Events

Aldious is a Japanese all-female power metal band from Osaka, formed in 2008 by guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami. After a few member changes, they released their debut EP Dear Slave the following year and soon after formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. A stabilised line-up including guitarist Toki, bassist Sawa and drummer Aruto was established by 2010. Their first album Deep Exceed (2010) reached the top 15 on the Oricon chart, as did their second Determination (2011). However, Rami announced she was leaving the group in June 2012 and new vocalist Re:NO joined Aldious just one month later. They produced their third album District Zero in 2013 and it became their highest-charting release to date, reaching number 7.

Their fourth album Dazed and Delight (2014) peaked at number 20, before Aruto left the band in September and was replaced by Marina in April 2015. Their fifth album Radiant A was released in December 2015 and was their first album on the VAA record label and their first released in Europe. After one more album, Unlimited Diffusion (2017), Re:NO left the band at the end of 2018 and was replaced by R!N in August 2019.

SCANDAL will be making their only UK live date this coming September on the back of new album Kiss from the Darkness.

Since forming in 2006, SCANDAL have become one of the most successful bands in Japan and one of the country’s most recognised pop-rock acts overseas. The band has had 17 singles rank in the top ten or higher of Japan’s Weekly Oricon Singles Chart; had all six studio albums reach at least top five of the Weekly Album Chart; and achieved position three or higher for all three compilation albums. SCANDAL’s impact has even been credited for a national rise in young women learning to play a musical instrument in Japan.

SCANDAL have also had a number of their tracks used as theme songs to anime series through the years, including Pokémon, Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist. Kiss from the Darkness expands this further with album track ‘A.M.D.K.J.’ (pronounced “amidakuji”) appearing as the ending theme to the latest series of the iconic anime GeGeGe no Kitaro.

Kiss from the Darkness is the first to be released from the band’s own label “her” and is licensed to JPU Records.