Reborn Superstar!
Reborn Superstar! (Japanese: 来世は偉人, Hepburn: Raise wa Ijin!) is the second studio album by Japanese metalcore band Hanabie,[1][2] released on July 26, 2023.[2][3] The album was released under Epic Records Japan a subsidiary of Sony Music Japan. It is also the first album to be released under a major label with all previously albums by the band being independent releases. The album received international recognition for it's unique take on metalcore and was covered in various media outlets across US and Europe, resulting in various musical festival appearances by the band as well as their first EU and US tours. Commercially, it received moderate success, shipping 1956 units within the first week of release and ranked 24th on the Billboard Japan's weekly album charts.[4] The cover art was made by digital illustrator Ponko.
Reborn Superstar! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 26, 2023 | |||
Genre | Metalcore | |||
Length | 29:15 | |||
Language | Japanese | |||
Label | Epic Records Japan | |||
Hanabie. chronology | ||||
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Background
In July 2023, Hanabie performed at the Japanese music festival Satanic Carnival.[5] During the performance the band announced that they had signed with Sony Music Japan followed by an announcement of a new album.[6] The name of the album and the release date was revealed via a video skit uploaded on the band's official YouTube. Four of the ten songs in the album were released prior to the album as digital singles. "Neet Game" was release in August 2022, "Pardon Me I Have to Go Now" was released in January 2023 followed by "Run Away" and "Be the Gal (early summer version)" in June and July respectively.
Writing and composition
Much of Reborn Superstar! was written by Yukina and Matsuri, who composed the music as well as wrote the lyrics, except "Blast Off" which was solely composed by Matsuri and "Me, the Ultimate Invader of the Universe" which was written by bassist Hettsu along with Matsuri. A plurality of songs on the album were written around the theme of 'Space', marking the first time the band wrote an album around a particular concept.[7] In an interview to Rolling Stones Japan the band admitted that they were aiming for a sparkly sound and used synths to this effect.[8] The decision to have a 'space' theme was later taken during the writing process as it suited the synth heavy sound they already had in some of the songs. In another interview Matsuri stated that the songs in their earlier albums were written when the memebers were still in high school and consequently were rather hard edged, and in Reborn Superstar they were aiming for a different sound instead of strictly adhering to the metalcore genre. According to Yukina, they wanted to make something which "even the people who do not like metal song would be interested in".[7] While composing the songs Matsuri designed sections where the bass parts could be highlighted because, according to her own admission, there was not enough opportunities for Hettsu to express herself in their previous album. [7]
Release and promotion
Prior to the release of the album, a promotional event "Orihime Who Ran Away" was held in the month on July. The event was based on song "Tousou" which was released as single in the same month and would also be included in the album. As a part of the event the band members hid across various locations in Tokyo, while the fans tried to find them based on hints posted on the social media. The winners were received event exclusive merchandise as rewards as well as a pictures with the members which were also shared on the band's official X account.[9]
Reborn Superstar! was released by Sony Music Japan under their sub-label Epic Records Japan on July 26, 2023. Two version of the album were simultaneously released, a 'regular edition' which only included the audio CD and a 'limited edition' which was shipped with a Blu-ray containing behind the scenes footage and interviews with the members. The album was sold through various online and offline outlets including Amazon Japan, Rakuten Books, All Tower Record Store, Seven Net Shopping and the band's official website. Additional rewards were included with the album based on the outlet it was bought from. In Germany, the album was released on August 26, 2023 via Century Media.[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metal Hammer Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Soundmagnet | 7.5/10 |
Reborn Superstar! received overall positive reviews upon release with critics praising it for the band's unique take on metalcore. Eleanor Goodman of Metal Hammer Magazine pointing to the fusion metalcore sound of Hanabie. remarked "Mashing furious, stomping metalcore with dizzy electronica and fun, colourful aesthetics, Hanabie are the breath of fresh air metal needs".[12] While Metal.de commented upon the album's colorful aesthetics and intense metalcore sound remarking "Hanabie underpin their Japano madness with crashing metalcore, Reborn Superstar! is contagious with it's energy".[13] Soundmagnet praised the album's 'Harajuku-core' sound for being unconventional and innovative.[14] Critic Susan K. while writing for Soundmagnet also pointed out the fusion of electronic and metal elements and tempo changes in the album drawing comparisons with Maximum the Hormone.[14]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Yukina, Matsuri; all music is composed by Matsuri, Yukina, except track 7 which is composed by Matsuri and Hettsu
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Blast Off" | 1:03 |
2. | "Hyperdimension Galaxy" (超次元ギャラクシー) | 4:44 |
3. | "Neet Game" | 2:49 |
4. | "This Is the Year to Be a Gal" (Early Summer version; 今年こそギャル ~初夏 ver.~) | 3:14 |
5. | "Tales of Villain" | 3:41 |
6. | "Warning!!" | 3:25 |
7. | "I Am the Most Powerful Invader Girl in the Universe" (我は宇宙最強のインベーダーちゃんである; Me, the Ultimate Invader of the Universe) | 1:41 |
8. | "Run Away" (Tousou) | 2:51 |
9. | "Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu" (お先に失礼します。; Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now.) | 3:10 |
10. | "Today's Good Day & So Epic" | 2:37 |
Total length: | 29:15 |
Charts
Chart (2023) | Peak
position |
---|---|
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[15] | 34 |
Japanese Albums (Billboard Japan)[4] | 24 |
References
- "花冷え。、メジャーデビューアルバムを引っ提げUSAツアー開催". Barks (in Japanese). 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- "来世は偉人!(BD付)/花冷え。 本・漫画やDVD・CD・ゲーム、アニメをTポイントで通販 | TSUTAYA オンラインショッピング". shop.tsutaya.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- "Raise wa Ijin! [w/ Blu-ray, Limited Edition] Hanabie. CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- "【舞台裏トーク】<SATANIC CARNIVAL>花冷え。が語る夢の実現と未来「スタンスは変わらず、目指すところも変わらず」". BARKS (in Japanese). 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- "花冷え。、7/26にメジャーデビューAL『来世は偉人!』リリース決定 | Daily News". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- "花冷え。が語る、突然変異型メタルコアの裏側、「やったるぞ!」精神". マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- "【花冷え。 インタビュー】宇宙まで飛び出していけるように進んでいきたい | OKMusic". okmusic.jp. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- Inc, Natasha. "花冷え。メジャーデビュー飾る「来世は偉人!」詳細発表、メンバーは七夕に都内を逃走". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-27.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - Florian Schaffer (2023-07-18). "HANABIE.: neues Album "Reborn Superstar!" am 26. August 2023". Vampster (in German). Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/hanabie-reborn-superstar-review.
{{cite web}}
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(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Goodmanpublished, Eleanor (2023-08-16). "Videogames, office rage and, erm, sweets: inside the wild and colourful world of Hanabie, Japan's next metal superstars in waiting". louder. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- "HANABIE. - Reborn Superstar! Review auf metal.de". metal.de. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- Susanne (2023-07-28). "Hanabie - Reborn Superstar! - Album Review". Soundmagnet (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- "2023年07月24日~2023年07月30日 オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 31~40位". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2023-10-26.