You'd be hard pressed to find a cooler looking band than Azarashi. I am also quite fond of their angular, spastic, ADD post-punk visual kei yakuza glam thrash. I think this band is somehow related to the seminal Japanese Punk band, The Stalin. I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
Woah...I expected these guys to be awful but this is actually pretty rad. Not what I tend to expect from a "visual kei" band
ReplyDeleteReally love these guys. The sort of remind me of Maruo characters come to life. They aren't directly related to The Stalin, more influenced by than anything else. One of the more bizarre punk bands around. Nice and vicious.
ReplyDeleteGood album. These guys describe their look / aesthetics as 'Showa Romanticism' (the Showa era ran 1925-89 and is the current target of much nostalgia and revivalism in design, music etc...). As far as I know the Stalin connection seems to only extend to their name.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you probably already know them but if early-80's-revival Japanese punk is your thing you should check out the Crow-fronted Kaiboushitsu (also named for a Stalin song).
The Stalin do have a song titled Azarashi.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Love The Stalin but have never heard this before. Thanks.
ReplyDeletethis really reminds me of the lunachicks. really good
ReplyDeleteThanks for filling in some blanks about this band, y'all.
ReplyDeletecheers. downloaded the other day and forgot to say thanks, so THANK YOU! I'm not big on visual kei, but this I really enjoy
ReplyDeleteThat was a really good listen. Kind of reminded vaguely of the Flower Travellin' Band. Wonder what happened to them?
ReplyDeleteFTB is still going strong.
ReplyDeleteI Love Japan. They Are The Most Extreme. And You Always Bring Me Into New And Exciting Music From The Most Exciting Country. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded this a few days ago but just now listened to it - it's amazing! Usually I dig the j-punk stuff cause it's all skronk and squeal but this is so focused and purposeful! It reminds me of Philly's Red Devil (RIP) and the singer sounds a good bit like Ivy too...
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, do you know where I can find the rest of their material?
ReplyDeleteholy crap this rules. i too would appreciate more of their stuff.
ReplyDeletethis album has become very dear to me, as it completely rips shit! thanks dude.
ReplyDeleteLoving it, cheers for all the obscure Japanese stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou ever come across a Japanese viking black metal band called Crifotoure Satanarda? I think they were from Nagasaki... released one hell of a demo with horrifically hilarious keyboards and that was it, I think. :( It's out there on the blogs.