Review: “I Want to Leave” by Nagusame

Taking their name from the Japanese word for comfort or solace Nagusame hail from the city Groningen in the Netherlands and create Metallic Hardcore firmly rooted in the 00’s era of the genre with influences in the likes of Shai Hulud, Comeback Kid and Poison the Well. We all know what that means… compact, energetic metallic riffs and Hardcore rhythms with a touch of Post-Hardcore melody, some groove and a few breakdowns. 2024 saw the band offer up debut EP “You Should Get Out More” and now they return with “I Want to Leave“, a record with overarching themes about the disillusionment that comes with growing older. Who said work, consumption, isolation, inequality and political nonsense wouldn’t lead to feelings of existential dread, mortality, consumerism, political anger, paralysis and the desire to escape…

Sonically Nagusame aren’t attempting to reinvent the wheel, instead choosing to make the kind of music that they know and love, something which is to be applauded because that’s what being true to yourself is all about. Opening cut “L’Appel Du Vide” sets the tone with all the instant appeal in nostalgia of an early 2000’s Melodic Metallic Hardcore record but done with such verve and swagger that it captures the imagination. The lyrics have a real grit and integrity about them as the band bring out the staccato riff breaks and gang chants you might have expected from a Ferret Records release back in the day, only a little bit of accenting on the spoken word element telling you that they’re not American. Not that that is an issue by any means.

After the potent opening cut comes the whirlwind that is “The Grinder” with flashes of Hardcore Punk influence rising to the surface as the urgent riffs fly in all directions that will get crowd surfers arriving for stage dives and high fives in their masses when the band play it live. The energy of the record is infectious even before the 36 Crazyfists like  “Kick ’em In The Maslow” appears with a perfectly weighted spoken word as part of a melodic break that has an angst laden charm. Lines like “some algorithmic black box will determine if your loved ones live or die!” resonate given the current climate, helping make the record a thought provoking one.

There are a couple of tips of the hat to the early 2003 American Metalcore scene here and there with “The Spectacle” having some nice lead licks and a bass solo to give it a little more potency to match the vitriolic vocals of blood and venom. The beauty of them is that they are harsh enough to give them that edge while being clean enough that you can comprehend every word. “Uncalled For” has some great helter skelter moments of fast riffs with nice rise and fall accompanied by rapid fire drumming as the band go hell for leather with no turning back. It has an almost schizophrenic feel of controlled chaos which works really well before the melancholia of “I Want to Leave” bleeds through the bandages. Who doesn’t want to run away from the trappings of modern society in search of a life less ordinary because everything feels stacked against you? [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. L’Appel Du Vide
2. The Grinder
3. Kick ’em In The Maslow
4. The Spectacle
5. Uncalled For
6. I Want to Leave

“I Want to Leave” by Nagusame is out 10th November 2026 via White Russian Records