Biography
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Years Active
2003 – present (22 years)
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Members
- miko
Exist Trace,(イグジストトレイス, Iguzisuto Toreisu, stylized as exist†trace), formed in June in 2003 being one of Japan’s first all-female visual-kei bands.
To date, Exist Trace has released four albums, eight EPs, and nine singles. In addition, the band has appeared on eleven compilation albums and three omnibus DVDs, plus their self-released 2012 concert DVD Just Like a Virgin.
Exist Trace made their U.S. debut at Sakura-Con 2011 in Seattle, Washington. On June 15, 2011, they made their major label debut on Tokuma Japan Communications with the EP True. Their song "I Feel You" was featured in Nadeshiko Japan's official 2012 guidebook DVD. Their highest charting release was Virgin, which reached number 84 on the Oricon album chart.
Exist Trace's early music can be described as melodic death metal, with vocalist Jyou's growls and shouts throughout many songs, which contributes to their dark undertone. They have since added more complex sounds to the compositions, their guitar sound often featuring heavy distortion and technically virtuoso riffs and solos. The lyrics are mainly based on gothic themes, and their music style has resemblance to gothic rock. In recent work, they have experimented with different electronic and melodic approaches to their music, such as the jazz-influenced "Ginger", the electronic rock of "Diamond" and the 1980s disco feel of "Spiral Daisakusen".
Over time, the band has developed a dedicated international following, largely by word of mouth. In 2008, Exist Trace embarked on a tour of Europe, including the United Kingdom. The band also traveled to the US, playing Japanese culture conventions Sakura-Con in 2011, Tekkoshocon X in 2012, and A-Kon in 2013.
2014 brought the introduction of the band's official international fan club, 'Archangel Diamond', to act as a supplement to the Japanese fan club 'Vanguard'. The club became an active presence on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, featuring fan artworks and responding to fan questions. It officially opened for membership on May 19, 2014, the 19th of each month being generally used for Exist Trace announcements as it is 'Igu day'/イグの日 (Japanese wordplay on the shortened form of the band's name).
Archangel Diamond promised to connect international fans more closely with the band, and offered fan club exclusive merchandise, special prices on merchandise, monthly newsletters with messages from the band members, and special contests and interactions with the band. As of late 2017, the club changed its identification to "International Support Team", and ceased paid activities but continues to post English updates.
VOCAL：ジョウ (Jyou)
GUITAR, VOCAL：miko
GUITAR: 乙魅 (Omi)
BASS：猶人 (Naoto)
DRUMS：Mally
LINKS
Official site: http://exist-trace.com
http://twitter.com/existxtrace_19
http://www.youtube.com/existNET
http://www.facebook.com/pages/existtrace/201341433235814
DISCOGRAPHY
Studio Albums:
TWIN GATE (2010.11.03)
virgin (2012.05.23)
WORLD MAKER (2014.09.24)
Mini-Albums:
Annunciation -the heretic elegy- (2006.12.13)
VANGUARD -of the muses- (2009.04.22)
Ambivalent Symphony (2009.10.21)
TRUE (2011.06.15)
The Last Daybreak (2011.10.19)
This Is Now (2016.03.06)
Royal Straight Magic (2016.11.16)
Best Albums:
Recreation Eve (2008.11.19)
Singles:
ambivalence (2005.08.16)
funeral bouquet (2006.02.15)
riot (2006.07.19)
liquid (2007.07.18)
Knife (2010.06.02)
Diamond (2014.07.03)
Spiral Daisakusen (2014.05.14)
Demo Tapes:
灰ノ雪 (Hai no yuki) [2005.02.22)
Unknown:
黒霧 (Kurokiri)
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