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It’s not every day that I get to write about my favorite band in conjunction with my passion for Japanese popular culture, yet here we are for a second time after BEASTARS fan Damiano David and his crew met up with mangaka Paru Itagaki back in September while on tour in Japan.

January 20, 2023 saw the release of Italian rock group Måneskin’s third full studio album RUSH!, containing such bangers as “GOSSIP” featuring Tom Morello, “SUPERMODEL”, “THE LONELIEST” and my personal favorite “BABY SAID”, and several high-profile Japanese creators had something to say about its power and charm.

RUSH! Album Cover

RELATED: BEASTARS Mangaka Paru Itagaki Meets and Illustrates Italian Rock Band Måneskin

First up is Itagaki becoming a fan in return, with a particular fondness for the “GASOLINE” track:

“It’s like a young lion’s roar. Damiano’s vocals cut right into the hearts of listeners, and I feel like I can do anything after listening to this album!”

She was joined by Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima, an avid media consumer that had this to say:

RUSH! by Måneskin really is that good. Whether it’s through Walkman or CD, I listen to it on heavy rotation for weeks at a time while traveling and working. The groove, the rhythm, the melody… it has the ability to pick you up and makes you dance and feel. I love it! The visuals are great, too. I haven’t been to one of their concerts yet, but they look fun! The album is sure to do well.

Then there’s fellow music icon SUGIZO, best known for the opening theme of Attack on Titan Season 3 and most recently forming THE LAST ROCKSTARS rock supergroup:

“Rock is not dead!!

They are the passion of Gen Z and will revive the glamor and bewitching style of rock!

I couldn’t be more stoked!

Rock is really back!!”

And finally, renowned rock critic Reiko Yukawa had this to say as well:

“It has a nice sound. I like it.

The songs are performed so smoothly in both Italian and English, yet they also hit deeply.

It’s perfunctory, sincere and unabashed in how it compels the listener.

Visually and musically, they have all the ingredients to become a supergroup.

That’s why they can sing ‘If I Can Dream'”

RELATED: YOSHIKI, HYDE, SUGIZO and MIYAVI Form THE LAST ROCKSTARS Band

With this amount of global momentum and popularity among Japanese music fans, will we get to see another Western artist break into mainstream anime just as Savage Garden, Avril Lavigne, Freddie Mercury and others have before them? Only time will tell.

Source: Comic Natalie

Der shy man behind @Shymander, Liam is a timezone-fluid Aussie with a distinct fondness for anime, Eurovision and creating odd stats projects despite hating math.