is a Japanese Nagoya kei

Nagoya Kei

Nagoya kei is a subgenre of visual kei, with its roots in the early-1990s music scene of Nagoya, Japan. Often considered darker and gloomier than normal visual kei, nagoya kei takes its musical influences more so from western punk rock bands...

 metal band. Their sound is alternative metal

Alternative metal

Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...

, though more recently they have stepped into metalcore

Metalcore

Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...

 territory.

History

Deathgaze was formed in the summer of 2003 by Hazuki, Ai, Naoki, and Kanna. After releasing their first single, "294036224052", vocalist, Hazuki, left in spring 2004 to form his own band, lynch.. Guitarist Kanna also left in 2004. As replacements, vocalist Sou and guitarist Naoto joined the group in late 2004. The band released several more singles and their first album, before Sou left in late 2006 to marry. In March 2007, the band announced an eighth-month long hiatus.

On November 11, 2007, the band officially ended their hiatus with the bassist Ai becoming the vocalist. They continued as a three-member band until March, 2008 when Kosuke was added on bass guitar. On April 26, 2009, guitarist Naoto retired from the band and from music, but he stated that if possible in the future he would return. Since Naoto's retirement, Takaki (ex. ASS'n'ARROW) has played live support guitar for the band, while Ai contributed guitar work to "The Continuation" and "Blood." Takaki was added as an official member on November 20, 2009.

As of 2009, Deathgaze has released ten singles (one being a re-release) and three albums. Ai is the main composer and lyricist of the band, even when Hazuki was still a member. He is also in charge of art direction for their CD releases. The band also performed under the session name Knohhoso (野っ細), playing cover songs of older and popular Japanese rock bands. Knohhoso also featured Ai on vocals.

Lineup

• Ai (鐚依 or 藍) – vocals (2008–present), guitar (2009–present), bass (2003–2006)
• Takaki (貴樹) – guitar (2008–present)
• Kosuke (孝介) – bass (2008–present)
• Naoki (直樹) – drums (2003–2006, 2008–present), leader

Previous members

• Hazuki (葉月) – vocals (2003–2004), (now in lynch.)
• Kanna (柑那) – guitar (2003–2004)
• Sou (宗) – vocals (2004–2006)
• Naoto (直人) – guitar (2003–2006, 2008–2009)

Discography

Albums

• Genocide and Mass Murder
  Genocide and Mass Murder
  Genocide and Mass Murder is the debut album by Japanese metal band Deathgaze. It was their final release featuring vocalist Sou. He left shortly after the release of the album...
  
  (July 16, 2006)
• Awake -Evoke the Urge- (December 10, 2008)
• The Continuation (September 9, 2009)
• Bliss Out (December 8, 2010)

Singles

• "「294036224052」" (February 22, 2004)
• "Chaos" (February 5, 2005)
• "Chaos Vol. 2" (August 17, 2005)
• "Downer" (November 11, 2005)
• "Fuhai to Fusei" (April 1, 2006)
• "Sukatorojisuto" (December 10, 2006)
• "Insult Kiss Me" (January 23, 2008)
• "Dearest" (February 20, 2008)
• "I'm Broken Baby" (March 19, 2008)
• "Abyss" (July 24, 2008)
• "Blood" (November 18, 2009)
• "Sorrow" (May 26, 2010)
• "Silence/The End" (May 7, 2011)
• "Useless Sun" (November 2, 2011)

Omnibus

• Hevn.8号 - "Rihitozoire" (November, 2003)
• Nagoya Band Catalog 2006 Rebels - "Reborn" (July 19, 2006)

Live

• Bloody All Lovers (March 22, 2010)

External links

• Official website
• Deathgaze at Enter Brain
• Deathgaze at HearJapan