BELLZLLEB
Encyclopedia
Bellzlleb is a Japanese heavy metal
band, formed in Chiba
, Japan
in 1985 by Tetsu and Yuji. Their sound mixed elements from heavy metal
, black metal
and hardcore with influences from Aleister Crowley
, the occult
, horror
, satanism
and the dark, heavy sound of Black Sabbath
. They toured the club circuit extensively and left various recordings from 1986 until they disbanded in 1992.
satanic metal band formed in 1985 by junior high school friends, guitarist and composer Tetsu (Genkaku Allergy
, Spooky Six Mouse, Love House) plus drummer and arranger Yuji (Love House), who were ex-band members of the rock band Love House. Rick, the loudest and wildest local bass player in Chiba city
, was recruited and Koizumi, the high-tone female singer with style influences from Black Sabbath
, completed the original lineup of the band in 1985. Initially they played local clubs like Chiba Dancing Mother and local musical instrument stores and participated in music festivals. But their first break came when they were invited to open for thrash metal band, Black Rose in 1985, whose guitar player and lead composer Pata
, would go on to join X Japan
. In 1986 they recorded the live mini flexi sheet, "Satanic Metal", and sold one thousand copies by the end of 1986. "Satanic Metal" increased their fan base leading to another Explosion Records compilation album in 1987, entitled Heavy Metal Force IV. By the Summer of 1987, they had successfully expanded their fan base throughout Japan by extensive club circuiting. Koizumi left Bellzlleb in 1987 due to health related complications and new male vocalist Rei (ex-Hardwave) was recruited to fill the responsibility. Original member and drummer, arranger Yuji left Bellzlleb in 1988 due to disagreement with musical style changes and direction, and for this reason their scheduled 1988 first full length album release was delayed for one year. After countless auditions, Fumi was recruited in 1989 and they released Bellzlleb through Nude Records. Rick left Bellzlleb soon after this recording due to directional disagreements and was replaced by ex-Jurassic Jade bass player, Mataro. With this new 1990 line-up, their second full length album, Section II ~Aru Gusha no Shougai~, was released through Captain Records (owned by Takarajima) in 1990. Mataro and Fumi left Bellzlleb after this recording in 1990, and Tetsu and Rei now without a rhythm section again released, the acoustic recording, Inori through Nude Records in late 1991. Their final line-up consisted of ex-Rosenfeld bass player Takami and drummer Kimura to record their final full-length album, Mr.Ree: ~Kairai to Sad~ in 1992. Countless member changes haunted the life of Bellzlleb throughout the years. The reason they disbanded was because Tetsu knew that they could not have produced a better sound than they currently were.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, formed in Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1985 by Tetsu and Yuji. Their sound mixed elements from heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and hardcore with influences from Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
and the dark, heavy sound of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. They toured the club circuit extensively and left various recordings from 1986 until they disbanded in 1992.
History
Bellzlleb is a JapaneseJapanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
satanic metal band formed in 1985 by junior high school friends, guitarist and composer Tetsu (Genkaku Allergy
Genkaku Allergy
Genkaku Allergy was a Japanese visual kei rock band started by ex-Kamaitachi members Sceana and Kazzy, in 1992. Its sound mixes elements from punk rock, heavy metal, hardcore, and industrial metal. They signed with Victor Entertainment in 1994...
, Spooky Six Mouse, Love House) plus drummer and arranger Yuji (Love House), who were ex-band members of the rock band Love House. Rick, the loudest and wildest local bass player in Chiba city
Chiba, Chiba
is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
, was recruited and Koizumi, the high-tone female singer with style influences from Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, completed the original lineup of the band in 1985. Initially they played local clubs like Chiba Dancing Mother and local musical instrument stores and participated in music festivals. But their first break came when they were invited to open for thrash metal band, Black Rose in 1985, whose guitar player and lead composer Pata
Tomoaki Ishizuka
, better known by his stage name Pata , is a Japanese musician. He is best known as rhythm guitarist for the popular heavy metal group X Japan...
