Nightmare rocks the night out at Saitama Super Arena as they celebrate their 10th anniversary.
On January 1st, 2010, Nightmare released their album GIANIZM, completing their GIANIZM series with the newly recorded GIANIZM 4 and GIANIZM 10. The Saitama Super Arena live well represented the past ten years of their career.
The three screens displayed on the stage showed the word 'GIANIZM' and the SE echoed through the arena. Gradually, the seats filled with excited fans and one could feel the atmosphere in the arena getting heated up for Nightmare's 10th anniversary live. When the SE became louder, applause arose from the audience all at once. The lights dimmed and flames shot out from the stage. Next, rainbow lighting lit the stage and the members showed up one by one. When vocalist YOMI finally appeared on the center riser, roaring applause engulfed the arena.
For the first chapter of GIANIZM, Jishou (Shounen Terrorist) opened with Ruka’s drums, Ni~ya’s bass, Hitsugi’s guitar strumming and Sakito’s guitar riff. Together with the sound of fire crackers that blasted the arena, Nightmare started their first live of 2010.
Vocalist YOMI encouraged the audience to jump. The floor rumbled violently with the amazing scene of a sea of fans jumping to the music. Continuing on to GIANIZM 5 and GIANIZM 2, the audience all headbanged, jumped and pumped their fists to the heavy sound and the complex music. On stage, the visual effects were remarkable with smoke shooting up the air, flames blazing and lazer beams shining across the arena. Sakito played an impressive solo, with Hitsugi using his death voice in the chorus and YOMI leading the audience with shouts.
The audience was already heated up from the first three heavy songs when YOMI shouted, “Saitama Super Arena, yeah! Nightmare’s 10th anniversary has just begun! Today is the day to go crazy. Let’s get crazy together!!” Immediately after that, Cynical Re:actor started with Sakito’s guitar solo. Ruka then joined in by hitting a powerful rhythm on his drums and Ni~ya played a profound bass line. In BOYS BE SUSPICIOUS, the rhythmical electronic sound of the song became dramatic as Sakito sang the rap chorus during the interlude. YOMI sang the lyrics with passion.
The red stage lights flashed heavily to the next song, DIRTY. YOMI repeatedly shouted to the audience very energetically, and they responded with fervor. Images of each member were shown on screen, and fans appreciated Sakito’s spectacular solo by pumping their fists into the air. Gradually, Ruka’s drums, Ni~ya’s bass and Hitsugi’s guitar rejoined Sakito, creating a heavier melody where the fans headbanged and yelled to Hitsugi’s shouting. At the climax of this song, the members as well as fans shook their heads crazily.
Constant calls of the members' names could be heard from every side of the arena. As the calls died down, YOMI greeted the audience with a brief yet energetic MC. “Saitama! Crazy already? Even if you guys can’t see us, let our feelings be connected!” The fans responded to every word of YOMI's with yells and growls, enough to fuel up the whole arena for GIANIZM 9. With the introduction of Ruka’s fast, repeated striking of the drums and the heavy guitar riffs, the stage exploded with fire and green lazers. After the melodious yet heavy and driving GIANIZM 9, more adrenaline-inducing songs were still to follow as they continued to GIANIZM 7. The constant rhythm of Ruka’s drums, Ni~ya’s bass and the guitars' vibrant melody blended well with YOMI’s vibrato.
Mr.trash music started right away with Ni~ya’s bass intro. During the main melody, fans enjoyed waving their hands back and forth till the end. Proceeding to Crash!? Nightmare Channel, Hitsugi shouted heavily, and the twin guitars gave a certain vibe to the arena as the fans headbanged all the way through. Afterwards, YOMI stepped up onto the front riser and began to sing muzzle.muzzle.muzzle. During Sakito’s solo, YOMI went up to the front of the stage and egged on the fans. In response, the fans raised both their fists into the air.
During the MC, YOMI mentioned that the set list for that day was “the heaviest” of all time, and heavier songs were still to come. Though the set they had performed so far was already full of heavy tracks, more was in store for the audience. Can you do it? started instantly. The display showed YOMI shouting to the audience, urging them to jump. YOMI sang the powerful lyrics energetically, reaching out to the excited fans. WORST came next, a speedy number where both Hitsugi and Sakito played solos, and YOMI gave an enthusiastic performance on the center riser.
With the intro of Ruka’s drumming, Sakito, Hitsugi and Ni~ya joined in right after for TrickSTAR. During the interlude, the band gathered at the drums as the audience headbanged. As YOMI sang, he stretched his hand out to the audience. Then, he shouted, “Give us your voices! Let’s go!” and livEVIL started with red lights flashing madly. With Sakito’s constant guitar strumming presenting a perfect contrast to YOMI’s melodious vocals, the audience enjoyed the various impressive choruses in this song as they headbanged.
