Rappa — The Still Gray Future Tape

Band: Rappa
Title: The Still Gray Future
Label: Dead Bir Records, Blackhole
Format: Full-Length Album, Cassette Tape
Country: Japan
Release Date: 2014 (Originally 2012 by HG Fact)
Genre / Style: Hardcore Punk, D-Beat
Streaming Link: Rappa

* Price excludes postage and handling fee.

The Still Gray Future is the debut full-length album by Rappa, a hardcore punk band from Morioka, Japan. Formed by former members of the band GOUKA, Rappa continues the legacy of intense, no-frills hardcore that their previous project was known for. Released by the esteemed Japanese punk label HG Fact in 2012, this album delivers a relentless barrage of sound that encapsulates the raw energy of the Japanese hardcore scene. This cassette version was released by Dead Bir Records and Blackhole in 2014.

Spanning 18 tracks in just over 20 minutes, The Still Gray Future is a masterclass in brevity and intensity. The album is characterized by ferocious d-beat rhythms, metallic guitar tones which adding a layer of heaviness that borders on thrash, raw shouted vocals that convey urgency and aggression and minimalist production.

While specific lyrics are not widely available, the album's title and the band's hardcore roots suggest themes of societal decay, existential dread, and resistance against oppressive systems. The music creates an atmosphere of urgency and defiance, encouraging listeners to confront the bleakness of the modern world head-on.

The Still Gray Future is a potent offering from Rappa, showcasing the band's ability to deliver hardcore punk that is both raw and impactful. For fans of Japanese hardcore and those seeking music that channels pure, unadulterated energy, this album is a must-listen.