Outrage (JPN) - Biography
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1982-
Biography
Outrage (JPN) began in 1982 when Yosuke Abe (guitars), Yoshihiro Yasui (bass), Shinya Tange (drums) and Senpo Ito (vocals) started doing live shows with NWOBHM covers in Nagoya. In 1986 Naoki Hashimoto replaced Ito who parted ways with the band, making the current lineup.
Outrage (JPN) made their debut with the release of the EP 'Outrage' from their own label, Pile Driver Records in 1987.
From the cover artwork of this EP, they got the nickname "Peke Rage". By this time thrash metal started getting attention in Japan which lead to numerous wonderful bands surfacing, but this EP was the only release to cause a stir. Literally, it was an answer from Nagoya to Metallica. Outrage (JPN) did not just copy Metallica (although they were one of their influences), like Metallica, their music was a result of having roots in NWOBHM, 70's and 80's heavy rock, heavy metal, punk and hardcore. Nonetheless, this EP had an enormous impact on the scene. Although the band explains, "we only blended our influences together", the level of perfection is exceptionally high. One can hardly believe a kid in their teens could come up with, let alone perform, such beautifully structured guitar solo in the track "Step On It".
There is great maturity in that piece. Thrash metal during this period was known for the shouting vocal styles but Hashimoto's raw yet masculine and very solid singing was also a strong advantage. This EP immediately sold out and was impossible to get hold of for a while. Tracks like "Control Of Law" and "Edge Of Death" was re-released in the 1st full length album, 'Black Clouds' and made into a CD in 1997 on Disc 2 of their special double EP, 'It's Packed!! - 10th Anniversary Live & Rare Edition'. The 4 tracks on this are still a crowd favorite at live performances.
'Black Clouds' as mentioned above, was released in 1988, and was a sudden jump to a major debut, a great step for the musicality of Outrage (JPN) to be widely known. However, within a year they evolved to making music that exceeded any global standard. Even when compared to American and European thrash metal bands that were popular in Japan, Outrage's music had nothing in their music that was inferior, in fact, it was by far more superior in many ways. They covered Flower Travellin' Band's "Slowly But Surely", nailing it, while improving their sound by storming riff attacks in their sophmore release (1989) 'Blind To Reality'.
The 3rd album, 'The Great Blue" (1990) was an extension of their previous work with more space added and more emphasis laid on the vocals. The 4th album, '[i]The Final Day' released in 1991, was the first time they flew overseas to Germany to have the drummer of Accept at the time, Stefan Kaufman produce the album. Until then the band, not fully satisfied with their sound, had an epiphany just with the test recording and found the sound they were searching for. Consequently, it became an album with Outrage (JPN)'s best tracks, performance and sound production, and was unmistakably the birth of a masterpiece. It was a genuine Outrage (JPN) sound having the speed and aggression of thrash metal but with more space than 'The Great Blue' and skillfully arranged so that all the instruments revolved around the vocals. An album that was so easy on the ears. Hashimoto's singing styles developed further, even sounding somewhat like Billy Idol's singing in some songs. Hashimoto, who first hesitated even to record the first ballad song "River", sang brilliantly on this track. This was when Outrage (JPN)'s second phase began.
Their 5th album, 'Spit' did not just stop at thrash metal, they incorporated a variety of elements which in turn updated their sound to match the shift in the music scene to grunge and alternative music. In 1999 Hashimoto parted ways with the band but the members came to terms with it. This change was necessary for the band as it might of lead to disbanding had the 4 stayed together. Nonetheless, the news was a great shock to everyone. Outrage (JPN) decided to continue the band as a threesome without getting a replacement. Yasui would take over for the main vocals. EP's 'Volume One' (2001) and 'Play Loud EP' (2002), their 8th full length '24-7' (2002) and their 9th 'Cause For Pause' (2004) all had a simpler sound, being more heavy rock than heavy metal, even could be called rock'n'roll compared to when Hashimoto was in the band. However, the single 'Deadbeat' for the 9th album that was recorded after Hashimoto returned was genuinely an "Outrage" sound. Although the band never stop honing their skills, they have the basic attitude of "we only do what we can, we only do what we want to do". Although unintended, these words have become actual proof.
In 2007, to commemorate their 20th year from their debut, vocalist Naoki Hashimoto returned to Outrage (JPN) to perform at Club Citta. Although it was to be for a limited time, with the enormous response, Hashimoto decided to return permanently to the band in 2008. In 2009, their 10th album 'Outrage' featured the 'cream' of Outrage (JPN) from when Hashimoto was in the band got rave reviews. The opening track "Rise" is a supreme classic. A documentary of their touring life after Hashimoto returned, "Shine On - Travelogue Of Outrage" was shown in Tokyo and Nagoya and later in 2011 was released as a DVD.
In 2013, their 11th album 'Outraged' was an extension of their 'Outrage' album. After this, a special album 'Genesis I' with covers of Japanese rock forefathers and new songs was released. In February 2017, the box set to commemorate the band's 30 years, 'XXX Box' was released, and in October their 12th album 'Raging Out' was released, Tange mentioned "this is the last part of the trilogy after the return of Hashimoto" and is an extension of the previous 2 albums. With their roots in perspective, new metal energy is infused, there is more intensity yet the singing is emphasized. With Peter Tägtgren of Pain and Hypocrisy at the production helm, the sound is relentlessly brutal. It is hard to imagine this band has an average age of 50.
