Zeni Geva
Encyclopedia
Zeni Geva is a Japanese heavy metal
group led by singer and guitarist KK. Null
, together with guitarist Mitsuru Tabata and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. Formed in Tokyo
in 1987, the group's name translates roughly as "money violence" ("Zeni" is an old Japanese term for money, and "Geva" comes from the German "Gewalt," meaning "violence").
Though broadly classified as metal, Zeni Geva's music can be diverse and experimental, incorporating elements ranging from death metal
and hardcore punk
to math rock
, psychedelic
, and noise rock
. Their music is often technically unorthodox and demanding, and has earned progressive rock
comparisons: critic Patrick Kennedy describes their 1993 album Desire for Agony
as resembling "Motörhead meets King Crimson
."
The Chicago-based Skin Graft Records
has released much of the band's music in North America, and the band released several albums with the American Alternative Tentacles
label.
and Hanatarashi, experimental noise rock guitarist and electronic programmer KK Null
formed Zeni Geva in 1987 with guitarist Fumiyoshi Suzuki (also known as "NP"), vocalist Elle, and drummer Ikuo Taketani of the Japanese experimental groups The Boredoms and Hanatarashi. This same year, the group released its debut record, How to Kill, on Null's own NUX Organization
label. With bassist Bunsho Nishikawa replacing Elle, they released the Vast Impotenz cassette early the following year.
Following the departure of Suzuki and Nishikawa, Null and Taketani were ultimately joined by permanent guitarist Mitsuru Tabata (also of The Boredoms) in 1988, and the group released the album Maximum Love and Fuck. Tatsuya Yoshida of the progressive rock band Ruins also joined later this year, replacing Taketani. They released the Maximum Money Monster
album in 1990, packaging the Maximum Love and Fuck alongside of additional tracks featuring Yoshida on drums.
Yoshida left in 1990 and continued his prolific and lauded career with Ruins and in other projects. He was briefly replaced by drummer Yasuko, but Zeni Geva found a longer standing replacement in Eito Noro. This lineup began extensive world tours, catching the eye of such noteworthy rock figures as Steve Albini
, who produced their 1991 album Total Castration
, and Jello Biafra
, who signed them to his Alternative Tentacles
record label. They next released 1992's Live in Amerika and the collaborative All Right You Little Bastards live album with Albini performing with the band. The Albini-produced Desire for Agony
marked Zeni Geva's Alternative Tentacles debut, and was followed by 1995's Freedom Bondage
.
Noro left the band in 1996, and the band toured with temporary replacement Blake Fleming
, an American musician. Masataka Fujikake became their next permanent drummer shortly thereafter, which was followed by further extensive touring. Despite extensive activity, the band did not release another studio album until 2001, six years after Freedom Bondage. The new record, 10,000 Light Years
, was released on the Neurot Recordings
label, and marked their most experimental effort to date. Null had been making increasing use of electronic instruments of his own design, and his "nulltron" device features prominently on 10,000 Light Years. A live album, Last Nanosecond - Live in Geneva 2002, followed in 2004.
The band was largely inactive for the next several years, as their members pursued other projects. Null remained prolific via solo and collaborative releases, while Tabata worked with many solo and group projects, including Acid Mothers Temple
. Maximum Money Monster was remastered and re-released with bonus tracks in 2007.
In 2009, it was announced that Tatsuya Yoshida had rejoined, and they returned to touring. The live album Alive and Rising, recorded in September 2009 and released in February 2010, captures a live performance from this powerful incarnation of Zeni Geva.
Former members
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
group led by singer and guitarist KK. Null
KK Null
KK Null is a Japanese experimental multi-instrumentalist. He began as a guitarist, but soon added composer, singer, electronic musician and drummer to his list of talents, and also studied with the Butoh workshop....
, together with guitarist Mitsuru Tabata and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. Formed in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1987, the group's name translates roughly as "money violence" ("Zeni" is an old Japanese term for money, and "Geva" comes from the German "Gewalt," meaning "violence").
Though broadly classified as metal, Zeni Geva's music can be diverse and experimental, incorporating elements ranging from death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and hardcore punk
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...
to math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
, psychedelic
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
, and noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
. Their music is often technically unorthodox and demanding, and has earned progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
comparisons: critic Patrick Kennedy describes their 1993 album Desire for Agony
Desire For Agony
Desire For Agony is a 1993 album by Zeni Geva. It is produced by Steve Albini.- Track listing :All tracks by Zeni Geva# "Stigma" - 2:37# "Dead Sun Rising" - 3:05# "Desire For Agony" - 2:34# "Heathen Blood" - 5:35# "Disgraceland" - 3:46...
as resembling "Motörhead meets King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
."
