Since the release of THE BEAST EP, metalcore band HER NAME IN BLOOD seems to have attracted attention from outside Japan. In Japan, this band has been successfully active since 2007 in making hard metal in collaboration with the grunts and screams of vocalist Ikepy, raw guitars from TJ and DAIKI, a good bass line from MAKOTO and banging drums by MAKI.
Perhaps we can be brief about DARKSIDE: it is loud and has a middle speed, the rhythm is catchy and it is easy to sing along for those who have not yet mastered Japanese. DARKSIDE is completely sung in English and contains a sort of life wisdom that you must fight back and since there is no one else to help you, you have to do it yourself. Since Ikepy goes through the lyrics fast-paced, the track feels short, while it almost reaches the 4-minute mark. But maybe it’s long enough for the fierce head-banging session that DARKSIDE evokes. The music video, which has just reached the 4-minute mark, focuses on the band itself standing into the darkness, while the camera rotates to constantly give a spotlight to another band member. A straightforward video, with here and there some other shots to bring some more excitement, but more is really not necessary.
If you think that HER NAME IN BLOOD is a band consisting of very angry men who just only shout something random, you will soon discover that this is not entirely true. The men have humour that can even be seen on the cover of their best album, which was released last month via Warner Music Japan, titled BLOODLINE. Or when vocalist Ikepy grunts “DARTH VADER” in the band’s latest music video. Especially watch other music videos from them. They look angry, but that is because you have to take them seriously! HER NAME IN BLOOD has been working for more than ten years and managed to go to Europe in 2016 as a support act of Eskimo Callboy. We have to wait and see what else the band has in mind, but for now, the music is flowing through your veins and feel the energy that this band makes.
Rating: 75/100
