New Concept Album from B'z

Rock duo B'z will release the third installment in their FRIENDS series of concept albums on December 8th.

FRIENDS III comes 25 years on from 1996's FRIENDS II, which in turn followed 1992's FRIENDS. It will contain seven songs that will see B'z step away from their usual rock sound. Tak Matsumoto's warm, mellow guitar work will be complemented by strings and a "bold" brass section.

The original FRIENDS was conceived as the soundtrack for an imagined film, and featured B'z's signature festive ballad Itsuka no Merry Christmas. FRIENDS II was more experimental in nature and saw Matsumoto working in elements of reggae, bossa nova and fusion.

On November 16th and 17th, B'z will premiere the songs from FRIENDS III at the live event B'z presents LIVE FRIENDS at Tokyo Garden Theatre. On Christmas Eve, one of these concerts will be available to stream until January 3rd via ZAIKO.