MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS are a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Kobe in 2002, originally as an all-female trio comprising bassist and vocalist Natsuko Miyamoto, guitarist Chiemi Ishimoto, and drummer Reiko Gotoh. Known in Japan by the abbreviated name Masudore, their music combines the distorted guitars and driving rhythms of post-hardcore with shoegaze, indie rock, and melodic pop songwriting. Miyamoto’s often delicate vocals contrast with the band’s heavier instrumental passages, while their live performances are characterised by powerful bass lines, abrupt dynamic changes, and an intensity that has remained consistent throughout their career. Following several line-up changes, the current trio comprises Miyamoto, guitarist and vocalist Naoya Ogura, and drummer Isao Yoshino.

The band’s early breakthrough came in 2007 when they won EMI Music Japan’s Road to Tarbox audition, earning the opportunity to record in the United States with producer Dave Fridmann, known for his work with The Flaming Lips and The Smashing Pumpkins. They also made their first appearance at Fuji Rock Festival’s ROOKIE A GO-GO stage that July. Their self-titled debut arrived in January 2008, followed by ‘World Is Yours’ in 2009 and their first full-length album, ‘Zero Comma, Irotoridori no Sekai’, in 2010. Songs including ‘Bears’, ‘Aoi, Koi, Daidaiiro no Hi’, and ‘Kono Speed no Saki e’ became favourites among Japanese alternative rock listeners and later found renewed attention overseas. However, the departure of Ishimoto in 2010 and Yoshino in 2011 left Miyamoto as the sole original member, and the band ceased activities in September 2012.

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS returned in December 2015 with Miyamoto, new guitarist Ogura, and returning drummer Yoshino. Their first new recording, ‘Slow Motion Replay’, was released on seven-inch vinyl through FLAKE RECORDS in March 2017, followed by the independently produced album ‘No New World’ in July 2018, their first album in eight years. The record placed greater emphasis on Miyamoto’s songwriting and vocals, with Ogura adding male harmonies to the band’s sound. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they released the crowdfunded demo collection ‘NAKED ALBUM’ before returning with their fifth album, ‘Awakening:Sleeping’, in August 2022. Although their arrangements had become more melodic, their recordings retained the forceful guitar and bass interplay of their earliest material.

After developing an overseas following through online music communities and streaming platforms, MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS made their UK live debut at ArcTanGent Festival in August 2022. Their first North American tour followed in 2023, with every performance selling out, including additional dates in New York. The response led to further international touring throughout 2024, including their first European headline tour, sold-out UK concerts, and a second North American tour covering 25 cities. Their popularity continued to grow in 2025, when a 22-date UK and European tour included their largest London headline performance to date at the 1,500-capacity Electric Ballroom. Much of their international audience discovered the band through older recordings, particularly ‘Aoi, Koi, Daidaiiro no Hi’, which gained fresh attention through TikTok and streaming more than fifteen years after its original release.

In August 2026, MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS released their sixth album, ‘Iwaou’ (‘Let’s Celebrate’), their first original album in four years. The self-produced six-track record includes ‘Simmer Summer’, ‘Let It Go’, ‘Hers’, and the title track, with its songwriting informed by the band’s international experiences and significant changes in the members’ personal lives. Rather than introducing elaborate new production elements, the album concentrates on the three musicians’ performances and Miyamoto’s increasingly personal lyrics, including themes of loss, mortality, and appreciation for the people around them. The release coincided with their return to ArcTanGent Festival and the announcement of their largest world tour, spanning 50 concerts across 49 cities in 29 countries. Beginning in Tokyo in September 2026, the tour continues through Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Europe before concluding in Japan in November 2027.