Jiluka

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Jiluka
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active2013, 2015–present
LabelsDPR Japan
Members
  • Ricko
  • Sena
  • Boogie
  • Zyean
Past members
  • JaiL
Websitewww.jiluka-web.com

Jiluka (Japanese: ジルカ, Hepburn: Jiruka, stylized as JILUKA) is a Japanese visual kei metal band initially formed in May 2013 but restarted in February 2015. The group are an independent band on the label DPR Japan, consisting of members Ricko, Sena, the main songwriter of the songs, Boogie and Zyean. They have released 7 albums and 6 singles so far. It was ranked at the 12 position on the JRock News's top 15 visual kei and Japanese rock artists of 2019.[2] Jiluka is described as "Modern metal visual kei (V系モダン・メタル, V-kei modan metaru)".[3]

Career[edit]

2013–2016: Early years[edit]

Jiluka was originally formed in February 2013 by Ricko, Sena, Boogie and JaiL, debuting on May 6, 2013. However, JaiL announced in June that they would leave the band after a final show on December 21, 2013, causing a break in the group activities.[4][5] The band restarted in 2015 with a new drummer, Zyean, releasing their debut single "Screamer" and then, on April 8, the EP Brave Agonistic Letters Under Segregation.[6] On April 20, 2016, they released the single "Faizh" and performed their first solo concert on May 21 in Ikebukuro.[7] The second single, "Lluvia", was released on November 11.[8]

2017–2020: First full album and Mad Pit Tour[edit]

In 2017 they released their third EP, titled Xenomorphic, on June 28.[9] The limited single "Hellraiser" was released for exclusive purchase at the May 20, 2018, concert at Tsutaya-O West.[10] Metamorphose, the band's first full-length album, was released on September 12, 2018, and reached number eight on the Oricon Indies Albums charts.[11][12] On December 16, the group performed in Metal Square vol. 4 festival in Shibuya, with other bands like Dimlim, Nocturnal Bloodlust and Deviloof.[13]

In 2019, they sponsored the Mad Pit Tour 2019 and embarked on it with other bands such as Deviloof, Dexcore and Victim of Deception.[14] On May 29, they released a cover album titled Polyhedron, containing covers of songs by Do As Infinity, Joe Yellow, Hatsune Miku, among others.[15] Jiluka participated in a collaboration with the band breakin' holiday[16] and on August 3, the two groups performed together and released an album titled B'H⇄JLK, in which Juri, lead singer of breakin' holiday, sings Jiluka's "Twisted Pain" and Ricko sings "Lilith" by breakin' holiday. The disc was limited to purchase on the day of the show.[17] On November 13, the greatest hits album Xanadu was released along with a new version of the music video for "Screamer" from the debut EP Brave Agonistic Letters Under Segregation.[18] The album also included a new song, "Elice in Slow Motion".[1]

In February 2020, they performed at Tsutaya-O West, celebrating the band's 5-year career.[19] From June to July, they would sponsor the Mad Pit Tour 2020,[20] however it was completely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] On October 3 they embarked on another national tour, but this time with limited audience due to the pandemic, which ended on November 29 in Shibuya. The tour was in promotion of the new EP, Xtopia, released on October 14.[22][23] From August 30 to September 12, 2020, they embarked on tour together with Leetspeak Monsters.[24]

2021–present: Idola and world tour K4RMA[edit]

Jiluka performed a free online show available worldwide from Twitch hosted by Chaotic Harmony store on February 21, 2021.[25] In the second half of the year, the new album Idola was announced, scheduled for September 15th, and the music video for "Kumari" was uploaded to YouTube in August.[26][27] The DVD Live: The Synergy was sold exclusively at the last performance of the tour promoting Idola, held on March 18, 2022, in Tokyo.[28] Another tour alongside Leetspeak Monsters began on May 1, 2022, and a collaborative CD between the two bands, Amphisbaena, was sold exclusively at these shows.[29] Produced by Jeff Dunne, the digital single "Blvck" was released in September.[30]

The 2022 Mad Pit Tour started in November.[30] Meanwhile, Zyean supported Cazqui's (Nocturnal Bloodlust) solo project, Cazqui's Brutal Orchestra, on the release of "The Button Eyes".[31] Sena and Boogie, who are models of Mana's brand Moi-même-Moitié, participated in an event for the brand on December 19.[32] On February 18, 2023, Jiluka participated in the Dex Fest 2023 festival, hosted by Dexcore band in Nagoya.[33] In the same month, they released the single "Overkill" which was followed by "Venom" in September.[34] Jiluka made their first performance in the United States in October at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2023.[35] A month later, it was revealed that they would play at Evil Live Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, becoming the first visual kei band to perform in the country.[36] Taking advantage of the festival date, the band announced their first world tour named K4RMA, with five solo dates in Europe plus the Resurrection Festival in Spain and a show in Los Angeles in July.[37]

