SAMURAI PIZZA CATS

SAMURAI PIZZA CATS formed in 2021 in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany, a small area known more for coal mining than for metalcore. Consisting of Daniel Haniß (ELECTRIC CALLBOY),and Sebastian Fischer (vocals) and Stefan Buchwald (FALL OF GAIA),the project picked up speed quickly. Fans showed up early and were drawn to the band's hyperactive mix of metalcore riffs, deathcore punch and electronic twists.

Musically, SAMURAI PIZZA CATS blend metalcore and deathcore, and on their latest album, "Press Start", they don't take themselves too seriously. Throughout the album, big breakdowns crash into synths, punchy guitar riffs collide with bright melodies, and the lyrics often carry a mix of biting humor and darker themes. Even the band's name, taken from a cult anime, hints that this crew likes its metal with a little personality.

"Press Start" is a refreshing listen in the metalcore genre, and their appeal is simply that they sound unique in an often-uniform sounding genre. From the short intro of "Insert Coin" to the death metal howls of "Error 808", SAMURAI PIZZA CATS make it obvious that they are mixing it up and blazing their own path.

Songs such as "Penguin Supreme" feature death metal-like growls and walls of heavy guitars, while "City of Gold" offers a much more melodic song, with singalong melodies and clean vocals. Elsewhere, "Fear No Slice" offers a mix of both, with vocals switching between dark growls and high-pitched singing.

The album is packed with variety. One track leans hard into metalcore chaos, the next swerves into electronic hooks or a massive singalong chorus, breakdowns explode out of nowhere, SAMURAI PIZZA CATS are unafraid to shift gears mid-song, and it keeps the whole record moving. Just when you think you know where a track is heading, the band flips the switch and takes it somewhere else.

A loud, unpredictable ride, "Press Start" is the kind of album that proves SAMURAI PIZZA CATS are trendsetters.