Asterism | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Fukuoka, Japan |
Years active | 2014–present |
Labels | Yamaha Music Publishing, Tokuma Japan, Amuse Inc., SME Records/Sony Music Japan |
Members |
|
Website | asterism |
Asterism (stylized as ASTERISM) is a Japanese rock band formed in Fukuoka in 2014 by brothers Mio (drums) and Miyu (bass) and Hal-ca (guitar).
The band has toured the United States, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan, including performances at SXSW Music Festival, Taihu Midi Festival, and Knotfest Japan.
Asterism has gained international recognition for the combination of their collective youth and advanced technical skill as instrumentalists. [1] The band is managed by Japanese talent agency Amuse, Inc. [2]
In 2014, the band members participated separately in Yamaha's 8th Music Revolution competition, with Hal-ca performing as a solo guitarist and brothers Miyu and Mio performing as a duo under the name Ogi. [3] Yamaha executives introduced the musicians, and the decision was made to create the group Asterism.
On November 1, 2015, Asterism (performing under the name "Hal-ca") won both the Outstanding Performance Award and Audience Award at the Kyushu-Okinawa final round of "The 9th Music Revolution" sponsored by Yamaha. [4]
On June 15, 2016, the band released their first CD single, "Got Your Back/Wonder Rocket". [5]
In November 2017, Asterism released their first recorded EP titled The Session Vol. 1, including instrumental covers of songs by Metallica, Judas Priest, and Ozzy Osbourne.
In January 2018, they released their second EP The Session Vol. 2, including covers of songs by Rage Against the Machine, Rush, and Motorhead. The same month, the band began performing a series of live concerts on Facebook from the Hard Rock Cafe in Fukuoka. American bassist and producer Bootsy Collins reposted a performance by Asterism on his Facebook page and contacted the band about collaborating on new material. [6]
In August 2018, Asterism released their first full album, Ignition, which included two songs produced by Collins with additional guitar by Buckethead. [7] The album also included covers of the Beatles and Dio.
In January 2019, Asterism began touring outside of Japan with their first Asia tour in China and Thailand. [8] On March 2, they performed their first one-man shows titled "Welcome to Inferno Vol. Max" at Graf in Fukuoka, followed by a second one-man at Shimokitazawa Liveholic. [9] That same month, the band toured the United States with performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas, [10] and additional stops in Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles. [11]
The band returned to China in April and May for a six city headlining tour [12] including performances at the Taihu Midi Festival in Suzhou. [13] In August, they performed at the Gangwon Rock Festival in South Korea. [14] In October, they performed a five city tour of South Korea and China, and appeared at Music China 2019 at the Shanghai New International Expo. [15]
In December 2020, Asterism released their third EP Guernica, followed by their second full album Guernica+a, released in September 2021, which added four new tracks.
In September 2022, Asterism released the concept album Animetic, which contained covers of theme songs from several Japanese anime, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul, Naruto: Shippūden, My Hero Academia , and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Re:0096. In December, the band teamed with Norwegian anisong cover singer Pellek for the digital release "Ichizu / Unravel", [16] performing the theme songs from Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Tokyo Ghoul. This single was the first release to include Hal-ca performing vocals, and the songs were added to the re-release of the album retitled Animetic+p in June 2023.
Asterism's fourth EP Aside was released in March 2023, and their fifth EP Beside in September 2023. Both releases featured Hal-ca performing vocals and guitar.
On April 1, 2023, Asterism performed at Knotfest Japan at Makuhari Messe. [17] On June 5, the band appeared on NHK's English-language music program J-Melo. [18] On July 1, Asterism was the featured musical performer at the Anime Expo 2023 opening ceremony and performed two free concerts in California and New York. [19] [20] On August 27, they performed at the Gamers8 - Gamers Cosplay Cup festival in Saudi Arabia.
