In “Saikyo Muteki You Making”, UMake keeps on perfecting their sound, further venturing towards a mature, fun, jazz and citypop-driven sonority that leaves you asking for more.
UMake is a self-producing duo consisting of Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima.
Review
Title: Saikyo★Muteki★You Making (最強★無敵★ユーメイキング !!)
Release date: 29/01/2025
Label: Art Sonic
Genre: Indie Rock/Jazz/Citypop
Tracklist:
1 - 最強★無敵★ユーメイキング！！
2 - Unstoppable
3 - ロンリーナイトシンドローム
4 - Cafe
5 - 帰り道、進む道
6 - AURORA
Track by track analysis:
1 – 最強★無敵★ユーメイキング！！ (Saikyo★Muteki★You Making)
The mini-album kicks off with “Saikyo★Muteki★You Making”, song that brings to the table quite the intense intro with fast-paced drums and a buildup that seems like it’d be perfect as an opening theme for an anime series.
One thing you’ll instantly notice is the thunderous bassline leading the way in this song, being more prominent than any other instrument in this song. The guitars are fun, with one of them leading the way with an addictive melody as the other shreds in the buildup to the chorus.
WHen the chorus kicks off, dramatic high pitched strings join in the composition from your left side, later on being a feature in the second verse leading up to the chorus.
The bridge is crazy, with fast bassy drums and bassline leading the way with the urgent piano melodies and strings playing in the background. This creates an interesting contrast as you get, front and center, the bassy elements, but the back is softer, even delicate in comparison, with the strings and piano melodies.
One thing that may put off some of you may be the spoken lines during this second – that sound a bit out of place when the instrumental demanded a guitar solo. Still, if you go with the whole concept in this song, this part makes a lot of sense and enhances the experience.
When it comes to the vocals, Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima are performing the chorus in unison – once again, making sense within this concept to be more dramatic and hype you up. As far as individual parts go, their performances are energetic and powerful, bringing vibrato and I especially love how Ito is roughing his vocals a bit to add an edge to his voice.
Rocking way to kick off this mini-album and keep you glued to it.
2 – Unstoppable
“Unstoppable” brings a loungy pop-rock sound perfect for a late summer night.
The piano melody is jaunty, leading the way as the drums, bassline and guitars join in. I love the long riffs coming from the guitars as the clap track builds up tension for the chours.
And this chorus is so much fun. Simple, but it is one you’ll instantly say it “feels good”. The piano melodies are sweet, the drums simple and a lot of fun, while the guitars and punchy bassline had me grooving to this song in no time.
A big surprise in this song is the bridge that features a rap with Yoshiki Nakajima leading the way. His flow is spotless, carrying a lot of power while keeping up with the speed and groove of the instrumental – I dare say, even cranking up the speed a bit on his end.
And if you were asking for a semblance of a guitar solo, the duo brings that with a screaming guitar part – can we call it a solo if it’s that short? Well, I consider it a mini-solo. – that sounds pretty awesome.
From vocals to the instrumental, “Unstoppable” ensures you have a ton of fun and big smile on your face when the song wraps up.
3 – ロンリーナイトシンドローム (Lonely Night Syndrome)
Next up is “Lonely Night Syndrome”. Now, this song has a lot of jazz influences that instantly glued me to it. The soundstage for this song is so much fun.
You will find a Rhodes piano at center, an organ to the right, a trumpet to your left and the drums and bassline at front and center as Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima stylishly tackle the lyrics for this loungy tune with a mix of comfortable mid-toned vocals and falsetto.
The chorus is completely different from anything that UMake has composed before. This is, easily, the warmest chorus in their repertoire. The bassline goes incredibly low, is responsible for the addictive groove in its jazzy sections as well as during the pre-chorus pop-rock transition.
But when the chorus arrives, the bassline is king. It makes the song feel like it’s being played at a small, cozy, intimate venue, really close to you. And this, my friends, is something I love a lot..
4 – Cafe
For “Cafe”, the vibe continues jazzy but it funk and citypop taking over. And yes, you’ve guessed right, the bassline for this song is insane and will make you dance along to this song right away.
As I was listening to this song I found myself struggling with choosing just one thing that stands out. Honestly, the Rhodes piano, the punchy bassline, the funky guitars and even the sweet, nostalgic vocals all stand out to me. This song instantly entered my list of favorites in 2025.
This song feels like being transported back to the 80s, sat behind the driver’s seat in a convertible, driving along the seashore. It feels good. This is the highlight in this mini-album.
5 – 帰り道、進む道 (Kaeri michi, susumu michi)
“Kaeri michi, susumu michi” takes over with gentle, lullabyish sound with acoustic guitars leading the way. The song is slow paced and dreamy, with the acoustic guitars, a moody organ melody far in the back and some vibes, and that’s all there is to this track.
UMake wants you to focus on the hopeful, warm and cozy lyrics, almost as if they’re giving you a tight hug after a tricky day’s work. Listen to this one with eyes closed and you’ll feel like you in this sweet soundscape right away.
6 – AURORA
And wrapping up this mini-album is “AURORA”, song that brings to the spotlight their indie-rock sound with playful guitar riffs, bouncy drums and that punchy bassline that has been a staple in this mini-album.
The verses are not particularly long, quickly carrying over to the addictive chorus that will have you singing along to in no time. This is the type of song that you’ll find as the ending to a live show. It is hopeful and fun and fits their dynamic like a glove.
When it comes to their vocals, Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima take turns in the chorus, converging as one in specific parts of it to make you want to sing along to it. Adding to this, the song has a “wooooohooo” part so this song not only will make you sing along but also, as I said before, be perfect to play live as it has everything when it comes to call and response.
“AURORA” closes this mini-album with a sound that will make fans feel like they’ve just returned home.
Final considerations
When I thought they couldn’t get any better, UMake arrived with “Saikyo Muteki You Making” and delivered almost everything I love in one package.
This mini-album is a ton of fun with a mature tone to their music as jazz, funk and citypop take the lead musically. The duo is still as interesting as ever, playing around with their versatility as singers to shift between rough vocals to beautiful rises in the scale with their falsetto shining brighter than ever.
The bassline plays a massive role in this release, and I thoroughly suggest you listen to this single with headphones to experience the goodness that some of those basslines in this mini-album are. I think this was the very first time the band was so bass-focused in their compositions, and honestly, I don’t have any complaints – please, I want more.
All in all, “Saikyo★Muteki★You Making” is another rock solid entry in UMake’s repertoire and already a standout release in 2025.
“Saikyo★Muteki★You Making” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
