9mm Parabellum Bullet (キューミリ・パラベラム・バレット, Kyūmiri Paraberamu Baretto) is a Japanese rock band, formed in March 2004 in Yokohama. It consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Takuro Sugawara, guitarist and backing vocalist Yoshimitsu Taki, bassist Kazuhiko Nakamura, and drummer Chihiro Kamijo, who came up with the band's name. Piano pieces included in some songs are performed by Taki, while the characteristic shouts are provided by Nakamura.
9mm Parabellum Bullet | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | EMI Music Japan Universal Music Japan Sazanga |
| Members | Takuro Sugawara Yoshimitsu Taki Kazuhiko Nakamura Chihiro Kamijo |
| Website | 9mm.jp |
History
edit2005–2009: Early releases and major label debut
editThe band signed to under_bar, a sub-label of Reverb Records, and released two early mini-albums, Gjallarhorn in 2005 and Phantomime in 2006, and played live shows in Yokohama and Tokyo.[citation needed]
2007 saw the band signed to EMI Music Japan and the releases of The World e.p. which featured newly recorded version of songs from Gjallarhorn and two new tracks, and the Discommunication e.p., which features the song "Discommunication" and a 35-minute live recording.[4][5] At the end of 2007 they released their first full album, Termination, after which they began their first solo tour.[6]
In the summer of 2008 the band released the double A-side single "Supernova/Wanderland", which also included piano instrumentals of both songs and a third song called "Wildpitch".[7] 9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play at Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Nano-Mugen Festival that year at the Yokohama Arena, a festival notable for featuring up-and-coming acts alongside more well known and foreign acts. They covered "Motorbreath" for the October 2008 Metallica tribute album Metal-ikka.[8]
In October the band released their second full album Vampire and proceeded onto the Vampire Empire Tour 08/09. In April 2009, the band released their first live DVD, Act I, which contains 4 concerts from different points in their career.
2009–2011: Revolutionary and Movement
editIn late spring of 2009, the band released the mini-album Black Market Blues e.p., which also included a recording of their free live performance at Yoyogi Park as a B-side. 2009 also saw 9mm Parabellum Bullet's first nomination at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Rock Video", where they were nominated for the video of their song "Living Dying Message". They also performed this song live at the show.
9mm Parabellum Bullet appeared at numerous rock festivals across Japan notably including Rock in Japan Festival, Rising Sun Rock Festival and Space Shower's Sweet Love Shower. On September 9, 2009, 9mm Parabellum Bullet had their first show at the Nippon Budokan titled 999. This performance would appear on the Cold Edge e.p., released on September 30.
9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play at Countdown Japan 09/10. In early-January they released the single "Inochi no Zenmai", which was used as the theme for the live-action adaptation of the Higanjima manga. The single includes a cover of Linda Yamamoto's 1972 song "Dou ni mo Tomaranai".[9] It was announced that April 21, 2010, would be the date of 9mm Parabellum Bullet's third full album release, titled Revolutionary.[10] It was followed by a tour across Japan. In late March, a music video was shot for the last track of the new album, called "The Revolutionary".
