Member:
Vocal: Hirosuke
Guitar: ATSUSHI
Bass: AKIO
Drums: TAKAYUKI
Ex Member:
Guitar: Tetsuya [1992 / 1993]
Bass: Yoritsugu "Anti" Azuchi [1992 / 1997]
Drums: Naoki [1992 / 1993]
Drums: Kohji [1993 / 1995]
Drums: Hajime Nishio [1995 / 1997]
Drums: Kill [1997 / 2002]
Status: Active
Since: 1992
Label Status: Major
BALZAC are widely recognized as the Japanese counterpart to the legendary American horror-punk band, The Misfits. The two groups have even gone on to establish a close relationship over the years, which has greatly improved BALZAC’s international exposure.
Horror movies and early punk rock music figure prominently into BALZAC's
sound and lyrics. The influence of zombie movies can also be seen in
their "slasher" images, frequent use of skeleton costumes and general
aesthetic.
Biography
In 1992, BALZAC was formed in Osaka by vocalist Hirosuke Nishiyama after the demise of his previous project, Astrozombies. Hirosuke has been the band’s only consistent member throughout the years.
Before 1992 was over, BALZAC had released their first demo tape, Scapegoat 666, which was limited to just thirteen copies. Despite having only recently formed, BALZAC performed frequently on the underground music scene in Osaka, and even occasionally in Tokyo.
Soon after, BALZAC released their first single, The Lord of the Light and the Darkness through their own label, Evilegend 13 Records. Over the next few years, the group released more singles through a variety of labels and were featured on various compilations.
Their breakthrough however, came in 1995, when they were signed by
Alchemy Records, through which they released their first full-length
album, The Last Men on Earth. Despite being regarded as a "fresh" band, BALZAC had already begun to receive positive reactions on the Japanese underground scene. However, BALZAC would not establish themselves in the West for years to come.
Around this time, people began to notice that both the music on The Last Men on Earth and the band’s image seemed heavily influenced by The Misfits. Although BALZAC never denied this close relationship, it should be noted that Nishiyama has also cited Samhain (a band started by ex-Misfits singer Glenn Danzig) as a major influence for BALZAC.
Shortly before the release of their third single in 1996, the group's bassist Anti and drummer H. Nishino left the band. However, there was no stopping BALZAC. One of Nishiyama's longtime friends, Imai Akio, joined the group. Imai had been performing with his own band, The Clash Dogs, at the time, but he left them in order to help his friend.
Since the group was still without a drummer, Masami agreed to perform as the percussionist for their upcoming releases. However, by 1997, when BALZAC were set to record their second full-length album, Masami left the band. Following this setback, the band once again recruited a friend; a drummer named Okano Futoshi. However, it should be noted that Okano is actually more of a session member of BALZAC and mostly just comes to their aid when they are without a drummer.
In 1998, BALZAC recruited Kill to fill the drummer
position and finally began to attract more attention on the Japanese
music scene. Not only that, but they also gained the recognition of the
recently reformed Misfits, who were then fronted by Jerry Only. BALZAC
was the opening act for the band on their first tour of Japan. This
would lead to the formation of a great friendship between the two bands
and gain BALZAC valuable Western exposure.
That year proved to be one of the biggest yet for the band, as they
began to perform in larger venues alongside other notable groups such as
Sobut and The Mad Capsule Markets. They also released a split CD with The Hate Honey, were featured on the VHS Devilock Night, and released their debut video and third album 13 Stairway -The Children of the Night-. To promote the album, BALZAC embarked on a nationwide tour, selling out several shows along the way.
The following year saw the release of a split CD with Sobut, which featured the songs The End of Century and No Resistance 1968, both of which have become fan favorites. The band also released a special 12" version of the album Isolation From No. 13,
which was a remixed edition sold with toy figures known as T.W.I.M.
(The World Is Mine). That Halloween saw the release of one of BALZAC's most popular songs, Into the Light From the 13 Dark Night
on CD, cassette and vinyl. Following the release of the single, the
band was once again back on tour and also released a 7" flexi, featuring
a cover of British punk band The Damned's song, Neat Neat Neat.
