In honor of Kis-My-Ft2’s complete videography being uploaded to YouTube (in edited form, of course…), I can’t resist writing about each single. To put this in context for Bias List readers, Kis-My-Ft2 (or Kisumai, as they’re often known) are my J-pop version of Infinite. That’s how much I love them and their discography.

Yet, I rarely write about them because finding online links to their music was so hard… until now!

Fear (2021)

I’m not quite done with this feature, but Fear is Kisumai’s latest single – released last September. I know it’s only been nine months, but it seems like forever and I’ll use this opportunity to make the requisite plea for new music. Kisumai spoiled us for so many years, but haven’t put out a new album since March of 2020. The drips and drabs of singles have been nice, but I’m ready for a bigger feast. Come on, Johnny’s!

With that out of the way, the dark, rock-fueled Fear marks an evocative shift for the group. It’s not totally out of character. After all, we’ve seen a ton of rock tracks as part of this very feature. But, this song has a more alternative edge that feels novel. It’s stark and haunting, but bolstered by a robust beat that buoys the chorus with plenty of drive. Initially, I wasn’t sold on how untouched and (at times) rough the vocals sounded during the verses, but I’ve come around to understand how this approach actually enhances Fear’s atmosphere. It’s the kind of track that’ll work its way under your skin.

The video is downright creepy. Shot almost entirely in close-up, the guys are strangled by mysterious hands as the lighting turns blood red. It’s pretty unsettling to see this jovial, comedy-loving group take on such a dark concept. But, I guess “unsettling” is an important part of art.

On a more amusing note, playing Fear after the candy-colored A10TION feels like whiplash. These two songs were released within mere weeks of each other, yet couldn’t be more different.