Hard rock maidens of BAND-MAID let loose key details of their massively anticipated new record Unleash, scheduled for release on September 21. EP Unleash will deliver eight tracks including the titular tune, the latest single Sense, B-side Corallium, and 6 new songs. The announcement comes on day 2 of Anime Expo, an annual convention celebrating Japanese pop culture in downtown Los Angeles.
BAND-MAID also revealed that the music video for the lead song Unleash!!!!! will portray the band in an animated medium, delighting music and anime fans alike. The promotional artwork features the five members in the style of anime heroines exploding from a five-barreled pistol, hinting at the quintuple exclamation points in the song title.
Since its 2013 founding by backing vocalist and rhythm guitarist Miku Kobato, BAND-MAID has steadily amassed a ravenous following across the globe. The virtuosic repertoire interlaces down-tuned guitars with machine gun drum kicks and contrasts the flowery Victorian maid stage attire now dubbed the artists’ “battle armor”.
Kobato is joined by Saiki on lead vocals, Kanami on lead guitar, MISA on bass, and Akane on drums. They have released four major label albums together—the latest Unseen World released on January 2021–and have contributed opening theme music for numerous anime series, including Platinum End and Log Horizon.
Their national tour Pre US Okyuji in Japan begins on August 17. Following an appearance at the Aftershock music festival in Sacramento on October 9, a 13-stop US Tour 2022 will take BAND-MAID coast to coast to nearly 20,000 attendees. Tickets for all but three headliner dates sold out within days, prompting the addition of two more shows in New Jersey and Chicago.
Pre-orders for Unleash have started on BAND-MAID’s official website. The first press limited edition will bundle a bonus disc with music videos of Unleash!!!!! and from now on and instrumental music videos of Unleash!!!!! and Sense. A regular version with the main disc only will also be available.