The Gazette, Japanese Visual Kei Rock Band

The Gazette , stylized as the GazettE, is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in early 2002, and currently signed to Sony Music Japan’s VVV Records.The foundations of the band began with Ruki (vocals), Reita (bass), and Uruha (guitar). After being involved with other bands in the visual scene, the trio decided that The Gazette would be their lastband.They recruited Aoi (guitar) and Yune (drums) from disbanded visual band Artia and so began The Gazette in January 2002.Originally signed to Matina, they released their first single, “Wakaremichi”, and a video release on April 30, 2002. They re-released “Wakaremichi” in June. By
September, they had released “Kichiku Kyoushi (32sai Dokushin) no Nousatsu Kouza” and their second PV release. In October they played their first solo live. On Christmas, the 5-song compilation, moon including the song “Yougenkyou” was released.In early 2003, Yune decided to leave the band, and he was replaced by Kai.

Shortly after, they signed with the PS Company label and in May, released their first EP, Cockayne Soup. They started their first tour, with the band Hanamuke, and along with the tour, the bands collaborated on two songs. A second tour followed with the band Vidoll, and the bands were featured together on the November issue of Cure, a magazine focusing on Visual Kei bands.In early December, they played a co-headlining show with Deadman. On December 28 they performed at Fool’s Mate magazine’s Beauti-fool’s Fest which was later released on DVD.On March 17, 2010, the band embarked Standing Live Tour 10 (The End of Stillness) at Zepp Tokyo.After the fan club tour, the band then announced a new single and a live tour, which is named Tour 10 Nameless Liberty Six Bullets starting in July with two consecutive nights at Nippon Budokan. Among all of these events, the band has also announced that they would be transferring from King Records to Sony Music Records. Shiver is the first single with new label Sony Music Records and was also selected as the opening theme song to the Sony anime series Kuroshitsuji II.

On August 4, 2010, they released 3rd music video on DVD titled Film Bug II which included 10's PV from Regret to Before I Decay.Right after the release of Shiver, the band announced the final stop of the Tour 10 Nameless Liberty Six Bullets would be held at Tokyo Dome, and two new singles Red and Pledge would be released.

On March 2011, the band embarked on an fanclub only tour named Live Tour 11 (Two Concept Eight Nights -ABYSS/LUCY-) and 9th Birth (Day 9 -NINE-) at Zepp Tokyo in March 10. On March 23, The Gazette released a compilation album titled Traces Best of 2005-2009 and a live concert DVD named The Nameless Liberty at 10.12.26 Tokyo Dome.

The Gazette has postponed the releases of their best-of album Traces Best of 2005-2009 and live DVD The Nameless Liberty at 10.12.26 Tokyo Dome which contains footage of their final concert at Tokyo Dome due to the catastrophe in Japan. Both will be released on April 6th.

On April 6th, 2011, they announced another single Vortex which would be released on May 25, 2011.

The Gazette’s musical style varies greatly, but it is generally considered to be a form of rock music while delving into the genres of heavy metal found in songs like “Ogre.” They have also dabbled in alternative metal with the likes of “Taion” and “The Invisible Wall”. Other songs like “Silly God Disco” and “Swallowtail on the Death Valley” feature a funk rock sound with the use of jazzy chords and upbeat choruses. Other works such as “Leech” and “Hyena” feature a hard rock sound. “Filth in the Beauty” features female R&B vocals and bass, Spanish-influenced acoustic guitar with techno beat, crunchy metal riffs, harmonized choruses and a headbanging riff right in the middle – all within the same song. The songs “Maggots”, “Discharge” and “Headache Man” dwell into heavier forms of music, in particular, metalcore. The Gazette also uses a wide range of synthesized sounds during their songs to achieve interesting effects as well as create new listening dynamics and atmospheres. The Gazette is also known for utilizing various tunings to achieve a wide variety of sounds and styles. The Gazette has also produced a number of ballads such as “Reila”, “Cassis”, “Calm Envy”, “Guren”, and “Pledge”.