Asterism (band) explained

Asterism
Origin:	Fukuoka, Japan
Years Active:	2014–present
Label:	Yamaha Music Publishing, Tokuma Japan, Amuse Inc., SME Records/Sony Music Japan
Current Members:	Hal-ca (guitar, vocals) Miyu (bass, chorus) Mio (drums, chorus)

Asterism (stylized as ASTERISM) is a Japanese rock band formed in Fukuoka in 2014 by brothers Mio (drums) and Miyu (bass) and Hal-ca (guitar).

The band has toured the United States, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan, including performances at SXSW Music Festival, Taihu Midi Festival, and Knotfest Japan.

Asterism has gained international recognition for the combination of their collective youth and advanced technical skill as instrumentalists.^[1] The band is managed by Japanese talent agency Amuse, Inc.^[2]

History

In 2014, the band members participated separately in Yamaha's 8th Music Revolution competition, with Hal-ca performing as a solo guitarist and brothers Miyu and Mio performing as a duo under the name Ogi.^[3] Yamaha executives introduced the musicians, and the decision was made to create the group Asterism.

On November 1, 2015, Asterism (performing under the name "Hal-ca") won both the Outstanding Performance Award and Audience Award at the Kyushu-Okinawa final round of "The 9th Music Revolution" sponsored by Yamaha.^[4]

On June 15, 2016, the band released their first CD single, "Got Your Back/Wonder Rocket".^[5]

In November 2017, Asterism released their first recorded EP titled The Session Vol. 1, including instrumental covers of songs by Metallica, Judas Priest, and Ozzy Osbourne.

In January 2018, they released their second EP The Session Vol. 2, including covers of songs by Rage Against the Machine, Rush, and Motorhead. The same month, the band began performing a series of live concerts on Facebook from the Hard Rock Cafe in Fukuoka. American bassist and producer Bootsy Collins reposted a performance by Asterism on his Facebook page and contacted the band about collaborating on new material.^[6]

In August 2018, Asterism released their first full album, Ignition, which included two songs produced by Collins with additional guitar by Buckethead.^[7] The album also included covers of the Beatles and Dio.

In January 2019, Asterism began touring outside of Japan with their first Asia tour in China and Thailand.^[8] On March 2, they performed their first one-man shows titled "Welcome to Inferno Vol. Max" at Graf in Fukuoka, followed by a second one-man at Shimokitazawa Liveholic.^[9] That same month, the band toured the United States with performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas,^[10] and additional stops in Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles.^[11]

The band  returned to China in April and May for a six city headlining tour^[12] including performances at the Taihu Midi Festival in Suzhou.^[13] In August, they performed at the Gangwon Rock Festival in South Korea.^[14] In October, they performed a five city tour of South Korea and China, and appeared at Music China 2019 at the Shanghai New International Expo.^[15]

In December 2020, Asterism released their third EP Guernica, followed by their second full album Guernica+a, released in September 2021, which added four new tracks.

In September 2022, Asterism released the concept album Animetic, which contained covers of theme songs from several Japanese anime, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul, Naruto: Shippūden, My Hero Academia, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Re:0096. In December, the band teamed with Norwegian anisong cover singer Pellek for the digital release "Ichizu / Unravel",^[16] performing the theme songs from Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Tokyo Ghoul. This single was the first release to include Hal-ca performing vocals, and the songs were added to the re-release of the album retitled Animetic+p in June 2023.

Asterism's fourth EP Aside was released in March 2023, and their fifth EP Beside in September 2023. Both releases featured Hal-ca performing vocals and guitar.

On April 1, 2023, Asterism performed at Knotfest Japan at Makuhari Messe.^[17] On June 5, the band appeared on NHK's English-language music program J-Melo. On July 1, Asterism was the featured musical performer at the Anime Expo 2023 opening ceremony and performed two free concerts in California and New York.^{[18] [19]} On August 27, they performed at the Gamers8 - Gamers Cosplay Cup festival in Saudi Arabia.

