is a Japanese electronicore band from Kobe that was formed in summer 2008. The band currently consists of vocalist So, keyboardist Minami, guitarist Taiki, drummer Tomonori, and bassist Tetsuya. They are best known for their heavy use of vocoder and synthesizer blended with emo/metalcore music and rave beats.
History
Founded in 2008 summer, the band was originally formed by members of the bands Ending for a Start and Blank Time. A year later, after an extensive search, So (former member of Bombreligion) joined as the sixth member.
In 2010, PAC started using their song "Evolution (Entering the New World)" as his theme music when wrestling in Dragon Gate.
In 2011, the song "Jump Around" from the band's EP Nextreme was selected to appear in the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (in Asia: World Soccer: Winning Eleven 2012) as the fourth track.List of songs on Pro Evolution Soccer 2012; PES Neoseeker The song "Chase the Light!" was used as the opening theme for Gyakkyō Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen (逆境無頼カイジ 破戒録篇 lit. Suffering Outcast Kaiji: Maverick Arc). In late 2011, the band's song "Just Awake" was featured as the closing song in the Hunter × Hunter reboot anime; as a single it was released later in 2012.
On 22 June 2012, the band announced that they would be releasing their second studio album on 8 August, titled All That We Have Now, with a tour in September.
In April 2013, the band announced the release of their first DVD, called The Animals in Screen, scheduled to be out on 26 June.Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to Release New DVD "The Animals in Screen" ; JPop Asia, 11 April 2013 On 26 October, they announced a new single, "Rave-up Tonight", expected to be released on 15 January 2014, which is to be the theme song for Gundam Extreme VS. Maxi Boost.Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas Announces New Single for January ; Jpop Asia, 26 October 2013 In September 2013, the founding bassist Mashu left the band, as a result, on their official website announced on 23 September 2013 that Kei replaced Mashu as the new bassist.
On 23 March 2014, the band announced that they would be releasing a new album that summer. The album release was announced at the Kobe World Memorial Hall live during their first headlining show. As a result, they began a new tour. The song "Virtue and Vice" is featured as the opening theme for Gokukoku no Brynhildr and the song "Thunderclap" was made by the band for the third anime season of Sengoku Basara, subtitled Judge End. Both songs are taken from their third album, Phase 2. On 5 September, the band announced on their official site that they would release a new limited single on 7 January 2015 called "Let Me Hear". On 8 October, the short version of their new single premiered as the opening theme of Parasyte.
On 13 May 2015, the band released a new limited singles "Starburst" and "Struggle to Survive". A few days after the release of "Starburst", the band announced on their official site that they would be releasing their fourth studio album that autumn including the two main songs from their last two singles, "Starburst" and "Let Me Hear". On 12 August, the band released a new PV for the song "Cast Your Shell" which also was included to the album. On 16 August, they announced the title of the album as being Feeling of Unity which was released on 30 September 2015.
In 2017, the band signed onto a new label with Warner Music Japan. On 2 April 2017, the band announced on their official site the trailer for their new single, "Shine" on 23 June. On 26 May, they released a trailer for a PV for the song "Shine" with the full version being released the following month. The second single "Return to Zero" was released on 11 July. On 11 October, an PV was released for their new song "LLLD" which is featured on their newest fifth studio album New Sunrise. On 23 October, they released another new PV titled "The Sun Also Rises" which is the final track of the album. New Sunrise was released 25 October 2017 and includes the songs "Shine" and "Return to Zero".
On 31 January 2018, the band released a new PV for the song "Keep the Heat and Fire Yourself Up" which is also the opening for the anime Hakyū Hōshin Engi. The full single was released 2 May 2018. The band also provided "The Gong of Knockout" for the second opening for Netflix and TMS Entertainment's anime adaptation of Baki the Grappler in 2018. On 30 June, their official website announced that the guitarist, Sxun had left the band due to personal circumstances.
On 16 January 2019, the band's official website announced the bassist, Kei, had died due to acute heart failure at his home on the night of January 12th. This led to them cancelling the upcoming release of their next album and their spring tour, although they announced that it wouldn't be a permanent end to the band's activities.
On 19 March, the band's official website announced to hold a tribute concert "Thanks to You All" in the memory of Kei on 7 June 2019 at the "Namba Hatch". The reason they chose "Namba Hatch" was because it was Kei's first live performance for the band. On 29 June, the band's official website announced that Tetsuya replaced Kei as the new bassist. On 4 December, the band released their sixth studio album titled Hypertoughness in Japan with an announcement that the worldwide release date is set on 15 January 2020.
Musical style The band's musical style has been described as electronicore, post-hardcore, metalcore, dance-metal, and screamo.
