Visual kei band DRUGS have released their 8th single and 3rd music video, ‘AKUMA’, along with new “artist graffiti”. The track dropped across streaming platforms on May 26th.
‘AKUMA’ (‘DEMON’) is a 6-minute long unnerving metal track, with a matching dark and grotesque music video. Directed by Crap Dolly, who has previously worked with both DRUGS and Fukuro, the video is an artfully disturbing and uncomfortable watch. The band members are each seen with their “demons” on show, through grainy VHS-like footage. Eventually each of them seemingly succumb to their struggles, coughing up black liquid.
With lyrics alluding to a battle with inner demons, vocalist Tsuzuku’s melancholic droning and whispering gives way to pained screams, while the instrumentation goes from minimalist verses and silent bridges, to deep, sludge-filled choruses.
Drummer Yoshiatsu had been teasing the new song and video for a while on his socials, describing it as “crazy”. The fans agree, with comments describing it as grotesque, horrifying, and beautiful, as well as breathtaking and a masterpiece. The band’s intention from the start was to rock the visual kei boat, and they’re continuing to do so, leaning into the shock element of visual kei’s roots. In a comment to Japanese visual kei publication VISUNAVI, Yoshiatsu said:
“Thank you for watching and listening to DRUGS’ new song ‘AKUMA’.
Yoshiatsu
I think this is a work that lets us show a new side of ourselves to all the DOPES.
From here on, we’ll have more joint shows and important one-man lives. In other words, let’s love each other fiercely. That’s all.”
Along with ‘AKUMA’, DRUGS dropped new “artist graffiti”; photos taken on the set of the music video. Fans can also pick up cheki taken at the music video, and an acrylic stand set from the band’s official online store.
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DRUGS have also announced their first solo tour, titled ” DESCEND INTO ANATHEMA “. Starting on September 25th at Nagoya ell.FITS ALL, the band will then head to Osaka Americamura BEYOND on the 26th, and will wrap up the tour on October 2nd at Tokyo’s CLUB PHASE in Takadanobaba. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Plus, they will hold their 3rd one-man show ” THE DOPES “ at Shibuya WOMB on August 28th, and their self-organized 2-man live series Kansen saibansho (Infection Court) starts on June 5th. The series will see DRUGS perform with DAMNED, NICOLAS, XaaXaa, and Madmans Esprit at EDGE Ikebukuro through summer. As well as this, they will hold a separate 2-man concert with Road to B7Klan Fest Contest winners Musyozoku on August 18th at EDGE Ikebukuro, titled AIMING. For more information, visit the DRUGS official website.
DRUGS
AKUMA
Release Date: 26/05/2026
Label: Independent
Stream: Links
DRUGS
D/D/D
Release Date: 17/02/2026
Label: Independent
Stream: Links
CD: DRUGS official online shop
