Ryujin
Columbia Club, Berlin - 2023
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
After seeing Pain destroy Hamburg the day before, we made an effort to show up earlier this night in Berlin, to make sure we got all of the support bands under our belt as well.
That meant that the first band of the evening, Ryujin from Japan (previously known as Suicide Heaven and Gyze), was the first on our list as well. It wasn’t a name we’d previously encountered, but on the other hand, they themselves had only acquired the name this very year, so there you go.
“Good evening! We come from Japan! Konnichiwa! Sayonara!”
- Shinomoto Ryoji (vocals/guitar)
A classic Japanese atmospheric track sounded as the intro, and the stage was decoratively decorated with banners sporting the band name as the quartet took the stage - also them sticking to the theme of old timey Japanese culture.
As they began playing, it immediately struck me that their sound reminded me a lot of that of tour mates Ensiferum, but where the latter of course has a slight Finnish touch to their music, Ryujin of course took it in a slight Japanese direction - at least judging by this concert. Given that, and the immense popularity of the Finnish act, Ryujin was a good choice for the fans - I can’t say how many knew of them before this show, but when they entered the stage, the room was quickly filling up as well, and at least one person had brought a Japanese flag to support them.
Being the first of four bands this evening, Ryujin naturally had a short set of only five songs, and it didn’t leave much time for conversation either, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be active. Especially Shinomoto Ryoji and Watanabe Aruta (bass) were very lively, the latter also being the big connector to the crowd, getting them to scream along several times.
Admittedly, some of their stage moves felt a bit rehearsed, but I’ll still take that over a shoegaze show any day of the week. As did the crowd it would seem, because they weren’t just cheering them on when asked to do so, they were raising their horns and shouting the band’s salute between every song.
In return, the band did have time enough for a proper farewell with handing out drumsticks and guitar picks and everything, which was much appreciated.
Ryujin made a good job of it with the circumstances they were handed, which admittedly weren’t optimal for any band. I wasn’t completely convinced, but neither was I repelled, and overall they were very well received by the Berlin crowd.
Setlist (incomplete):
Far Eastern Land
Asian Chaos
Samurai Metal
Dragon Calling
That meant that the first band of the evening, Ryujin from Japan (previously known as Suicide Heaven and Gyze), was the first on our list as well. It wasn’t a name we’d previously encountered, but on the other hand, they themselves had only acquired the name this very year, so there you go.
“Good evening! We come from Japan! Konnichiwa! Sayonara!”
- Shinomoto Ryoji (vocals/guitar)
A classic Japanese atmospheric track sounded as the intro, and the stage was decoratively decorated with banners sporting the band name as the quartet took the stage - also them sticking to the theme of old timey Japanese culture.
As they began playing, it immediately struck me that their sound reminded me a lot of that of tour mates Ensiferum, but where the latter of course has a slight Finnish touch to their music, Ryujin of course took it in a slight Japanese direction - at least judging by this concert. Given that, and the immense popularity of the Finnish act, Ryujin was a good choice for the fans - I can’t say how many knew of them before this show, but when they entered the stage, the room was quickly filling up as well, and at least one person had brought a Japanese flag to support them.
Being the first of four bands this evening, Ryujin naturally had a short set of only five songs, and it didn’t leave much time for conversation either, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be active. Especially Shinomoto Ryoji and Watanabe Aruta (bass) were very lively, the latter also being the big connector to the crowd, getting them to scream along several times.
Admittedly, some of their stage moves felt a bit rehearsed, but I’ll still take that over a shoegaze show any day of the week. As did the crowd it would seem, because they weren’t just cheering them on when asked to do so, they were raising their horns and shouting the band’s salute between every song.
In return, the band did have time enough for a proper farewell with handing out drumsticks and guitar picks and everything, which was much appreciated.
Ryujin made a good job of it with the circumstances they were handed, which admittedly weren’t optimal for any band. I wasn’t completely convinced, but neither was I repelled, and overall they were very well received by the Berlin crowd.
Setlist (incomplete):
Far Eastern Land
Asian Chaos
Samurai Metal
Dragon Calling
