Yousei Teikoku

First alighting on the Human Realm in 1997, Yousei Teikoku began as a duo consisting of members Yui and Takaha. With a name meaning "Fairy Empire", the members intended to make music that would bring about a revival of belief in fairies. Though initially an electronic unit, the band has since gained three members and shifted their sound in a more firmly gothic metal direction.

The duo of Yui and Takaha began their activities in Nagoya, playing smaller lives around the area and releasing two albums. Very little is known about their early years; samples of the first two albums have turned up online alongside a variety of other songs, but few concrete details exist. What is known, however, is that the band's earliest sound was heavily electronic and considerably lighter than their recent offerings. Starting with Momo to Hane, Yousei Teikoku finished off the 90s with two original albums and a remix compilation already under their belt, and in the year 2000 the two members relocated to Tokyo.

The next five years were relatively quiet, with the group scoring some minor anime and PC game tie-ins, but 2005's stigma set Yousei Teikoku on track for success, and the band even landed their first show abroad at Pacific Media Expo in Los Angeles. Soon afterward, they were signed by Namco-Bandai's record label Lantis and given their very first TV anime collaboration with 2006's Senketsu no Chikai. Rounding out the year with another anime theme and a song in a "Mai-HiME" video game, the duo was off to an impressive major label start. As the band's work got darker, however, so did their stage presence, with both members taking on a more militaristic persona and referring to their fans as "subjects".

The year 2007 brought even greater success. Their first full album in eight years, GOTHIC LOLITA PROPAGANDA, was released. Though counted as an album, it was technically a compilation, starting a trend that the band wouldn't break for many years. Another anime collaboration, this time for "Venus Versus Virus", brought the group even further recognition and acclaim. Near the end of the year, the band released their first mini-album, metanoia, and along with it their first PV.

The next year was a busy one for Yousei Teikoku. Starting in July, they kicked off a three-single release campaign that lasted until September. Each month brought a new single and, along with it, a new PV. Of note is Hades; The bloody rage, which was released as a "sequel" of sorts to an earlier song off of metanoia called Hades: The rise. As with metanoia, none of these songs were tied to an anime or a video game, proving the band's cross-demographic appeal.

However, 2009 saw the return of the media tie-ins that brought the band their initial success. In addition to another album, Yousei Teikoku's songs appeared in the anime "Kurokami: The Animation", as well as in a PSP game based on the "Queen's Blade" franchise. Subjects were delighted to learn of the band's first tour, and rumors of a change in style began to stir when two support members, Nanami and Relu, were spotted at the performances.

The year 2010 proved the rumors were true, with Nanami and Relu joining as the band's official bassist and drummer as of Baptize. Also an anime tie-in, this time with the series "Seikon no Qwaser", the single featured a PV as a means to introduce the new members. The end of the year saw another album release, as well as the infamous "920Putsch" concert for which the single rebellion anthem was created. It was at this concert that Yui, within the band's storyline, officially seized power from The Fairy Empire's previous ruler and established her current title -- "Dictator for Life". The group also received its own internet radio show, Radio Propaganda.

In 2011, the band held another tour to commemorate the release of their latest album, and that summer another "Queen's Blade" collaboration brought with it the single Mischievous of Alice. In October, Yousei Teikoku released Kuusou Mythology, pairing it with the high-profile anime "Mirai Nikki" and receiving great acclaim and the number 27 spot on the Oricon chart. February of the next year saw the release of another popular "Mirai Nikki" song, filament. Outside of some live events and minor media collaborations, though, the band was not very active in 2012.

The next year, however, was a different story. As the band's 15th anniversary, 2013 was packed with releases, live events, and web show appearances. Though drummer Relu had unfortunately left the group, previews of a new PV revealed two new members, Shiren on lead guitar and Gight on drums. Their first full album of primarily-new songs, PAX VESANIA, was released that March, showing off their newer, more polished gothic metal sound. Following news of their longest-ever tour was something even more exciting for international fans: the opening of an English-language Facebook page and the news of a performance at Anime Boston that May. Before the year was out, the band had released both a DVD and a blu-ray of their PAX VESANIA tour, as well as a blu-ray PV compilation called Chronik I.

As implied by the number in Chronik I's title, Yousei Teikoku is looking toward the future. Early in 2014, they announced not only a new single, but a slew of collaborations with fashion brands such as SEX POT ReVeNGe. March also saw the culmination of Yui's long-time desire to hold male and female-only concerts, titled "GEGENANGRIFF" and featuring two hand-picked opening acts. Ever since PAX VESANIA, the group's future has never looked brighter, and the members don't seem intent on slowing down. Though they have yet to capture the hearts of all of humanity, at the rate they're going, it's only a matter of time.