On May 18, 2011, the single "Atarashii Hikari" was released. The band's fourth album Movement was released on June 15. They also performed at Yokohama Arena on June 26.[11]
2012–present: Dawning and Waltz on Life Line
edit9mm Parabellum Bullet covered "Territorial Pissings" for the album Nevermind Tribute, which was released on April 4, 2012 and is composed of various Japanese bands covering the entirety of Nirvana's highly acclaimed album Nevermind.[12] Their first acoustic performance for MTV Unplugged was held at Billboard Live Tokyo with a limited capacity of 150 fans and released on home video on May 27. Their fourth single "Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete" followed on October 24, 2012.[13]
On April 1, 2013, EMI Music Japan was completely merged into Universal Music Japan as a sublabel by the name EMI Records Japan as a result of Universal Music's purchase of EMI in September 2012. All the artists from EMI Music Japan will continue releasing material at Universal Music Japan while still maintaining the catalogue code (TOCT).[14] Their fifth single "Answer and Answer" was released on May 29.[15] 9mm Parabellum Bullet released their fifth album Dawning on June 26, 2013.[16]
They performed a cover of "Instant Music" for the February 2014 The Pillows tribute album, Rock and Sympathy.[17]
The band took part in the first day of Luna Sea's Lunatic Fest at Makuhari Messe on June 27, 2015.[18] Luna Sea bassist J joined them onstage for "Cold Edge".[19] 9mm Parabellum Bullet released a quadruple A-side single, "Hangyaku no March/Dark Horse/Daremo Shiranai/Mad Pierrot", on September 9.[20] They also contributed a cover to a November 2015 tribute album for The Telephones, We are Disco!!! ~Tribute to The Telephones~.[17]
In January 2016, 9mm Parabellum Bullet announced they had switched to the independent record label Sazanga Records.[21] The album Waltz on Life Line was released on April 27, 2016. The band provided the opening theme songs "Inferno" and "Sacrifice" for the Berserk anime adaptation.[22]
Band members
edit- Takuro Sugawara (菅原 卓郎, Sugawara Takurō) – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Yoshimitsu Taki (滝 善充, Taki Yoshimitsu) – lead guitar, piano, backing vocals
- Kazuhiko Nakamura (中村 和彦, Nakamura Kazuhiko) – bass, screams
- Chihiro Kamijo (かみじょう ちひろ, Kamijō Chihiro) – drums
Equipment
editSugawara
edit- Guitars - ESP
- ESP Snapper-S/AL (Black, Vintage White)
- Gibson Les Paul Special
- Edwards Jr. Custom
- Navigator N-LP-480CTM
- Navigator N-LP-480LTD
- ESP TYG (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model)[23]
- ESP Bricoleur (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model)
- ESP Truckster (James Hetfield Signature Model)
- Amps - Marshall, Fender
- Fender Twin Reverb
- Marshall JCM2000
- Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Amp Head
- Marshall 1960AV
- Marshall JCM800 2203
- Marshall 1960X
Taki
edit- Guitars - ESP
- ESP Snapper-S/AS (Honey Blond, Burner)
- ESP Snapper-S/AS Matte Black (SUFFER Protomodel)
- ESP Potbelly-STD (Amber Cherry Sunburst)
- ESP Suffer (Yoshimitsu Taki Signature Model)[24]
- ESP Suffer Proto Type
- ESP Max Cavalera AX (Max Cavalera Signature Model)
- Edwards Karmaster
- Amps - Mesa/Boogie
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
- Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
- Mesa/Boogie F-100
- Yamaha F50-112
Nakamura
edit- Guitars - ESP
- ESP AP 220 (Black)
- ESP AP Custom Mat Black (Untitled Protomodel)
- ESP Untitled (Kazuhiko Nakamura Signature Model)[25]
- ESP PB Type Custom
- ESP Amaze-CTM (See Thru Black)
- ESP X-JB (Acrylic Body)
- Sepia Crue EAB-430 Acoustic Bass
- Landscape SWB-Artist Electric Upright Bass
- Amps - SWR
- SWR 750x
Kamijo
editKamijo is a full endorser of Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, and Zildjian cymbals and drumsticks. Kamijo was a former user of Ludwig drums (notably the Vistalite series) prior to his switch to Yamaha, and has his signature model of drumsticks on Zildjian's website.
