the video seems like story of them at the start they were alone, miku gather them together, then darkness hits all of us (corono) you see people watching them from home and now its over they are unleash to rock conquer the world

This is just another example of why Band-Maid stands head and shoulders above every other band in the world. There are a lot of really good bands in Japan right now, but there's only one Band-Maid.

Almost 20 minutes for a 3 minute song!😂 I love it!

There are a lot of Easter Eggs in there. For instance at the beginning the Maids are introduced from past music video's Saiki - Blooming Akane - Domination Kanami - Alone MISA - Dice Miku - Thrill Edit - Akane was Domination not Don't You Tell Me - Thanks Zoli

Seeing this video, I can't help remembering your Onset reaction: "Tell me the origin stories--let me know how they became superheroes." And here they are, adventuring in anime-land.

Well this song grew on me fast. First listen, good but not great. Third listen: addicted. Tenth listen: utterly in love. Again. Jeezus this band.... Twentieth listen, after realizing what the vid was about: awesome.

To me it seems like Kanami and Miku become like Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew of the new era. The genius composer and a moving force, and a crazy guitarist who loves to play with the sound of her guitar. Miku is not learning the guitar anymore, she is now a powerhouse of guitar inventions. In the same way as she re-invented the concept of "back vocals," she now reinvents the idea of a "rhythm guitar."

At this point I trust this band and what they are doing. The song is relentless, surprising, and more catchy every time you listen to it. It's not uncommon to bounce off these songs on the first listen... I always come around to loving them.

"Dan! Dan! Di, di, dan! Dan!" I can't get it out of my mind.

The crunchingly heavy guitar riff drives the song along, then to hit home the chorus punches you squarely in the face. Awesome!!!!!

it does sound like vocals underneath

Next step: BAND-MAID amimated series. That would be epic.

It took me several watches to notice they reveal the new costumes at the end :D

Band-Maid of late has this certain phenomenon thing going regarding their more progy-punk hard rock and Anime written tunes. These songs are hard, complex and will totally grow on you like a thousand pound R&R leach. The Maids in this format are relentless and powerful. Unleash will, in my thinking, be their new opening song for their upcoming tour. Maid Music will continue to grow on you until you succumb in ecstacy to its brilliant and undeniable forces. 💥🎀💥 Thx, Champ!

Champ always fun ... Band-Maid just insanely great ...

Champ, thanks for bringing your keen ear to the review (I needed that). Most reactors have missed 90% of what you talk about here. I really like what you said about them following a trusted formula, while injecting imaginative segments everywhere to spice it up. This one is going to be on repeat for a while.

How is it possible that every subsequent single they release just gets better and better? I dare anyone to find a band that has made as much progress as them.

Champ has his pause button back, and he's going to use it! Glad to have a very in depth reaction/break down of the song so quickly

Now I am noticing all the sets from past videos. Miku dancing around with her old Rickenbacker on Thrill, I see Dice Set?, perhaps Domination with Akane? More....

It sounds like one of their songs that sounds like they are all playing a different song and bring it all together and it sounds great

I think the dark cloud is supposed to be Covid.

The anime section, each band member is in the set of a different bandmaid video, with dark clouding and then light bursting through. So Saiki is in the blooming set, Akane is in the Domination set, I think Misa is in the Dice set, etc. they have to break out to get to where they can make music, but they struggle once they get to their real selves, with Saiki singing but no one playing, then they recover and can perform. Their animated selves need to defeat the black cloud so they can get to earth and get ready to play. It’s like a mix of Voltron, Power Rangers and Sailor Moon where they change costumes, colors, form into a group to attack. But the beginning is them being trapped in the old video settings and needing to get free to play together.

It's about three minutes of pure audio joy! Makes you feel like we jumped into the "middle" of an opus. Leaves you wanting more, before and after this. What will BAND-MAID have for us next?

If SNL doesn't jump on this band when they get to New York... It'll be a damn shame !

The song takes you from surprise to surprise. The girls have always liked to hide easter eggs, clearly a Band Maid brand stamp, but in this song they are completely unleashed. I've lost count of the riffs they've used for a three minute song. It is a complete madness, an almost technological job. And Kanami... oh my!, she can make her guitar sound however she wants. What mastery in tone. Anyway. I'm going to keep discovering things. I've listened to it about twenty times and I still have work ahead of me. Great review Champ!!. How good you are at this.

What a fabulous "Musician" quote, "... taking liberties with the notes." :)

Also five members and five exclamation points !!!!! So it's not just Unleash, it's Unleash (us) or Unleash (BAND-MAID)

Well, A-chan and MISA are jazz musicians, Kanami is an all-rounder, hence very adaptable, and the vocals lend the pop sound!