The band's third full album Decide was released in November 2023, including songs from the two previous EPs and the new song "Shooting Star". The release was followed by a national tour of Japan titled Asterism "Decide" Release Tour 2023 -The Decision. On November 8, the band released the music video for "Shooting Star", featuring footage from their U.S. tour.^[20] On November 24 and 25, Asterism performed at Anime Festival Asia Singapore.^[21]

In March 2024, Asterism released the live album The Decision (Live in Tokyo 23.11.2023).^[22] On March 8, 9, and 10, they performed at Japan Expo in Marseilles, France.^[23]

Band members

Hal-ca (b: 11/23/2002) – guitar, vocals (2014–present)

Miyu (b: 3/12/2002) – bass, chorus (2014–present)

Mio (b: 11/14/1999) – drums, chorus (2014–present)

Musical style

Asterism describes their style as "mass metal", with the goal of composing music that can reach a broad global audience.^[24]

Bassist Miyu performs on a unique 7-string bass created for him by ESP.^[25]

Discography

Albums

!Year!Album details

2018	Ignition Released: August 22, 2018 Label: Tokuma Japan Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital Track Listing Blaze (Bootsy Collins: Producer/Bass/Vocals; Buckethead: Guitar) Light in the Darkness Midnight Hunter Warning (Bootsy Collins: Producer/Bass/Vocals; Buckethead: Guitar) Dawn Up The Horns! Stand Up and Shout (DIO/cover) Helter Skelter (The Beatles/cover) Overdrive God Speed You	Disperse DVD 55 music video Rising Moon music video Blaze music video Live performance digest video Behind the scenes/recording
2021	Guernica+a Released: September 15, 2021 Label: Amuse, Inc. Formats: CD, digital Track Listing Stars Then & Now Full Throttle Museum of Death Music Gunfire Faced/Burned Church Day26 000
2023	Animetic+p Released: June 28, 2023 Label: Asterhythm Music Formats: CD, digital Track Listing Kaikaikitan (OP theme song for anime Jujutsu Kaisen) Unravel (OP theme song for anime Tokyo Ghoul) Sora ni Utaeba (OP theme song for anime My Hero Academia) Polaris (OP theme song for anime My Hero Academia) Kyouran Hey Kids!	(OP theme song for anime Noragami) Silhouette (OP theme song for anime Naruto: Shippūden) Asphyxia (OP theme song for anime Tokyo Ghoul:re) Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (ED theme song for anime Bakemonogatari) Next 2U -eUC- (ED theme song for anime Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096) Ichizu Pellek ver. (OP theme song for anime Jujutsu Kaisen 0) Unravel Pellek ver. (OP theme song for anime Tokyo Ghoul)
	Decide Released: November 1, 2023 Label: SME Records/Sony Music Japan Formats: CD Track Listing Stardom Fiction Choir Last World No Way Live House Hullabaloo Sunny Finally Metal Shooting Star
2024	The Decision (Live in Tokyo 23.11.2023) Released: March 8, 2024 Label: SME Records/Sony Music Japan Formats: Digital Track Listing Stardom No Way Sunny Choir Last World Hullabaloo Shooting Star Blaze Gunfire Light in the Darkness Fiction Live House Finally Full Throttle Peace Metal

Singles and EPs

!Year!Single and EP details

2016	Got Your Back!/Wonder Rocket (Got your back	～ガチヤバ!～/Wonder Rocket) Released: November 15, 2017 Label: Yamaha Music Publishing Formats: CD Track Listing Got Your Back	～ガチヤバ～ Wonder Rocket
2017	The Session Vol. 1 Released: November 15, 2017 Label: Tokuma Japan Formats: CD, digital Track Listing 155 Enter Sandman (Metallica/cover) Ram It Down (Judas Priest/cover) Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne/cover) Magic Bullet
2018	The Session Vol. 2 Released: January 24, 2018 Label: Tokuma Japan Formats: CD, digital Track Listing Rising Moon Guerrilla Radio feat. Maki Oyama (Rage Against The Machine/cover) YYZ (Rush/cover) Ace of Spades (Motorhead/cover) Yunagi
2020	Guernica Released: December 9, 2020 Label: Amuse, Inc. Formats: CD, digital Track Listing Music Gunfire Faced/ Burned Church Day26 000
2022	Ichizu / Unravel Released: December 9, 2022 Label: Asterhythm Music Formats: Digital Track Listing Ichizu Unravel
2023	Aside Released: March 31, 2023 Label: SME/Sony Music Formats: Digital Track Listing Fiction Choir Hullabaloo Live House Metal
	Beside Released: September 1, 2023 Label: SME/Sony Music Formats: Digital Track Listing Stardom Sunny No Way Last World Finally

