Japanese rock band BURNOUT SYNDROMES, composed of vocalist and guitarist Kazuumi Kumagai, bassist Taiyu Ishikawa, and drummer Takuya Hirose, enthralled the crowd with their high-energy show at the Crossroad Center in Quezon City. Marking the 10th anniversary of their major label debut, the concert showcased a powerful 16-song setlist. It was the band’s first time in Manila, and judging from the extremely warm reception they received here, it seems like it would not be the last.
BURNOUT SYNDROMES have made their mark in the anime community by producing high-octane, melodic rock tracks that became defining soundtracks to their respective series titles. In 2016, the band made their soaring debut with “FLY HIGH!!” which served as the opening theme of the 2nd season of the highly popular anime Haikyu!!, eventually becoming a fan favorite. From then on, their Haikyu!! connection flourished even more when their songs “Hikariare” and “PHOENIX” became the soundtracks for the show’s subsequent seasons. Maintaining this momentum, they also contributed tracks for Gintama (2018), Dr. Stone (2019), Super HxEros (2020) and Those Snow White Notes (2021).
In turn, the Filipino anime fan community did their part as they filled the venue for the band’s first ever concert in Manila. Many were decked in their favorite team’s volleyball jerseys, holding out the mini character plushies and figures. Hours before the show, the band held photo-ops as well as a hi-touch session with selected fans.
Opening act fuyu, a newly formed pop duo comprised of Fumiya and Yukan, heated things up with their mellow tracks like “Iikot ang Mundo”, “Dream Together” and “Sabay”. Hailing from Japan, the duo entertained the crowd with their friendly banter, and their sweet mix of Filipino-English- Japanese songs.
When BURNOUT SYNDROMES entered the stage, the first thing that Taiyu did was to raise his hands, motioning for the audience to stand up. People were more than delighted to do so, and they remained standing until the end of the show. Wasting no time, the band played instant fire-starters, including “BLIZZARD”, “Hikariare” and “Good Morning World!”.
“So empty your heart, ride the wind and get a running start. Hop! Step! Jump!”
The best way to describe BURNOUT SYNDROMES’ concert in Manila was through these precise lyrics from “FLY HIGH!!”. The proper way to enjoy their music was to let go of your inhibitions, and just let the music flow through you. Rightfully, the Filipino crowd hit the mark as they sang along and jumped to the songs.
For their part, the trio’s synergy was astounding. Kazuumi Kumagai’s intense vocals soared and softened to the melodies, his riffs never faltering one bit. He took the time to speak to the crowd, if only to introduce a song or thank them. Bassist Taiyu Ishikawa was designated as the official Hype Man, pumping up the crowd’s excitement by constantly spurring on their cheers, and sometimes translating Kazuumi’s words. Drummer Takuya Hirose was a beaming presence at the back, keeping the heavy beats flowing from start to finish. The three of them relished the crowd’s overwhelming energy, and it was palpable in the way their music reverberated throughout the venue.
BURNOUT SYNDROMES’ diverse musicality was also put on a much-appreciated spotlight. Except for their anime bangers, they have an incredible discography. “Mt. Wakakusa Starmine” highlighted the band’s creative take on the fireworks festival, infused with traditional Japanese instruments. “Elevator Girl” was a gripping narrative/rant song that was propelled by its angsty rap-like delivery. “Highscoregirl” emphasized their playful side as it incorporated the classic arcade elements like the infamous cheat code (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start). Their lighter, more tender side showed in “Kimi no Tame no Music” (Music for You). They even have EDM-infused tracks in the form of “BABEL” and “ORIGAMI”.
To commemorate their 10th year debut anniversary, the band recently released a special cover album for Haikyu! on Haikyu Day, August 19. Taiyu acknowledged the anime’s great contribution to their musical career and called it the best volleyball anime ever. Filipino fans were in for a surprise as they played two songs from the album which were SPYAIR’s “Imagination” and Tacica’s “Leo”.
It wasn’t until near the end of the set when they played their number-one hit (thus far) “FLY HIGH!!” which Kazuumi called their trademark song. As if to fuel the crowd’s already off-the-charts excitement, the screen started flashing the Romanized lyrics. It was a wonderful moment when the entire crowd turned into a loud karaoke choir as the orange and yellow confetti rained down.
BURNOUT SYNDROMES capped off the evening with the optimistic “Good Morning (New) World!” and with a promise to come back soon.
Special thanks to Wish Us Luck Entertainment!
by Sandra Mae Laureano
Leave a Reply