Shinsei Kamattechan

The band have grown an organic fanbase via online videos and so on, which is unusual in Japan. They released their debut studio album, Tomodachi wo Koroshite Made (友だちを殺してまで, To Kill a Friend), on 10 March 2010, on the indie label Perfect Music, which is run by their management company of the same name.[4] On 7 July 2010, they released their first single Yūgata no Piano (夕方のピアノ, Evening Piano).[5]

They later gained a deal with major label Warner Music Japan, and released their major label debut album Tsumanne (つまんね, Boring) on 22 December 2010. On the same day, they also released the album Minna Shine (みんな死ね, Everyone Die) on Perfect Music.[6]

In 2011, the group performed the opening theme song for the Japanese anime series Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl, titled Os-Uchūjin (Os-宇宙人, Os-Alien). Vocals were provided by voice actress Asuka Ōgame, and a single was released on 27 April 2011, under the name Erio wo Kamattechan.[7] On 31 August 2011, they released their 4th studio album, 8-gatsu 32-nichi e (8月32日へ, To August 32nd).[8]

The fictional movie Shinsei Kamattechan: Rock ‘n’ Roll wa Nariyamanai (劇場版・神聖かまってちゃん／ロックンロールは鳴り止まないっ) revolving around the band itself was released by Spotted Productions in Japan on 2 April 2011.[9] The English language title of the movie is Ringing in Their Ears.[10]

In March 2012, the group released a single in collaboration with B.B.Queens under the name B.B. Kamattechan, covering the group's 1993 single Yume no END wa Itsumo Mezamashi! (夢のENDはいつも目覚まし!, An Alarm Clock Always Ends My Dream!).[11] This was followed by the group's first major original single Chie-chan no Seisho (知恵ちゃんの聖書, Chie-chan's Bible) in October 2012, and the release of their 5th studio album, Tanoshiine (楽しいね, It's Fun), on 14 November 2012.[12][13]

The following year saw lead vocalist, guitarist, and composer Noko engage in solo activities, contributing vocals to an opening theme of the 2013 anime adaptation of the Japanese manga The Flowers of Evil, and releasing his first solo album, Shinsei Kamattechan (神聖かまってちゃん, Shinsei Kamattechan). The album, sharing its title with the band's name, was released on 11 September 2013, and contained self-covers with new arrangements of 15 Shinsei Kamattechan songs by Noko.[14][15]

In March 2014, the group released a DVD containing live footage from the years 2009 - 2013, titled Shinsei Kamattechan Live History 2009-2013 (神聖かまってちゃん ライブ・ヒ ストリー2009-2013) followed by their second major single in April, Front Memory (フロントメモリー), featuring vocals by Makoto Kawamoto.[16][17] Two more singles, Robot no Yoru (ロボットノ夜, Robot Night), and Zuttomo (ズッ友, Forever Friends), were released consecutively in the months of May and June.[18][19] Their 6th album was released on 10 September 2014, titled Eiyuu syndrome (英雄syndrome, Hero Syndrome).[20]

The band released Best Kamattechan (ベストかまってちゃん, Best Kamattechan), their first "best of" album, in 2015. It contained 16 tracks selected from each of their six previous studio albums, with the limited edition of the release containing live footage and an additional 7 Kamattechan songs, covered by artists such as Dempagumi.inc, Sumire Uesaka, and tofubeats.[21]

2016 saw the release of the group's first new original content in two years, Natsu.Install (夏.インストール, Summer.Installation), their first mini-album and 7th studio album, released on 6 July.[22] In an effort to promote the album, the members climbed Mount Fuji in costumed attire during a live-broadcast on the streaming website TwitCasting, reaching the peak on 1 July.[23]

In April 2017, their song Yūgure no Tori (夕暮れの鳥, Twilight Birds) was used as the ending theme song for the anime series Attack on Titan Season 2.[24][25] The song was released as the double A-Side single Yūgure no Tori / Hikari no Kotoba (夕暮れの鳥 / 光の言葉, Twilight Birds / Words of Light) under the Pony Canyon label in May 2017, with cover art illustrated by Attack on Titan manga artist Hajime Isayama.[26] Their 8th studio album, and first full original album release since Eiyuu syndrome in 2014, was released on 6 September 2017, with the title Osanasa wo Nyuin Sasete (幼さを入院させて, Hospitalize my Childishness).[27]

The group's song Front Memory was chosen to serve as the theme song for the 2018 live-action theatrical adaptation of the Japanese manga After the Rain, covered by singer Emiko Suzuki and arranged by Seiji Kameda, with band members Noko and Mono additionally contributing to the film's soundtrack.[28] Their 9th studio album, Tsun×Dere (ツン×デレ, Tsundere), was released on 4 July 2018, with the song Akizora Cider (秋空サイダー, Autumn Sky Cider) featuring vocals by Regal Lily vocalist and guitarist Honoka Takahashi.[29]

In 2019, bassist Chibagin announced his intention to withdraw after the conclusion of his final tour with the band in January 2020.[30] The digital single Delay (ディレイ) was released in August of that year, followed by another digital single in October, titled Mainichi ga News (毎日がニュース, Everyday is News), which was tied to a promotional campaign with music streaming service Spotify.[31][32] Their 10th album, Jidou Karte (児童カルテ, Child's Medical Record), was released on digital platforms and streaming services in November 2019, with the physical version being released later on 8 January 2020.[33] The band's first tour with their new line-up was scheduled to commence in March 2020, however due to precautions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the tour was postponed until July 2020, with the original dates being replaced by the band's first entirely online tour, broadcast live from a recording studio.[34][35]

Their music is a strange blend of pop melodies and piano with dark lyrics and punk rock sensibilities. Most of their songs are digitally altered by lead vocalist Noko, who also uses heavy delay and pitchshifting effects on their vocals.

Shinsei Kamattechan have received a lot of media attention in Japan, although Noko rarely does interviews.

They have also attracted attention from English-language media. They were interviewed (without Noko) in a video on the website of British magazine NME at Summer Sonic 2010,[36] and by The Japan Times newspaper,[37] and their debut album, Tomodachi wo Koroshite Made, was reviewed by Metropolis magazine.[38] They have also been mentioned in various blogs.[39][40]

The band is well known for broadcasting their activity on live-steaming video sites such as stickam, PeerCast, TwitCasting, and Japanese popular video sharing website Nico Nico Douga. The band's lead, Noko, is particularly notorious for his eccentric broadcasting methods.

Current members

• Mono (海藤佑希也, Kaidō Yukiya, born 16 December 1985) — leader, keyboards, programming, tambourine
• Noko (大島亮介, Ōshima Ryōsuke, born 16 June 1985) — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming, song composition
• Misako (鈴木美早子, Suzuki Misako, born 11 October 1985) — drums

Former members

• Abesho (あべしょ, Abesho, born 19 September 1984) — guitar, bass
• Sanshiro (サンシロウ, Sanshirou) — bass
• Chibagin (佐久間大作, Sakuma Daisaku, born 11 December 1985) — bass, chorus

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Shinsei Kamattechan discography at Discogs
• Shinsei Kamattechan discography on iTunes
• Official label website