SiM:

SiM (Silence iz Mine) are a Japanese reggae-punk and metal band formed in Shonan, Kanagawa, in 2004 by vocalist MAH. The current line-up, established in 2009, comprises MAH, guitarist SHOW-HATE, bassist SIN, and drummer GODRi. Drawing on the nu-metal and hardcore punk of the late 1990s and early 2000s, SiM developed an unusual combination of heavy guitar riffs, reggae and ska rhythms, breakdowns, and predominantly English-language vocals. MAH moves between melodic singing, screams, and reggae-influenced delivery, while the band’s lyrics frequently address anger, hypocrisy, and social issues. They describe themselves as ‘Reggae PUNX from Japan’, a label that has followed them throughout their career.

After releasing their debut album, ‘Silence iz Mine’, in 2008, SiM gained wider attention with ‘SEEDS OF HOPE’ (2011), which included the enduring live favourite ‘KiLLiNG ME’. Their first major-label album, ‘PANDORA’, arrived through Universal Music Japan in 2013, followed by ‘THE BEAUTiFUL PEOPLE’ in 2016 and ‘THANK GOD, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO KiLL ENEMiES’ in 2020. The band progressed from live houses to headline concerts at Nippon Budokan and Yokohama Arena, while developing close relationships with fellow Japanese heavy acts coldrain and HEY-SMITH. The three bands also established TRIPLE AXE, a joint live event that began in 2012.

SiM have also played an important role in Japan’s heavy music scene through DEAD POP FESTiVAL, their self-organised event launched at Shibuya club asia in January 2010. Originally held at live houses, it expanded into a two-day outdoor festival in Kawasaki in 2015, bringing together punk, metal, hardcore, reggae, and alternative rock artists from Japan and overseas. The festival has hosted acts including BABYMETAL, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, MAN WITH A MISSION, and Crystal Lake, alongside emerging bands. Beyond their own music, SiM have used the event to bring different parts of Japan’s rock scene together and give newer acts opportunities to perform before larger audiences.

Their connection with anime began well before their international breakthrough, with ‘EXiSTENCE’ serving as the opening theme for Rage of Bahamut: Genesis in 2014. However, it was ‘The Rumbling’, the opening theme for Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2, that introduced SiM to a substantially larger international audience in 2022. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s US Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, while its mixture of metalcore, reggae, and orchestral elements became closely associated with the anime’s final chapters. SiM returned to the series in 2023 with ‘UNDER THE TREE’, followed by their sixth studio album, ‘PLAYDEAD’, that September. Although the anime brought them worldwide attention, MAH has repeatedly stressed that it represents only one part of the band’s musical identity.

Following the success of ‘The Rumbling’, SiM expanded their international touring considerably, making their sold-out London headline debut in 2023 before undertaking their first full UK and European headline tour in 2024. Their overseas activities also included extensive North American touring and an appearance on the main stage at Download Festival in 2025. That year, they released ‘CHAMPiONS’ as the official anthem for the Apex Legends Global Series Year 4 Championship in Sapporo. Their continued presence at major international festivals, including Slam Dunk in 2026, has introduced the band to rock and metal audiences beyond their established anime following.

SiM released their seventh studio album, ‘HOOMAN AFTER ALL’, digitally on 2nd September 2026, revisiting the nu-metal and alternative rock influences of their early years. Produced with Jon Lundin, the record marked the band’s first time working with an outside producer on a full album and featured collaborations with Yukina of HANABIE. on ‘BLiNDEYES’, Masato of coldrain on ‘ZiON’, and HEY-SMITH on ‘The Sniffing Cats Ska’. Its release followed their 2026 singles ‘FiVE TiMES DEAD (by my wallet)’ and ‘BLiNDEYES’, alongside another edition of DEAD POP FESTiVAL. The accompanying world tour began in Japan in September and reached North America in October, with further UK and European dates scheduled for early 2027. More than two decades after forming, SiM continue to balance their international commitments with their longstanding involvement in Japan’s punk and metal communities.