- Drums - Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute, Blue Ice Sparkle
- 8"x10" Tom
- 8"x12" Tom
- 13"x14" Floor Tom
- 15"x16" Floor Tom
- 22"x18" Bass Drum (x2)
- 6"x14" Snare Drum (as side snare)
- 6.5"x14" Copper Snare
- Cymbals - Zildjian
- 14" A Custom Hi-Hats
- 6" Zil-Bel Small
- 8" A Custom Splash
- 10" A Custom Splash
- 12" Z3 Splash
- 12" A Zildjian Special Recording Hi-hat Bottom
- 18" A Custom Projection Crash
- 19" Z3 Rock Crash
- 19" Z3 Thrash Ride
- 20" A Custom China
- 20" FX Oriental China "Trash"
- Drumheads - Remo
- Bass Drums - Powerstroke 3 Clear (batter) | Ebony Powerstroke 3 (reso)
- Toms - Emperor Clear (batter) | Ambassador Clear (reso)
- Snare - Controlled Sound Reverse Dot (main, batter) / Black Suede Emperor (side, batter) | Ambassador Snare Side (reso)
- Hardware – Yamaha, DW
- Yamaha FP9500 Direct Drive Single Pedal (x2)
- DW 9000 Pedal (x2)
- Drumsticks – Zildjian
- Zildjian 3A Wood Tip
- Zildjian Chihiro Kamijo Artist Series Drumsticks
- Guitar – Gibson
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (Blue)
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [26] | |||
| 2007 | Termination
|
10 | AllMusic   [27]
|
| 2008 | Vampire
|
2 | AllMusic  [28]
|
| 2010 | Revolutionary
|
4 | AllMusic [29]
|
| 2011 | Movement
|
6 | |
| 2013 | Dawning
|
10 | AllMusic [30]
|
| 2016 | Waltz on Life Line
|
12 | |
| 2017 | Babel
|
10 | |
| 2019 | Deep Blue
|
18 | |
| 2022 | Tightrope
|
19 | |
| 2024 | You Need Freedom to Be You
|
30 |
Mini albums
edit| Year | Title | Oricon charts |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gjallarhorn
|
— |
| 2006 | Phantomime
|
— |
| 2007 | The World e.p.
|
22[26] |
Discommunication e.p.
|
9[31] | |
| 2009 | Black Market Blues e.p.
|
5[31] |
Cold Edge e.p.
|
5[31] | |
| 2011 | Kamome e.p. (カモメ e.p.)
|
11[31] |
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Oricon Singles Chart[31] |
Billboard Japan Hot 100[32] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Supernova/Wanderland"
|
12 | – |
| 2010 | "Inochi no Zenmai" (命ノゼンマイ)
|
8 | 7 |
| 2011 | "Atarashii Hikari" (新しい光)
|
9 | 49 |
| 2012 | "Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete" (ハートに火をつけて)
|
9 | – |
| 2013 | "Answer and Answer"
|
10 | – |
| 2014 | "Seimei no Waltz" (生命のワルツ)
|
17 | 53 |
| 2015 | "Hangyaku no March/Dark Horse/Daremo Shiranai/Mad Pierrot" (反逆のマーチ/ダークホース/誰も知らない/Mad Pierrot)
|
19 | 27 |
| 2016 | "Inferno" (インフェルノ)
|
23 | 55 |
| 2017 | "Sacrifice" (サクリファイス)
|
25 | 68 |
| 2019 | "Namonaki Hero" (名もなきヒーロー)
|
20 | |
| 2020 | "Byakuya no Hibi" (白夜の日々)
|
19 |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Title | Oricon charts |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Greatest Hits
|
12[26] |
Covers
edit| Year | Title | Original artist | Released on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Motorbreath" | Metallica | Metal-ikka | A tribute album to Metallica in celebration of their new album Death Magnetic (released on October 22, 2008).[33] |
| 2009 | "TV no Singer" | The Yellow Monkey | This is For You ~ The Yellow Monkey Tribute Album | A tribute album to The Yellow Monkey (released on December 9, 2009).[33] |
| 2010 | "Dou ni mo Tomaranai" | Linda Yamamoto | "Inochi no Zenmai" | A cover included on a 9mm Parabellum Bullet single (released on January 6, 2010). |
| 2012 | "Territorial Pissings" | Nirvana | Nevermind Tribute | A tribute album by Japanese artists to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's album Nevermind (released on April 4, 2012). |
| 2014 | "Instant Music" | The Pillows | Rock and Sympathy -Tribute to the Pillows- | A second tribute album in honor of the 25th anniversary of The Pillows (released on February 26, 2014).[34] |
| 2015 | "Monkey Discooooooo" | The Telephones | We are Disco!!! ~Tribute to The Telephones~ | A tribute album to The Telephones who went on indefinite hiatus. (released on November 4, 2015)[17] |
| "Robinson" | Spitz | Just Like Honey ~Spitz 20th Anniversary Tribute~ | A tribute album to Spitz (released on December 23, 2015) | |
| 2017 | "Melodic Storm" | Straightener | Pause ~Straightener Tribute Album~ | A tribute album to Straightener (released on October 18, 2017) |
| 2019 | "Tettōtetsubi Yonayona Drive" | Unison Square Garden | Thank You, Rock Bands! ~Unison Square Garden 15th Anniversary Tribute Album~ | A tribute album to Unison Square Garden (released on July 24, 2019) |
