A classic song by The Cro-Magnons. Recommended track.
The Cro-Magnons is a rock band formed around Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, also known from THE BLUE HEARTS and THE HIGH-LOWS.
Carrying on the same straightforward rock ’n’ roll sound from the THE BLUE HEARTS era, their music is passionate and catchy.
In 2019, they drew attention by performing the theme song for the hit drama “Mr.
Hiiragi’s Homeroom (3-nen A-gumi: Ima kara Minasan wa, Hitojichi desu).” In this article, we’ll carefully select and introduce some of their most popular tracks.
Be sure to give them a listen!
A masterpiece by The Cro-Magnons. Recommended songs (1–10)
Love Rock ‘n’ RollNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
A double-time, two-beat groove that leaps over logic and explodes with breakneck momentum: a high-velocity rock ’n’ roll burner.
Released in December 2023 as their 27th single, it also kicked off the album HEY! WONDER.
Written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, this track delivers the energy to charge ahead by embracing “not knowing,” wrapped in a powerful sense of affirmation.
It’s a supremely exhilarating number you’ll want to blast when you just want to have fun without overthinking anything.
There is the great sky.NEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
“Look up and it’s there”—that simple fact resonates with powerful force.
Released as a single in October 2021, it came out as the third installment of the six-month series “SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.” It’s also included on the album SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.
Many listeners will find solace in the lyrical world crafted by Masatoshi Mashima, where childlike purity coexists with adult warmth.
The stripped-down band sound and the buoyant, lively beat lift your spirits.
It’s a song I recommend when you want to reset your mood.
good-for-nothingNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
A number that affirms the existence of someone who may have fallen outside society’s standards.
It’s Gokutsubushi, released in January 2022 as the sixth and final installment of the “Six Consecutive Monthly Singles” project that began in 2021.
In the lyrics written by Hiroto Kōmoto, a palpable life force resides within the wretchedness, stirring the listener’s heart.
The raw, rugged band sound seems to convey that message as-is.
Give it a listen on days when things just don’t go right, or when you feel like you’re no good.
March of LifeNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
If you’ve watched NHK Educational TV’s “Gyogyo-tto Sakana★Star,” you’ll know it.
It’s The Cro-Magnons’ 26th single.
Released in December 2022, it was also included on the album “MOUNTAIN BANANA” released the following year.
There’s an anecdote that a melody Hiroto Kōmoto had been nurturing for some time was completed thanks to his interaction with Sakana-kun.
Its rugged beat, which conveys the vitality of living creatures, and its forward-driving momentum are irresistible.
Packed to the brim with life energy that ties in with the show’s theme, it’s an outstanding rock tune.
Viva! Freedom!!NEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
This piece, notable for its ultra-thick sound, is the opening track of the album “MUD SHAKES,” released in December 2020.
Written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, it’s incredibly cool in the way it doesn’t rely on complicated logic, but simply and wholeheartedly affirms the greatness of “freedom.” Released in 2020, a time when society as a whole felt stifled, this song must have been a source of solace for many fans.
If you need a boost, give it a listen!
The Mole and the BongoNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
Written and composed by Hiroto Kōmoto, this track’s marching, choppy rhythm really amps you up.
Released as a single in November 2021, it was the fourth installment in a six-month consecutive singles project.
It’s also included on the album SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.
The simple, raw, untamed sound is insanely good.
It’s a rock number I recommend when you want a boost without overthinking it.
A drop on the carburetorNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
Written and composed by Hiroto Kōmoto, this track is an insanely cool number driven by a hard-hitting groove of high-speed guitars and harmonica.
Its headlong acceleration, as if charging right up to the breaking point, sets listeners’ hearts ablaze.
Released in September 2025 as their 28th single, it’s also the opening track on the album “JAMBO JAPAN.” Perfect for blasting down the road on a drive or for shaking off everything and getting an instant rush, no questions asked.
Drive, go!NEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
It’s a track packed with the pure fun of rock ’n’ roll, exploding with the very sense of acceleration and liberation promised by its title! Released in August 2021 as the 20th single, it was the memorable first installment of a six-month consecutive release project.
It was later included on the album “SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.” Just listening to it sets your heart racing and fills you with the energy to charge forward without limits.
When you want to blast away worries and gloom, this is the perfect song!
Light DemonNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
It’s a rock number brimming with sparkle and a buoyant, jumping feel.
Written and composed by Hiroto Kōmoto, this piece stands out for its beautiful melody and striking harmonies, giving you a sense that your heart is being released into the sky just by listening.
The lyrics, which straightforwardly express the emotion of “love,” are also captivating, packed with the kind of innocent spirit that’s so characteristic of The Cro-Magnons.
Released in September 2021 as the second installment of a six-month consecutive release project, it was later included on the album “SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.”
Jomon BABYNEW!Za Kuromaniyonzu
“Jomon BABY” is a single released in December 2021, the fifth installment of a six-month consecutive release project.
The lyrics, blending ancient romance with bittersweet feelings of love, leave a strong impression.
Letting yourself sink into the laid-back beat brings a natural, comforting sway to your body.
It’s a gentle track perfect for a relaxing weekend afternoon or a night spent thinking of someone special.
It appears as the closing track on the album “SIX KICKS ROCK&ROLL.” The music video features the band’s first use of CGI.