Musical style[edit]

Jiluka's musicality is presented as metal, mostly metalcore. Describing "Twisted Pain", Jrock News claimed that the song features "heavy drums with double pedals, fancy guitar solo and fry scream vocals".[38] Barks stated that "the band's technical and intense sound draws attention"[39] and commenting about "Divine Error", describes it as "a heavy melody".[3] The band also incorporate hip hop and electronic dance music elements into their music.[40][1]

Influences[edit]

Jiluka cites as their main influence, among all the members, the Japanese band X Japan. Sena mentions as some of his more specific influences the band Kansas, classical music and the English band Rixton. He says he used to listen to hip-hop, until a friend urged him to listen to X Japan's "Kurenai"; he became a guitarist inspired by hide and Pata.[41] Ricko says that he likes rap, being a fan of Linkin Park and that he also used to listen to L'Arc-en-Ciel. Boogie claims he listens to a bit of everything, like Luna Sea and Korn, but Slipknot brought him into metal. Zyean says he listens to a lot of metal bands, like Metallica, Bullet for My Valentine, Rhapsody of Fire, Behemoth, among many others.[42][43]

All members claim that at the beginning of their musical careers they were from different positions. Ricko used to play guitar but the band he was part of didn't have a vocalist, and despite being insecure, he started to sing. Even though Sena's influences encouraged him to play guitar, he initially played drums, as stated by himself. Zyean started listening to death metal and other types of extreme metal when he was a student. He was a self-taught vocalist who also played guitar and bass: "To be honest, I didn't want to play drums back then." In another interview, he claimed that a drummer classmate convinced him to play.[21] Like Ricko, Boogie said that a bass player was missing on the band that he was invited to play.[39]

Members[edit]

  • Ricko (リコ) - vocals (2013 – present)
  • Sena (セナ) - guitar (2013 – present)
  • Boogie (ブギー) - bass guitar (2013 – present)
  • Zyean (ジェーン) - drums (2015 – present)

Former members[edit]

  • JaiL - drums (2013)

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • Brave Agonistic Letters Under Segregation (April 8, 2015)
  • Destrieb (August 5, 2015)
  • Xenomorphic (June 28, 2017) (Oricon Albums Chart: 257[44])
  • Metamorphose (September 12, 2018) (Oricon Albums Chart: 67;[44] Indies Albums: 8[11])
  • Polyhedron (May 29, 2019) (Oricon Albums Chart: 102[44])
  • Xanadu (November 13, 2019) (Oricon Albums Chart: 83[44])
  • Xtopia (October 14, 2020) (Oricon Albums Chart: 88[44])
  • Idola (September 15, 2021) (Oricon Albums Chart: 125[44])

