Balzac (band)

The current lineup of the band consists of Hirosuke Nishiyama (vocals), Atsushi Nakagawa (guitar/chorus), Akio Imai (bass/chorus) and Takayuki Manabe (drums/digital effects/chorus).

After releasing just one demo cassette, entitled The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hirosuke decided to disband and started his next project, Balzac, in 1992.

The band's first lineup consisted of Hirosuke Nishiyama on vocals, Yoritsugu "Anti" Azuchi on bass, Tetsuya on guitar and Naoki on drums.

By 1995 the band managed to release their first full-length album, The Last Men on Earth, after being signed to Alchemy Records.

A long-time friend of Hirosuke's and avid Balzac fan, Akio Imai, joined the band as the new bassist.

Member swaps were not the only changes for the band happening at that time; they also became a part of Diwphalanx Records on Halloween of that year.

In the year of 1998, Kill joined the band as the new drummer, while they began to gain real recognition and notoriety in the indie scene.

Now being headed by original member and long time bassist Jerry Only, Balzac was asked to open for The Misfits when they came for their first Japanese tour.

This would mark a milestone in the band's career, which would lead to much success for Balzac outside Japan in the coming years.

In 1999, Balzac released a split single, "Oldevils Legend of Blood", with friends and fellow Japanese rock band Sobut.

13", a remixed tape as a special box set with toy industry friends, T.W.I.M (The World Is Mine) whose headquarters are in Nagoya, as well as playing on a Gastunk tribute album.

Obviously modeled after The Misfits' Fiend Club, it offered fans a great way to stay in touch with the band and to receive some very rare items at the same time; it was exclusively for people living in Japan.

In December 2000 Balzac released their next full-length album, Zennou-Naru Musuu-No Me Ha Shi Wo Yubi Sasu.

In early 2001 the band released numerous singles, as well as a box set featuring the amazing artwork of Japanese manga artist Suehiro Maruo, which had been used on the album Zennou-Naru Musuu no Me ha Shi wo Yubi Sasu.

They also contributed a noise rock version of "Day the Earth Caught Fire" and another very catchy pop-influenced song, "The Silence of the Crows" on the Abstruct Madness split with Rocky and the Sweden and Delta.

Before touring with The Misfits, The Damned, The Dickies, and Agnostic Front, they released a maxi-single entitled "Beware of Darkness".

This mini album included a song entitled "Yami no Hikari e" which had a much different sound than previous Balzac recordings.

It includes many of the band's classic songs re-recorded with all the energy of the past combined with the technical talent of the present.

They also played a few huge shows with the visual kei band Mucc, and put on a special year-end live event where they took the stage as both Balzac and Zodiac.

It marked a return to the heavier and darker side for the band, reminiscent of some of their earlier work which was more brooding and dark.

They also released a couple of toys, shirts, pens, mugs and other items in collaboration with the Japanese company Sanrio, more specifically their character Hello Kitty, having the famous cat donning the characteristic skullsuit that the band has made so popular.

Balzac and The Mad Capsule Markets have had a close relationship for over 13 years and finally they had a chance to collaborate on this very special release.

The European release of the album is being expected for 16 October, this version will include a bonus DVD titled Hatred Lies Deep Inside, which was previously released and has a full promotional video for every song on the album Hatred: Construction = Destruction.

Then, on 11 December 2009 the band released a 44-track, double disc CD ´Best-of´ album entitled Complete Legacy of Evilegend: The Best of Balzac.

A split single with RADIOTS which included cover versions of the MISFITS’ classics, “Astrozombies” and “I Turned Into a Martian” was released in September.

Around this time Hirosuke also did some vocals on the song ‘We’re Not Alone’, a track by AA=/Mad Capsule Markets fame, Takeshi Ueda.

Many indie rock band-members took part in the recording (and music video) that was used to raise money for the aid of those affected by the horrific earthquake and tsunami that had hit Japan earlier in the year.

In January, Balzac announced their 10th album entitled "BLACKOUT" which has one single so far ("The Bleeding Black") and is slated for a 8 March 2013 Release date.

This cold-blooded assassin gained much recognition for his cruel killings and encrypted letters that he sent both to the police and newspapers.

So far Balzac has kept this band only for special and rare live events, without any known plans to release any singles or albums using this alter-ego.