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Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK delivers a hit with “I Was King,” arguably the strongest single from their latest album, ‘Ambitions.’

ONE OK ROCK looks to make a bigger splash stateside.  Who is ONE OK ROCK? A Japanese rock band, known for their punk-oriented style.  The latest album, Ambitions, marks their debut for alt-label, Fueled by Ramen.  Ahead of Ambitions, ONE OK ROCK released three singles: “Taking Off,” “Bedroom Warfare,” and “I Was King.”  “I Was King” is arguably the best pre-release single from Ambitions.

“I Was King” features an excellent introduction. Set in a minor key, dark strings are the selling point.  The verse is contrasted with punchy sounding guitars.  On the pre-chorus, the strings re-enter the picture.

“When am I, when am I / Gonna start living?”

Throughout the course of the song, the vocals are powerful.  Taka showcases incredible assertiveness and gets a lift with excellent vocal production. “I Was King” features great echoing vocals throughout.  This is typical of the style, but still a welcome feature.

The chorus is simple but infectious:

“When I was king / I was king / We had everything.”

The Bridge section is marvelous. It provides welcome contrast, characterized by being uplifting and filled with resolve:

“If I go down / I will go down fighting / I’ll go down / Down like lightning.”

Final Thoughts

“I Was King” is a fantastic single. Arguably, it is the best pre-release single from Ambitions.

ONE OK ROCK • Ambitions • Fueled by Ramen • Release Date: 1.13.17

Photo Credits: Fueled by Ramen