Music Review: "HOOMAN AFTER ALL" - SiM
- Seth Parker
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Japanese Reggae PUNX band SiM (Silence iz Mine) is no stranger to pushing the limits and trying something different when it comes to producing music, and with each release of a new album comes a new sound that is still very SiM. Even though they use their own mix of nu-metal, Punk, Reggae/Ska and Hip-Hop "HOOMAN AFTER ALL" SiM's 7th Full length album is a full-on tribute to the prime era of rock from the late nineties to the early nostalgic era of the 2000s.
SiM is also known for their role writing 2022’s “The Rumbling” and "Under the Tree" for Part 2 of the Final Season of Attack on Titan. "RED" from the Netflix series Kengan Ashura Season 2. And finally, "A / The Sound of Breath" for 2017's "Yakuza Kiwami 2" Video game soundtrack.
SiM's last album "PLAYDEAD" was a perfect example of what they can create, that is not just anime songs. It was an album that created a perfect balance of multiple genres all mixed at once throughout one single album. It was a great collection of heavy and soft tracks that mixed well with their own identity.
Three singles have been released ahead of the album's release date set to release on September 2nd, 2026. With them releasing their first single of the album
"FiVE TiMES DEAD" (by my wallet) was the first song to be released on April 1st, 2026. This song introduces the album off with a super heavy intro, and it keeps building up the heat throughout the song. This is the one song I can imagine myself in the pit with an ongoing mosh pit or sudden wall of death.
The second song "BLiNDEYES" feat. Yukina from HANABIE. released on May 22nd, 2026. SiM And HANABIE working together on a song had to happen at one point. With the flow of SiM and the punchy sound from Yukina, they have created a song that will keep you moving.
"DALALA" is one of the main highlights of the album for me, and there are a few reasons for that! One reason is this song has a melody that will get stuck in your head all day, so it keeps you coming back for more. Another good reason is that this will be the opening theme for the Fall 2026 anime "TANK CHAIR" premiering October 4th. So, this will be another anime that will be added to their extended catalogue of anime songs that will bring in even more fans.
"HOLD MY BEER" has a great guitar solo with extended slow vocals towards the end of the song that gets stuck in my head constantly.
"Karen's Son" takes a break from the heaviness slightly, but it does remind me of the early 2000s pop punk vibe that has a sound similar to blink-182.
"The Sniffing Cats Ska" (Feat. HEY-SMITH) is a song that has that heavy Ska sound SiM is known for, and it's something you can hear in the wild and immediately know it's them. It's a very fun and high energy jumpy song that has a collab with "HEY-SMITH" adding their iconic trumpet solos and guitar solos that finish the song in full.
"HOOMAN AFTER ALL" lives up to being the poster song of the album. It gets stuck in my head with the catchy guitar riffs and electronic meows in the background.
"GHOST iN TOKYO" reminds me of the electronic sound of Dark Divine throughout the song. But it has a very jumpy and catchy chorus throughout the song.
"ZiON" (feat. Masato from coldrain) is best described in a live show setting. Imagine you are in the crowd, no instruments are playing, and everyone is singing in a chant at the same time. That is the best way to describe how it sounds and it's a very fun song.
"BLACK SUBMARiNE" is another Highlight of the album that has that Hip Hop flow that will flow off the tongue and keep you grooving throughout the whole song.
"FREEZE ME UP" came out on August 5th, 2026. This song is featured as an opening theme for a new Summer 2026 anime called "BLACK TORCH." It is also a song that stays heavy throughout the song but gives you soft gentle breaks that will never let you forget to keep the tempo going.
And finally, "Sailing On" ends the album with more of a laidback sound throughout the song and ends with a heavier note.
This album exceeded my expectations and I'm glad picked it up! This album had more of a heavy sound, and I loved that! Ive listened to this on my google home, my car radio, laptop, and my phone, and it sounds great on whatever you put it on. I still have "DALALA", "The Sniffing Cats Ska" (Feat. HEY-SMITH), BLACK SUBMARiNE, and HOOMAN AFTER ALL Are my favorites on this album. Each song has their own sound exclusive to them on the album, but it has such catchy riffs and lyrics it keeps me replaying the album over and over.
You could ask yourself. Should I go see SiM Live? Well, the answer is obviously yes. I'm not just saying that either because I have seen them with my own eyes in person during their last major North American tour. They always make sure to make the setlist as fun as possible with a mix of Heavy and Slow songs both new and old from their 9-album history. You could go into one of SiM's concerts blind without even knowing who they were, and you could be walking out wanting more itching for the next show.
But you are lucky! Because SiM is going on a World Tour later this year! In September a handful of Japanese dates will kick the tour off! Then it will hit North America in October and November with ZERO 9:36 and AURORAWAVE as support, followed by shows in the UK/EU starting early 2027.
HOOMAN AFTER ALL Tracklist:
1. FiVE TiMES DEAD (by my wallet)
2. BLiNDEYES feat. Yukina from HANABIE.
3. DALALA
4. HOLD MY BEER
5. Karen’s Son
6. The Sniffing Cats Ska feat. HEY-SMITH
7. HOOMAN AFTER ALL
8. GHOST iN TOKYO
9. ZiON feat. Masato from coldrain
10. BLACK SUBMARiNE
HOOMAN AFTER ALL North American Tour
10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
10/17 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
10/18 – Portland, OR @ Wonderland Ballroom
10/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
10/22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand at The Complex
10/23 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
10/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
10/27 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
10/29 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
10/30 – Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
11/1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
11/3 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/4 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
11/6 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
11/7 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
11/9 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater
11/10 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East
11/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
11/14 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
11/15 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Midtown
11/17 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
11/19 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/21 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
11/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
With ZERO 9:36 and AURORAWAVE as support for NORTH AMERICA
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