Towards a new camera!

Not mindless shredding...this is Mincho's turn to sing 👌💪❤🤘🤘🤘

Glad you reached this one, and so glad you dug it. Great reaction. For me, this is one of their absolute best, which is really saying something. An incredible, beautifully balanced composition, with a lot of emotional dynamics, too. Looking forward to seeing you continue on your BM journey. (Oh, and hi from Scotland, btw!)

Even if you don't like instrumentals, they always put out incredible songs.

Kanami🥰took the vocals in her own hands in this one.

BAND-MAID's instrumentals never overstay their welcome. You get three or four minutes of awesomeness, they all get their chance to shine, and that's it. They always leave you wanting more. BAND-MAID enjoys watching reactions. They've even noticed a few reactors at their shows. I won't say they don't block at all because I don't do reactions, but from what I've heard, they rarely outright block videos. They may demonetize videos, but they rarely block them.

Many of us recently saw Band-Maid play “From Now On” live. OMNG! Kanami riffed her ass off. And the DB’s matched the BPM’s! So FROM NOW ON, Band-Maid will grow in popularity even faster as their awesome, sold out 2023 BAND-MAID 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR wraps up in Japan. In addition their recent Japan tour just concluded with 17 concerts, AND they’re writing and recording for their new album. Their 10th Anniversary Tour concludes at Japan’s 17,000 seat Yokohama Arena on Nov. 26, 2023! The Maids are one of the hardest working super groups in the business! Their music, their sound, each of the Maids... and the love that permeates their live events is an experience not to be missed. Hope you can catch them LIVE! Thx, Mark!

"...then the drummer comes in with a wee gallop..." - I'm going to hear that every time I hear an Akane transition 😂

I think a lot of Misa's bass style comes out of her originally being a guitar player, and also having to cover for Miku not knowing how to play guitar early on. It put her bass into a kind of unique role that they've been evolving, and now it kind of serves as a second lead instead of just part of a standard rhythm section. It gives them such a cool sound.

Thanks mate, another great tune here. Their songwriting is fantastic, the flow, the unpredictable nature, the understated solos, One day, one day, I will get to see them play live 👍🇦🇺🤘

Kanami is a brilliant composer and she'll never allow it to get repetitive or boring. She seems to provide that triumphant chorus in every song, whatever form it takes. Listen for the same in Sayonakidori if/when you react to it. Her guitar descant at the end gives me chills every time! Another instrumental you might find interesting is "Memories of Wind and Wine (Dawn Winery Theme)." They did it last year for an online "concert" of music for the game Genshin Impact: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y7NieLyn1su4lH0.html It is a very simple verse/chorus song, but they are such great performers that it doesn't gets boring either. Every verse is unique even though it's the same verse and chorus. Opinion: Quality over quantity every time.

Great reaction, as always. Kanami's songwriting shows here, making, as you point out, a really compelling instrumental. Glad you are taking care of yourself with moderating the pace. Too many reactors burn themselves out by keeping up too strenuous a schedule.

Never disappointed in your reactions 'cuz of your musician background no bullshit approach. Thank you. That said, as a major BAND-MAID fan, my chest expands outward more and more after your no-nonsense reactions to my favorite band. I will not suggest a song 'cuz I know you have too much going on at this time. Do not push yourself, enjoy your efforts. PEACE

Most excellent choice for today’s reaction. The song that solidified me as a Maidiac. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. 🪄 gary-o anastasia! And we’ll get Gary’s most eloquent commentary as well

Great reaction and thanks for the analysis. I discovered that when I thought I was getting bored with a Band-Maid song it turned out that I needed to replace the batteries in my pacemaker.

This one shreds but wait till you hear Without Holding Back.

How they work; Kanami creates the basic music, then she sends it out to MISA and Akane for their "fills". MISA has said in an interview that her bass lines pretty much stay as is with in the progress. Then the music is sent to Miku to write the lyrics. Now Saiki is working with Miku on the lyrics and has wrote the lyrics for 3 songs. Note: they do not live near one another in Tokyo. Then they go into to the studio for final production. Saiki has the "We're Done" call. In another interview MISA was asked who was their Producer, She answered Miku. Miku created the concept of Maids and recruited Kanami off the internet. Kanami then called Akane and she called MISA. Saiki was tricked into joining the band.

I'm always amazed after seeing video after video and NEVER being let down. Sometimes it takes me a few times of watching to "get it" but after I do, love it!