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Jiluka's "Elice in slow motion" infuses EDM with own brand of metal for best-of album "Xanadu"". JRock News. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  2. ^ "Top 15 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2019". JRock News. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  3. ^ a b "Jiluka、V系モダンメタルを象徴するニューSG「Divine Error」をリリース". Barks (in Japanese). 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  4. ^ Sophia (2013-06-10). "Jiluka losing one member". Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  5. ^ "Jiluka (ジルカ)". Crimson Lotus. 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  6. ^ "【Jiluka (ジルカ)】新規掲載!2015年2月始動。印象的なメロディーと攻撃的ヘヴィネスを全方位に放射する、新世代のセンスとサウンドが炸裂!" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-05-03. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  7. ^ edoh+ (2016-03-29). "Jiluka new single "Faizh" to hit shelves next month". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  8. ^ edoh+ (2015-10-21). "Preview of Jiluka's "Lluvia" Single". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  9. ^ NoMusicNoReason (2017-06-23). "Jiluka unveils details on third mini-album "Xenomorphic"". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  10. ^ "【Jiluka】2018年5月20日(日)Tsutaya O-West ワンマン<5th One Man Live 「Bigeminy」>にて、会場限定シングルを緊急発売することが決定!". びじゅなび (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  11. ^ a b "Oricon 2018 Week 39". JaME World. 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  12. ^ "Jiuka、音楽的野心を詰め込んだ初のフルアルバム発売". Barks (in Japanese). September 12, 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  13. ^ "Metal Square vol. 4 Selection by Cazqui at Shibuya Stream Hall". Jame World. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  14. ^ "Make My Day、12月にニューシングル「Fragment」をリリース決定 同日にレコ発主催イベントを開催 | Spice - エンタメ特化型情報メディア スパイス". SPICE(スパイス) (in Japanese). October 23, 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  15. ^ NoMusicNoReason (2019-05-22). "Jiluka metallizes 4 hit songs in EP "Polyhedron"". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  16. ^ "Jiluka・breakin'holiday | 【ViSulog チャンネル】7月26日(金)20時より『breakin' holiday×Jiluka「b'h x JLK」特番』放送決定! | ヴィジュアル系ポータルサイト「ViSulog」". ヴィジュアル系ポータルサイト ViSulog (in Japanese). July 3, 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  17. ^ "『B'H⇄JLK / V.A』". 安眠妨害水族館 (in Japanese). August 15, 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  18. ^ "Jiluka updates music video "Screamer -2019 XND-" for best-of album "Xanadu"". JRock News. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  19. ^ ""V系モダンメタル"Jilukaが始動5周年を記念したベストアルバム『Xanadu』をリリース". Spice (in Japanese). 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  20. ^ "Jiluka主催「Mad Pit Tour 2020」開催決定!". Burrn! Online (in Japanese). February 13, 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  21. ^ a b Dorian (2020-08-10). "Interview: The uniqueness that is "Jiluka"". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  22. ^ "Jiluka、ニューアルバム『Xtopia』リリース。"V系モダンメタル"の最先端へ". Barks (in Japanese). 8 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  23. ^ "New Mini-Album from Jiluka". JaME World. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  24. ^ "Jiluka、5周年記念ワンマンで魅せた真髄". Barks (in Japanese). 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  25. ^ NoMusicNoReason (2021-02-06). "Chaotic Harmony holds free livestreams featuring Jiluka, Anonymous, and more". JRock News. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  26. ^ "Jiluka – New mini album "Idola" and nationwide tour". CrimsonLotus. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Jiluka、9/15リリースの新作『Idola』より新曲「Kumari」MV公開!". Gekirock (in Japanese). 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  28. ^ "Jiluka、ライヴDVD『Live : The Synergy』リリース日が3/18に決定!収録詳細も発表!". Gekirock (in Japanese). 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  29. ^ "Leetspeak monsters × Jiluka、ツーマン・ツアーで会場限定コラボCD発売決定!共作共演曲「Amphisbaena」試聴動画も公開!". Gekirock (in Japanese). 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  30. ^ a b "Jiluka、初の配信シングル「Blvck」MV公開!". Gekirock (in Japanese). 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  31. ^ Sizergyia (2022-11-09). "Cazqui's Brutal Orchestra's "The Button Eyes" music video serves epic collaboration". JRock News. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  32. ^ Erica (2022-10-17). "Moi-même-Moitié gathers 6 visual kei artists for anniversary tea party". JRock News. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  33. ^ Dorian, Sizergyia (2023-01-22). "Dexcore joined by former bassist To-Ru, support drummer Maki". JRock News. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  34. ^ Jack (2023-09-29). "JILUKA unleashes intoxicating single "VENOM"!". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  35. ^ "Jiluka Makes Their US Debut at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2023". Anime News Network. 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  36. ^ "EVILLIVƎ FESTIVAL: Anuncia os primeiros nomes para a edição de 2024 • LOUD!" (in European Portuguese). 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  37. ^ Sizergyia (2024-03-13). "JILUKA embarks on "WORLD TOUR 2024 'K4RMA'"". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  38. ^ "Jiluka Reveals Full Music Video of "Twisted Pain"". JRock News. 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  39. ^ a b "【千歌繚乱インタビュー】Jilukaという総合芸術". Barks (in Japanese). 20 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  40. ^ "Metamorphose / Jiluka" (in Japanese). Gekirock. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  41. ^ "【対談インタビュー】Masato (defspiral)×Sena(Jiluka)、「ギタリスト&メインコンポーザーとして」". Barks (in Japanese). September 20, 2019. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  42. ^ McNaught, Shannon (2016-04-30). "Jiluka Interview (2016)". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  43. ^ "Jiluka | 激ロック インタビュー". Gekirock (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  44. ^ a b c d e f "Jiluka のアルバム売上ランキング". Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved 2021-06-05.