Vidoll

Faithful and successful devotees of the visual kei movement of the 2000s, Vidoll made their way in the Japanese music scene by combining alternative metal with goth music, ballads, lighter pop numbers, and extreme fashion statements. The group was started by bassist Rame, formerly of Radifia and Eze:, who began working with Jui (vocals), Yukine and Ayano (guitars), and Tero (drums), some of whom had previous band experience as well. Right off the bat, Vidoll scored a deal with the Matina label, which released their paired maxi-singles Face Pisaroto and Face Mayura in 2002. Matina folded in 2003, but Vidoll were picked up by the label's successor, Under Code Productions, which released their first EPs, If... Yakubutsu Ranyou Bokumetsu Campaign... and Romanesque Gothic (both 2003). One of them was later paired with the 2004 EP Mukashi Futokoro Kashi Ningyou Shuu -- So No Ni and re-released in 2005 as Mukashi Futokoro Kashi Ningyou Shuu + Omake Tsuki, coming out on the French Mabell label as well. Prior to that, Ayano became discouraged by Vidoll's musical direction and departed, replaced by Hide, previously of Vanilla (not to be confused with Hide of X-Japan). Further lineup shifts happened in 2005, when Hide and Yukine quit after a farewell "fan club only" tour, the former citing health problems, the latter for personal reasons. They were replaced by Shun and Giru, who worked on the band's long-overdue studio full-length debut, V.I.D Very Important Doll, in 2006. After its release, the band "graduated" to Sword Records, staying there for one album, Bastard (2007), before being picked by the major label Nippon Crown in 2009. In 2007 Vidoll also debuted in the States, where they played the Jrock Revolution festival in Los Angeles. Their fourth studio album, Esoteric Romance, was scheduled for a March 2009 release date. ~ Alexey Eremenko