Nagoya, Japan (2003-2007) (2007-2014)

DEATHGAZE (typeset as simply d… Read Full Bio ↴Nagoya, Japan (2003-2007) (2007-2014)

DEATHGAZE (typeset as simply deathgaze from 2004 to 2006) was a Japanese alternative metal band formed in July of 2003 in Nagoya. The band's final line up came in 2009, when only vocalist Ai and drummer Naoki were the remaining founding members still in the band.

Final line-up:
藍 (Ai) - Vocals (2007-present), guitar (2010-present), bass (2003-2008)
貴樹 (Takaki) - Guitar, backing vocals (2009-2014)
孝介 (Kosuke) - Bass, backing vocals (2008-2014)
直樹 (Naoki) - Drums (2003-2014)

DEATHGAZE plays a style of alternative metal with some elements of hard rock (mostly in more recent releases) and some ballads can also be found on albums. They can also be grouped in nagoya kei which is a subgenre of visual kei focusing on a darker sound and appearance, usually with more prominent bass as well.

Before DEATHGAZE had formed, vocalist 葉月 (Hazuki) played in ベリィ with drummer 直樹 (Naoki). 藍 (Ai), then bassist for KeiL, also provided guest backing vocals for the band. After ベリィ had disbanded, the three met up and were joined by guitarist 柑那 (Kanna) and formed DEATHGAZE.

The band started their career with a few small performances and in February of 2004 released their first EP, 「294036224052」. After a brief tour from March-April 2004, Hazuki left to become the vocalist of lynch. and shortly after, Kanna left to play guitar for Puppet Mammy. The remaining two DEATHGAZE members contacted KeiL‘s 直人 (Naoto), who had also provided support guitar for ベリィ, and 宗 (Sou), ex-Be≒Luna and DEATHGAZE was complete again.

After the release of an album, several singles and EPs, vocalist Sou decided to leave the band to get married in the fall of 2006, leaving DEATHGAZE without a frontman once again. The band finished what concerts they had planned, without a vocalist, and announced a hiatus in March of 2007, after going on a coupling tour with ギルガメッシュ (girugämesh) called "Girugaze&Deathgamesh". For this tour, vocal duties were shared by bassist Ai and girugämesh' vocalist Satoshi.

In November 2007, the band returned, with bassist Ai having become the vocalist. They announced 孝介 (Kousuke) as bassist in the beginning of 2008.

The band announced that guitarist Naoto would leave the band for personal reasons after their one-man show at April 26, 2009. On their website it said that the band will continue activities with a support guitarist, 貴樹 (Takaki), who officially became a member at their tour final on December 20, 2009. In 2009 they also held a coupling tour with cocklobin named "Deathlobin".

DEATHGAZE have since released their third full-length album, BLISS OUT, on December 8, 2010. The limited deluxe edition of that album contains a bonus disc with re-recordings of some older songs from around the time of genocide and mass murder.

Since 2010 Vocalist Ai has also taken up the guitar for several songs, and has played an 8-string guitar since 2012.

Ex-members:
葉月 (Hazuki) - Vocals (2003-2004) (now in lynch.)
宗 (Sou) - Vocals (2004-2006)
柑那 (Kanna) - Guitar (2003-2004)
直人 (Naoto) - Guitar, backing vocals (2004-2009)

DEATHGAZE official homepage: www.deathgaze.jp

死桜
DEATHGAZE Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

蒼白い手　気が狂いそう　滅べばいい　気味が悪い

さぁ　ここで　狂え　ストイック
さぁ　歌え　踊れ　ストミック

嘘の世界　真実なんて　何処にもない　気味が悪い

さぁ　ここで　狂え　ストイック

さぁ　歌え　踊れ　ストミック

綺麗だね　君は　儚く
涙を胸に隠したまま
いつまでも　揺れて　死桜
酔い痴れて

傷が痛む　溶けてしまえば　甘い言葉　君が笑う

さぁ　ここで　狂え　ストイック
さぁ　歌え　踊れ　ストミック

綺麗だね　君は　花咲く
涙を胸に隠したまま
いつまでも　揺れて　死桜
酔い痴れて
行かないで　君は　舞い散る
全てを消してしまいそうで

いつまでも　揺れて　死桜
酔い痴れて

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of DEATHGAZE's "死桜" (Shizakura) paint a picture of emotional pain and chaos. The opening lines of the song describe a pale hand and the desire for destruction, creating a sense of unease. The chorus encourages the listener to go mad and be stoic, singing and dancing in a frenzied state. The lyrics suggest that the world is filled with lies and there is no truth to be found, adding to the feeling of confusion and despair.

The song then shifts to describe a beautiful but fleeting existence, represented by the cherry blossom imagery in the title. The singer addresses someone they perceive to be fragile, with hidden tears in their heart, and expresses a desire to join them in their suffering. The lyrics suggest that pain can be alleviated by the comfort of sweet words, but also acknowledge the transience of life and beauty.

In the final verse, the singer implores the person to stay and not disappear into the wind like falling cherry blossoms. There is a sense of desperation and a desire to hold onto the moment, despite the knowledge that everything will eventually fade away.

Overall, "死桜" is a powerful song that deals with themes of emotional turmoil, inner pain, and the fragility of life. The lyrics are visceral and emotional, using vivid imagery and expressive language to convey a range of complex emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

蒼白い手　気が狂いそう　滅べばいい　気味が悪い
Pale hands, feeling like going crazy, it's better if they perish, a creepy feeling.

さぁ　ここで　狂え　ストイック
Come on, go crazy here, be stoic.

さぁ　歌え　踊れ　ストミック
Come on, Sing and dance, be dynamic.

嘘の世界　真実なんて　何処にもない　気味が悪い
A world of lies, nowhere is the truth, a creepy feeling.

綺麗だね　君は　儚く
It's beautiful, you are fleeting.

涙を胸に隠したまま
While hiding the tears in your heart.

いつまでも　揺れて　死桜
Forever swaying, the dead cherry blossom.

酔い痴れて
Intoxicated.

傷が痛む　溶けてしまえば　甘い言葉　君が笑う
The pain of the wound, if it melts away, you smile at sweet words.

綺麗だね　君は　花咲く
It's beautiful, you are blooming like a flower.

行かないで　君は　舞い散る
Don't go, you scatter while dancing.