Realized – Proud Of Fire Flag EP
Alright, let me tell ya about this beast of an EP from Realized. It’s called Proud Of Fire Flag, and holy hell, it hits hard. Released in 2020 outta Japan on two killer labels—Awesome Mosh Power Records and Bloodbath Records—this thing is pure grindcore fury with a rock backbone that just doesn’t quit. The lineup? Tight as hell: Kanja on bass, Azegami smashing drums like his life depends on it, Mito shredding guitar riffs that feel like razorblades to the brain, and Matsumura screaming his guts out like he’s exorcising demons. This ain’t for the faint-hearted.
Now, I gotta talk tracks because there’s no way I can cover all four without rambling forever. First up, the title track, “Proud Of Fire Flag.” Man, this one kicks you in the teeth right off the bat. The intro feels like someone lit a fuse, and by the time the vocals kick in, you’re already running for cover. Matsumura’s voice is raw, pissed-off, but somehow still melodic enough to stick in your head long after the chaos fades. And those blast beats? Azegami’s got hands made of steel or something. You don’t just listen to this track—you survive it. Every time I hear it, I get flashbacks to mosh pits I’ve never even been in (thanks, global pandemic). That’s how visceral it feels.
Then there’s “描いた未来と無くした未来へ” (yeah, good luck pronouncing that if you’re not fluent). This one’s different—it’s slower, darker, more brooding. Like staring into a void while the world crumbles around you. Mito’s guitar work here is haunting, weaving these eerie melodies that crawl under your skin. When the song explodes halfway through, it’s like waking up from a nightmare only to realize you’re still trapped inside it. Kanja’s basslines rumble beneath everything, grounding the chaos in this weirdly hypnotic way. Honestly, it’s the kind of track that makes you wanna scream at the sky or punch a wall—or maybe both.
The other two tracks, “It’s About Time” and “Infinite Scorn In Our Hearts,” are solid too, but they didn’t hit me quite as hard. Still brutal though—don’t get me wrong. Realized knows what they’re doing when it comes to crafting noise that demands attention.
Here’s the thing: listening to Proud Of Fire Flag isn’t just hearing music; it’s experiencing something primal. These guys aren’t trying to reinvent grindcore—they’re perfecting it. They take everything great about the genre and crank it up to eleven. By the end of the EP, you’re left breathless, kinda shaken, and honestly wondering why more people aren’t talking about this band.
Oh, and random thought: if grindcore had a flag, I think it’d look a lot like whatever the hell’s going on in their album art. Just saying.
