Since the early 2000s, waterweed have been pioneers of Japan’s screamo and post-hardcore scenes. With their latest release, waterweed had dropped Deep inside + Unknown best, a 15-song single and best-of album that includes their track “Deep Inside”, which is the ending theme to the popular anime series Kingdom. The music video for “Deep Inside” was also released to celebrate the release of the album.

When the latest season of Kingdom began broadcasting in Japan in April 2020 with “Deep Inside” as its ending theme, waterweed began to trend on Twitter, bringing a new wave of attention for this groundbreaking band. However, just as waterweed were preparing to rise to new levels of success, the ongoing pandemic struck, forcing them to cancel their plans for live performances and releases – resulting in a difficult year for them and many others.

The broadcast of Kingdom was also temporarily put on hold due to the effects of the pandemic. The series finally resumed in spring 2021. Produced in a world that was beginning to overcome the pandemic, the storyline has the characters confronting a major adversity – the biggest they have ever had to face. The lyrics to “Deep Inside” match this subject matter perfectly.

Roughly translated into English, the lyrics include lines such as “When faced with hardship, look ahead, and you can overcome the pain” and “We’ve lost so much, but that is all the more reason to smile.” Such lyrics portray the feeling of going up against a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, while the title is a reference to reaching into the depths of one’s heart. Strangely, while the song appears to reference the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, even though it was actually written before the global pandemic began.

As a dedicated live band, waterweed have shown their passion and support for Japan’s live music venues, which have suffered greatly during the pandemic. Through their “Pay For The Future Now” initiative in which they sold tickets for a tour that will eventually be held after the pandemic ends, they have raised about 2.5 million yen (roughly 23,000 USD) in advance ticket sales for 22 music venues around Japan, at a time when those venues most need the support.

As waterweed wield music as their strongest weapon even in these darkest of times, compilation album Deep inside + Unknown best is a historic work with the power to touch your heart. Rather than giving up or looking for someone or something to blame in the midst of disaster, the album conveys the strength that comes from never giving up, from facing yourself and picking up an instrument and starting to sing. It’s easy to believe we can stand firm and not be swept away by the times. But sometimes we need to experience hardship to understand the value of determination. Tune in to hear the deep and fresh sound of a band who were able to find something unchanging in this ever-changing world.

Be sure to check out the music video for “Deep Inside” below, along with the streaming link for Deep inside + Unknown best here!