, would go on to join X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
. In 1986 they recorded the live mini flexi sheet, "Satanic Metal", and sold one thousand copies by the end of 1986. "Satanic Metal" increased their fan base leading to another Explosion Records compilation album in 1987, entitled Heavy Metal Force IV. By the Summer of 1987, they had successfully expanded their fan base throughout Japan by extensive club circuiting. Koizumi left Bellzlleb in 1987 due to health related complications and new male vocalist Rei (ex-Hardwave) was recruited to fill the responsibility. Original member and drummer, arranger Yuji left Bellzlleb in 1988 due to disagreement with musical style changes and direction, and for this reason their scheduled 1988 first full length album release was delayed for one year. After countless auditions, Fumi was recruited in 1989 and they released Bellzlleb through Nude Records. Rick left Bellzlleb soon after this recording due to directional disagreements and was replaced by ex-Jurassic Jade bass player, Mataro. With this new 1990 line-up, their second full length album, Section II ~Aru Gusha no Shougai~, was released through Captain Records (owned by Takarajima) in 1990. Mataro and Fumi left Bellzlleb after this recording in 1990, and Tetsu and Rei now without a rhythm section again released, the acoustic recording, Inori through Nude Records in late 1991. Their final line-up consisted of ex-Rosenfeld bass player Takami and drummer Kimura to record their final full-length album, Mr.Ree: ~Kairai to Sad~ in 1992. Countless member changes haunted the life of Bellzlleb throughout the years. The reason they disbanded was because Tetsu knew that they could not have produced a better sound than they currently were.
Original lineup 1985–1987
- Vocals: Atsuko Koizumi
- Guitar: Tetsuji "Tetsu" Yamada (ex-Zeus, Genkaku AllergyGenkaku AllergyGenkaku Allergy was a Japanese visual kei rock band started by ex-Kamaitachi members Sceana and Kazzy, in 1992. Its sound mixes elements from punk rock, heavy metal, hardcore, and industrial metal. They signed with Victor Entertainment in 1994...
, Spooky Six Mouse, Love House) - Bass: Norihiko "Rick" Hayashi (Spooky Six Mouse)
- Drums: Yuji Niwano (Love House)
1987–1988
- Vocals: Yoshiyuki "Rei" Miyamoto (ex-Hard Wave, Samurai Blondies, Spooky Six Mouse)
- Guitar: Tetsu
- Bass: Rick
- Drums: Yuji
1989–1990
- Vocals: Rei
- Guitar: Tetsu
- Bass: Mataro (ex-Jurassic Jade)
- Drums: Fumi
1991–1992
- Vocals: Rei
- Guitar: Tetsu
- Bass: Takami (ex-Rosenfeld, Salamander)
- Drums: Kimura (Genkaku AllergyGenkaku AllergyGenkaku Allergy was a Japanese visual kei rock band started by ex-Kamaitachi members Sceana and Kazzy, in 1992. Its sound mixes elements from punk rock, heavy metal, hardcore, and industrial metal. They signed with Victor Entertainment in 1994...
)
Discography
- "Satanic Metal" (October 25, 1986, Private PLM-130)
- Bellzlleb (October 1989, Nude Records NUDE-0002)
- Section II ~Aru Gusha no Shougai~ (Section II ~ある愚者の生涯~, March 1990, Captain Records GONG-6018 (Independent label owned by Takarajima)
- Inori (祈り, December 25, 1990, Nude Records)
- Mr.Ree: ~Kairai to Sad~ (Mr.Ree: ~傀儡とSad~, January 10, 1991, Free-Will FWR-10)
Compilations
- East West '85 (1985, V/A)
- Heavy Metal Force IV (April 1987, V/A, Explosion Records)
- Emergency Express Metal Warning 2 (1989, V/A, Crown Records)
- Declare a State of Emergency - Emergency Express III (1991, V/A, Toy's Factory Records)
- Hyp No.4 - Special Supplement (1991, V/A, HYP)