[Popular Songs by SHANK] Straight Outta Nagasaki! A Showcase of Masterpieces from the Melodic Hardcore Band

Mind Games feat. HEY-SMITHSHANK

Mind Games feat. HEY-SMITH

Overflowing with a sense of speed, this melodic punk track is brought to life with vibrant horn arrangements by HEY-SMITH and is included on the album STEADY, released in January 2022.

Its English lyrics depict the mind games and inner conflicts that unfold in relationships and within oneself.

Because it was written during the challenging COVID-19 era, its message carries real weight.

At the Nagoya and Osaka dates of the STEADY TOUR 2022, Osaka rock band HEY-SMITH joined as special guests, delivering a fiery performance with their horn section.

It’s a song that gives you a push forward when you need the courage to face everyday struggles.

MovieSHANK

Movie

A roughly one-and-a-half-minute short tune whose driving two-beat and catchy melody hit you right in the chest.

It’s the second track on the album “Baitfish Attitude,” released in December 2013, and its seamless transition from the previous song kicks the early-album excitement into high gear.

The lyrics reflect the band’s real day-to-day life as they tour nationwide from their base in Nagasaki, and—together with an arrangement clearly crafted for live sing-alongs—set listeners’ hearts ablaze.

In 2020, they self-covered it in an acoustic setup, with a more spacious arrangement that lets every single word of the lyrics resonate more deeply.

It’s a song that has your back when you want to face forward in tough times or stand firm together with your friends.

SandpaperSHANK

SHANK / Sandpaper (MUSIC VIDEO)

This track was included as the B-side to the single “Midnight Grow,” released in January 2024 under the band’s new lineup.

As their first recorded material with new drummer Naoki Hayakawa, it aims for a sound that sits between straight-up melodic hardcore and an acoustic arrangement.

The lyrics, which portray a desire to stay sincere while accepting one’s imperfections, are also memorable.

The guitar solo—less about sheer speed than before and exuding a mature confidence—is another highlight.

If you’d like to experience the band’s new level of maturity, be sure to give it a listen.

Tonight the Streets Are OursSHANK

Tonight the Streets Are Ours

It’s not just about momentum—this is a track brimming with expansiveness and exhilaration.

Featured on the December 2013 album “Baitfish Attitude,” this song is a cover of an original by British singer-songwriter Richard Hawley, rearranged brilliantly by SHANK into a melodic hardcore style.

Carrying a message of fearless feeling and the sense that tonight this town is ours, Shohei Ihara’s clear, soaring vocals deliver it with power.

Among an album packed with intense melodic hardcore, this track brings a positive sense of release.

Its breezy rhythm makes you want to race through the city, and it’s full of the kind of appeal that makes you want to sing along with everyone at a live show.

Life is …SHANK

SHANK / “Life is…” Music Video

This track, included on the album Honesty released in January 2017, condenses the melodic hardcore appeal that SHANK embodies into a single song.

While the opening speaks of life in a negative light, the chorus declares that only the bond with someone precious illuminates existence—a structure that captures the raw reality of youths living with contradictions.

Shohei Ihara’s powerful vocals riding over a rapid-fire beat, together with tight riffs, create a rush that produces multiple peaks in their live shows.

When you need the courage to face a chaotic everyday life, the intensity of this song is sure to push you forward.

RestartSHANK

SHANK 「Restart」

This track, the second on the album ‘Tiny Square Room,’ is packed with sharp hits and is simply awesome! It’s guaranteed to get us pumped when we play it ourselves.

If you’re looking for a song that will fire up your live show, this is it!

time is…SHANK

Time is…

This song, included as the fourth track on the album “Tiny Square Room.” From the guitar’s bridge-muted parts and the vocal section, it surges into an intense B-melody and then the chorus.

The tempo isn’t particularly fast, but the song overflows with power.