In under three years, King Gnu transformed from a genre-crossing experimental rock band to a polished J-pop phenomenon—and the quartet did it without sacrificing any of its dynamics. Its third album, 2020’s Ceremony, finally took the band to the top of the Japanese charts, thanks in part to the 2019 single “Hakujitsu” (meaning “bright sun”), which served as the theme song for a popular Japanese TV drama. Frontman Daiki Tsuneta wrote the groovy pop-rock cut from two perspectives—through the eyes of the falsely accused (the concept of the show) and within his own grief after the loss of two friends. Harmonising with co-vocalist Satoru Iguchi—whose soulful, supple vocals helped make the track a karaoke favourite—Tsuneta reflects on past mistakes, embracing the present and looking to the future. Loosely translated, he wonders “if it will get better”. This sentiment is what drives Ceremony, a bright, breathless collection of (slightly hesitant) optimism channelled through King Gnu’s frenetic mix of rock, classical, soul and hip-hop. “Opening Ceremony” kicks it off with triumphant brass before the band bursts through on “Doron”, a horn-filled pop-punk frenzy that lays out modern life’s too-common plights: isolation and endless distraction. As with previous album Sympa, Tsuneta writes about loneliness, connection, and the aim to live authentically, and on Ceremony, he’s feeling especially loquacious. The city—specifically the band’s hometown of Tokyo—is always a launching pad for his observations, but he also finds inspiration in the immense power of nature, as on the stomping rocker “Hikoutei”, where heavy beats and distorted guitar evoke the earthquakes and typhoons he references as reminders of life’s fragility. Mostly though, Ceremony is a celebration of the past and acceptance of whatever the future holds. While the band feels the heavy burden of adulthood on the feverish thriller “Teenager Forever”, King Gnu reveals a newfound maturity with the sweeping ballad “Danjo” and its misty-eyed romanticism. “I want you to be by my side, no matter what the future holds,” Tsuneta croons (in Japanese), singing to a partner perhaps, but also to his ever-growing fan base.