Japan’s alternative idol group Dempagumi.inc has confirmed the international release of their album W.W.D.D. through London’s JPU Records, following their first UK performances at HYPER JAPAN at The O2 on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July 2015.
Described as “pop… played at hardcore punk speed” by Complete Music Update and “an insane mish-mash of styles… an explosion of joy and creativity” by MTV Iggy. Dempagumi.inc are already turning heads overseas, and now the otaku superstars break out of Tokyo’s Akihabara district to bring their music to an international audience for the first time.
When originally released, W.W.D.D. reached number three in Japan’s Oricon Album Charts, where the six all-girl unit has held huge headline arena shows, including the Nippon Budokan, National Yoyogi Stadium’s First Gymnasium, as well as appearances at Japan’s major rock festivals, despite their pop aesthetics.
A number of tracks on the album have been written by prominent figures in the Japanese rock industry, including Tamaya 2060% of punk group Wienners, NAOTO from popular hip-hop rock act ORANGE RANGE, and anime theme composer and video game music remixer Kenichi Maeyamada amongst many more.
W.W.D.D. on CD will include a 28-page full colour photo and lyric booklet and will be available first at HYPER JAPAN, ahead of its official retail release from 7 August 2015. Digitally, the album is out now on iTunes and will be made available from other digital download and streaming services shortly.
W.W.D.D. TRACKLIST:
01. Dempa na Sekai ~ It’s a dempa world ~
02. Dempari Night [video]
03. Dance Dance Dance
04. NEO JAPONISM
05. FD2 ~Raison d’etre Daibouken~
06. Chururi Chururira [video]
07. Mamonaku, Dempagumi.inc ga Ririku Itashimasu
08. Dear Stage e Youkoso
09. Bari3 Republic [video]
10. Fancy Hoppe U FU FU [video]
11. Lemon Iro [video]
12. Brandnew World
13. Irodori Sekai
14. Sakura Apparation [video]
Pre-order now directly from JPU Records, or purchase in advance at HYPER JAPAN.
Fresh from completing a world tour with sold out dates across Europe, Japan’s ‘visual kei’ veterans the GazettE return with their seventh full length album BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY, due for a worldwide digital release on 23 October, and a physical release in the UK, Europe and Russia from JPU Records.
BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY captures the essence of what it means to be an outsider. Since their inception over a decade ago, the GazettE have found themselves being somewhat of an anomaly – separated from regular bands and musicians. Their singles have continually ranked in the top ten in Japan, but their music is far too aggressive, dark and disturbing to be recognised as pop; their guitarmanship and sea of fans headbanging in unison at live shows is a spectacle to witness, but the band’s androgynous demeanour and attention to art and aesthetics makes them an irregularity in the rock and metal worlds. The album title, combined with its unusual artwork, is a physical representation of a band that never compromise in the way of expression.
The cover art is a further metaphor, envisaging a hybrid beast made from five distinct but very different creatures. “the GazettE’s creativity depends on the individuality of all five member of the band”, explains vocalist RUKI. “Our art is a distilled combination of audio and visual”.
JPU Records’ regular edition of the album will also marry the sound and vision of the GazettE. Its 24-page booklet embodies all 14-tracks with unique artwork depicting each song, while an additional booklet will be included exclusive to the UK, Europe and Russia, containing translations of the lyrics into English.
BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY will be released in 79 countries across the world from 23 October 2013, making it the GazettE’s biggest release so far as their overseas fandom continues to swell. If you haven’t already, it’s time to tune in and celebrate the beauty of deformity.
Pre-order details coming soon.
the GazettE – BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY
BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY Track List:
01. MALFORMED BOX
02. INSIDE BEAST (Teaser Video)
03. UNTIL IT BURNS OUT
04. DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER
05. FADELESS
06. REDO
07. LAST HEAVEN
08. LOSS
09. THE STUPID TINY INSECT
10. IN BLOSSOM
11. KARASU
12. Kuroku Sunda Sorato Zangaito Kataha
13. TO DAZZLING DARKNESS
14. CODA
Upcoming rock band MOLICE are offering a free remix of their single ‘Please, Please, PRIS’ with our buddies Diverse Japan. To claim your digital download, simply like Diverse Japan on Facebook and then drop them a comment – they’ll then be in touch with the first 100 people with the link. The track original version of the track appears on the female-fronted unit’s 2012 album Neugravity, while the version up for grabs is a remix by their American label’s founder, and member of Goo Goo Dolls, Robby Takac.
Regular Japanese rock gig-goers in the UK may have caught MOLICE on tour back in 2009. We hope they’ll return soon!