REVIEW

The second EP from Japanese shoegaze / slowcore band nesitivepunch.

Formed in Sendai in 2023, the band consists of bass/vocals, two guitars, and drums—a four-piece outfit of young musicians born in 2004, already carving out a distinct sonic identity.

Their sound fuses the desolate stillness of slowcore, the expansive dynamics of post-rock, and the overwhelming density of shoegaze. Across the record, they favor slow-building structures that gradually accumulate intensity, drawing the listener into a deep, immersive state.

Opening track “Suichuutoshi (Underwater City)” unfolds with drifting arpeggios and restrained rhythm, while spoken-word passages trace fragments of everyday life. As the vocals gain emotional weight, waves of noise gradually swell, turning the performance into something more visceral. Regret and rupture surface as shouted confessions, before the track eventually returns to its initial arpeggios—closing on a note that hints at a return to days of regret.

“Shu-U (Sudden Rain Shower)” is more compact in form, but its impact is immediate. A light, almost fragile introduction collapses into a sudden shower of distortion, echoing the unpredictability of a passing rain shower.

The closing track “Asa (Morning)” further clarifies the band’s core identity. It begins with a cold, wintry stillness, slowly layering delicate textures that pull emotion to the surface. Eventually, the noise peaks and the refrain “Sabisii Sekai / Nanimo Nai Asa (Lonely World / Empty Morning)” repeats like a mantra, expanding a sense of isolation across the entire sonic space.

Rather than relying on immediacy or short-form hooks, nesitivepunch build their impact through extended structures that excavate emotional depth from silence, tension, and release—an approach that defines their appeal.