Outrage (JPN) is still not ready to make way for younger bands. Their new developments in the future are something to look forward to. In 2003, the 20th year as a band commemorative album 'Nagoya Noise Pollution Orchestra' was released following with the album 'Cause For Pause' in 2004 after signing with Victor Records. Their nationwide Japan Tour also began during this period.
Source: Official website
Outrage (JPN) made their debut with the release of the EP 'Outrage' from their own label, Pile Driver Records in 1987.
From the cover artwork of this EP, they got the nickname "Peke Rage". By this time thrash metal started getting attention in Japan which lead to numerous wonderful bands surfacing, but this EP was the only release to cause a stir. Literally, it was an answer from Nagoya to Metallica. Outrage (JPN) did not just copy Metallica (although they were one of their influences), like Metallica, their music was a result of having roots in NWOBHM, 70's and 80's heavy rock, heavy metal, punk and hardcore. Nonetheless, this EP had an enormous impact on the scene. Although the band explains, "we only blended our influences together", the level of perfection is exceptionally high. One can hardly believe a kid in their teens could come up with, let alone perform, such beautifully structured guitar solo in the track "Step On It".
There is great maturity in that piece. Thrash metal during this period was known for the shouting vocal styles but Hashimoto's raw yet masculine and very solid singing was also a strong advantage. This EP immediately sold out and was impossible to get hold of for a while. Tracks like "Control Of Law" and "Edge Of Death" was re-released in the 1st full length album, 'Black Clouds' and made into a CD in 1997 on Disc 2 of their special double EP, 'It's Packed!! - 10th Anniversary Live & Rare Edition'. The 4 tracks on this are still a crowd favorite at live performances.
'Black Clouds' as mentioned above, was released in 1988, and was a sudden jump to a major debut, a great step for the musicality of Outrage (JPN) to be widely known. However, within a year they evolved to making music that exceeded any global standard. Even when compared to American and European thrash metal bands that were popular in Japan, Outrage's music had nothing in their music that was inferior, in fact, it was by far more superior in many ways. They covered Flower Travellin' Band's "Slowly But Surely", nailing it, while improving their sound by storming riff attacks in their sophmore release (1989) 'Blind To Reality'.
The 3rd album, 'The Great Blue" (1990) was an extension of their previous work with more space added and more emphasis laid on the vocals. The 4th album, '[i]The Final Day' released in 1991, was the first time they flew overseas to Germany to have the drummer of Accept at the time, Stefan Kaufman produce the album. Until then the band, not fully satisfied with their sound, had an epiphany just with the test recording and found the sound they were searching for. Consequently, it became an album with Outrage (JPN)'s best tracks, performance and sound production, and was unmistakably the birth of a masterpiece. It was a genuine Outrage (JPN) sound having the speed and aggression of thrash metal but with more space than 'The Great Blue' and skillfully arranged so that all the instruments revolved around the vocals. An album that was so easy on the ears. Hashimoto's singing styles developed further, even sounding somewhat like Billy Idol's singing in some songs. Hashimoto, who first hesitated even to record the first ballad song "River", sang brilliantly on this track. This was when Outrage (JPN)'s second phase began.
Their 5th album, 'Spit' did not just stop at thrash metal, they incorporated a variety of elements which in turn updated their sound to match the shift in the music scene to grunge and alternative music. In 1999 Hashimoto parted ways with the band but the members came to terms with it. This change was necessary for the band as it might of lead to disbanding had the 4 stayed together. Nonetheless, the news was a great shock to everyone. Outrage (JPN) decided to continue the band as a threesome without getting a replacement. Yasui would take over for the main vocals. EP's 'Volume One' (2001) and 'Play Loud EP' (2002), their 8th full length '24-7' (2002) and their 9th 'Cause For Pause' (2004) all had a simpler sound, being more heavy rock than heavy metal, even could be called rock'n'roll compared to when Hashimoto was in the band. However, the single 'Deadbeat' for the 9th album that was recorded after Hashimoto returned was genuinely an "Outrage" sound. Although the band never stop honing their skills, they have the basic attitude of "we only do what we can, we only do what we want to do". Although unintended, these words have become actual proof.
In 2007, to commemorate their 20th year from their debut, vocalist Naoki Hashimoto returned to Outrage (JPN) to perform at Club Citta. Although it was to be for a limited time, with the enormous response, Hashimoto decided to return permanently to the band in 2008. In 2009, their 10th album 'Outrage' featured the 'cream' of Outrage (JPN) from when Hashimoto was in the band got rave reviews. The opening track "Rise" is a supreme classic. A documentary of their touring life after Hashimoto returned, "Shine On - Travelogue Of Outrage" was shown in Tokyo and Nagoya and later in 2011 was released as a DVD.
In 2013, their 11th album 'Outraged' was an extension of their 'Outrage' album. After this, a special album 'Genesis I' with covers of Japanese rock forefathers and new songs was released. In February 2017, the box set to commemorate the band's 30 years, 'XXX Box' was released, and in October their 12th album 'Raging Out' was released, Tange mentioned "this is the last part of the trilogy after the return of Hashimoto" and is an extension of the previous 2 albums. With their roots in perspective, new metal energy is infused, there is more intensity yet the singing is emphasized. With Peter Tägtgren of Pain and Hypocrisy at the production helm, the sound is relentlessly brutal. It is hard to imagine this band has an average age of 50.
Outrage (JPN) is still not ready to make way for younger bands. Their new developments in the future are something to look forward to. In 2003, the 20th year as a band commemorative album 'Nagoya Noise Pollution Orchestra' was released following with the album 'Cause For Pause' in 2004 after signing with Victor Records. Their nationwide Japan Tour also began during this period.
Source: Official website