Rookie punk-rockers Ratai (裸体 in kanji, ‘nudity’ in English) stated their case for best new band at Fuji Rock late Saturday.

Their sound was undeniably harder and heavier than most if not all of the other rookie entrants, though it remains to be seen if the impression they made was stong enough to land them a spot on a larger stage next year.

The straight-up, no-frills punk, though perhaps not incredibly memorable among a large field of rookie groups still had quite a large following and were all very skilled and polished.

Going by the crowd’s reactions, Ratai made an impact with their punk rock vibes but from this writer’s personal point of view, here’s hoping they inject a bit more originality on their journey to the top.