Aldious

Aldious (Japanese: アルディアス, Hepburn: Arudiasu) is a Japanese all-female power metal band from Osaka, formed in 2008 by guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami. After a few member changes, they released their debut EP Dear Slave the following year and soon after formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. A stabilized line-up including guitarist Toki, bassist Sawa and drummer Aruto was established by 2010. Their first album Deep Exceed (2010) reached the top 15 on the Oricon chart, as did their second Determination (2011). However, Rami announced she was leaving the group in June 2012 and new vocalist Re:NO joined Aldious just one month later. They produced their third album District Zero in 2013 and it became their highest-charting release to date, reaching number 7.

Aldious
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genres	Power metal[1][2] heavy metal[3][4][5]
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Bright Star / Spinning Radiant A / VAA JPU
Website	aldious.net
Members	Yoshi Toki Sawa Marina R!N
Past members	Ruki Kaze Rami Aruto Re:NO

Their fourth album Dazed and Delight (2014) peaked at number 20, before Aruto left the band in September and was replaced by Marina in April 2015. Their fifth album Radiant A was released in December 2015 and was their first album on the VAA record label and their first released in Europe via JPU Records[6]. After one more album, Unlimited Diffusion (2017), Re:NO left the band at the end of 2018 and was replaced by R!N in August 2019. Aldious have been labelled pioneers of the Girls Metal Band Boom that began in Japan in the 2010s.[7][8]

History

Formation, debut and Rami's withdrawal (2008–2013)

Guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami formed Aldious in Osaka in June 2008.[3] The name Aldious was created by Rami shortening the phrase "Ultimate Melodious."[9] In November they took part in the compilation album Red Hot Burning Hell Vol.16,[10] soon after which guitarist Ruki and bassist Sawa left. In January 2009, Toki and Kaze joined as guitarist and bassist respectively, later the band released their debut four-track EP Dear Slave on November 7.[10] Kaze left in December, and drummer Aruto joined in January 2010. March saw the return of Sawa on bass and, around this time, Aldious formed their own record label, Bright Star Records.[10] Their first single "Defended Desire", released July 7, reached the number 4 position on Oricon's Indies chart and number 49 on its regular chart.[10][11] In April, Bright Star became a sublabel of Spinning and the band released their debut album Deep Exceed on October 13, 2010.[3] It reached number 15 on the charts.[12]

Determination, the band's second album, was released on October 12, 2011 and reached number 13.[12][13] The song "Spirit Black" was used as the ending theme song of the Fuji TV show Shimura Ken (志村軒). The album's single, "Mermaid", was previously released on April 6 and earned the number 20 position.[11] On June 29, 2012, it was announced that vocalist and co-founder Rami would withdraw from the group due to health concerns.[14] Only a month later, Re:NO (formerly of the pop duo Suitei Shoujo) was announced as Aldious's new singer on August 3.[15] This line-up's first release was the single "White Crow" on November 14, which reached number 19 and was co-produced by Akihito Kinoshita, guitarist and leader of the veteran heavy metal band Saber Tiger.[11][16][17] On May 15, 2013, Aldious released their third album District Zero, which became their first release to break the top ten.[12][18] Its song "Scrash" became the ending theme song for the TBS TV show Ranking Kingdom (ランク王国) from June to July. It was reported that for the album the band intentionally toned down their appearance and aimed for a "pure metal sound", so as to be recognized for their musicianship rather than being an all-female band.[19]

Record label and member changes (2013–present)

Their fourth single and first double A-side, "Dominator / I Don't Like Me", was released on October 9, 2013 and is the group's highest charting, having reached number 12. Their next single, "Other World", peaked at number 22 and their fourth album, Dazed and Delight, released on June 18, 2014, has been their lowest charting CD, only reaching the 20 position.[11][12] On September 2014, Aruto announced she was leaving Aldious and music entirely due to her upcoming marriage, which would see her moving far from Tokyo, where the band is based. She stayed with the group until the end of November 2014.[20] Aldious announced their new drummer Marina, step-daughter of American drummer Terry Bozzio,[21] on April 19, 2015. They also left their parent record label Spinning at their own request.[22]