External links

• Official website (English)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lane . Jonathan . 2023-06-14 . An older and wiser ASTERISM returns to the US . 2024-02-15 . JROCK NEWS . en-US.
2. Web site: ASTERISM アミューズWEBサイト . 2024-02-15 . www.amuse.co.jp . ja.
3. Web site: 2017-10-10 . 平均年齢15歳のヘヴィメタルインストバンド・ASTERISMがデビュー . 2024-02-15 . BARKS . ja.
4. Web site: The 9th Music Revolution JAPAN FINAL 九州・沖縄 FINAL STAGE Music Revolution ～日本最大規模の音楽コンテスト＆音楽オーディション～ . 2024-02-15 . musicrevolution.jp . ja.
5. Web site: ASTERISM/Got your back! ～ガチヤバ!～/Wonder Rocket . 2024-02-15 . tower.jp.
6. Web site: Cirone . David . 2019-03-11 . ASTERISM - Interview (2019) . 2024-02-15 . J-Generation . en.
7. Web site: ASTERISM, Three Piece Heavy Metal Instrumental Band Release Their First Full Album. The Album Will Feature Bootsy Collins(BASS／ex JB'S) and Buckethead(GUITAR／ex Guns N'Roses) . 2024-02-15 . SYNC MUSIC JAPAN . en.
8. Web site: 2018-12-28 . ASTERISM, first Asia Tour is confirmed! . 2024-02-15 . SYNC NETWORK JAPAN . en-US.
9. Web site: ASTERISM、3/15より開催のアメリカ・ツアー詳細発表！ . 2024-02-15 . 激ロックニュース . ja.
10. Web site: ASTERISM . 2024-02-15 . SXSW 2024 Schedule . en.
11. Web site: Cirone . David . 2019-05-06 . ASTERISM blazes through L.A. on first U.S. tour (Live Report) . 2024-02-15 . J-Generation . en.
12. Web site: 2019-04-27 . Asterism (Japan) China Tour Beijing Stop! . 2024-02-15 . www.thebeijinger.com . EN.
13. Web site: ASTERISM、5/2-4開催の中国大型フェス"太湖迷笛音樂節（TAIHU MIDI FESTIVAL）"出演決定！ . 2024-02-15 . 激ロックニュース . ja.
14. Web site: 2019-12-13 . 강원락페스티벌 강원 락페스티벌 대한민국 . 2024-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191213205126/https://www.gangwonrockfestival.com/ . December 13, 2019 .
15. Web site: ASTERISM MUSIC CHINA＆中国、韓国ツアー . 2024-02-15 . 【VIPO】映像産業振興機構 . ja.
16. Web site: Howkins . Jane . 2022-07-11 . New Music: ASTERISM – unravel . 2024-02-16 . York Calling . en-US.
17. Web site: 2023-10-12 . BANDS KNOTFEST JAPAN 2023 -ノットフェス・ジャパン- . 2024-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012050625/https://knotfestjapan.com/bands . October 12, 2023 .
18. Web site: Regev . Nir . 2023-08-15 . ASTERISM Band Interview: 2023 USA Tour, Animetic, Anime Expo . 2024-02-15 . The Natural Aristocrat . en-US.
19. Web site: Lane . Jonathan . 2023-07-24 . Report: ASTERISM heats up in New York debut . 2024-02-15 . JROCK NEWS . en-US.
20. Web site: Brazelton . Dalen . 2023-11-10 . Japanese Metal Band ASTERISM Releases New Music Video "Shooting Star" Featuring Behind-the-Scenes Footage from Their U.S. Tour - Jrockrevolution . 2024-02-15 . en-US.
21. Web site: 2023-10-17 . Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023 to feature appearances from FLOW, Rurusama, MAPPA, ASCA, and more . 2024-02-15 . Bandwagon Asia . en.
22. Web site: Cirone . David . 2024-03-05 . ASTERISM Releases New Live Album THE DECISION with Premiere of Full Concert Video . 2024-03-11 . J-Generation . en.
23. Web site: 2024-02-05 . ASTERISM . 2024-03-11 . www.japan-expo-sud.com.
24. Web site: Brazelton . Dalen . 2023-11-10 . Japanese Metal Band ASTERISM Releases New Music Video "Shooting Star" Featuring Behind-the-Scenes Footage from Their U.S. Tour - Jrockrevolution . 2024-02-15 . en-US.
25. Web site: SXSW 2019: ASTERISM talk about their battle metal sound, inspirations & influences, goals . 2024-02-15 . Asian Junkie . en-US.