The Chicago-based Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records is an independent record label specializing in No Wave and noise rock music, originally based in Chicago, Illinois...
has released much of the band's music in North America, and the band released several albums with the American Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
label.
History
Following several years in the Japanese noise rock scene that included collaborations with MerzbowMerzbow
is the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
and Hanatarashi, experimental noise rock guitarist and electronic programmer KK Null
KK Null
KK Null is a Japanese experimental multi-instrumentalist. He began as a guitarist, but soon added composer, singer, electronic musician and drummer to his list of talents, and also studied with the Butoh workshop....
formed Zeni Geva in 1987 with guitarist Fumiyoshi Suzuki (also known as "NP"), vocalist Elle, and drummer Ikuo Taketani of the Japanese experimental groups The Boredoms and Hanatarashi. This same year, the group released its debut record, How to Kill, on Null's own NUX Organization
NUX Organization
Nux Organization is a Japanese record label founded by Zeni Geva frontman KK Null. It has released records by Null and Zeni Geva as well as bands such as Shellac, Melt Banana, Merzbow and others....
label. With bassist Bunsho Nishikawa replacing Elle, they released the Vast Impotenz cassette early the following year.
Following the departure of Suzuki and Nishikawa, Null and Taketani were ultimately joined by permanent guitarist Mitsuru Tabata (also of The Boredoms) in 1988, and the group released the album Maximum Love and Fuck. Tatsuya Yoshida of the progressive rock band Ruins also joined later this year, replacing Taketani. They released the Maximum Money Monster
Maximum Money Monster
Maximum Money Monster is a 1990 album by Zeni Geva. It is a re-release of their 1989 album Maximum Love and Fuck, with additional songs. The Pathological CD release had the whole album as one track...
album in 1990, packaging the Maximum Love and Fuck alongside of additional tracks featuring Yoshida on drums.
Yoshida left in 1990 and continued his prolific and lauded career with Ruins and in other projects. He was briefly replaced by drummer Yasuko, but Zeni Geva found a longer standing replacement in Eito Noro. This lineup began extensive world tours, catching the eye of such noteworthy rock figures as Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, who produced their 1991 album Total Castration
Total Castration
Total Castration is a 1991 album by Zeni Geva. It is produced by Zeni Geva and Steve Albini.- Track listing :# "I Want You" - 4:44# "Total Castration" - 3:28# "Bigman Death" - 3:42# "Shoot Me With Your Blood" - 7:16# "Godflesh" - 4:40...
, and Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
, who signed them to his Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
record label. They next released 1992's Live in Amerika and the collaborative All Right You Little Bastards live album with Albini performing with the band. The Albini-produced Desire for Agony
Desire For Agony
Desire For Agony is a 1993 album by Zeni Geva. It is produced by Steve Albini.- Track listing :All tracks by Zeni Geva# "Stigma" - 2:37# "Dead Sun Rising" - 3:05# "Desire For Agony" - 2:34# "Heathen Blood" - 5:35# "Disgraceland" - 3:46...
marked Zeni Geva's Alternative Tentacles debut, and was followed by 1995's Freedom Bondage
Freedom Bondage
Freedom Bondage is an album by Zeni Geva released in August 1995 via Alternative Tentacles.-Track listing:#"Alienation" – 1:34#"Alienation pt. 2" – 1:11#"Death Blows" – 3:23#"Burn Your Flesh Out" – 3:47#"Disorganization" – 3:14...
.
Noro left the band in 1996, and the band toured with temporary replacement Blake Fleming
Blake Fleming
Blake Fleming is a drummer known for his involvement with several influential experimental bands. Fleming started drumming at age 8, and spent several years in fife and drumming corps, bagpipe bands, jazz bands, orchestras, etc. His first band was Dazzling Killmen, which he joined at age 15. Later...
, an American musician. Masataka Fujikake became their next permanent drummer shortly thereafter, which was followed by further extensive touring. Despite extensive activity, the band did not release another studio album until 2001, six years after Freedom Bondage. The new record, 10,000 Light Years
10,000 Light Years
10,000 Light Years is a 2001 album by Zeni Geva.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Kazuyuki K. Null – guitar, nullsonic, voice* Mitsuru Tabata – guitar, guitar-sunthesizer* Masataka Fujikake – drums...