The year 2000 saw the band return to a heavy tour schedule. They opened for The Misfits once again upon their return to Japan and, almost directly after that tour, performed alongside The Mad Capsule Markets
for a number of shows. The same year saw the release of a set of
collectible figures manufactured by Medicom Toy Co., which included
figures of the members and a 7" figure called Hands of 9 Evil. This particular set of figurines is now one of the most desirable of BALZAC's
sets among collectors. They also released a 12" figurine of Paperbag
Man (the band’s official mascot) in three colors, all of which are
highly sought after.
That year in Osaka, the group also established their first retail store,
Shocker!!!, which focused on selling their brand of the same name, as
well as official band merchandise. Nishiyama also sold his clothing brand, Dementia Thirteen through the store and, most recently, BALZAC have also established another clothing line called Culture.
Early 2001 saw the release of several of BALZAC's most popular singles, as well as a box set featuring art by Maruo Suehiro, who was responsible for the artwork on their concept album, Zennou naru musuu no me ha yubi sasu. The band also contributed to Abstruct Madness, a split record with Delta and Rocky and the Sweden. However, toward the end of the year, BALZAC once again found themselves without a drummer as Kill quit the band for personal reasons.
Another close friend of the band, Takayuki, having just departed from his previous band The Battie Boys, joined the group as their new drummer. That year also signaled the opening of their second retail store, Coffin, in Kyoto.
The following year, BALZAC released a split single with The Misfits, on which they sang The Haunting and Don't Open 'Til Doomsday as a medley, whilst The Misfits covered Day the Earth Caught Fire. On Halloween, BALZAC were invited to perform alongside the band in New York. Although BALZAC had attracted attention from overseas beforehand, this was their first venture abroad.
2003 was one of BALZAC's most successful years, as the group toured with legendary bands such as The Misfits, The Damned, The Dickies and Agnostic Front in the West. However, before these tours the band released Beware of Darkness. This maxi-single was included as a part of a special, 4-figure toy set by Medicom Toys Co. That year also saw BALZAC’s first album released in America under the newly-founded Misfit Records and Out of the Light of the 13 Night released in Germany through G-Force Records.
The following year saw the release of BALZAC's sixth full-length album, CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE,
which was bundled in a special black box with a Be@rbrick figure. That
summer, the band also participated in a festival alongside the American
punk band Rancid. The band’s popularity continued to skyrocket that year, as BALZAC embarked on their first European tour, which covered several countries. They also released Zodiac Killer under the name Zodiac, and performed a special live on Christmas that consisted solely of Misfits covers.
The year 2005 was a fairly quiet one, although the band embarked on the DARKISM TOUR throughout Japan and also returned to Europe to play nine shows in Germany and one in Austria. BALZAC also contributed a cover of Moonlight to the album PARADE-RESPECTIVE TRACKS OF BUCK-TICK and appeared on a tribute album for The Damned.
2006 was an explosive year for the band. The release of their seventh
full-length album came with an exclusive SkullBat figure in two limited
colors. To promote the album, the group embarked on a nationwide tour
soon after its release. During the tour, they released their first
best-of album, which included many of their older works re-recorded for
the release. Their "secret" band, Zodiac, also finally recorded and released their first full-length studio album.
The following spring saw BALZAC return to Europe, with exclusive shows in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Berlin alongside MUCC. Partnering with Gan-Shin, the group released the album, Paranoid Dream of the Zodiac, which featured previously released songs. December saw the release of COMPLETE LEGACY BOOKS, which was sold in two versions. Scapegoat included the special bonus of audio re-recordings of BALZAC's first demo tape and Diabolos included bonus re-recordings of their second demo tape.
In 2008, BALZAC released their eighth studio album, HATRED:DESTRUCTION=CONSTRUCTION in both Japan and Germany. To promote the album, BALZAC embarked on a nine-stop tour of Japan that began in Nagoya.
In 2009 BALZAC released the mini-album Paradox, which was produced by Takeshi Ueda of The Mad Capsule Markets. This productivity continued into 2010 with the release of a limited edition three-disc set entitled Birth of Hatred.
This set featured a new album, rare and unreleased material and a DVD
containing fifteen PVs. The band also found time to cover Do it yourself for a tribute album to the Japanese hardcore band Aggressive Dogs.
As of winter 2011, BALZAC have released the album JUDGEMENT DAY and the single DERANGED in Japan and Europe. They have Japanese tour dates planned from the end of 2011 into 2012.
As BALZAC remains the dominant horror-punk band in Japan, one can only hope that their legacy will continue for years to come.
