Japanese Fighting Fish

Japanese Fighting Fish

Japanese Fighting Fish are a Leeds-based alternative rock group active since 2010. The band build songs from a mix of different musical backgrounds, combining theatrical, narrative lyric writing with rich, hypnotic melodies, twinkling and forceful guitars, and a rhythm section shaped by Afrobeat and Cuban grooves as well as rock and funk.

Their sound draws on a wide range of influences, including Faith No More, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart, Queens of the Stone Age, System of a Down, Jeff Buckley and The Freak Zone. Their album Just Before We Go Mad is described by the band as the result of a journey of “instances” and a collision of different styles.

They are also known for their live performances, with comments from Leeds music writers and producers describing them as a strong live band. Their music is presented as shifting between heavy and melodic extremes, with a core intended to make listeners dance as well as rock out.