Nikoん share video for “さまpake”, announce new album ‘fragile Report’

My first memory of Nikoん was late at night at a venue in Toronto, the crowd thinned and the energy started waning until the three piece band stirred up one hell of a storm. Guitarist Mitsuho Osuka flew around the stage, ripping these insane riffs with absolute ease – cannonballed off the stage, more than enough to bring the audience back to life. Then bassist Manami Ogaki stepped up to the microphone and took lead vocals for a track, and people literally gasped. What ensued was her powerful voice booming over a killer groove, leaving Osuka to shred even harder. That song was “さまpake”, which was just released as a single. Its recorded version packs a similar punch, accentuated even more by a vocal assist from Ayumi Hirose and Rene Kato from Sabanoomisony.

“さまpake” comes from Nikoん’s upcoming second record, fragile Report, due out September 24th. A bit more on Nikoん, originally members of Teenager Kick Ass, Osuka and Ogaki expanded their sound beyond what that band represented and formed Nikoん. Their music has matured, and in many ways mellowed out, but the band’s punk rock and DIY roots have never faded, and in fact have only grown stronger. For their first record, Public Melodies, they sought to cut out streaming services and release the record only on CD at shows, or via a download form, directly through them. They’re following a similar path for fragile Report. No streaming, it will only be available on CD. While that’s tough news for us overseas who dig the duo’s sound, it’s still possible to purchase via a proxy or even through Amazon in Japan. You can check those options here. If the first single and their track record says anything, it’s that it’ll be worth the effort to get your hands on fragile Report, and while you’re at it, grab a copy of Public Melodies.

Connect with Nikoん: x / insta / site
Mitsuho Osuka: insta
Manami Ogaki: x / insta / site