Aldious released the triple A-side single "Die for You / Dearly / Believe Myself" on July 8, 2015. The band released their fifth album Radiant A on December 2. It is their first on the VAA (Village Again Association) label, under their own sublabel that shares the Radiant A name, and their first featuring new drummer Marina, with a limited "Marina Edition" of the album available exclusively through HMV Group and Loppi.[23] A second triple single, "Female Warrior / Nostalgic / Fragile", was released on October 26, 2016. Throughout the year the band played at several major festivals and concerts such as Summer Sonic,[24] Loud Park,[24] Visual Japan Summit,[25] and hide Birthday Party.[26] Radiant A became Aldious's first album released overseas when it was published in Europe by JPU Records on March 17, 2017 with two additional live tracks.[27]

The group released their sixth album, Unlimited Diffusion, on May 10, 2017.[28] It marked the first time each of the five members contributed songs and, like their previous album, it was produced by Shinichi Kobayashi of Zigoku Quartet.[29] Their first mini-album, We Are, followed later that year on November 29, 2017.[30] It begins with fans chanting "We are Aldious!" during a concert in Kōchi Prefecture which was recorded by Re:NO on an iPhone.[31] A second mini-album, All Brose, was released on November 21, 2018. Its title is a reference to blue roses, which do not exist in nature.[32] On November 28, Re:NO announced that she would be ending musical activities after consulting a doctor on her patulous Eustachian tube. She left Aldious after their December 17 concert at Tsutaya O-East.[33][34]

On April 20, 2019, Aldious began the national 45-date Evoke Tour with alternating guest vocalists R!N (SawanoHiroyuki [nZk]) and Saki (Cyntia).[35][36] Toki began temporary maternity leave from the group after their June 9 show due to her pregnancy. The remaining dates of the tour were performed with guest guitarist Narumi (Destrose).[37][38] The half-Filipino and English-fluent R!N officially joined the band as full-time vocalist on August 6.[39][40][41]

Aldious, with Narumi, performed their first international concert in Anaheim, California at the NAMM Show on January 17, 2020.[42] Toki returned to live activities with a performance on March 1. On March 18, the band released a self-cover album titled Evoke 2010–2020, which also includes a new song written by R!N.[43] Their 2020 Japanese tour Unlash was scheduled to run from April 25 to November 23,[44] with their first shows in Europe scheduled to occur September 30 to October 2.[45] However, both have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the European dates currently set for March 2021.[46] Aldious will hold a concert with no audience at Shibuya Club Quattro on August 14, 2020, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their debut, and will release a second self-cover album, Evoke II 2010–2020, on September 30.[47]

Band members

Current members

• Yoshi – guitar (2008–present)
• Toki (トキ) – guitar (2009–present)
• Sawa (サワ) – bass (2008, 2010–present)
• Marina – drums (2015–present)
• R!N – vocals (2019–present)

Former members

• Hime Ruki (髏姫-RUKI-, lit. Princess Ruki) – guitar (2008)
• Kaze (風-Kaze-) – bass (2009)
• Rami – vocals (2008–2012)
• Aruto – drums (2010–2014)
• Re:NO – vocals (2012–2018)

Live support musicians

• Nana-A – drums (2014–2015)
• Saki – vocals (2019)
• Narumi – guitar (2019–2020)

Timeline

Discography

Aldious discography
Studio albums	6
Video albums	8
Singles	7
Mini-albums	3
Self-cover albums	2

