Sambomaster

Sambomaster's knack for writing energetic alt-rock songs with a dash of brass thrown in, as well as the inspired delivery of vocalist Yamaguchi Takashi, made them one of the best hidden secrets of the mid-2000s Japanese rock scene. The trio was founded in 2000 by Yamaguchi Takashi, who also played guitar, and drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi, the two meeting at a university music club and soon picking bassist Yoichi Kondo to cement the lineup. The band started on the perfectionist route, taking a whole year to produce their debut release Kick no Oni (translated as "Kicking Demons"), ou...