The Carbonic Acid song 「リンゴの殺し屋」 (“Ringo no Koroshi-ya), from the mini-album Air Packing Girl (2015), could serve as a template for a certain type of Japanese rock sound. The sound is irresistibly poppy, yet relentlessly heavy. The brainchild of Unlucky Morpheus and UNDEAD CORPORATION guitarist Jinya, the band begins with a formula of memorable high-speed metallic riffs. The catchy vocal melodies eventually morph into unforgettable major key choruses. Naturally, virtuoso instrumentation, including fire-breathing guitar solos, inhabit the entire exercise.

Small details warrant attention as well. The barely audible “ding-ding-ding-ding” percussion in the left channel during the chorus of “Ringo no Koroshi-ya” is production genius. Add the strange, hypnotic, but totally bad-ass vocals of Eren. The result of your formula? A song that forces you to listen to it, then the song that follows, then the one that follows that, and then fire them up all over again. Mesmerizing.