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Oricon[12]	Billboard Japan Hot Albums
2010	Deep Exceed Released: October 13, 2010 Label: Bright Star Records / Spinning	15	—
2011	Determination Released: October 12, 2011 Label: Bright Star Records / Spinning	13	—
2013	District Zero Released: May 15, 2013 Label: Bright Star Records / Spinning	7	—
2014	Dazed and Delight Released: June 18, 2014 Label: Bright Star Records / Spinning	20	—
2015	Radiant A Released: December 2, 2015 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association, JPU Records	16	19[48]
2017	Unlimited Diffusion Released: May 10, 2017 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association, JPU Records	13	18[49]

Mini-albums

Year	Mini-album details	Oricon[12]	Billboard Japan Hot Albums
2009	Dear Slave Released: November 7, 2009 Label: Self-release	—	—
2017	We Are Released: November 29, 2017 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association, JPU Records	11	15[50]
2018	All Brose Released: November 21, 2018 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association, JPU Records	17	22[51]

Self-cover albums

Year	Album details	Oricon[12]	Billboard Japan Hot Albums
2020	Evoke 2010–2020 Released: March 18, 2020 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association, JPU Records	24	23[52]
	Evoke II 2010–2020 Released: September 30, 2020 Label: Radiant A / Village Again Association	—	—

Singles

Year	Title	Oricon[11]	Billboard Japan Hot 100
2010	"Defended Desire" Released: July 7, 2010	49	—
2011	"Mermaid" Released: April 6, 2011	20	—
2012	"White Crow" Released: November 14, 2012	19	—
2013	"Dominator / I Don't Like Me" Released: October 9, 2013	12	—
2014	"Other World" Released: May 14, 2014	22	—
2015	"Die for You / Dearly / Believe Myself" Released: July 8, 2015	14	20[53]
2016	"Female Warrior / Nostalgic (ノスタルジック) / Fragile" Released: October 26, 2016	42	—

Compilation appearances

Year	Song	Album
2008	"Ultimate Melodious"	Red Hot Burning Hell Vol. 16 Released: November 15, 2008
	"Shion" (紫苑)

Video albums

Year	Title	Oricon[54]
2012	Determination Tour 2011 -Live at Shibuya O-East- Released: May 16, 2012	6
2014	District Zero Tour ~Live at Shibuya O-East~ Released: February 12, 2014	6
2015	Live Tour 2014 "Dazed and Delight" ~Live at Club Citta'~ Released: February 11, 2015	8
2016	Radiant A Live at O-East Released: October 12, 2016	7
2017	Live Unlimited Diffusion Released: October 11, 2017	8
2018	Aldious Tour 2018 "We Are Live" at Liquid Room Released: November 7, 2018	8
	Music Video Collection Released: December 19, 2018	32
2019	Aldious Tour 2018 "We Are" ~Final~ Released: April 24, 2019	—

