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Mary's Blood

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Mary's Blood
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2009–2022 (hiatus)
Labels
MembersEye
Mari
Saki
Rio
Past membersChiba
Niboshi
Eri
WebsiteOfficial site

Mary's Blood (Japanese: メアリーズブラッド, Hepburn: Mearīzu Buraddo) was a Japanese all-female heavy metal band from Tokyo, formed in 2009 by four former members of Destrose. It consisted of vocalist Eye, drummer Mari, guitarist Saki and bassist Rio since 2012. After releasing three EPs as an independent band, they signed to Nippon Columbia for their first album, Countdown to Evolution (2014). Mary's Blood then switched to Victor Entertainment for the release of Bloody Palace (2015) and Fate (2016). They signed to Tokuma Japan Communications in 2018 and released three further studio albums, including their highest-charting, Confessions (2019). Mary's Blood began an indefinite hiatus on April 9, 2022.

History

2009–2017: Formation and major label debut

After the breakup of Destrose on New Year's Eve 2008, vocalist Eye, guitarist Eri, bassist Niboshi (formerly known as "Kayo"), and drummer Mari later regrouped and recruited guitarist Chiba to form Mary's Blood in December 2009.[1][2] They are named after the "Bloody Mary" cocktail and its namesake, Queen Mary I of England.[3][4] Although the band's name has always been written in English the same way, its members did not pronounce the "s" in Japanese until making their major label debut.[5] They released their debut single "Save the Queen" on December 20.[3] Their first EP, 0-Zero, was published on June 8, 2011.[3] The single "Last Game" followed on November 28 and placed on Oricon's main chart despite being an independent band. In 2012, Chiba, Niboshi and Eri all left Mary's Blood in quick succession.[1] Another Destrose alumni, Saki, was then recruited as guitarist,[1] and the lineup of Eye, Mari, Saki and bassist Rio was finalized in September.

Mary's Blood performed their first international show in Houston, Texas at Anime Matsuri 2013. Their third EP, Azure, was released on July 10, 2013 and reached number 17 on the Oricon indies chart. The band signed with major record label Nippon Columbia and released their first album Countdown to Evolution on August 20, 2014.[6] Its song "Marionette" was the ending theme of the TV Kanagawa show Mutoma.[7] Readers of heavy metal magazine Burrn! voted Mary's Blood second place in its best newcomer category, "Marionette" seventh in the music category, and Countdown to Evolution 15th in the album category.[8] The band also sold out their first solo tour, Tour Act 1: Countdown to Evolution.[9] They were the opening act for Marty Friedman on September 25, 2014, and for Secret Sphere and Ego Fall on January 12, 2015.[7][9] Mary's Blood performed at 2015's Naon no Yaon festival, a rock festival held by Show-Ya that features only female bands.[10] They also opened for DragonForce in Hong Kong on August 30, 2015.[11] The band switched labels to Victor Entertainment, released their second album Bloody Palace on October 7, and began the Invasion of Queen tour on October 17, 2015.[12]

Mary's Blood hosted the Grand Cross Tour 2016, where they performed with a different act at each concert. On April 16 they played with thrash metal band Outrage, singer Nanase Aikawa joined them the following day, and Show-Ya frontwoman Keiko Terada performed with them on May 3.[13] They released their third album Fate on October 26, 2016. It features collaborations with Seikima-II guitarist Luke Takamura, Show-Ya guitarist Miki "Sun-go" Igarashi, Kuroyume bassist Hitoki, and producer Yuyoyuppe.[14][15][16] The band supported it with the Change the Fate tour that began on October 28,[16] and ended on January 22, 2017 with Sun-go and Hitoki as guests.[17] British record label JPU Records released Bloody Palace and Fate in Europe on August 18, 2017,[18] while Fate (August 29, 2017) and Bloody Palace (October 17, 2017) were released in North America by Sliptrick Records.

2018–2022: Tokuma Japan and hiatus

After switching labels to Tokuma Japan Communications, Mary's Blood released their fourth album Revenant on April 18, 2018.[19] Their next album Confessions was released in Japan on June 12, 2019, and became their highest-charting to date.[20] It was released in Europe on October 4. That same day, Mary's Blood played their first show in Europe as the headliner of Metal Matsuri in London at the O2 Academy Islington.[20][21] The band's Conceptual Tour was scheduled to take place in May 2020, but was postponed until August and September due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[22] Re>Animator, a cover album of heavy metal versions of anime theme songs, was released on August 26, 2020. It features songs such as "Forever Love", "Magia", "Driver's High" and "Pegasus Fantasy".[23] The last is sung as a duet with its original singer NoB, who has been Eye's vocal coach for the last 10 years.[24]

Mary's Blood played their last concert before the hiatus at Toyosu Pit on April 9, 2022.

