Music and movie buffs alike will recognise the opening guitar licks that give way to a rush of horns and heavy percussion. Tomoyasu Hotei's energetic rock numbers, which deftly capture the drama of the big screen, have appeared in countless commercials, TV shows and movies—most prominently, Tarantino's Kill Bill. In the ‘90s, after a stint as guitarist in the mega-popular rock outfit Boøwy, Hotei embarked on a solo career built on growled lyrics and blistering chords. Whether purely instrumental or riding those gnarled vocals, Hotei's best moments manage to be both taut and expansive.