When I first met Satanic Punishes Manomu in Germany at IKIGAI Vol. 1 in 2023, she asked me what kind of idol groups I liked during one of our first cheki sessions. I answered honestly, expressing my love of cute and orthodox idol groups such as Houkago Princess, LONDON BLUE and others. Then Manomu asked:

“If you’re a fan of cute idols, why do you like Satanic Punish?”

I didn’t know how to answer that. I just do. Honestly, I forgot I was even asked this until the same question was posed to me this year during IKIGAI Vol. 2, this time from the groups newest member, LinLin. “You like cute groups? So why Satanic Punish?”

It was almost like Déjà vu and, once again, I couldn’t give a decent answer. All I could say was “I really like the lyrics,” and the group itself. This time though, the question stuck with me and has since made me really think about why I like Satanic Punish.

I don’t think there’s ever an easy answer as to why you like something as much as you do. There are multiple factors that come into play, from how something looks to how it makes you feel deep down; those sorts of feelings and reasons can be hard to articulate in any form I think, but as always, I will try my best.

I became aware of Satanic Punish back in 2020, around the time a new line-up had been announced. Though I was not as enthusiastic for the group as the person who initially introduced them to me was, I found the members at the time to be charming and sweet. Mel, Webshiki. and Usagi were all lovely girls, so I quickly became a fan of the members as opposed to their music.

That’s not to say that that I disliked their music in the beginning; some of the groups earlier songs were quite appealing to me, with WHITEWOLF becoming my favourite. It’s still my favourite track from Satanic Punish and never fails to make me cry, but there’s no denying that Satanic Punishes overall sound is the very anthesis of the cute, bubble-gum pop tracks I usually find myself tuning into.

Actually, it took a bit of time for me to get into the groups music, especially when the new line-up introduced a heavier sound. I have never been the kind of person to enjoy death vocals or screamo, so naturally I never considered myself to be the kind of person who would eventually enjoy it. Simply put, it was never going to be on the cards for me.

Still, one of the things I had always appreciated about Satanic Punishes music was the lyrics and themes.

There is no denying that when it comes to their music, Satanic Punishes lyricist and producer, Fudou, puts a lot of thought and consideration into the songs he wants the group to sing. Whether it’s about the world crumbling around us or something much more personal, you can’t come out and say that these lyrics are shallow or created without reason. It’s why I fell in love with WHITEWOLF so hard; the story behind its creation is incredibly moving. It has power in its lyrics and, while it may not be the groups hardest song to sing vocally, it’s certainly one of the most difficult emotionally.

In fact, it’s the emotion of the Satanic Punish members that truly makes these songs so memorable. Of course it helps that the singers are all impressive – Webshiki. was truly gifted as a death vocalist, Manomu’s ability to sing both death and clean vocals is unforgettable, and the operatic style of both Usagi and LinLin is undeniably mesmerising – but what makes all of them stand out is that they embody the songs. They aren’t just singing for the sake of a performance; they feel the song and allow it to penetrate their souls, be it in a recorded setting or a live performance. It’s absolutely amazing just how much emotion and soul these girls throw into the music, almost as if their life depends on it.

I believe this is why I eventually came around to liking death metal, at least when it comes to Satanic Punish; the emotion and depth that is poured into each song can be felt deep within my soul, to a point where each song strikes me both emotionally and spiritually.

Their music is overwhelming in the best way possible and the power behind their vocals is second to none. Alpha Omega and SKULL MARIA are two such songs that are great examples of this, at least in my opinion. Both songs feel like such forces of nature, with each one portraying the raw abilities of both Webshiki and Usagi while still displaying their emotions in such a resounding way.

Also, let’s not forget the fact that as performers, Satanic Punishes performance style is incredible striking; from the choreography to the way they sing, you can truly feel that the power and emotion of each song as it runs through the members. It’s captivating, ultimately making it hard to look away from the stage for even a moment.

With all of these elements coming into play, it’s no wonder I’m mess of tears when I watch Satanic Punish. I’m an emotional person anyway; I will cry during the performance of any and all idols that I love, but when it comes to Satanic Punish in particular, it’s hard to just stop the tears and overwhelming feelings for them.

This is only made more difficult when WHITEWOLF starts playing. Once that song begins, I’m going to be a giant mess of tears and happiness and relief.

I love cute idols – that’s an undisputable fact – but I also love groups that have a reason for being, the kind of groups that were created for a reason other than to simply exist because they can. In my mind, it feels like Fudou created Satanic Punish in order to not only showcase music that depicts the brutal reality of our world, but to also showcase the raw emotion that lies within us all when we listen to and respond to each song.

Of course the members of Satanic Punish bring each song to life in a a unique way, with each line-up interpreting the performance style a little differently to the last. Of course, with each performance we are able to see how each member brings to life the beauty and destruction of their world through the use of clean and death vocals.

I think that’s the real magic of Satanic Punish; the fact that each member can embody the songs and create a new world each and every time, all while showcasing the dark and light of this world through music. It’s an incredibly powerful, moving experience, one that I have seldom seen replicated within the vast world of idols.

Ultimately, Satanic Punish means everything to me. Though I didn’t fall in love with their music right away – that took time and overcoming a great dislike of death vocals – I can safely say that I adored the members from the beginning of the second line-up. I liked the message that each song wished to send and the passion they had when it came to singing these same songs, and I greatly came to admire the members’ perseverance despite the odds that were being stacked against them.

Now I love the music. I love the emotions each member portrays when they sing and the beauty and destruction that their clean and death vocals provide. I love how flawlessly each song is portrayed both live and in a studio recording, and I love the raw emotions that now bleeds into the lyrics with every member that sings them.

It took time, but Satanic Punish has become one of my reasons for living. Without their music or their message to the world, I do not think I would have been able to move forward the way I did this year. Though they do not know me completely, nor do I know them completely, I am thankful to have their music and the group in my life.

Satanic Punish may not be a sparkling, energetic idol group with bright costumes and cheerful songs that typically appeal to me, but they are real and whole. They embrace imperfection and darkness all while sharing with us their own hardships and obstacles that get in the way. Despite all this, they continue to move forward and grow and shine in their own brilliant way.

I am so happy that Satanic Punish exist and, while we may not be privy to their hardships or the personal struggles of each member, I do think that this is a group who refuse to shy away from the truth. Yes, they provide an escape, but they are also here to ground us in reality through their music.

This love i have for Satanic Punish took time and patience to grow, yet the more I learned about the group, its producer and its members, the more reason I had to allow that love to flourish. Now this love runs deep in my soul. it’s as if it’s been there all along.

Songs to Check Out:

1. WHITEWOLF
2. Alpha Omega
3. Masgomic Panic
4. SKULL MARIA
5. Propaganda From The Rising Sun
6. ACROSS THE FUTURE (Beyond 2049)

Written by Kelly-Mae Matt