The band's third full album Decide was released in November 2023, including songs from the two previous EPs and the new song "Shooting Star". The release was followed by a national tour of Japan titled Asterism "Decide" Release Tour 2023 -The Decision. On November 8, the band released the music video for "Shooting Star", featuring footage from their U.S. tour. [21] On November 24 and 25, Asterism performed at Anime Festival Asia Singapore. [22]
In March 2024, Asterism released the live album The Decision (Live in Tokyo 23.11.2023). [23] On March 8, 9, and 10, they performed at Japan Expo in Marseilles, France. [24]
Hal-ca (b: 11/23/2002) – guitar, vocals (2014–present)
Miyu (b: 3/12/2002) – bass, chorus (2014–present)
Mio (b: 11/14/1999) – drums, chorus (2014–present)
Asterism describes their style as "mass metal", with the goal of composing music that can reach a broad global audience. [25]
Bassist Miyu performs on a unique 7-string bass created for him by ESP. [26]
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2018 | Ignition
Track Listing
DVD
|
2021 | Guernica+a
Track Listing
|
2023 | Animetic+p
Track Listing
|
Decide
Track Listing
| |
2024 | The Decision (Live in Tokyo 23.11.2023)
Track Listing
|
Year | Single and EP details |
---|---|
2016 | Got Your Back!/Wonder Rocket (Got your back! ~ガチヤバ!~/Wonder Rocket)
Track Listing
|
2017 | The Session Vol. 1
Track Listing
|
2018 | The Session Vol. 2
Track Listing
|
2020 | Guernica
Track Listing
|
2022 | Ichizu / Unravel
Track Listing
|
2023 | Aside
Track Listing
|
Beside
Track Listing
|
Glay is a Japanese rock band formed in Hakodate in 1988. The core four members, vocalist Teru, guitarists Takuro and Hisashi, and bassist Jiro, have been together since 1992. Primarily composing songs in the rock and pop genres, they have also arranged songs using elements from a variety of other genres, including progressive rock, punk, gothic rock, electronic, R&B, folk, gospel, reggae, and ska. Originally a visual kei band, the group slowly shifted to less dramatic attire through the years. With five million copies sold, Glay's 1997 compilation album Review is the fifth best-selling album of all time in Japan. Their July 1999 concert "Expo '99" at Makuhari Messe was attended by 200,000 people, making it the largest-ticketed concert ever held by a single act at the time. As of 2008, Glay had sold an estimated 51 million records; 28 million singles and 23 million albums, making them one of the top ten best-selling artists of all time in Japan.
Yoshiki Hayashi, known as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and KISS, Nicole Scherzinger, and Sarah Brightman.
Makuhari Messe (幕張メッセ) is a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba City, in the northwest corner of Chiba Prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. Makuhari is the name of the area, and Messe is a German language word meaning "trade fair".
Takamasa Ishihara, better known by his stage name Miyavi, is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor known for his finger-slapping style of playing a guitar.
The Gazette, formerly known as Gazette, is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Kanagawa in early 2002. The band is currently signed to Sony Music Records.
Maximum the Hormone is a Japanese heavy metal/hardcore punk band from Hachiōji, Tokyo. Their lineup has consisted of vocalist Daisuke-han, drummer Nao, guitarist Maximum the Ryo-kun, and bassist Ue-chang since 1999. Each member alternates singing lead vocals, often within the same song, with the exception of Ue-chang, who provides backup vocals almost exclusively.
Ling Tosite Sigure are a Japanese rock trio, formed in 2002 in Saitama Prefecture. The band's style resembles post-hardcore and progressive rock, math-rock, often incorporating rapid changes of tempo and mood framed in complex guitar melodies and technical drumming. They utilize both male and female vocals ranging from soft singing to loud wails and screams.
Scandal is an all-female Japanese rock band formed in Osaka in 2006. Although all four members have provided lead vocals, their primary roles are Haruna on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mami on lead guitar, Tomomi on bass guitar, and Rina on drums. With numerous overseas performances and anime theme songs, Scandal has built a considerable international fanbase. The band has been voted by fans across the world into the top ten of the "Most-Requested Artists" category of the J-Melo Awards every year since 2010, taking first place in 2014.
