Daily Music Dose

L-R: Aoi (gt), Reita (ba.), Ruki (vo.), Kai (dr.), Uruha (gt.)

The GazettE is without a doubt one of the most influential and popular visual kei J-rock bands of today. They are, surely, one of the greatest bands from Japan, with their hard-hitting rock sound and their unique style, winning fans from not only their home country, but from everywhere in the world.

Formed in 2002 by bassist Reita, lead guitarist Uruha and vocalist Ruki, they were soon joined by rhythm guitarist Aoi and original drummer, Yune. They began to gain recognition soon after, as they released three singles in their first year, headlining a show just six months after the first single, Wakaremichi, was released.

However, Yune left the band in early 2003, with current drummer and band leader Kai joining on Ruki's birthday. They joined the label PS Company shortly after, and soon released their first E.P., Cockayne Soup. The band quickly rose to fame within the next couple of years - they released a mini-album that reached #2 on the Oricon Indie Charts, featured in an independent Visual Kei artist catalogue, released live DVDs and toured with fellow PS Company bands Kra and BIS.

Their debut album, Disorder, was released in Octover 2004, making it to the top 5 of the Oricon Indie Charts and spent the rest of 2004 and 2005 touring extensively. They released another mini-album, Gama, in August, and in December released their first major single, Cassis.

In 2006 they changed their name from Japanese characters (Gazetto) to the GazettE, as they are known today, and released their second full-length album, Nil. They went on another Japanese tour that ended in the Nippon Budoukan, cementing their status as some of J-rock's biggest stars. In July, they played their first show outside of Asia, in Germany.

In 2007, three singles were released prior to their third full-length album, STACKED RUBBISH. Within a day of its release, it reached #2 on the Oricon Charts and they went on a nationwide tour to promote the album. In October, they went on their first European tour. Their next two singles, Guren and LEECH, released in 2008, both landed #1 spots on the Oricon Charts. They went on another tour in October and in November, had their first secret live. Unfortunately, it had to be shut down after only two songs as there were too many people - instead of the 250 that were expected to show up, about 7000 people came instead.

On January 3 2009, the GazettE performed at the PS Company 10th Anniversary live alongside their fellow PSC artists, like Miyavi and Alice Nine. They announced then that they would be releasing a new single, Distress and Coma, and a new album, DIM. They celebrated their 7th birthday as a band on March 10 2009 with their first one-man show of the year. On 15 July 2009, DIM was released, and they embarked on a Japan-wide summer tour, ending on 5 September, and their next single, Before I Decay will be released on October 7th 2009.

The GazettE, in general, have a hard-hitting, heavy rock sound, occasionally with elements of metal. Synthesized sounds are in their works as well, with songs like SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY and LEECH featuring some female vocals. Of course, the band also has some ballads such as Cassis and Chizuru. Ruki's lyrics read like poetry, and are always full of meaning, even if he does mess up his English at times (although it has certainly improved). His lyrics, coupled with the band's musical compositions, make for excellent songs that anyone would appreciate.

If you're looking for some excellent, unique rock music, the GazettE is the band you should listen to.

Wakaremichi

reila

Cassis

Burial Applicant

Distress and Coma