Album Review: Ryujin – Ryujin (Napalm Records)

Samurai Japanese metal band Ryujin will release their self-titled record on January 12th, 2024, via Napalm Records.

It’s always exciting to hear a band leaning into their cultural backgrounds and history and utilising many faucets of both to create music. Ryujin don’t just blend Japanese and English lyricism, they draw influence from a wide array of Japanese themes, and also include traditional Japanese instrumentation. Listeners will hear the likes of a Shamisen, Dragon Flute, Erhu, and Taiko across this album. All complimenting a heavy and intense style of metal that combines thrash, death, groove, folk, and power.

The album begins with a 41-second instrumental and the background sound of battle, setting the scene for Ryujin to deliver a bombardment of heavy with Gekokujo. This is where their genre-bending becomes so obvious as it has a death metal core, but thrashier edges, and even dips into folkier locales at time. It’s a wild introduction to what this band is capable of and an early indication that this album requires your full attention.

An easy thing to give it, especially as Dragon, Fly Free changes the tone to something more anthemic and puts some of those traditional instruments in a more prominent place. It’s at this stage too, that some may notice a bit of Trivium influence in this record, and if so, that’s a good catch as Matthew K. Heafy helped produce and performs on the album. The first of his guest spots coming on the banging power metal epic that is Raijin & Fujin, and on the massive melodic metal tune that is The Rainbow Song. Compare these tracks to what came before, and it’s hard to believe it’s the same band, such is the disparity between styles.

That’s not a complaint though, it’s far to much fun for that, and Ryujin are far to talented to not make it work. Especially when Kunnecup is such a singalong and Scream of the Dragon is such an extreme example of this band’s heavier side. At least until you hit the chorus, which is so good, you’ll laugh out loud it delight.

It’s such a fun album, and even though Gekirin has darker vibes, it still retains the Ryujin imagination and isn’t afraid to get a bit nautical. Then there is Sagio No Hoshi, an ode to old-school heavy and power metal balladry. Before the title track gets the heart thumping and the blood pumping noisily around the body with an energetic riffy effort that becomes more and more epic as it goes on.

It’s a closing track to be honest, and for many, it will be the highest point of the album. Especially as the final two tracks are basically bonus tracks that feature Matthew K. Heafy again. First, there is a cover of Linked Horizon’s ‘Guren No Yumiya’, the opening theme to the anime series Attack on Titan. Followed by an English-language version of Saigo No Hoshi. A nice addition to the album, but neither are necessary listening, especially when you take into account the quality that came before.

Ryujin – Ryujin Track Listing:

1. Hajimari
2. Gekokujo
3. Dragon, Fly Free
4. Raijin and Fujin (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
5. The Rainbow Song (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
6. Kunnecup
7. Scream Of the Dragon
8. Gekirin
9. Saigo No Hoshi
10. Ryujin
11. Guren No Yumiya (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
12. Saigo No Hoshi (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)

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