Heavy metal legends Seikima-II return with BABYMETAL collaboration, new single and album

Heavy metal legends Seikima-II have reunited for a limited time to mark their 40th anniversary, with celebrations including two major shows alongside BABYMETAL this August.

Alongside the announcement, the band have released a new single, ‘Kiss U Dead or Alive’, and confirmed a new album titled ‘Season II’, due in June. Their anniversary tour, THE END OF SEASON ONE – Daikoku Mass, began on 12th April and will take them across 19 cities in Japan.

The Daikoku Mass tour runs until 19th August, where it wraps at Aichi Prefectural Art Theater. Its full title—Seikima-II 40th Anniversary of Earth Debut Limited Time Reunion Daikoku Mass Tour ‘THE END OF SEASON ONE’—is the band’s latest large-scale return.

During the tour’s opening night, Seikima-II also confirmed their upcoming album ‘Season II’, featuring nine tracks including ‘Kiss U Dead or Alive’ and ‘Rougai Rock’. The record, referred to by the band as a “daikyoten” (“scripture of doctrine”), lands on 6th June.

BABYMETAL clash

At the end of their opening night, the band revealed plans for their next “Black Mass”, Seikima-II vs BABYMETAL ~ akuma ga ki tarite BABYMETAL ~, a two-night event at Yokohama’s K Arena on 30th and 31st August. A teaser video shown on screen posed the question of whether the two acts would appear as friends or foes. The first night is titled “Encounter”, and the second “Impact”. General ticket sales begin on 31st May. Head to the official webpage for the event for more information.

With their future uncertain, Seikima-II are pulling out all the stops for their 40th anniversary. Vocalist Demon Kakka announced last year that his “temporary body” had been diagnosed with cancer, while guitarist Luke Takamura has been suffering with nerve damage in his arm. They noted that they might not be able to hold a satisfactory “Daikoku Mass” in the future, but could still write good songs. The band stated they want to “do everything they can while they can”.

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About Seikima-II

In 1982, guitarist Damian Harada formed Seikima-II while at university. Demon Kakka (vo.), Zod Hoshijima (ba.), and Ace Shimizu (dr.) joined him. The band have extensive lore, maintaining that they’re demons from a dimension named Makai, where His Excellency Demon Kakka is leader of the akuma (demons).

Seikima-II would see multiple lineup changes over the years with members coming and going. They held their first concert in 1983, and in 1984 passed an audition at CBS/Sony.

In 1985 they released their first full length album (which are referred to as “daikyoten” by the band) titled ‘Seikima-II ~ Akuma ga Kitarite Heavy Metal’. It infamously received a score of 0 in a review by Japanese metal magazine BURRN!, but went on to become the first Japanese metal album to sell over 100,000 copies. Then, in 1989, they became the first heavy metal band to perform at the prestigious Kohaku Uta Gassen.

1991 saw the band perform overseas for the first time, across Asia and Europe. In 1999 the band would release their final album ‘Living Legend’ before disbanding. Demon Kakka continued to release solo material, and the following years would see the band reunite multiple times as part of milestone events.

The band have been referenced and featured in pop-culture over the years, including Fist of the North Star and Detroit Metal City, even receiving their own anime in 1992 titled Seikima II Anime: Humane Society -Jinruiai ni Michita Shakai-. Notably, many bands cite Seikima-II as inspiration, including Sex Machineguns, Galneryus, Exist Trace, and BABYMETAL.

Now in their 40th year, Seikima-II have reunited once again for a limited time. Seikima-II are His Excellency Demon Kakka (vo.), Staff General Luke Takamura III (gt.), Empire Magistrate Jail O’Hashi (gt.), Captain Ace Shimizu (gt.), Dr. Xenon Ishikawa (ba.), and His Highness Raiden Yuzawa (dr.).

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