We don't even have time to prepare ourselves by taking a breath that they attack from the start with heavy weapons. They forgot the intro? But what did Ah-chan eat? Kriptonite? They have become the Space Maids. The universe belongs to them. Dan Dan Di Di Dan Dan. 🤘

Just realised- Band-Maid have released Unleash!!!!! now because in 4 days time they open for Download Japan on Sunday. But, will they play it.

My favourite animated visual is of MISA swigging from that hip flask

What's so familiar here.. Yes, got it! "Dan Dan Di Di Dan Dan" sounds very like in Pogo' line "Bang Bang Enchanted Ready? Bang Bang"

Champ! Greetings from Shizuoka under a Mount Fuji crumbling under the heat! This is very much classic traditional style as for the anime itself, therefore very cute and popular! Their music is showing their evolution toward a more frantic kind of rock of their own which might give an idea of what thier US tour set list might consist of. Incidentally, "dan dan" means "more, more" in Japanese. The "dI" is here only for the sound and rhythmic tone. Best regards, Robert-Gilles

Greatest band in the world... it took a long time for me to convince myself that it wasn't just fanboying... But I've never heard a band this consistently good for so long, just catch hit after catchy hit... never a miss. Only a handful of even "meh" songs, and even those "meh" songs would be standouts in other bands' catalogs.

Did you catch some of the Easter eggs? For example each band member started in a location from a video of a one of their other songs. Saiki - Blooming Akane - Domination Kanami - Alone MISA - Dice Miku - Thrill

Way late on this since I *just* found them weeks ago but I love that the happy breakdown Saiki does basically transforms the whole song from something of almost despair to something of hope without majorly changing the actual sound of the song. Kanami is just a genius composer and Miku’s lyrics fit so perfectly.

Thank you so much for breaking down these Awesome Band Maid songs. as a big Band Maid fan i never understood why i liked their songs so much until i watched your reaction videos and suddenly i started hearing the difference and the reasons why their songs are soooo good another Awesome song and i love the anime in the video (saw the IG posts and got super hyped) oh and by the way.... Band Maid don't do "half time" they do "show time" =P

That's fucking awesome! Dan! Dan! Di, Di Dan! Dan!

The song is great and even gets better with every listen. 🔥🤘🏻 But I just have to talk about the video (and lyrics) and point out the story it tells. It fits perfectly with what has happened over the last few years and the title, that they have now become unleashed and will blow away the dark cloud that still hangs over the world. Even we, the internet community here, finds its place with the smartphones and laptops shown in the video. As always, so many details that are easy to miss and for which I celebrate Band-Maid's videos. _____________________ 「 _'Our rock never dies ever. Forever!'_ 」 --- from *BAND-MAID* 'Manners' 🕊

Love all the little Easter eggs they drop in the song. Have to watch it over and over it is so dense both musically and visually.

the animation on this is real good. it's spot on, very detailed. and Akane has got her own mini anime now :D watch animated Kanami - the poses and facial expressions - SPOT ON XD only thing - Mikus "Thrill" segment doesn't "loop" properly (would have been a nice gif)

The attention to detail in the anime is fantastic. For one example, at 1:26 in this video there's a close-up of Miku from the "Thrill" video, with not only a good drawing of her RIC 620 with the triangle inlays and the single-coil pickups, but it even has the "Made in the USA" flag decal on the pick guard. At 2:08 and 2:10 Akane and MISA are looking so disappointed. Then Kanami playing with her teeth at 3:36.

Champ, I think the smoke is a representation of Covid.

think the word for those little spectacular sounds is SERENDIPITY - an unexpected happy surprise.

I was insta hooked with the song, it's great! and I just realized that on the 0:25 mark of their video (Miku's dancing with the guitar) is like the Thrill video, but she's alone. That a cool nod.

The song grows on me

Band-Maid is beyond awesome! Someone get them more exposer and book them for the Tonight Show or something when they make it to NY. It is such a waste that even more people don't know about them. Being in Japan, it kills me that I can't make it to any of their concerts...

I saw that the new EP has 8 songs so it's no an EP completely. Will be more like a whole album experience.

Thanks so much Champ for your fine ear and detailed breakdown of Band-Maid's great new song release, Unleash. As a nonmusician myself but an avid Fan of this band, your insight is so invaluable for enhancing my listening enjoyment. I like to view music reactions in general, but always turn to your great analysis first to properly gain the necessary insight to enjoy and appreciate the finer details of the songs that you review and comment upon. Keep up the great work, Champ! Cheers!

