Akuma (band)
Encyclopedia
Akuma is a punk
band from Quebec formed in 1998 from the ashes of Banlieue Rouge
.
Akuma (known in Japan as Gouki
) is a character from the Street Fighter
series.
The original line-up comprised Safwan (guitar and vocals), Simon (bass and background vocals), Sylva (drums), and Mark (guitar, background vocals). It was this line-up which created the group's first album, 100 Démons, released March 2001
by Yakuza Productions.
For the second album, the line-up was changed: Yannick (guitar) and Martin (bass) joined Safwan and Sylva to replace Simon and Mark.
Musically, the group can be categorized as punk, street punk
, or hardcore
.
Besides its musical aspect, the band distinguishes itself through its opposition to neoliberalism
, both through its lyrics and through its actions.
Thus, after their first album, 100 Démons, distributed through traditional means, the band decided to distribute their second album, Subversion (released 2004
by Pavillon Noir) directly to their fans through their Web site. At concerts, they claimed the idea was to avoid middlemen.
But like most punk groups, it is in the punk "scene" that Akuma delivers its message most effectively. To be heard, the group plays many different venues, from small establishments to large North American events like the Vans Warped Tour of 2001 or Quebec's summer festival.
Akuma also shares the scene with hardcore groups like Madball
and punk groups like Rancid
, Pennywise
, and even Bérurier Noir
.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Quebec formed in 1998 from the ashes of Banlieue Rouge
Banlieue Rouge
Banlieue Rouge was a punk band from Montreal, Quebec active through the early to mid 1990s. They disbanded in 1999.Banlieue Rouge was formed in 1989 in Longueuil, a Montreal suburb. Heavily influenced by French punk rock bands such as Bérurier Noir, they started with a drum machine, which was...
.
Akuma (known in Japan as Gouki
Akuma (Street Fighter)
Akuma known in Japan as , is a video game character from the Street Fighter series of fighting games. Akuma made his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a secret character and hidden boss. In the storyline of the Street Fighter video games, he is the younger brother of Gouken, Ryu and Ken's...
) is a character from the Street Fighter
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
series.
The original line-up comprised Safwan (guitar and vocals), Simon (bass and background vocals), Sylva (drums), and Mark (guitar, background vocals). It was this line-up which created the group's first album, 100 Démons, released March 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
by Yakuza Productions.
For the second album, the line-up was changed: Yannick (guitar) and Martin (bass) joined Safwan and Sylva to replace Simon and Mark.
Musically, the group can be categorized as punk, street punk
Street punk
Street punk is a working class-based genre of punk rock which took shape in the early 1980s, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the Oi! style, performed by bands such as Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, Cockney...
, or hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
.
Besides its musical aspect, the band distinguishes itself through its opposition to neoliberalism
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
, both through its lyrics and through its actions.
Thus, after their first album, 100 Démons, distributed through traditional means, the band decided to distribute their second album, Subversion (released 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
by Pavillon Noir) directly to their fans through their Web site. At concerts, they claimed the idea was to avoid middlemen.
But like most punk groups, it is in the punk "scene" that Akuma delivers its message most effectively. To be heard, the group plays many different venues, from small establishments to large North American events like the Vans Warped Tour of 2001 or Quebec's summer festival.
Akuma also shares the scene with hardcore groups like Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
and punk groups like Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
, Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
, and even Bérurier Noir
Bérurier Noir
Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran , François and Dédé . They called themselves "noir" for the color of mourning and for anarchy and "Bérurier" after the character from the novels of Frédéric Dard...
.
Discography
- 100 Démons (19981998 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
) - Subversion (20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) - ...Des Cendres Et Du Désespoir (20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
)