我炎 (Ga-En) ‎– 希望を胸に (Kibō O Mune Ni)

Shout Proud Records

 

After previous releases by The Hawks (2009) and Strong Style (2013), Shout Proud Records has some more Samurai action up its sleeve! This time around it is by Shizuoka crew Ga-En and their five-track mini album “Kibō O Mune Ni”! Just like the previous vinyl issues by aforementioned bands, Ga-En’s first and at the moment only release, was (self-)released on CD in 2013, but now finally available for the first time on a limited one-sided 12” LP!

 

At least, if you ordered one! Because much like Shout Proud Records’ previous releases, “Kibō O Mune Ni” sold out in a heartbeat! With only 50 copies on black vinyl and an additional 100 copies on red vinyl, plus the fact that Japanese releases sell faster than hotcakes, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. But besides that the extremely limited amount and the band’s country of origin are enough reasons to sell out under three days, the music is brutal, yet very catchy, as well!

 

Despite that Ga-En describes themselves as a punkrock band, the growling vocals, pounding drums, the massive back-up choruses, chainsaw guitars and the full-blown anger definitely give me flashbacks to the day I heard Vulture Rock’s “Werewolfen” compilation CD for the first time! Back in the second part of the 90’s this was a sound I barely heard before and although I am no stranger to this barbarous sound anymore in 2015, I still want to clench my fist and growl along, although I don’t understand shit from songs like “桜吹雪”, “継続こそ我が力” or “白虎”!

 

So if you still have some of that 90’s Samurai Spirit left in you, because you simply can’t get enough of your Bull The Buffalos, Sledgehammer and Bad Vultures vinyl, than Ga-En’s ‎”Kibō O Mune Ni” is definitely an album you have to pick up!