Rise of the Northstar come from the Parisian suburbs with a mix they’ve been hammering out for over a decade—metal, hardcore, rap, manga—four words they’ve been using to sum up their whole identity.
They’ve toured with Suicide Silence, Madball, Emmure, Dir En Grey, Electric Callboy, Machine Head; they’ve built an audience big enough to push “Here Comes The Boom” past 28 million streams, and that “Demonstrating My Saiya Style” video from their 2012 Japan tour is still climbing past nine million views.
And now, with “Chapter 04: Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris War!!”, they stitch all those elements into something that feels less like a concept and more like a self-contained zone—urban vibes, manga futurism, and their own lived-out version of independence. All wrapped in a wild, bouncy, party inducing blend of hardcore, rap and metal.
The band recorded between their home base in the Paris suburbs and Marseille with Florent Salfati from Landmvrks.
They talk about the album like a world you step into, not a set of singles. And the way they frame each track—half commentary, half confession—makes the whole thing read like pages out of one long manga issue where the tone shifts but the thread stays tight.
Below is their full track-by-track commentary, used exactly as given—sometimes quoted, sometimes set in third person—because the album’s story sits inside these details. Check it out and be sure to catch the boys on tour at the following stops:
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Track by track commentary:
Turbo-Intro
This intro serves as a gateway into the album’s universe. We wanted something short but loaded with energy. The industrial textures and percussive patterns set the atmosphere—the Red Falcon is coming.
Payback
“Payback” is a track about striking back and restoring a broken balance. We aimed for a riff that hits immediately, with a dry, martial rhythm section. It’s one of the first tracks of the album that we finished, and it introduces “C4” perfectly with its very “Neo”-style scratches.
Neo Paris
For this track, we wanted to represent our city and a whole generation that grew up between France and Japan, with a nod to the manga *Akira*. “Neo Paris” blends brutal riffs with a more atmospheric, dystopian vibe. It’s the perfect mix of the urban metal we wanted to create. In both form and substance, this song is exactly what Rise of the Northstar is.
Falcon
“Falcon” draws its energy from speed and movement. We wanted a highly dynamic track with unexpected breaks and choruses. Vitia (vocals) wrote this song like a prayer and crafted a chorus with a definitively more melodic vocal approach than usual.
Back 2 Basics (feat. Landmvrks)
This track kicked off the collaboration with Flo from Landmvrks. We wanted a singer who could take the chorus to the next level, and Flo nailed it. This song is about returning to the foundation. The result is massive, melodic, and heavy.
Under
This is a 100% rap track. “Under” explores internal pressure, depression—everything you keep inside when it should really be exploding out. It’s one of the album’s more introspective songs, which is why our vocalist raps in French on it. It serves as the introduction to the next track, “Pressure.”
Pressure
This track continues the same theme as “Under,” but acts as its answer—a sort of key. It’s about fighting your own demons. The riffs and overall vibe are meant to help you release all the negativity in your life and move forward.
Nemesis (feat. Aaron Matts)
Aaron Matts adds a darker layer that fits perfectly with the track’s theme. “Nemesis” is about vengeance. The vocals confront each other like a duel. It’s one of the record’s peaks of controlled violence.
A.I.R. Max
“A.I.R. Max” stands for Attitude Integrity Respect. This is what the band has stood for since the beginning. It’s kind of an ode to the old ROTN, with punchy hardcore riffs and a breakdown.
Solitary Homeboy
This track has a more mid-tempo feel and finally introduces a traditional Japanese instrument: the shamisen. We wanted to create a more melodic chorus here, contrasted with heavy, hard-hitting verses.
No Turning Back
“No Turning Back” is about being betrayed by people who swore they would stay loyal until the end. It speaks about resilience and the determination to keep moving forward no matter what.
Desolation Hawk
It’s one of the album’s most cinematic tracks, with a darker, almost apocalyptic atmosphere. Musically, it blends urban beats with heavy, bouncy riffs to create a vast and threatening soundscape. It expands the album’s universe into something even more epic.
75 Outro
This track is a signature way to close the album—a French/English rap in which we thank our supporters and our close ones, carried by a very 90s beat produced by Yoru, our bassist.
With “Chapter 04: Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris War!!”, Rise Of The Northstar keep their wild pattern going, shaping a record that stays within their own universe—urban, manga-lit, direct—and giving each track enough narrative weight to show exactly where they’re coming from.
