When language doesn't matter

I believe that good music must be accompanied by meaningful and deep lyrics (Rage Against The Machine, Tool, A Perfect Circle, etc) but what are you supposed to do when the language is foreign to you?

I’ve always loved Rammstein’s music but they sing in German – so what? Their lyrics are quite silly for  my usual standards (after shortly researching into it) but the music and the imagery Rammstein’s videos provide make up entirely for the silliness in their lyrics. Just check Ich Will (bank robbery gone bad...or not), Sonne (Snow White’s malevolent version), Du Riechst So Gut (werewolf tale), Amerika (fake moon landing...oops gave up the ending, sorry!) and Keine Lust (fatties with hot chicks rocking it hard) – you won’t give a toss about the random lyrics (although Amerika is very clever in all senses) after you experience the brilliance of the sound and vision they entail.

Recently, another band made me feel the same, this time from Japan and it’s not Dir En Grey but Maximum The Hormone. A friend of mine said that they are the Japanese version of System of a Down, and another one said they are like Korn...Guys: do you know any heavy guitarist performing in slippers?...and socks? Even during gigs? UNBELIEVABLE...I laughed until I cried watching it...Music-wise yes, they do sound quite 00’s nu-metal but they do retain their own identity. Lyric-wise...it’s all Japanese to me! But just like Rammstein, their music and videos provide all the attention and awesomeness you need to adore this band. The female drummer’s voice is quite melodic, and they produce a variety of sounds: from poppy Koi no Mega Lover, heavy What’s Up People, to anthems Zetsubou Billy and Buiikikaesu, and semi-anime masterpiece Bikini Sports Ponchin. I hope they’ll just visit the UK soon – their live clips on YouTube look really exciting!

Hail the new kings, Maximum The Hormone, baby! They’ve haunted my mp3 player for a good 3-month period now!