Band members Current Minami – unclean vocals, keyboards, programming Taiki – rhythm guitar ; backing vocals ; lead guitar Tomonori – drums So – clean vocals, programming Tetsuya – bass, backing vocals
Former Mashu – bass Sxun – lead guitar ; clean vocals ; backing vocals Kei – bass ; backing vocals
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak position Sales JPN Dance & Scream Released: 24 November 2010 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download — All That We Have Now Released: 8 August 2012 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 4 23,525 PHASE 2 Released: 6 August 2014 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 4 21,978 Feeling of Unity Released: 30 September 2015 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 2 New Sunrise Released: 25 October 2017 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 5 10,132+HYPERTOUGHNESS Released: 4 December 2019 (JPN) 15 January 2020 (NA, UK, EU) Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 10 11,835Cocoon for the Golden Future Released: 26 October 2022 Label: Getting Better Formats: CD, digital download 13
Extended plays Title EP details Peak position JPN Scorching Epochal Sensation Released: 2008 Label: Independent music Format: CD — Burn the Disco Floor With Your 2-Step Released: November 2009 Label: Independent music Format: CD — Evolution~Entering the New World~ Released: 16 February 2010 Label: Independent music Format: CD — Take Me Out!! // Twilight Released: 29 May 2010 Label: Independent music Formats: CD — NEXTREME Released: 13 July 2011 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 8 Just Awake Released: 11 January 2012 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 8 Just Awake / Acceleration Released: 23 July 2012 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download — Rave-up Tonight Released: 15 January 2014 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 3 Let Me Hear Released: 7 January 2015 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 3 Starburst Released: 13 May 2015 Label: VAP Formats: CD, digital download 6 SHINE Released: 14 June 2017 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 7 Greedy Released: 2 May 2018 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 10
Live albums Title Album details Peak position JPN The Animals in Screen Released: 26 June 2013 Label: VAP Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital download 13 16 The Animals in Screen II Released: 27 April 2016 Label: VAP Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital download 12 14 The Animals in Screen III Released: 16 January 2019 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital download 7 9 The Animals in Screen Bootleg 1 Released: 7 July 2021 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital download 13 20 The Animals in Screen Bootleg 2 Released: 1 September 2021 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital download 6 12 The Animals in Screen Ultra Bootleg Released: 28 June 2023 Label: Getting Better Formats: DVD, Blu-ray — — The Animals in Screen IV Released: 19 June 2024 Label: Getting Better Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 10 15
Singles Title Year Peak position Notes Album JPN Oricon JPN Billboard "Burn the Disco Floor with Your 2-Step!!" 2009 — — Dance & Scream "Evolution: Entering the New World" 2010 — — Evolution: Entering the New World "Take Me Out!!" — — Dance & Scream "Twilight" — — "Just Awake" 2012 8 24 All That We Have Now "Rave-up Tonight" 2014 3 7 PHASE 2 "Let Me Hear" 2015 3 7 Feeling of Unity "Starburst" 6 — "SHINE" 2017 7 36 New Sunrise "Return to Zero" — — "Greedy" 2018 10 32 Greedy "The Gong of Knockout" — — HYPERTOUGHNESS "Be Affected" — — "The Stronger, the Further You'll Be" 2019 — — HYPERTOUGHNESS "Massive Core" — — "Shape of Trust" 2020 — — Cocoon for the Golden Future "Evolve Forward in Hazard" 2021 — — "One Shot, One Mind" — — "Repaint" 2022 — — "Tear Down" — — "Get Back the Hope" — — "Dive in Your Faith" 2023 — — "Fist for the New Era" 2024 — —
Music videos Year Song Director(s)Space Shower TV (in Japanese). Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas music videos information (1)Space Shower TV (in Japanese). Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas music videos information (2) Album Link2009 "Why Couldn't I Say the Last Goodbye to You?" Burn the Disco Floor with Your 2-Step!! 2010 "Stray in Chaos" Suzuki Daishin Dance & Scream "Love at First Sight" 2011 "Chase the Light!" Nextreme "Jump Around" "Shake Your Body" 2012 "Just Awake" (English version) Hiroshi Moriyama Just Awake / Acceleration "Crossover" Suzuki Daishin All That We Have Now "Scream Hard as You Can" "Ley-Line" Wakame 2013 "Step of Terror" Rave Up Tonight 2014 "Rave-up Tonight" Suzuki Daishin Phase 2 "Virtue and Vice" "Thunderclap" "Swing It!!" "Let Me Hear" Suzuki Daishin & Takayuki Kojima Feeling of Unity 2015 "Starburst" Suzuki Daishin "Cast Your Shell" "Party Boys" 2017 "Shine" Suzuki Daishin New Sunrise "Return to Zero" "LLLD" Koh Yamada/Hiroya Brian "The Sun Also Rises" Suzuki Daishin 2018 "Keep the Heat and Fire Yourself Up" Inni Vision Hypertoughness "Treasure in Your Hands" 2019 "The Stronger, the Further You'll Be" "Massive Core" 2020 "The Gong of Knockout" 2022 "Tear Down" Inni Vision Cocoon for the Golden Future "Get Back the Hope" 2023 "Dive in Your Faith" Inni Vision Non-album single 2024 "Fist for the New Era" Inni Vision Non-album single
Concert tours Japanese tours Summer Sonic Festival with Various Artists (2011) Punkspring with Various Artists (2012) Summer Sonic Festival with Various Artists (2012) Punkspring with Various Artists (2013) Ozzfest Japan with Various Artists (2013) Summer Sonic Festival with Various Artists (2014) Monster Energy Outburn Tour with Various Artists (2014) Rising Sun Rock Festival with Various Artists (2015) Ozzfest Japan with Various Artists (2015) Summer Sonic Festival with Various Artists (2017) Fall Out Boy "Mania Tour" with Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas as supporting act (2018)
World tours Ultra Korea in South Korea with Various Artists (2014) Heart-Town Festival in Taiwan with Various Artists (2015) Pentaport Rock Festival in South Korea with Various Artists (2015) Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas – Live in Paris in France (2015) Megaport Music Festival in Taiwan with Various Artists (2017)
Awards and nominations