, was released on the Neurot Recordings
Neurot Recordings
Neurot Recordings is an independent American record label founded by members of Neurosis and Tribes of Neurot. The label was founded to release the side projects of Neurosis and its members. It has since expanded to a fully functioning label, releasing music from artists...
label, and marked their most experimental effort to date. Null had been making increasing use of electronic instruments of his own design, and his "nulltron" device features prominently on 10,000 Light Years. A live album, Last Nanosecond - Live in Geneva 2002, followed in 2004.
The band was largely inactive for the next several years, as their members pursued other projects. Null remained prolific via solo and collaborative releases, while Tabata worked with many solo and group projects, including Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest...
. Maximum Money Monster was remastered and re-released with bonus tracks in 2007.
In 2009, it was announced that Tatsuya Yoshida had rejoined, and they returned to touring. The live album Alive and Rising, recorded in September 2009 and released in February 2010, captures a live performance from this powerful incarnation of Zeni Geva.
Band members
Current members- Kazuyuki K. Null – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, ultrasonik, nulltron, kaosspad (1987–present) - Mitsuru Tabata – guitar, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(1988–present) - Tatsuya Yoshida – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, kaosspad, vocals (1988–1990, 2009–present)
Former members
- Ikuo Taketani – drums (1987–1988)
- Fumiyoshi Suzuki – guitar (1987–1988)
- Elle – vocals (1987)
- Bunsho Nishikawa – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1988) - Yasuko – drums (1990–1991)
- Eito Noro – drums (1991–1996)
- Blake FlemingBlake FlemingBlake Fleming is a drummer known for his involvement with several influential experimental bands. Fleming started drumming at age 8, and spent several years in fife and drumming corps, bagpipe bands, jazz bands, orchestras, etc. His first band was Dazzling Killmen, which he joined at age 15. Later...
– drums (1996) - Masataka Fujikake – drums (1996–2004)
Albums
- How To Kill (1987)
- Maximum Love and Fuck (1989)
- Maximum Money MonsterMaximum Money MonsterMaximum Money Monster is a 1990 album by Zeni Geva. It is a re-release of their 1989 album Maximum Love and Fuck, with additional songs. The Pathological CD release had the whole album as one track...
(1990, rereleased in 2007) - Total CastrationTotal CastrationTotal Castration is a 1991 album by Zeni Geva. It is produced by Zeni Geva and Steve Albini.- Track listing :# "I Want You" - 4:44# "Total Castration" - 3:28# "Bigman Death" - 3:42# "Shoot Me With Your Blood" - 7:16# "Godflesh" - 4:40...
(1991) - Live In Amerika (1992)
- Live 20000V split w/ Lewd (1992)
- All Right You Little Bastards (live collaboration with Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
) (1993) - Desire for AgonyDesire For AgonyDesire For Agony is a 1993 album by Zeni Geva. It is produced by Steve Albini.- Track listing :All tracks by Zeni Geva# "Stigma" - 2:37# "Dead Sun Rising" - 3:05# "Desire For Agony" - 2:34# "Heathen Blood" - 5:35# "Disgraceland" - 3:46...
(1993) - Trance Europe ExperienceTrance Europe ExperienceTrance Europe Experience is a 1994 album by Zeni Geva.- Track listing :# "Death Blows" - 3:18# "Interzona" - 2:53# "Dead Sun Rising" - 3:04# "Desire For Agony" - 2:49# "Stigma" - 2:40# "Whiteout" - 5:31# "Love Bite" - 3:53# "Autopsy Love" - 3:31...
live (1994) - Freedom BondageFreedom BondageFreedom Bondage is an album by Zeni Geva released in August 1995 via Alternative Tentacles.-Track listing:#"Alienation" – 1:34#"Alienation pt. 2" – 1:11#"Death Blows" – 3:23#"Burn Your Flesh Out" – 3:47#"Disorganization" – 3:14...
(1995) - 10,000 Light Years10,000 Light Years10,000 Light Years is a 2001 album by Zeni Geva.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Kazuyuki K. Null – guitar, nullsonic, voice* Mitsuru Tabata – guitar, guitar-sunthesizer* Masataka Fujikake – drums...
(2001) - Last Nanosecond - Live in Geneva 2002 (2004)
- Alive and Rising live (2010)
EPs and singles
- Vast Impotenz (1988)
- Honowoh/Sweetheart/Bloodsex "7" (1991)
- Nai-Ha EP (1992)
- Disgraceland "7" (1993)
- Autofuck 7" (1993)
- Hatetrader split w/ X-Rated-X (1994)
- Black Room split w/ Meathead 7" (1994)
- Implosion (1995)