Izora (album)

Izora
Studio album by
Buck-Tick
ReleasedApril 12, 2023
StudioVictor Studio, Studio Sound Dali, Prime Sound Studio Form[1]
GenreAlternative rock
Length53:13
LanguageJapanese
LabelLingua Sounda/Victor
ProducerBuck-Tick
Buck-Tick chronology
Abracadabra
(2020) 		Izora
(2023)
Singles from Izora
  1. "Taiyou to Ikaros"
    Released: March 8, 2023
  2. "Mugen Loop"
    Released: March 22, 2023

Izora (異空) is the twenty-third studio album by the Japanese rock band Buck-Tick. It was released on April 12, 2023.[2] The album peaked at the 2nd position on the Oricon Albums Chart and is the band's first Top 3 album on Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart. Its charting success makes it a rare example for such a long-lasting band and their "will and persistence" on the Japanese music scene.[3] It is the last album featuring lead singer Atsushi Sakurai, who died on October 19, 2023.[4]

Release

It is the band's first studio album in three years. It was released on April 12, 2023, by Lingua Sounda/Victor in regular edition on CD, cassette, Vinyl and in limited edition A (with Blu-ray) and B (DVD), as well as digital download and streaming.[5][6]

Singles "Taiyou to Ikaros" (titled "太陽とイカロス") and "Mugen Loop" (titled "無限 Loop") were released on March 8 and 22 respectively.[7]

The song "Sayonara Shelter" was previously released in September 2022 on compilation album Catalogue The Best 35th Anniv., inspired by a Ukrainian girl singing "Let It Go" during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8][9]

Chart performance

The album peaked at the 2nd position on the Oricon Albums Chart with over 17 thousand copies sold and charted for 10 weeks.[10] On the Oricon Rock Albums Chart also charted at 2nd place.[11] It is band's first Top 3 album on Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.[12]

Singles "Taiyou to Ikaros" and "Mugen Loop" both charted at 10th position on the Oricon Singles Chart.[10] "Mugen Loop" also peaked at 2nd place on the Oricon Rock Singles Chart.[13] Both singles did not chart on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, but on Top Singles Sales peaked on 12th and 14th position.[14][15]

Promotion

The release of the album was quickly followed by a nationwide tour in Japan with over 20 concerts in 18 locations,[16] originally scheduled to end with FishTankers Only (fan club) concerts on September 17 and 18 at Gunma Music Center in Gunma prefecture, not far from their small hometown of Fujioka. To allow their fanbase located too far away in Japan and other countries to enjoy their live concert, those with "W" fan memberships could buy tickets to stream the live house show held on September 18, 2023.[17] In August 2023 additional live tours were announced with eight dates from October 20 until December 9, 2023.[18] With the sudden death of lead singer Atsushi Sakurai on October 19, 2023, additional tours were canceled.[19]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Quantum I" Imai2:03
2."Scarecrow"SakuraiImai3:52
3."Valkyrie no Kikō" (ワルキューレの騎行)SakuraiImai4:33
4."Sayonara Shelter Destroy and Regenerate - Mix" (さよならシェルター destroy and regenerate-Mix)SakuraiHoshino5:02
5."Ai no Harem" (愛のハレム)SakuraiHoshino4:06
6."Campanella Hanataba o Kimi ni" (Campanella 花束を君に)SakuraiImai3:13
7."The Falling Down"ImaiImai3:09
8."Taiyou to Ikaros" (太陽とイカロス)SakuraiHoshino4:29
9."Boogie Woogie"SakuraiImai3:57
10."Mugen Loop -Izora-" (無限 LOOP -IZORA-)SakuraiImai4:16
11."Noraneko Blue" (野良猫ブルー)SakuraiImai3:37
12."Hizumi" (ヒズミ)SakuraiImai3:38
13."Na mo Naki Watashi" (名も無きわたし)SakuraiImai4:12
14."Quantum II" Imai3:01
Total length:53:13

Personnel

Buck-Tick

Production

  • Junichi Tanaka – co-producing
  • Yokohama Kazutoshi – editing
  • Clemens Schleiwies – mastering
  • Hitoshi Hiruma – mixing, recording
  • Yow-Row – synthesizer (#3, #8)
  • Kazunori Akita – artwork

References

  1. ^ "Buck-Tick – 異空 = Izora". Discogs. 12 April 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "BUCK-TICK、約3年ぶりオリジナルアルバムは『異空 -IZORA-』" (in Japanese). Barks. 22 February 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Ishii Eriko (April 22, 2023). "BUCK-TICK、通算23枚目アルバム『異空 -IZORA-』がチャート上位 意地と貫禄を見せつける見事な最新作" (in Japanese). Real Sound. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "BUCK-TICK Vocalist Atsushi Sakurai Passes Away Due to Brainstem Hemorrhage at 57" — Anime News Network
  5. ^ "BUCK-TICK、約3年ぶりオリジナルAL『異空 -IZORA-』リリース決定" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 23, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "BUCK-TICK、新AL『異空 -IZORA-』収録内容＆ジャケ写公開" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. March 7, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "BUCK-TICK、2023年第一弾SG「太陽とイカロス」MV＆15秒スポット公開決定" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 25, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "BUCK-TICK、35回目のメジャーデビュー記念日にコンセプトベストアルバム＆ライヴ映像作品発売" (in Japanese). Barks. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Buck-Tick 35th anniversary special site" (in Japanese). JVC Music/Lingua Sounda. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "BUCK-TICKのアルバム売上ランキング ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "週間 ROCKアルバムランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "週間 ROCKシングルランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  16. ^ "BUCK-TICK、2023年3月より3作品連続リリース。4月より全国ツアー開催" (in Japanese). Barks. December 29, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  17. ^ "BUCK-TICK、故郷・群馬でデビュー35周年を締めくくる2デイズ公演開催" (in Japanese). Barks. July 24, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  18. ^ "BUCK-TICK、デビュー35周年アニヴァーサリー・ライヴを映画館でスペシャル上映" (in Japanese). Barks. August 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  19. ^ "Important Notice 大切なファンの皆様へ". BUCK-TICK Official Site. Banker LTD. Retrieved 25 October 2023.