The "Metal Popularization Committee" will launch a tour inviting DEVOLVED from Australia. So what is the Metal Popularization Committee? Are they actually active at spreading metal? In this interview, I spoke with Sab from SUNS OWL and Jibi from Bat Cave, the ringleaders of this committee, to uncover the whole picture. I even had them to familiarize metal for me, being a 3% metal person!

―Today, I'm hoping for you two to familiarize metal for the Roof Top Magazine Editor Araki (myself) who doesn't know metal at all. Please have a kind heart!

Sab &Jibi: Greetings!

―First of all, what is the Metal Popularization Committee? What does it consist of?

Sab: It's not consisted of anything! (laughs).

Jibi: Yup (laughs). It was a joke while I was touring with Suns Owl when I was in a former band member. A roady at the time wrote "Metal Popularization Committee" on a change box at a merchandise table. That's it (laughs). It became an event, with this being the 2nd event.

―It's an advancement (laughs).

Sab: So, it doesn't really have a deep meaning.

―No, no, no, the purpose is to popularize metal more and more, which you can't stop loving, and make the world a better place to live for you two. It's a first step based on a magnificent plan, so I need you to understand it (laughs).

Sab: Huh, I see, that's splendid!

―Then, why did you start it with the two bands, Suns Owl and Bat Cave?

Sab: It just happened. We were friends before we were in bands.

Jibi: We used to be metal DJs (laughs).

―I see. So, you've been spreading metal even before the flotation of the committee. When was it?

Jibi: It was more than 10 years ago. I simply loved metal so much then. Well, I was playing metal but something along the lines of S.O.D. and stuff. I intimidated customers with that kind of old slash metal.

Sab: That event was an all genre event with house, hip hop, etc,....and then all the sudden, metal!!

―Well, it's kind of a basic question, but is there analogue (meaning LP) in metal?

Jibi: Yes, there is! But there's a problem with sound in analogue, so CDs would be better. You don't get an aggressive sounds in analogue.

―When did you actually get into metal?

Sab: I actually like all kinds of music including metal.

Jibi: I liked BOWY (laugh).

Sab: X was the first band I liked as far as metal goes.

―So, you started with those bands,...and how did you get yourself soaked into metal? Jibi: It was a natural flow. I was seeking something stronger for voice, sound and rhythm, and eventually I ended up with metal.

Sab: Yup, exactly. Well, we just say "metal" like it's one genre but its so different among its genre. They have different shapes. Metal now and metal back in the day are different, too.

Jibi: It's different in from country to country. They have different atmospheres for performances and crowds.

―It might sound ordinary, but you are expressing the music you like in your bands?

Sab: Yes. Members might have different thoughts, but it's an expression of what you like in whatever shapes you like.

Jibi: It's the same for us, too. The sounds have been changed since we started. It's more towards rock. But we didn't do that to fit the audience. We naturally like rock music. We like it more and more than when we liked it at first. Some might say we are getting older (laugh). I like the directness. Nirvana is considered rock in a wide range. Something like that. There are young kids who listen to metal and there are some people who think "this is metal!" just hearing our tunes, not knowing old metal. It might seem weird being over 30 years old. So, I'm just saying "Metal Popularization Commitee" because I like metal, but it doesn't mean "Bat Cave itself IS metal!" We don't care if they don't consider us as metal.

―You like what you like.

Jibi: Of course!

Sab: It's the same for us, but our roots are metal.

Jibi: Yeah, I like metal but I also like metal with a mix of ethnic music such as Sepultura. I don't care. Just a huge range of metal.

―But don't you go back to the aggressive metal?

Sab: It happens. I listen to music that is synthesized but it doesn't touch my heart. I need real guitar, rhythm, and voice.

Jibi: I need at least rhythm and voice. I like synth, but it needs something real to add on top of it.

Sab: It's not enough for me. That might be the reason why we are metal.

Jibi: There is something about us which you think is similar to Suns Owl but it actually isn't. That is, they challenge the limitation as human beings. Such as, how many times they can play twin pedal, how many times they can strum the guitar strings, and etc. It's a fast one compared to drugs. Downer. We are more towards rock n' roll. But what are has as basis in the same.

Sab: We don't really care about speed or the strumming but it just happened to be that way. We might be adopting that kinds of sensation into music.

Jibi: It's a quest for feeling good. I feel good listening to Suns Owl's music. There are many kinds of metal. It's very interesting.

Sab: It'll be cool and interesting if metal or loud music rises up. The "Metal Popularization Committee is a part of that festival.

―I thought it meant something to start that with 2 bands.

Jibi: It means we can finally have a match. Well, we could do better.

Sab: The odds are not bad, but don't think metal can be blown off in 15 minutes. It's simply a joy to play for a long period of time. It's something little but I think it's very important.

Jibi: We are both like "we play until we die!" at shows just like punk or rock. We sweat so much. I want you to see that. There are a lot of people who like heavy music. Slipknot is selling so many albums. Even we think we are as good as them, musically. There are many people who still are building a wall between Japanese and Foreign in the metal scene. We want to destroy that wall and we are the only ones who can do it! Well, someone might smack me for saying that.

Sab: But it's changing gradually. After knowing many different bands, I realized that there are a lot of great bands in Japan. I want people to know that. I want to bring those bands up from the underground to "the over-ground." We also don't want to stop where we are at.

Jibi: I agree. Also, I want people who listen to different genres of music to listen us. I wouldn't say everybody will, but I have confidence that they will feel something. Therefore, it spreads. I want it to spread not vertically, but horizontally.

Sab: I think this is the beginning.

Jibi: I'd do anything to make them listen to our music such as fashions and images. Yes, metal is cool.

―What are your future plan?

Jibi: Bat Cave will release a new album, "Bat's Song" on September 21st. We will do an America tour within this year.

Sab: Suns Owl is doing an Australia tour with Devolved after the Metal Popularization Committee tour in about 3 weeks.