YENFOR absolutely blew me away the moment I first listened to their EPs. There is something about this band that ticks all the right boxes: musical skill, clever ideas, fun, epicness - the list goes on..
There are so many new bands which sound eerily similar to each other, and I was actually waiting for that kind of approach to metalcore YENFOR dared to go with.
Their sound is hard to pin down to just one genre, it blends nu-metal and heavy hardcore with elements of doomy/sludgy beatdown, classic metal guitar parts, stompy bits and unpretentious vocals so well! This fusion is a rarity, especially in today's hardcore scene, and YENFOR pulls it off seamlessly.
They are undeniably skilled musicians and yet they manage to expand the formula of a typical hardcore/metalcore band without losing the essence and realness. That raw energy which many bands tend to overlook.
It might sound like too much for one band, but YENFOR execute it all perfectly - and, perhaps most impressively, they avoid falling into a cheesiness, which often comes with overindulgence.
When I found out they'd be playing a live show in Japan when I was visiting, supporting US Inclination on their Bloodaxe Tour, alongside Japanese HC legends Eternal B, I was beyond excited. The gig turned out to be an incredible mix of bands, also held in a small venue, my favorite setting for a gig. The other supports, C-Gate and Torture Smile were also fantastic, but YENFOR really stole the show for me.
Their set was like an electrifying punch to the gut, and honestly, I could almost hear the ramen I'd had earlier that day screaming with joy! I had high expectations for them live and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. To be honest, they completely exceeded them.
I'm eagerly awaiting what they'll do next. They are just getting started and I'm beyond curious how they will evolve.
If this band has piqued your interest, I'm thrilled to share the interview we did and reveal a bit more about their background and plans. I hope you'll enjoy reading it, and most importantly, I hope you'll give their music a listen!
Hi guys, it was such a pleasure to meet you back in September in Tokyo and to see your band live. Awesome gig! And a cool venue too. Shall we start by introducing the band? Who are the members and when did you get together as a band?
Thank you so much for checking us from England. We are YENFOR from Tokyo. We recognise ourselves as a Metalic Hardcore band.
Members are Shusei (Vo.), Hiroki (Gt.), Kei (Gt.), Joriko (Me, Ba.) and Tajima (Dr.).
We started this band in 2023.
What's the story behind the band's name? Does it have any meaning and how did you come up with it?
YENFOR is based on an English phrase yen for. YEN has many meanings in Japanese, not just a currency (for ex. connections, circle, smoke...) We feel attracted to such expansive meaning too.
Your musical skills and craftsmanship are impressive, especially considering how young you guys are. What's your musical background? And btw, how old are you?
We are 26 years old now, except for Kei, he's 23.
We all went to the same university and met at the music club. We covered Metalcore, Heavy Metal and HC bands, such as Knocked Loose, Hatebreed, Converge, Counterparts... Each member has a different music background, but bands that we covered in university definitely show up in our songs and playing style.
Are the members involved or been involved in any other projects?
Kei also plays guitar in View from The Soyuz and Joriko sometimes plays bass for friends (Indignation, Sugar).
Now, please tell me a bit more about your first and second release. When was it recorded and who was involved? Are your EPs also available in physical format or only digitally?
The first EP was recorded at the beginning of 2023. We recorded it in Hiroki's apartment.
Nari from View From The Soyuz helped us with 2 releases after our first EP. These are recorded, mixed and mastered by him. However, we never released the physical format yet. We plan to release our new EP in physical format (hopefully coming out next summer).
What inspires you to write and play music? What is your music about?
We are inspired by Slipknot, Pantera, Trivium, Tool in metallic play, and put some chaotic essence from Sanction, Converge, Vain FM and Misery Signals.
Our music is like "Metalheads play Hardcore".
Even though we sound like metal, our biggest intention in music is Groove and Dance.
Another question which I really wanted to ask, as a younger generation of people who are drawn into heavy and aggressive music, where is your rage coming from? What drives you? What are you angry about?
I feel uncomfortable and feel anger in society that doesn't have enough respect and don't care about others. We express struggle about being normal within society and overcome our weakness for making a better life.
Do you play loads of live shows? Are there any particular bands you share the stage with often?
We play 2 - 3 gigs every month but we've never gone outside Tokyo, so we really wanna play other places (give us an offer!!)
We play with Tokyo's HC bands in general, we don't have any particular band that we play together with a lot.
Lastly, any future plans? Upcoming releases/tours?
We are aiming to release our second EP this year!
We will release a physical format as well!!
Thank you, guys again for the great talk and I am already looking forward to your new recordings and live shows. I wish you all the best for the future.
See you in the pit!
Check out this link for YENFOR social media and music on streaming platforms 👇👇👇
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