There’s no need for much introduction for Rise of the Northstar, a band that is deservedly considered as a metal phenomenon. The quintet from Paris, France, already have 15 years under their belt. Since their first EP releases "Tokyo Assault" (2010) and "Demonstrating My Saiya Style" (2012), they have left their mark in the metal map. ROTN’s particular style, their culture and their unique music cannot go unnoticed in any case. They combine modern metal, urban music, and Japanese pop culture undeniably successfully. Then followed "Welcame" (2014) and "The Legacy of Shi" (2018) that were both exceptional, with the last one garnering tremendous critical acclaim and entering high positions in the worldwide charts. Their new release titled "Showdown" is expected to be released via Atomic Fire Records on April 7th, mixed by Johann Meyer (Gojira) and mastered by acclaimed Ted Jensen (Sterling Sound Studio).
The album starts with "Anthem", a groovy, catchy intro, which prepares you perfectly for what follows; “Northstar is fucking back!”. Next comes the eponymous song of the record which was also the last single they released accompanied by an excellent, neat and typical of ROTN video clip. At this point I should mention that the production is flawless, the bass and drums are tied tightly and at the same time the guitars are as distinct as it needs to be for the listener's ears. "Third Strike", one of the fastest songs of the release, comes to blow your mind. From the beginning you already get SlipKnot’s (Iowa era) vibes, in a good way. This one is definitely one of my favorites. Vithia proves to be at his best, the voices overall are spotless. Guitarist duo of Eva-B and Air One is on fire. This song is truly legendary. "Crank It Up" comes with a lot of 90’s Nu Metal vibes. The song will have you jumping up and down and headbanging to its rhythmic parts. The chorus is guaranteed to stick in your head. Also, one of my favorite tracks on the record. "One Love" was the first single to be released from the new record. I confess that it could not have been a better choice. It's a signature ROTN’s track combined with a wonderful video clip that immediately grabs your attention and makes you want to eagerly listen to the rest of the material. Anyway, I was really messing with this clip on repeat. If you want to party moshing, then the song you were asking for is "Shogun No Shi". The breakdown that comes after the middle of the track is so aggressive and to the point in its simplicity. When "Clan" starts, you can't help but think of "What The F***". It doesn't touch the greatness of the track included in “Welcame”, but it is one of the most complete songs on the release and definitely one of the highlights of the album. Worth mentioning is the approximately two-minute long instrumental part at the end which is flanked by a redemptive Eva-B’s guitar solo. "Raijin" is overall a slower song with more gaps, less vocals in the chorus and a really aggressive beatdown at the end. Penultimately comes "Golden Arrow"; the solos unleashed by the guitarists and the riffs in this one are relentless. The epilogue of “Showdown” is ideally composed with its most melodic song. "Rise [ライズ]" is the perfect outro to an excellent overall effort from the band.
"Showdown" is an album that any fan of Crossover Hardcore and beyond should not miss listening to. Rise of the Northstar proves once again that every time they come back discographically bigger, fitter, and harder. Many of the song's choruses will stick in your head and you'll find yourself singing them. I believe that “Showdown”, even though we're still in the first quarter of 2023, is a serious contender for the album of the year list. Need something more? I don’t think so.
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