Band Maid magic girls series is not something I knew I needed.

ABSOLUTELY AND BEAUTIFULLY AMAZING AS ALWAYS!!!!! 70 DAYS UNTIL THEY PLAY HERE IN PHOENIX!!!!!!! ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT KOBATO IS PIDGEON TOED???? ❤ ALSO THE LONGER MY DRUM GODDESS AKANE'S HAIR GETS, THE MORE I FALL IN LOVE WITH HER AND I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH HER FOR 4 YEARS

It’s impressive how the image, the lyrics, and the music work together here. They started isolated, trapped in the old MVs, (look Davey Boyd comment for each reference.) the darkness (COVID) is invading. The lyrics start “How many times? Dizzy again, Coughing so hard. Tangled with ribbons, no room to move”. At this point (5:08) you mention “the guitar…it’s pretty muddy”, for me the muddiness it’s a representation of the darkness. At 5:31 the blooming of the rose and you mention “there’s something going on right there during the transition”, The lyrics also change from the description of the bad situation and go “Which is the best? Good and evil, both extremes. Don’t waver, choose, play. Push to the limit”. At this point you mention “these little sounds that kind of feel like they’re a little bit off”, like when you are pushing to the limit ;-). And Miku plays, from the stage of Thrill, Which is a very meaningful scene for a restart, especially because of something that it’s revealed later in the video. The music changes again and the lyrics go “Glowing Glowing Glow Up!!”, Miku jumps and transforms herself into a pink pigeon. The maids detect the pink light that came to gather them. The music builds up, Saiki shouts “Passionate emotion” the pigeon transforms back into Miku and the band is together. They are in the clear sky. Kanami is riding the drum kit, like Goku nimbus, and the lyrics go “Show time. This moment starts to move. Unleash!!!!! More. Dan! Dan! di, di, Dan! Dan!”. Wave mantioned the meaning of “Dan dan”, that can be something like “little by little”. At 8:23 they are on the stage, the darkness is cleared and you mention “ here it is the lead” The darkest reappears, the maids are separated, and go into the world of darkness. The dream of the Budokan is broken. They recover step by step and at 10:46 they start to shine, and you comment about the music “...it really is just like a beautiful sound right there…” and also “... it is something that you do not expect to come out of Band Maid…” This par to me sounds a little bit like Cluppo. Their light reaches the fans through the phones and computers. And they launch us to the instrumental part singing, for me, the most meaningful line “A future beyond your expectations is waiting for you. Now we go!!” Back into the animation, change the phase, they evolve and get new suits and the lyrics “So, we are holding up the flag” In my mind, this links with the phrase in the breakdown of Domination “Rise your colors, flay the flag”. And your comment about the music “...it seems even more epic than…normal half time”. Very intentional also the lyrics “I promise welcome, next new world” They defeat the darkness and they are ready on the stage flying the flag. Initially, I thought that they will make a video to match the music but, how do they put the musical arrangement matching the blooming rose of the scene if it is not thought of in advance? Sorry if the comment it’s too big but a long video deserves a long comment :-)

I'm new to band-maid and your reactions, but this mv reminds me of your 2nd (onset) where you ask for their origin stories and when they became super heros.

LOL Misa having a Drink ... AMAZING !! 😂😂 Great Song , can not wait for the new EP 😆

Band-Maid came out of the gates swinging. On a mission to Unleash!!!!! their sound upon the world. It's almost like a rock anthem. The dark times are lifting and they are staking their claim. They are keenly focused on their quest for World Domination. Heavy hitting from beginning to end. Everything about this song and video just rocks.

6.03 did you notice its the animated miku from the begining of the thrill mc

Thanks Champ...Your laid back passion speaks right to the heart ! A wise man once said,"Greatness doesn't have to explain itself...it simply IS !" Our Maids demonstrate greatness with every serving !

I know the song already, but you lighten it i ways... I nevr said it but you you deserve so much more for what you're highlighting all these tiny hidden things to us + you seem to be a greaat guy. You deserve more. Many thanks.

I know it's interesting to see Band Maid in anime form, but to me they were the real life version of an anime called K-on, Their persona almost the same with characters in K-on, like both band have a tsundere singer/bassist(in k-on), both have dual vocal and one of them plays rhythm and a genius airhead, both drummer and bassist are friends before the band even a thing, both band write their song the same way, they all write their part for the song,

You pointed out in your initial reaction the similarity in the chorus to Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity and you are absolutely right. I’m jealous you were able to nail it before I could. 😁It’s so true. It’s so catchy.

