Jupiter is a Japanese Symphonic Power Metal band formed in April 2013 by guitarists Hizaki and Teru, drummer Yuki, bass guitarist Masashi, members of the popular Japanese metal band Versailles, plus a new vocalist, Zin.
Jupiter continues to showcase much of the Visual Kei style previously seen in Versailles: androgynous aesthetics; fancy, elaborate costumes; and eye-catching performances.
The band released their first single, "Blessing of the Future", in July 2013, through Universal Music. Their debut album, Classical Element, was released in August of that year. Their second album, The History of Genesis, was released in January 2015. It was also Jupiter's last album with Yuki and Masashi as they left the band in April 2016.
Later in 2016, Jupiter released their sixth single, "The spirit within me", with Cross Vein bassist Shoyo and former Roach drummer Daisuke as support members. The following year, they released their first mini-album, Tears of the Sun, with Daisuke promoted to full-time member and former Killaneth bassist Rucy replacing Shoyo. It would also be Jupiter's last release with Zin as vocalist, having left in February 2018.
Later in July, Jupiter announced their seventh single, "Theory of Evolution", with Concerto Moon's former vocalist Atsushi Kuze taking over as the band's frontman. It was also their last release with bassist Rucy, who left Jupiter in January 2019. Their third album, Zeus ~Legends Never Die~, was released on April 3, 2019.
Not to be confused with Project Jupiter.
Members:
Current:
- Atsushi Kuze - Vocals (2018–present)
- Hizaki - Lead Guitar
- Teru - Guitar
- Daisuke - Drums (2017–present, support in 2016)
Touring/Live:
- Shoyo - Bass (2016–2017, 2019)
- Yu-ri - Bass (2019)
Former:
- Masashi - Bass (2013–2016)
- Yuki - Drums (2013–2016)
- Zin - Vocals (2013–2018)
- Rucy - Bass (2017–2019)
Discography:
Singles:
- "Blessing of the Future" (2013)
- "Last Moment" (2014)
- "Arcadia" (2014, limited single)
- "Koori no naka no Shoujo"note (2014, limited single)
- "Topaz" (2015)
- "The spirit within me" (2016)
- "Theory of Evolution" (2018)
Albums
- Classical Element (2013)
- The History of Genesis (2015)
- Tears of the Sun (2017, mini-album)
- Zeus ~Legends Never Die~ (2019)
Tropes applying to Jupiter and its members:
- Album Intro Track: Creatively titled "Introduction".
- Ambiguous Gender: Everyone except Masashi and Kuze. Teru fits this trope to a T. Hizaki speeds right past into Dude Looks Like a Lady territory.
- Badass Cape and Badass Longcoat: Masashi, Yuki, Zin, and Kuze wear these.
- The Band Minus the Face. Initially, Jupiter was just Versailles with a new name and a new vocalist.
- Color-Coded Characters: Interestingly, the members chose to avert this, as opposed to what was previously seen in Versailles.
- Costume Porn: Considering that they're a spin-off of one of the most costume porn-y bands in a scene whose entire shtick is costume porn...
- Darker and Edgier: Visually, compared to the bright and colorful aesthetics of Versailles. In terms of music, while it has a lot of similarities to Versailles, Classical Element in particular has more progressive influences and experimenting with different musical genres.
- "ALLEGORY CAVE" is this to their music in general; it's among Hizaki's harshest work, if not his harshest, due to it being rooted in Melodic Death Metal.
- Their second album, containing tracks like "Darkness", "B.L.A.S.T." and bonus track "SACRED ALTAR" is even this to Jupiter's general sound.
- Their mini-album Tears of the Sun has the track "The Crucifixion", which ups the ante with the use of blast beats.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: Hizaki and Teru. Both are/were particularly notable for this, especially Hizaki (due to his status as one of the most convincing crossdressers in Visual Kei).
- Elegant Gothic Lolita: Hizaki's current style.
- Epic Rocking: "Classical Element" is exactly 12 minutes long. The title tracks of The History of Genesis (7:55) and Zeus (11:51) also qualify.
- Harsh Vocals: "Allegory Cave" is unusual (by the band's/Versailles' standards) for consisting of primarily harsh vocals with occasional clean vocals, instead of the other way around.
- The second album has "Darkness" that is dominated by harsh vocals. "B.L.A.S.T." and bonus track "SACRED ALTAR" also are quite heavy on the harsh approach.
- Three of their mini-album's five songs have these: "Guilty as Sin", "The Crucifixion", and "We Against"
- I Am the Band: Inverted. Instead of only one man being the band, Jupiter consists of the members of Versailles plus a new vocalist. And even if they didn't have a vocalist, they could still perform as a single unit. Later double subverted, as a series of personnel changes left Teru and Hizaki the sole founding members.
- Instrumentals: "Rose Quartz" from "Topaz".
- Last-Name Basis: Kuze uses his last name as his stage name.
- Power Ballad: "Nostalgie", "forever with you", "Luminous", "THE MOON", "TOPAZ"
- Rearrange the Song: "The Spirit Within Me" and "Tears of the Sun" were re-recorded in Zeus with Kuze's vocals.
- Rock Me, Amadeus!: They're a Symphonic Metal band. The title Classical Element is specifically a reference to this (as well as to the classical elements).
- Stage Names: Everyone with the exception of Kuze goes by these.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: See Power Ballad above.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Zin is occasionally accused of being one of these for Kamijo.
- Averted on their second album; while Zin always had a somewhat clearer timbre than Kamijo, he really explores the extremes of his voice on that album.
- Title Track: Classical Element, The History of Genesis, and Tears of the Sun.
