Nicfit

Nagoya, Japan's Nicfit toss elements of no wave and noise-rock into their bracing version of punk without sacrificing any of their rambunctious energy. The band's 2022 debut album Fuse balanced their respect for punk's roots (it even featured a <a href="spotify:artist:0fWJsXOUH83NNlUuVcszVK">Urinals</a> cover) and their forward-looking need to shake things up.

Nicfit formed in 2009 shortly after guitarist Charley moved from San Diego to Nagoya to explore Japan's thriving punk scene. With vocalist Hiromi, bassist KenKen, and drummer Kuwayama in the fold, the bandmembers found common ground in their shared love of legendary acts such as <a href="spotify:artist:5Mhs3Eu8lU6sRCtRYsmABV">Black Flag</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2i8ynmFv4qgRksyDlBgi6d">Wire</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4VuMnSnoTGrma3a79UhfMs">Magazine</a>. Not long after forming, they self-released a four-song demo and opened for bands such as <a href="spotify:artist:5vjPLkDLdB76i8EO1PFOT6">Total Control</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5sPayYOd3qYZzvMWdmGfog">DMBQ</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3qYfqdVwX0fil71onLpLkh">Thee Oh Sees</a>. Nicfit's debut 7", "Swell," appeared on Tokyo's Black Cube label in 2014 and featured a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:7GbMKpjxObo2JZGvKQovjr">Suburban Lawns</a>' "Janitor." The following year, the label issued Nicfit's split cassette with Pinprick Punishment. In 2019, the band collaborated with M.A.Z.E. on a split 7" that was mastered by <a href="spotify:artist:5vjPLkDLdB76i8EO1PFOT6">Total Control</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:2oeu1S18kSQkVZC7lqCl3M">Mikey Young</a>. Two years later, the French label Sorcerer released a self-titled collection of Nicfit's short-form releases. To make their debut album, the band recorded at Toyota City's Geru Studio. Arriving in January 2022 on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Upset+the+Rhythm%22">Upset the Rhythm</a>, Fuse's cleaner production sharpened the edges of Nicfit's music. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi