Debut song of a 90s visual kei band
A visual kei band that revolutionized the Japanese music scene with their innovative musicality and glamorous looks.
Even major artists that everyone knows today—such as GLAY, L’Arc~en~Ciel, and DIR EN GREY—once took their very first steps as newcomers.
While influenced by X JAPAN, each established a uniquely rich musical identity and forged a new era.
Here, we introduce the debut songs that became their starting point, hidden behind the bold makeup and costumes.
Debut songs of 90s visual kei bands (1–10)
Tantra and MantraGARGOYLE
Gargoyle, hailed as the king of the live house scene, made their major-label debut with a work that, as its esoteric, mantra-like title suggests, invites listeners into a mystical ritual.
Their complex song structures—often dubbed progressive thrash metal—fuse with a poetic worldview imbued with a distinctly Japanese sensibility.
The profound themes, which seem to probe the depths of human consciousness, carry an addictive quality that lingers long after a single listen.
Released as a video in April 1993, this work sparked major buzz for debuting not on CD but in the form of music videos.
BelieveLUNA SEA
LUNA SEA is a heavyweight in Japan’s visual kei scene.
They made their major-label debut with the album Image, released in 1992, and the following year they released Believe as their first single.
NAKED BLUECRAZE
A determination to charge forward, believing in the future even while gripped by frustration with a reality that won’t bend to your will—that raw emotion is packed into CRAZE’s debut single.
Released in September 1995, the single reached No.
10 on the Oricon charts and was also included on the album BE CRAZY.
Its aggressively distorted guitar sound and driving, fast-paced beat create a curious charm that feels rough yet somehow refreshing.
If you want to break free from your current situation but can’t take that first step, listening to this track might give you the courage you need.
In the shadow play…Deshabillz
Deshabillz is a band that cuts sharply into the darkness of the human heart with decadent beauty and raw emotion.
The grotesque yet aesthetic lyrical world woven by SHUN has an unforgettable, overwhelming pull once you’ve experienced it.
In this track, SHI-NO’s baroque-style guitar instantly captivates the listener, and the raw intensity of the vocals unfolding over the driving sound draws you in even further.
Featured on their debut EP “Shinjuusha,” released in June 1994, this song is perfect for those moments when you’re worn out by the light of everyday life and feel the urge to deliberately sink into the depths of darkness.
Blue Romance “Feelings”LAREINE
This song is a tale of blue, heartrending love spun by LAREINE, who performed under the concept of a “flower incarnate descended into the modern age.” Its dramatic structure of over six minutes and the delicate tones of the synth beautifully portray an overwhelming yearning for an unattainable love.
You can almost see the feelings for a beloved person blooming and scattering like a beautiful flower.
The track was included on their first album, released in 1996.
Why not listen to it when you want to wrap the memories of an unforgettable love in a beautiful melody?