Japanese rock septet LUNA SEA has been an enduring, powerful influence since the 1990s. Colourful costumes, make-up and an outlandish stage presence made them pioneers of the visual kei style and inspired a generation of artists. Initially a frenzied collision of punk, hardcore and alternative rock, their later work introduced elements of prog-rock and harmonic indie melodies, with meandering guitar evoking the psychedelic and shoegaze movements. Eventually embracing alt-rock and a more straight-forward image helped open the doors to mainstream pop megastardom—and a lasting legacy.