Ryujin - Ryujin (2024)^{Release ID: 49502}

My New Year's resolution, as it has been for the past few years, is to discover more metal music. And it's not easy when having to juggle between that, family, and writing books. Looking for new or undiscovered metal bands/releases is a never-ending journey that is worth precious time for me. Once I learn how to drive, I'll pop in some metal tunes and listen all the way on the road. Napalm Records has never ceased to amaze metalheads with their diverse roster. Many of my favorite metal bands are signed to that record, including this newfound favorite... RYUJIN!

Ryujin's self-titled album can be considered a debut album from a whole new band, but there's more history to uncover if you're curious about their previous incarnation Gyze and the band's founding brothers Ryoji and Shuji Shinamoto. Formed in 2009 as Suicide Heaven, the band changed their name after it was deemed inappropriate following the 2011 earthquake. Gyze had since made 4 albums throughout the 2010s, then in 2023, renamed themselves after the Japanese dragon god Ryujin and started making their first offering under their new moniker. I was not familiar with this "samurai metal" band or any of its incarnations until this album was recommended to me, and it just blew my mind! I might just head back to the death metal realm with this fantastic epic extreme blend.

The short intro "Hajimari" (The Beginning) begins the album with sounds of a battle in the Eastern Lands. Then the extreme thunder is unleashed in "Gekokujo" (Lower Door Extermination). The Eastern atmosphere blazes through the music, alongside the metal force of Shuji's drumming and Ryoji's guitar riffing/leads and screamed/growled vocals. More of the Eastern elements come in nice and early in "Dragon Fly Free". The catchy oriental flute shines over the riff rhythms of In Flames. A cool highlight worth repeated listening! The intro chorus of "Raijin & Fujin" already brings in a standout element for the album, the occasional guest vocals of none other than Trivium frontman Matt Heafy, who is also Ryujin's manager and producer. His clean singing give the band more of a power metal vibe to their thrashy melodeath than ever before, alongside the melodies and rhythms. Killer riffing, leads, and symphonics, help truly shape this masterpiece!

"The Rainbow Song" has more of Heafy's clean singing in a catchy mid-paced power metal tune. The singing takes the place of much of the usual growling, and the guitar melodies help make the song another winning highlight. Some more of the power metal side of the sound comes in the speedy "Kunnecup". Then "Scream of the Dragon" returns to the heavier melodeath, while having a soaring chorus. "Gekirin" (Search) blends a bit of the death metal of Pestilence with the epic symphonic melodies of Epica.

"Saigo No Hoshi" (The Last Star) is more of a radio ballad, but it's quite exceptional. The chorus actually hooks you up with memorable beauty. There's an English version of that song, which we will get to soon. The 7 and a half minute epic "Ryujin" can practically be considered the band's theme, not just in the title but also how it exemplifies the whole album's sound. "Guren No Yumiya" (Crimson Bow and Arrow) is a cover of the song by Linked Horizon for the anime Attack on Titan, and it has the same mighty power as Epica's cover. The aforementioned English version of "Saigo No Hoshi" has more of the vocal talents of Matt Heafy that you just gotta love.

I highly recommend Ryujin for anyone willing to hear epic Eastern metal. I have absolutely nothing to complain about for this perfect product of fresh ideas. You get to enjoy almost an hour of Eastern-folk-influenced melodeath/power metal. And if anyone that I recommend this album to say otherwise, what matters is, I had fun, and I want to play this some more. I feel like headbanging in joy right now. A true piece of Eastern metal!

Favorites: "Dragon Fly Free", "Raijin & Fujin", "The Rainbow Song", "Gekirin", "Ryujin", "Saigo No Hoshi" (English version)

This is an album with a concept that is not doomed from the start. I am a sucker for music that takes inspiration from oriental folk music and even if the music does not work out, I tend to be more favourable to those records. Take my review of 2022's Bloodywood album for reference. Ryujin are a Hokkaido based power metal/melodic death metal band who are quite liberal in their usage of native Japanese instruments beyond the standard heavy metal instrumental timbre of guitars, bass, and percussion. And this self titled debut is pretty solid; I really enjoy the additional percussion that is added to drive these songs forward from time to time. I would have liked to possibly hear some acoustic passages throughout the record to accent some of the softer sounding string instruments that are present. But the constant sheathing of a katana is a sound I could have used without; it was okay the first couple of times, but after a while it just felt like Ryujin were adding it to remind listeners that they are a Japanese power metal band and it loses its grandeur.

I feel like Ryujin took full advantage of their partnership with Matt Heafy because these songs are well constructed with solid forms, great memorability and just enough metal wankery to keep the elitists in check. However, the production of the record feels very thin as parts of this record do not pop with authority as you might expect. It does allow for some very good bass presence, but it does not feel like this epic tale of mythology and folklore without some chunky low end. It would have been beneficial to recruit some of the Trivium producers to assist with that, or even just copy that powerful sound of a band such as Avantasia. I did enjoy this record and would recommend to someone looking for a different, heavier take on power metal with some obvious oriental flare, but a little refinement, especially in the production keep this from being an unconditional recommendation.

Best Songs: Dragon, Fly Free, Kunnecup, Scream of the Dragon, Saigo No Hoshi