Zegen - World Wide Beyond [2007]
Zegen is a three-piece post-hardcore band that probably operated around a city called Hamamatsu, which is in-between Shizuoka and Nagoya (but pretty far from both). Only three members are listed on the credits for this release, but there is clearly a guitar in the mix. So, I’m unsure if that’s a support member or just one of the other members playing the guitar without being credited. The band was active from 2005 to 2008; this release came out on January 15, 2007.
In this release, Zegen presents seven tracks. Zegen plays a style of DC-influenced post-hardcore with a lot of that halty guitar technique with a fairly dancy beat behind it. Occasional outbursts allow the vocalist to change his ramblings from shouting to full-on shrieking. Some of the songs have good momentum, such as “Rebel Beacon,” which really harkens back to bands like The Carnival of Dark-Split or Black Film Dance (both bands listed as influences on the band’s defunct website). Other tracks like “Love Enemy” drag quite a bit in the middle, seemingly not knowing where to go.
Overall, a really solid release that can be added to the Japanese canon of Dischord-influenced post-hardcore that has a few proponents in every generation of Japanese screamo. What’s odd is how isolated I think Zegen was. Hamamatsu appears to be really out of the way. Its nearest big city is Nagoya, which doesn’t have the largest underground scene (relative to Tokyo). I get the impression that Zegen wasn’t very connected to the scene where they would’ve found fans. This release came from Oys Records, a regional label associated with a live house. I found this almost by accident on an auction site where they used some other screamo acts as keywords. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have found it. I think Zegen never quite caught on outside of Hamamatsu, unfortunately.
RIFYL: Detrytus, The Carnival of Dark-Split, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
[Bio from www.oys-records.com]
April 2005 / Formation
July 2005 / Live activities begin. In early July, they record and release their 1st DEMO (limited to 80 copies, sold out in two live shows). They are also selected to support GARLIC BOYS and Chatmonchy on their tours, despite it being only their second live show.
August 2005 / They record and release their 2nd DEMO, selling over 300 copies (out of print). They embark on an 8-show tour from Shizuoka to Kanto from August 6th to 14th, receiving praise at each location. Other acts they perform with include Maximum the Hormone, HOLSTEIN, and TROIKA.
October 2005 / In Hamamatsu, they are highly praised by Takeo Asai, formerly of Going Steady, as "the best live performance I've seen this year." They are also suddenly chosen to support Michiro Endo (formerly of The Stalin) in Iwata.
November 2005 / They perform at two university festivals, Shizuoka University and Shizuoka Institute of Culture and Art, after receiving offers. They release their third music work.
December 2005 / They hold their self-produced event "DANCE FROM DECEN" and achieve success.
March 2006 / They perform with MUSHA×KUSHA and receive high praise from Mr. Umehara of Mushi Yakusha as "an amazing band that is young and precocious."
April 2006 / They perform with Watusi Zombie, GASOLINE, THE BACKDROPS, HAVE NOTS, MARBLE SHEEP, and others. Matsutani of MARBLE SHEEP (President of Captain Trip Records) says they have "great potential to transform." They release their fourth music work and sell over 300 copies by hand to date.
May 2006 / They participate in a local Hamamatsu compilation album.
July 2006 / They perform with Neurotica on July 1 and with KING BROTHERS on July 21, receiving high praise for both shows.
August 2006 / Following last year, they confirm a tour covering 16 locations nationwide.