“Are you enjoying yourselves? Arena? Surprised with the set list? We’ve arranged the set list so you guys can enjoy. So let’s enjoy it together!” With the MC by YOMI, Backstreet children started. Ni~ya’s bass, Ruka’s drums and the screaming guitars opened the song, and YOMI went to the front riser where he exchanged a series of call and responses with the fans. Occasionally, YOMI would let the fans sing a phrase and the exchange eventually united the stage and the audience.
Next up was GIANIZM 6, a fast, heavy number. The stage turned yellow and lazer beams and shooting fire once again fired up the atmosphere. Fully immersed in the rhythm of the song, the audience jumped and sometimes headbanged to the music. Both the audio and visual aspects of the performance were well taken care of as Sakito showed off his impressive guitar slapping during the interlude, and the screens on the back displayed each member in monochrome images like in the PV for the song.
During Tokyo shonen, thousands of fists pumped into the air. The speedy and melodious vocals and Hitsugi’s rap chorus were alive and bursting with energy. The crowd raised their arms waved them back and forth during the main melody. In GIANIZM 8, Ni~ya’s profound chopper bass line and the talking modulator used by Sakito was interesting both to the eye and ear. Following that was GIANIZM 10, with more chaotic shouting and screaming. The fans headbanged and jumped, enjoying every moment as the band dove into the main act with GIANIZM 4. Spinning lazer beams and jets of flames went off all at once. Starting with Ni~ya’s weighty bass lines and Ruka’s rumbling drums, the song made its way to its climax where YOMI’s strong vocals were accompanied by the choruses of the other members. Then, surrounded by applause from the arena, the members left the stage.
As soon as the members went backstage, calls for an encore arose, causing the floor to vibrate for a few good minutes. Answering the requests, the band showed up waving their hands at the arena. Delighted, Nightmare started their encore with dogma. YOMI shouted the heavy song on the center riser. As they entered the jazzy interlude, YOMI introduced each member. Ruka, Ni~ya, Sakito and Hitsugi then gave short introductions of themselves.
“Saitama! Let’s enjoy ourselves together till the end!” YOMI fired up the audience for the up-tempo, jazzy Dasei Boogy. Fans moved about in a frenzy, moving from left to right with the choreography. With much life and energy, the arena was drawn into Nightmare’s world.
As they celebrated their 10th anniversary, the members one by one commented on the past ten years by looking back upon times long past. As the lights started to glow red, they went on to Яaven Loud speeeaker. The sound of sirens and the acoustic guitar created a distinctive intro that had everyone listening and moving to the rhythm. GIANIZM 3 came right after YOMI's scream of “Let’s all get crazy!” Blistering yellow light flashed constantly and YOMI actively sang and moved about the stage, urging the fans to jump. During Hitsugi’s growling chorus, fans threw their fists into the air.
Kyokutou rannshinn tengoku, one of the signature songs for encores, had the whole arena in chaos. The arena was a sea of headbanging. YOMI and Hitsugi ran about the stage, and Sakito played guitar on the center riser. Hitsugi played solo on the center stand during the interlude, and at the end of it the other members all came to the center and played. Throughout the main melody, the arena became one as the audience too, started singing. YOMI sang with them, sometimes yelling “Saitama! More!” Answering his call, the audience continued to sing along with their hands waving in the air.
Looking very delighted, the band members went to the corners of both sides of the stage to thank the fans. To applause from the fans, the members left the stage. Surprisingly soon after, the band came back on stage. There was a double encore. YOMI introduced the song for the encore in his MC: “Ten years. I am very happy we have come all this way. We weren’t planning on doing a double encore, but with gratitude to you all, Star[K]night.”
The stage and arena became one once again with the entire arena singing and waving. Then, finally, with the stage embraced by bright lights, the live came to an end. Having witnessed the culmination of their ten years, it seemed that that day would be the beginning of Nightmare's next decade.
Set list:
01. Jishou (Shonen Terrorist)
02. GIANIZM 5
03. GIANIZM 2
04. Cynical Re:actor
05. BOYS BE SUSPICIOUS
06. DIRTY
07. GIANIZM 9
08. GIANIZM 7
09. Mr.trash music
10. Crash!? Nightmare Channel
11. muzzle.muzzle.muzzle
12. Can you do it?
13. WORST
14. TrickSTAR
15. livEVIL
16. Backstreet Children
17. GIANIZM 6
18. Tokyo Shounen
19. GIANIZM 8
20. GIANIZM 10
22. GIANIZM 4
First Encore
01. dogma
02. Dasei Boogy
03. Яaven Loud speeeaker
04. GIANIZM 3
05. Kyokutou Ranshin Tengoku
Second Encore
01. Star[K]night
