One of the best things about touring foreign countries is experiencing local bands, music and culture, and Japan is by far one of the best places in the world to do so. Heavy Metal is a growing and thriving market in the country, and over the course of seven trips with Australian and International bands, the talent and diversity on display has been nothing short of sensational.
One such band is heavy outfit SxxRxxS, a four-pronged beast of classic heavy metal that is as traditional as it is brazen. Speed metal laced with classic metal shrouded in a veil of heaviness, SxxRxxS are pure metal incarnate, and with one album under their belts and a burning desire to tour outside of Japan, manager Yuji joined HEAVY to get us and the band better acquainted.
Yuji discussed the band's commitment to authentic heavy metal music, inspired by bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. He emphasized that the band's style is not a new type of metal, but rather a continuation of the old-school metal genre. Yuji also mentioned the band's mission to introduce young people to the goodness of old-school metal.
We discussed the differences in music culture between Japan and the Western world, noting that Japanese musicians tend to specialize in one instrument and have a designated leader in their bands, which helps in decision-making and maintaining focus. In contrast, Western musicians often play multiple instruments and do not have a designated leader. They also touched on the Japanese tendency to copy and learn from others, which contributes to their skill in playing instruments.
Yuji discussed the impressive performance of SxxRxxS, praising their professionalism and stage presence. He noted that the band members had been playing together for a while and had rehearsed extensively to perfect their performance. He also mentioned that the bass player, K-Chi, had a long history in the music industry, having released records with major labels in the past and more.