Japan’s self-described reggae punx SiM made their long-awaited UK headline debut on June 13th, days after their blistering set at Download Festival which marked the group’s first ever performance on UK soil.
Despite a long and successful history within Japan’s rock and punk scenes since their inception back in 2004, SiM had not yet taken to a UK stage. However, fueled by the immense impact of their powerful 2022 single The Rumbling, the Kanagawa quartet finally seized the opportunity to showcase their now internationally acclaimed high-octane sound to a sold-out crowd within the heart of London.
UK based nu-metallers Graphic Nature served as support for the night. The band wear their influences on their sleeve, with nods to Deftones, nu-metal, and drum n bass, and lyrics drawing on frontman Harvey Freeman’s own struggles with mental health, as well as his love of videogames, culminating in a heavy, chugging, modern take on the sound. The group played a relentless set and did a great job whipping the crowd into an excited frenzy ready for SiM.
When it was finally time for SiM to take the stage, they wasted no time launching right into Light It Up from their 2022 EP Beware, followed by DiAMOND, and BLAH BLAH BLAH.
In just the first three songs the band perfectly displayed their high energy Frankenstein mash-up sound, combining alt-metal with elements of ska-punk, reggae, hardcore, and pop-punk. Already it was obvious to everyone in the room that this show was well worth the wait.
Not forgetting their roots, SiM treated the crowd to TxHxC and Paint Sky Blue off their 2008 debut album, before unleashing the most anticipated track of the night- Attack on Titan The Final Season Part 2 theme, The Rumbling. As soon as the opening notes hit the sound system the venue ignited into a sea of motion, passionate cheers and echoing yells reciting every word.
We also got to hear the sleeper hit A from the video game Yakuza Kiwami 2. Despite the series’ more niche following, the track managed to generate waves of excitement throughout the crowd, successfully avoiding being overshadowed by the band’s blockbuster hit.
Frontman MAH made sure to stop and interact with the crowd throughout the night, teaching the crowd how to say “saiko!”, and later explaining why he doesn’t take song requests- when he saw Radiohead live in Japan and they didn’t play Creep, he thought “Give me my money back!”, but discovering that the band only plays what they want to play made him think they were “really cool”. MAH then told us “I write the setlist, you enjoy it, PERIOD! If you wanna say something, say it to Thom Yorke!”.
This MC section was used to leap into Devil in Your Heart, followed up by other crowd favourites GUNSHOTS, and MAKE ME DEAD!, plus Rage of Bahamut opening EXiSTENCE, before wrapping up with BASEBALL BAT.
Bandmates SHOW-HATE, SiN, and GODRi all had opportunities to show off their musical prowess throughout the night, feeling like no one was left out of the limelight. The stage presence of all members was phenomenal, with both SHOW-HATE and SiN coordinating jumping spins from their stands, GODRi drumming up a storm, and of course MAH taking full command of the crowd.
Before the group even left the stage the crowd were calling for an encore. The band returned to play two more songs, KiLLiNG ME, and f.a.i.t.h. The band said their final goodbyes and promised that they would be returning next year on a world tour with a full European and UK leg. With their 6th studio album out this summer too, it seems like we have a lot more to look forward to from the reggae punx in the coming year.
Photos by Charles Shepherd
SiM
UNDER THE TREE
Release Date: 04/03/2023
Label: Pony Canyon
Listen on: Spotify