The Maids were already Anime characters come to life. This is just full circle.

It pointless to say i am going to say it anyway. At this Point they perfected the Duo Vocal. This Song is The Essence of the Band Maid Sound, Without being predictable.

Which-Location-4953 from Reddit noticed this. It (The MV) introduces the Maids from previous videos in the beginning. Saiki-Blooming Akane-domination Kanami-Alone Misa-Dice Miku-Thrill

If I had one small issue, is the Siaki and Miku's voices are compressed way down. It seems like thier voices are almost swallowed by the music behind them.

Visually and musically stunning! Great reaction brother! 😎☺️🤘✌️❤️‍🔥🎸

I have watched the video 10 times and each time I find more wonderful details. They are just perfect! Great react again man! See you at next! 🤘🦊🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

While the band has not commented on the message in the video, it comes off as an allegory of how their popularity shot up during covid and how they view their role as entertainers. The first solo shots are all from pre-2020 music videos. Saiki from blooming, Miku from Thrill, etc. Then the pall of covid drops over. They battle back with their music and online shows for their fans and ultimately beat back the darkness. As Band Maid's popularity and fan base skyrocketed well beyond their pre-covid levels this is just a guess.

Nice review Champ!

Thank you for your musical analysis. This is probably the third time I listened to this song and you really helped me to get a good feel for this new work from one of my most beloved bands. Thanks brother I am subscribed.

There are easter eggs in the MV, like many easter eggs.

I'm never going to unhear "virtual insanity "

Great reaction as usual. I think a lot of the underneath sounds may be a vocal track, Miku likes to add unusual bits into their songs more and more.

It’s like Rinne and Hibana came together into one song, but with added usual Band Maid flair. They are true masterclass as always.

That definitely sounds like Miku singing buried deep in the background

Oh Shit i Finally Get Why the Album is called Unseen World. Cause Band Maid could not Tour The World during the Pandemic

MISA!!!! MISA!!!!! MISA!!!!!! 🥃🥃🥃

Can I like this song and not LOVE everything about it? I miss hearing Kanami's guitar sounding like a guitar.

Band-Maid fans notice a lot of hidden clues in this video. The one that's most poignant to me is at 1:26 where Miku is shown (Alone) in the original 2015 video Thrill where she couldn't play guitar at that point and to reflect on how far she has come since then.

Champ, did you hear the harpsichord sound in the breakdown? 😮At 2:46 in your video, for instance Good catch on the “Virtual Insanity” melody for part of the chorus too! I knew I wasn’t crazy lol

Band Maid went all "Battle of the Planets" on me, htf did that happen?

pieces of: Hibana, Dilemma, Sense and yes, Virtual Insanity (Jamiroquai) are quite obvious in vocal lines, but after another five or so repeats i would not hold it against them. it's great. it is bando meido, after all...

LOVE seeing the black "Black Cloud" bass back in MISA's hands again. To me it's not a step above anything/anime they have done but still good. With their North American tour coming up I'm sure they're very busy prepping for, this is a nice NEW release, not spectacular but nice.

I think Akane comes in at 1/4 time while Misa comes in at 1/2 time

New costumes too, look great!

I love the sound and I love the style of the video too, but I'm lost with the meaning of it. Maybe the band going back to do lives after this couple of years of darkness?

Funny how you said you wanted to figure out what was going on in the video. Then pretty much stopped watching, hahaha. So you could listen😁

I wonder if the animation is a metaphor for getting back outside and back on the road. The light beckons.

Reminds me more of Hibana than Sense.

A couple things I've realized after watching this half a dozen times or so. The live action piece has probably been in the can for quite a while because Akane still has her longer dark hair that she grew out during lockdown. And I'm pretty sure they rotoscoped Miku during the bit where she's rocking out at the mic. All in all, fucking cool stuff and excellent work by the video crew.

Is that an autoharp in the breakdown, or is Kanami...whatever she does

It could be a new project for Miku, creating a series of Anime around BM.

Love the start! The distortion running through the guitars through the first verse might just be the heaviest I've heard them. After the first chorus the song kind of dies down for me. Still a great track, but far from their best.

First here.😁

Hey Champ, check out your fellow youtuber WavePotters video interpretation of "Unleash". You'll have a better appreciation of the video.

please react to gigareol×evo+ - a ddiction

I LOVE Band Maid but I dislike most of their songs.

The anime’ nonsense continues. And Kanami’s guitar tone is horrible.