Ahh this song always gets me emotional with that guitar squeal ! I’ve been binging your vids cause your insights are just stellar Mark… the way you vibe and share your thoughts on music really helps me to see music I love in a new perspective. Please prioritise your health though! You can take as long as you need to for these videos, it’s always a gem from you!

Hearing this one for the first time was an instant fall into love for me. ^_^ Heck, it could easily pass for an epic theme for a climactic boss battle in an RPG. It's SO good!

I’d like to see Blooming, it at least has an interesting backstory. The story is that Kanami (lead guitar/composer) gave all the girls a homework assignment to come up with a section of music for their instrument and they sent it to her. She then put that all together in a song, that song is blooming. MISA (bass) had a hard time remembering how to play her bit because she had too much whiskey when she put it together and forgot. It’s one of my favorite tracks.

Preemptive hell yeah. Their instrumentals are top notch. My personal fave might be Onset but when listening to any of them they take top spot at that moment.

Thanks Markabusi! I enjoy your channel

Saw this performed live in Dallas 2022 and it was even better great job

I always enjoy your reviews Mark. Keep them coming.

As Samuel L Jackson once said, "[When Akane raises a stick to the sky,] hold on to your butts!" 😉

From Now On BAND-MAID shall be known as the best thing to happen since Harry Potter said "BAND-MAIDO Awesomno" to describe their musical wizardry. He later realised Hermione was a B-M fan so he was onto a bonus.😏

Misa plays "lead" bass

Lack of melody is not something you'll ever have to worry about with Mincho writing the songs. She's a truly great guitarist but multiply that by ten and that's how good of a composer and arranger she is.

Nice one Mark. As an FYI Kanami does not do that high squealy bend at the beginning of the chorus Live. She subs a 3 or 4 note run instead. Don't know why. Anyway this is currently my favorite BAND-MAID song for almost a year now. I have all faith in Mincho (and the band) that she will top it. Check out ONSET-LIVE which is another instrumental and see how they handle that one Live. See how long it takes you to find a BAND-MAID song you don't like. You'll have 1M subs before that happens..... probably. Peace. 833

What more can I say about this? Band-Maid doing Band-Maid things, and it freakin' rocks! 🔥🤘🏻 Not a fan of instrumentals, huh? Well, I'm just thinking about inviting you on a little challenge. There is a band called 'Asterism' that until recently was a pure instrumental band. They have a song in their catalog called "Dawn" that I actually really like to recommend. Especially the live version from April 2019 (Video ID "buQPvINJcA0"). Go in blind without much research. I'm just saying it's a 3-piece band, the lady playing the guitar was 16 at the time, you'll definitely have your fun as a bass lover, and just let the last 2 1/2 - 3 minutes play out without a pause. 😉🤘🏻 _____________________ _"We all may never know what it is to be ourselves"_ - from *Gacharic Spin* -「 Replica 」 🎶✨

Band-Maiko "Gio-Cho". You have not seen this style yet...

"From Now On" aka "Variation on a Theme - Dies Irae, Mozart's Requiem" An absolute Masterpiece of composition and execution. Which reminds me, you really need to hear "Blooming."

The perfect band. Kanami Tono is long established as being an incredible writer and composer. From Now On is the perfect example of that. She has an incredible understanding of music theory and how to "tweak" certain parts to capture and maintain your attention. Band Maid is still way to underrated and also MIncho is underrated as a master composer.

Mark, you are the best, seriously. You have a unique style and are carving a very distinct niche. Invest in a better camera though mate ;)

MISA MISA MISA!!!!!

Don't forget to check out 'Without Holding Back' as well as the LIVE version of 'Onset'. Don;t worry about the daily videos. I only watch the BAND-MAID ones anyway, by anyone, not just you. However, I can't believe you haven't gotten to 1000 subs yet. You're easily in my Top 10 Reactors and rapidly rising to #1. Keep it up!

Watched this on Patreon already, but commenting here for the algorithm. The guitar work on this one is very technically challenging, without just being wankery. Kanami's an excellent player, but she's a composer first. At some point she said she heard some people didn't like her solos, and she asked the fans, and was like, I can just stop doing solos. She has no ego about it. I think a lot of what makes them good is their discretion in editing. Band-Maid songs are short, but they're dense. There are a lot of riffs they'll use like once and you'll never hear them again. Nothing gets repetitive and overstays its welcome. Get Gary and Sayonakidori and stuff taken care of, but after that, I think it would be good to check out Sense or Corallium (from the same single, and both on the Unleash EP). It's more genre blendy and experimental stuff that I think you'd enjoy.

