Dragon’ and ‘Gekirin’ provide some of the heaviest moments on the album, continuing at breakneck speed with growls reminiscent of late Children of Bodom vocalist Alexi Laiho. ‘Saigo No Hoshi’ is a five-and-a-half minute technical rock opera, starting softly and building up to an epic (there’s that word again!) crescendo. The final two tracks on the album pair up perfectly, with ‘Ryujin’ consisting of seven and a half minutes of sing-along choruses and power-metal sensibilities, while ‘Guren No Yumayi’ is a respectable, hyper metalled-up cover of the theme to successful anime series, Attack on Titan.
This self-titled debut marks an optimistic beginning for Ryujin, whose future releases are ones to be excited for. Keep your ears peeled!
Rating: 7/10
Recommended Track: Scream of the Dragon