Ningen Isu -- which means "The Human Chair," the title of a Ranpo Edogawa story -- is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and "Heartless Scat" is a track off the heavy metal band's 21st album, NewYouth("Shinseinen"), released June 5.
The song is an epic 8.5 minute sublimation of the sense of ressentiment, or "resentment," in which one directs hostility toward the cause of one's frustration. "Tell me," the lyrics implore Holy Angels, a Divine Goddess, and Lord Buddha that may or may not exist, "Desolated/ Isolated/ I've been living my life with a series of failures/ Will the day come when I can totally be satisfied?"
The visuals were shot outdoors and dramatically capture the scenic beauty of locations, including a beach in the morning sun, a tranquil pine forest, and a European-style garden in the evening twilight, where the three members -- guitarist/singer Shinji Wajima, bassist/singer Kenichi Suzuki, and drummer/singer Nobu Nakajima -- stoically blast out the killer rock anthem.
The video, released May 14, appears to be resonating with viewers outside of the band's home country, and is being flooded with positive reactions in English on YouTube. The overwhelming support prompted the trio to add English subs on the video.
Ningen Isu is on a 12-concert headlining domestic tour promoting their new album, NewYouth.