Band−Maid 🎸一期一会(ichi-go-ichi-e)⇒This word means ”treasure every encounter、for it will never recur in your life. “ from japan🎌

"Am I gonna get bored?" Nah, bro, Kanami's got your back.

I've got the rare groove pure instrumental cd of their "unseen world" album (comes with a full score) it still totally works.

Mark. I am revisiting your precious reactions and I am surprised how many songs of band maid you hadn't reacted to 😅 (March 2024) you really have to do "Onset" and "Choose Me"! And of course "Memorable" and "About Us" .. but beware .. these are ballads ... Really .. I swear! ... Ballads!!! 😂😂

Kanami takes the reigns on this one ... one of the best instrumentals I've heard. But before this one, the live version of "Onset" just shows each and every one of them are a force to be reckoned with. Luv ya work. New subby from Aust.

Another great appreciation of Kanami's superb compositional skills. She really lets her guitar become the vocal element in this piece - and it has a very fine voice! There are 3 other instrumentals on their YT channel (Onset live - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o7yigZCbxLvHYIk.html, Don't Be Long kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rdR_ZrFyyJbafKs.html and Dawn Winery Theme - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y7NieLyn1su4lH0.htmlsi=1NZwXWBu5zt1a8cF) but there's a few more around on other sites, especially the superb 'white room' studio films of them performing instrumentals of many of their songs which were released as bonuses with DVD's.

That is also Mincho on piano as well. And you are right. When an instrumental devotes a guitar to replace the vocal line you have something. It is impressive enough that Kanami writes this music but it is also arranged, mixed and produced by the band. Both MISA and Kanami are trained sound techs. They both know their way around a soundboard. That's just a way to say there is no Rick Rubens in the background producing this amazing music.

Fun watching Herman Li react to this. He loves these girls but having complimented Kanami's playing he gradually drifts into awed silence because he really understand what he's witnessing, before calling Davy 504 out on MISA.

Intelligent, critical, balanced commentary on KZfaq? It’ll never last. 😂 (I hope it does. It’s a great counterpoint to “Oh daym, I wasn’t expecting that - please put a penny in the orgasm-jar.”)

😁

Mark, just do Band Maid for your next 100+ reactions.

has anyone told him that Misa chugs down whisky during lives yet?

I like instrumentals. I like bands like Polyphia amd Animals As Leaders, but like you said there aren't any vocal hooks, ther are no verses, and no story is being told. That's why I love RUSH: they combine great instrumentals with vocals. I stumbled across Band-Maid about two years ago and, at first, I liked what I heard, but I also assumed that farther down the rabbit hole I would find material that was less satidfying. That would be their first album, the one that was all punk-pop songs that were written for them, most of them the members of Band-Maid din't even like. As I listened to more Band-Maid I staerted to realize that their songwriting was improving with time; that they weren't an explosion of talent that dimishes with each succeeding album, but that they were maturing with age and that I should cherish the privilege of watching them ascend the learning curve. I heard "Onset" over a year ago, it blew me away, and I didn't think they could top it. Then they released "From Now On" and that's when my doubts were erased. Band-Maid keeps writing these simple yet interestingly complex songs that stick with you. Their songs have meat on their bones and when they have lyrics, the words have flesh on them, too.

"You can't just solo your way through a five minute effing song"...... Damn Straight, but so many Band-Maid fans want that....... but Kanami is smarter.

I get entirely what you mean about switching between ideas to hold the listeners interest. I suggested Sokoninaru a few videos back and they are a band that does this in spades. If you fancy having your mind blown by an incredible number of ideas executed by three masters of their instrument with awsome harmonies by whichever of them isn't the lead on a track you really should give them a listen: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pJ19rNJz0M-dp58.html is a great place to start. Research will lessen the experience go in cold, come out with your brain fried.

By the way: YOU HAV'NT DONE SAYONAKIDORI ACCOUSTIC VERSION, yet 😂😂😂 ... 2 months later ... You are prepared since you listened to the studio version .. so it's time for the acoustic one ... would be a nice Christmas present because they recorded it during their christmas session 😅

how cute!. getting bored in a band-maid song 😂... I don't think it's possible

You still need to do Thrill.

great reactions....it's not a race... take your time and enjoy making your reactions otherwise you'll get burnt out and we lose a pretty good Reaction guy.

No singer? Angry Larry has left the chat.