a-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen, and Morten Harket, the band rose to fame during the mid-1980s.
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.
Nil (Nameless Liberty Underground) (commonly known simply as Nil) is the second studio album released by Japanese rock band the Gazette. It was released on February 8, 2006, by King Records in Japan. It was also the first album by the Gazette to be released in Europe on May 30, 2006, by CLJ Records, and later re-released in Europe and North America on July 17, 2015, by JPU Records. The album reached the 10th position at the Japanese Oricon charts.
Stacked Rubbish is the third studio album by Japanese rock band the Gazette. It was released on July 4, 2007, in Japan and on August 24 in Europe. It was later re-released in Europe and North America on August 14, 2015, by JPU Records.
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.
Aldious is a Japanese heavy metal band from Osaka, formed in 2008 by guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami. After a few member changes, they released their debut EP Dear Slave the following year and soon after formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. A stabilized line-up including guitarist Toki, bassist Sawa and drummer Aruto was established by 2010. Their first album Deep Exceed (2010) reached the top 15 on the Oricon chart, as did their second Determination (2011). However, Rami announced she was leaving the group in June 2012 and new vocalist Re:NO joined Aldious just one month later. They produced their third album District Zero in 2013 and it became their highest-charting release to date, reaching number 7.
Spyair is a Japanese rock band from Nagoya, formed in 2005. The band currently consists of Yuji "UZ" Nakai, Kenji "Momiken" Momiyama, Kenta Sasabe (drums) and Yosuke (vocals). The band's name was determined in one shot by the members, which came from the word spyware, a type of computer virus.
Division is the sixth studio album by Japanese visual kei rock band the Gazette, released on August 29, 2012, in Japan by Sony Music Records, and released on October 1, 2012, in Europe by JPU Records as the label's first release. It is a double album, the first disk containing alternative metal and nu metal songs and the second disk containing industrial metal songs in the limited edition, including 14 songs, the first CD has mostly Japanese titled tracks, while the second CD has only English titled tracks, and a DVD with the promotional videos "Ibitsu" and "Derangement" each disc has their own name. The regular edition includes 12 songs. Is the first release that does not include promotional singles since their sixth EP Gama.
Beautiful Deformity is the seventh studio album by Japanese visual kei rock band The Gazette, released on October 23, 2013 in Japan by Sony Music Records and in the UK, Europe and Russia by JPU Records. It includes the single Fadeless.
Japanese metal is heavy metal music from Japan. The country's first metal bands formed in the mid-to-late 1970s. The number of acts increased significantly in the next decade, but only a few saw their material released internationally, including Europe and North America with their pre-established metal bases. Domestic metal saw its commercial peak in Japan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the top acts selling millions of records. Many metal bands from the visual kei scene toured and gained recognition in the West in the 2000s. The 2010s saw a boom of all-female metal bands form and gain mainstream attention.
Hello World is the sixth studio album by Japanese pop rock band, Scandal. The album was released on December 3, 2014 in Japan by Epic and being distributed in Europe through JPU Records. Hello World debuted at #3 on the Oricon chart, selling over 35,000 copies in its first week. It also reached the top spot of the Canadian iTunes Store's World Music Chart.
Dogma is the eighth studio album by Japanese visual kei rock band the Gazette, released on August 26, 2015, in Japan and September 4, 2015, in the US by Sony Music and October 2, 2015, in the UK, Europe and Russia by JPU Records.
Esprit D'Air is a British-Japanese gothic alternative metal band formed in London in 2010 with members from Japan and England. In 2013, the band increased in popularity as their single "Shizuku" became the first playable song in the J-rock category in the video game Rock Band 3 but disbanded in the same year as members went back to Japan. Since reforming in 2016, Kai appoints session musicians and support members, which included some of the original line-up to perform with him on tour.
Just Bring It is the fourth studio album and first full-length album by Japanese band Band-Maid, released on January 11, 2017 in Japan via Crown Stones and February 10, 2017 internationally by JPU Records. The record was preceded by the quintet's first world tour and the single "YOLO", released in November 2016. The album reached number 16 on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart, selling 4,015 copies in its first week.
Doll$Boxx, stylized as DOLL$BOXX, are a Japanese all-female hard rock band formed in 2012. It is the side project of lead vocalist Fuki and the musicians of the rock group Gacharic Spin.
Lovebites is a Japanese power metal band, formed in 2016 by former Destrose members Miho and Haruna. Its lineup currently consists of Haruna on drums, Midori and Miyako on guitar, Asami on vocals, and Fami on bass. After signing to Victor Entertainment, the group released both their debut EP and their first album in 2017, The Lovebites EP and Awakening from Abyss, before performing their first overseas concerts at the end of the year. With another EP and album released in 2018, Battle Against Damnation and Clockwork Immortality, Lovebites quickly garnered international attention and won that year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for Best New Band. Following the releases of Electric Pentagram (2020) and Glory, Glory, to the World (2021), bassist Miho left the band in August 2021. After a year-long hiatus, Lovebites recruited Fami on bass and released Judgement Day, their fourth album, in February 2023. It is their highest-charting record to date, reaching number 5 on both the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts.
Brand New Maid is the third studio album by Japanese all-female rock band Band-Maid. It was released on May 18, 2016, and was their first album to be released internationally. Music videos were made for "The Non-Fiction Days," "Before Yesterday," and "Alone." The album reached number 19 on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart, selling 4,189 copies in its first week.
Conqueror is the sixth studio album by the Japanese all-female rock band Band-Maid. It was released digitally on December 4, 2019, with physical formats released one week later. It debuted at number nine on the Oricon Albums Chart and debuted at number one on the Oricon weekly Rock Album ranking. The album was preceded by the singles "Glory" and "Bubble", both released in January 2019. The international version from JPU Records includes English lyric translations and Romaji lyric transliterations.
Mass is the tenth studio album by Japanese visual kei rock band the GazettE, which saw release on May 26, 2021, in the US and Japan by Sony Music Records and in the UK, Europe and Russia by JPU Records. Before the album was released, the single "Blinding Hope" was released on March 10, 2021.
"Undying" is the twenty-third single by Japanese rock band The Gazette, released on April 27, 2016 in two editions. In Japan, it was released by Sony Music and in other regions by JPU Records.