References

1. Ruchesko (April 15, 2017). "New Album from Aldious". JaME USA. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
2. Honda, Tadakatsu (July 7, 2017). "The 50 Greatest Japanese Metal Bands of All Time". Spinditty. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
3. Ashcraft, Brian (June 2, 2011). "These Girls Will Rock Your Brains Out". Kotaku. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
4. Huskey, Daniel (November 4, 2016). "Watch As Japanese All-Girls Metal Band Aldious Epitomizes "The Female Warrior"". Nylon. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
5. DeGroot, Lauren (May 31, 2014). "J-Metal: The Women Ruling the Hard Rock Scene in Japan". Boxx Magazine. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
6. Aldious Radiant A Listing at JPU Records (in English)
7. "アルディアス、Marina加入". barks.jp (in Japanese). April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
8. "The DESTROSE Connection ~The Prologue~". jame-world.com. March 16, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
9. "お待たせ！アゲ嬢メタラー 第2弾！". HMV Group (in Japanese). April 13, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
10. "Female metal band, ALDIOUS, release new PV". tokyohive.com. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
11. "Aldiousのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 16, 2011.
12. "Aldiousのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 16, 2011.
13. "Aldious is Back with New Album this October!". jpopasia.com. September 11, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
14. "Rami to Leave Aldious for Health Reasons". musicjapanplus.jp. June 29, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
15. "Aldious with new Vocalist Re:NO!". musicjapanplus.jp. August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
16. "Aldious Releasing Official Music Video for New Single "White Crow"". musicjapanplus.jp. November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
17. "アルディアス、新ボーカルにRe:NOを迎え3rdシングル発表". barks.jp (in Japanese). November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
18. "アルディアス、「新旧隔たりなく、数多くのリスナーに納得してもらえる1作」". barks.jp (in Japanese). May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
19. "Aldious: 'Work that will appeal equally to both old and new fans'". barks.jp. May 17, 2013. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
20. "Aruto to Leave Aldious". jame-world.com. September 23, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
21. "【ライブレポート】アルディアス、ニューアルバムのリリースを発表". barks.jp (in Japanese). October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
22. "New Drummer Joins Aldious". jame-world.com. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
23. "アルディアス 1年半ぶりアルバムにHMV/Loppi 限定盤が登場". HMV Group (in Japanese). October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
24. "アルディアス、＜LOUD PARK 16＞にも参戦". barks.jp (in Japanese). September 13, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
25. "VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Day 2: Part 1". jame-world.com. October 30, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
26. "hide生誕祭にPATA、スプレビメンバーら集結＆「MLJ 2017」開催発表". Natalie (in Japanese). December 12, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
27. "Aldious Release First Overseas Album". jame-world.com. March 16, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
28. "アルディアス、5月にニューアルバム『Unlimited Diffusion』をリリース！". netallica.yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). March 29, 2017. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
29. "Aldious「Unlimited Diffusion」インタビュー". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved December 1, 2017.
30. "Aldious、9曲入り新作「We Are」収録曲＆ジャケット解禁". Natalie (in Japanese). October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
31. "Aldious「We Are」Yoshi（G）＆トキ（G）インタビュー". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved December 1, 2017.
32. "New Mini-Album from Aldious". jame-world.com. November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
33. "AldiousのボーカリストRe:NOが脱退、耳管開放症の影響で". Natalie (in Japanese). November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
34. "Re:NO to Leave Aldious". JaME. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
35. "Aldious Tour 2019 "Evoke" ツアー前半戦(7月まで)に参加する2名のゲスト・ヴォーカリストが決定！". Aldious.net (in Japanese). March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
36. "Aldiousが2カ月の沈黙を破り再始動、ゲストVo迎え全国ツアー「Evoke」開催". Natalie (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
37. "Aldiousトキ 結婚＆妊娠を発表!ライブは6/9まで". TV Asahi (in Japanese). May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
38. "Aldious's Toki Announces Maternity Leave". JaME. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
39. "PROFILE". R!N/Gemie Official Homepage (in Japanese). Retrieved March 2, 2020.
40. "Interview with Aldious". JaME. February 18, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
41. "Aldious、新ヴォーカリストR!Nの加入を発表". barks.jp (in Japanese). August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
42. "2020年1月17日(金)、アメリカで開催される「NAMM Show」に出演決定！". Aldious.net (in Japanese). November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
43. "Aldiousセルフカバーアルバム「Evoke 2010-2020」収録曲明らかに". Natalie (in Japanese). February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
44. "Aldious、初となるセルフ・カバー・ベスト・アルバムのリリース＆2020年ライヴ・ツアー[Aldious Tour 2020 "Unlash"]開催決定！". Geki Rock (in Japanese). December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
45. "Aldious Announce European Tour and New Album's International Release". JaME. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
46. "Aldious to postpone first European tour to 2021". AVO Magazine. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
47. "Aldious、R！Nリレコーディング作品第二弾『Evoke II』発売決定". barks.jp (in Japanese). July 17, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
48. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 27, 2017.
49. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 27, 2017.
50. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 12, 2017.
51. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 28, 2018.
52. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2020.
53. "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 27, 2017.
54. "AldiousのDVD売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 16, 2011.

External links

• Official website
• Official page at JPU Records (in English)