Demos
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Talking Machine |
Home videos
edit| Year | Title | Oricon DVD chart[35] | Oricon Blu-ray chart[36] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Act I
|
12 | – |
| 2010 | Act II
|
– | – |
Act III
|
– | – | |
Act II+III
|
2 | – | |
| 2012 | Act IV
|
10 | 14 |
MTV Unplugged
|
3 | – | |
| 2014 | Act O
|
– | – |
Act E
|
– | – | |
Act O+E
|
13 | 8 | |
| 2019 | Act VII
|
46 | 38 |
Awards and nominations
edit| 2008 | "Discommunication" | Best Rock Video | Nominated |
| 2009 | "Living Dying Message" | Best Rock Video | Nominated |
| 2010 | "Inochi no Zenmai" | Best Rock Video | Nominated |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Sputnikmusic. 9mm Parabellum Bullet reviews, music, news
- ^ a b c d Real Sound. 9mm Parabellum Bullet
- ^ "Revolutionary - 9MM Parabellum Bullet". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ "[9mm Parabellum Bullet] 総決算CDをメジャーでリリース". Natalie (in Japanese). February 26, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "[9mm Parabellum Bullet] 満を持してメジャー初シングル発売". Natalie (in Japanese). July 10, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "[9mm Parabellum Bullet] 激PRICEの1stアルバム＆全国ツアー". Natalie (in Japanese). September 10, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm、新作はライブの人気曲＆初アニソンの両A面". Natalie (in Japanese). March 3, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "偏愛に満ちた邦楽アーティストMETALLICAカバー集". Natalie (in Japanese). September 17, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet Single". jame-world.com. November 11, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet New Album". jame-world.com. February 1, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm初の横アリでまさかのアコースティックセッション". Natalie (in Japanese). June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "Nevermind Tribute". cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet's New Single". jame-world.com. August 15, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "株式会社EMIミュージック・ジャパン 吸収合併のお知らせ". UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet's New Single". jame-world.com. March 14, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm、5thアルバム「Dawning」"9周年盤"に17曲PV集". Natalie (in Japanese). April 9, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ a b c "the telephones Tribute Album". JaME. September 14, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "LUNA SEA "LUNATIC FEST." LUNACY was announced as the opening act for both days". barks.jp. June 1, 2015. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "LUNA SEA Celebrate 25th Anniversary With Star-studded LUNATIC FEST". MTV. July 31, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "New Single from 9mm Parabellum Bullet". jame-world.com. July 10, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet、6thアルバムは自主レーベルから発表". Natalie (in Japanese). January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum Bullet、アニメ「ベルセルク」オープニングテーマ担当". Natalie (in Japanese). March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "ESP Japan's webpage on Sugawara's Signature Model" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "ESP Japan's webpage on Taki's Signature Model" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "ESP Japan's webpage on Nakamura's Sigmature Model" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c "9mm Parabellum Bulletのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Eremenko, Alexey. "Termination - 9mm Parabellum Bullet Reviews". AllMusic.
- ^ Eremenko, Alexey. "Vampire - 9mm Parabellum Bullet Reviews". AllMusic.
- ^ Eremenko, Alexey. "Revolutionary - 9mm Parabellum Bullet Reviews". AllMusic.
- ^ Buchanan, John. "Dawning - 9mm Parabellum Bullet Reviews". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c d e "9mm Parabellum Bulletのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Billboard. 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Chart History
- ^ a b "偏愛に満ちた邦楽アーティストMETALLICAカバー集". Natalie.
- ^ "Second Tribute Album to the pillows". JaME. November 20, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum BulletのDVD売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "9mm Parabellum BulletのBlu-ray売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 4, 2022.