Stereopony was a Japanese pop rock band that formed in Okinawa, Japan, in 2007 and disbanded in 2012. The three-girl band consisted of Aimi Haraguni, Nohana Kitajima, and Shiho Yamanoha (drums). They were signed to the Sony Records music label. The band released 11 singles and three studio albums.
One Ok Rock is a Japanese rock band formed in 2005. The band currently consists of vocalist Takahiro Moriuchi, guitarist, Toru Yamashita, bassist Ryota Kohama, and drummer Tomoya Kanki. Former members include drummer Yu Koyanagi and guitarist Alexander "Alex" Reimon Onizawa. They play varied styles of music, with songs ranging from alternative rock and emo to post-hardcore and pop punk.
Deadly Apples is a Canadian rock / industrial metal band based in Montreal, Quebec. The band consists of frontman / lyricist Alex Martel (vocals) and composer Antoine Lamothe (drums), with live musicians joining them on stage.
Coldrain are a Japanese rock band from Nagoya, Japan, who were formed in 2007. The band combines melodic singing with screams typical of the post-hardcore genre. Although the band is Japanese, all of their songs are written in English. The lineup consists of lead vocalist Masato Hayakawa, guitarists Ryo Yokochi (Y.K.C.) and Kazuya Sugiyama (Sugi), bassist Ryo Shimizu (RxYxO) and drummer Katsuma Minatani. Hayakawa has a Japanese father and an American mother and speaks both Japanese and English fluently.
Man with a Mission is a Japanese rock band which was formed in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, in 2010. The band currently consists of five band members, with stage names of Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, Kamikaze Boy, DJ Santa Monica and Spear Rib (drums). Their distinguishing feature is that all of the members wear differently designed wolf masks during both their concerts and their music videos. Many of their singles have been used as theme songs for a variety of anime, live-action movies, and video games.
Crossfaith is a Japanese metalcore band from Osaka that was formed in 2006, which currently consists of vocalist Kenta Koie, guitarists Kazuki Takemura and Daiki Koide, drummer Tatsuya Amano, and keyboardist Terufumi Tamano. They are characterized by performing a style of metalcore with dubstep and other forms of electronic music influences, and for their intense live performances.
My First Story is a Japanese rock band from Shibuya, Tokyo. Formed in 2011, the band currently consists of vocalist Hiroki Moriuchi, guitarist Teruki Nishizawa, bassist Nobuaki Katō, and drummer Shōhei Sasaki. Their debut album My First Story (2012) caught people's attention and put them in lineups of major music festivals. Their fourth studio album Antithese (2016) ranked 4th on Oricon chart, and directed their first Nippon Budokan live show, gathering 12,000.
SiM are a Japanese alternative metal band from the Kanagawa Prefecture formed in 2004. The band currently consists of MAH (vocals), SHOW-HATE (guitar), SIN (bass), and GODRi (drums). Their musical style mixes heavy metal, alternative, hip hop, ska, reggae, dub and punk with rebellious lyrics and songs with attitude.
Band-Maid is a Japanese rock band formed in 2013, consisting of singer Saiki Atsumi, guitarist/singer Miku Kobato, lead guitarist Kanami Tōno, bassist Misa, and drummer Akane Hirose. The band combines a rock sound with a maid image modeled on Japanese maid cafés. They are currently signed to Pony Canyon. Their most recent studio recording, the EP Unleash, was released in September 2022.
The Sixth Lie is a Japanese Electronic rock band formed in May 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Their music is known for its hybrid style inspired by the latest western music, and their overall science fiction-inspired theme connected to near future and outer space.
A Scent Like Wolves is an American metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, established in 2010 by founding members Al Boltz and Jeff Brown. They are currently signed to Los Angeles record label We Are Triumphant, a former imprint of Victory Records.
Hanabie. is a Japanese metalcore band from Tokyo, formed in 2015. The band consists of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu and drummer Chika. They are known for combining loud and heavy music with contrasting Harajuku aesthetics in a style self-described as "Harajuku-core". Their songs incorporate elements of metalcore, hardcore punk, and nu metal, with a blend of hip hop and electronica.