In 2021, the band held the Kōtetsu Densetsu tour which featured special guests; Kentaro (ex-Gargoyle) on August 28, Masatoshi Ono on September 23, and Shingo☆ (Sex Machineguns) on October 23.[25] Mary's Blood released their self-titled sixth studio album on September 29, 2021.[26] Produced by Yorimasa Hisatake (producer of Galneryus), the band members described it as a return to their heavy metal origins.[27] It was supported by the three-date Blow Up Our Fire Tour from November 13 to December 11.[25]

On December 16, Mary's Blood announced that they would be going on indefinite hiatus in April 2022. The band apologized for the sudden announcement and explained that they decided to have a "recharging period" for the members to grow further and said that when they restart activities, they hope to deliver the music of Mary's Blood in a "more evolved form."[28] Following two concerts titled The Final Day in Osaka on March 23 and Nagoya on March 24, the indefinite hiatus began after an April 9, 2022 concert at Tokyo's Toyosu Pit titled Mary's Blood The Final Day ~Countdown to Evolution~.[28][29] The final concert was recorded and released on home video on July 30.[30]

Following the hiatus, Saki continues to play in the band Nemophila (formed in 2019), while Mari has directed her focus to making drumming videos for her YouTube channel.[31] Rio and Eye both began solo careers, the former under the name "Yako Ikuta" (生田弥子), with Mari following suit in 2023.[32][33][34]

Musical style and songwriting

Saki described Mary's Blood as a straight heavy metal band, but because they have many different styles of songs, she feels free to make whatever sounds she wants with them.[35] From the beginning of the group, Mari and Eye have consciously aimed to have vocal melodies that are catchy and easy for Japanese people to listen to.[5] Saki stated that while their music is also consumed internationally, the band mainly thinks about Japanese listeners, and said it is hard to find a balance between the pop things and the heavy metal things as a member.[36] The guitarist explained that Eye and Rio love visual kei music, which sometimes makes it difficult for her to find the tones to match the vocals in songs that they compose.[35] Both Eye and Rio wanted to be in bands because of L'Arc~en~Ciel, Mari started playing music because of X Japan, and Saki was inspired to become a musician by Seikima-II.[37][38]

Saki is the principal composer of music in the band.

Guitarist Eri was the main composer of songs in the initial lineup of Mary's Blood.[3] Since joining in 2012, guitarist Saki has taken over this role.[1] When writing for the band, she composes practically everything in the song, except for some drum fills that Mari comes up with.[35] When vocalist Eye composes songs, she does so on piano because she can not play guitar.[14] Rio has stated that the other members write the "so-called good songs," so the bassist believes she is responsible for bringing a different element via her own compositions.[39] For example, "High 5" came from her love of punk rock, while "Hello" was inspired by "Dancing Queen".[40][41] Eye is the main lyricist, and she writes them after receiving the melody from whoever wrote the song.[24] The singer said that while there are times she would like to use English because it sounds cool, Japanese words have multiple meanings and sometimes conveying meaning is more important.[5] Because she usually writes the lyrics, Eye also normally suggests the track order of albums based on their stories.[42]

Mary's Blood's second and third EPs, Scarlet and Azure, had the themes "red" and "blue" respectively.[43] Mari described their debut album Countdown to Evolution as emphasizing "heaviness and speed," while Saki said they intended it to be their "most intense and technical" record up to that point.[44] Eye believes that the various guest musicians and arrangers on Fate provided a range of different sounds for the album. For example, Yuyoyuppe's composition "Angel's Ladder" marks the first time Saki and Rio had ever played a seven-string guitar and five-string bass respectively.[14] Eye said the recording environment for Revenant was totally different from those of their previous three albums, and explained its title was meant to mean the band was "reborn and starting over" while retaining their good qualities. Saki believes the album has a variety of different songs, explaining that for "World's End" she went with a typical modern metal sound and tone, but used an old school sound for "On the Rocks".[45] Their next album, Confessions, is a concept album centered on the theme of "darkness." Because the band believes there are many different kinds of darkness, some songs sound cheerful on the surface, but their content is "quite depressing."[46] After working with a belly dancer on their tour for Revenant, the Middle Eastern music that was used inspired "Laylah".[40] Mary's Blood's sixth album is self-titled and has the concept of "heavy metal" with the intention of returning to their roots. Because of the theme, they asked Yorimasa Hisatake (known for his work with Galneryus and Animetal) to produce.[47]

Yashiro supported Mary's Blood at live performances as second guitarist since 2014.[48] Saki explained that continuously employing the same support guitarist is more efficient than using different ones as it cuts down on the need for rehearsals. She also said that Yashiro does not join as a full member due to her schedule with many different projects, while Yashiro herself stated she does not join in order to keep "the balance" between Mary's Blood's four members.[40]

Members

Current members

  • Eye – vocals (2009–2022)
  • Mari – drums, bandleader (2009–2022)
  • Saki – guitar, backing vocals (2012–2022)
  • Rio – bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–2022)

Former members

  • Chiba – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2012)
  • Niboshi – bass, backing vocals (2009–2012)
  • Eri – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2012)

Support member

  • Yashiro – guitar, backing vocals (2014–2022)[48]

Discography

Mary's Blood discography
Studio albums6
EPs3
Compilation albums1
Singles2
Video albums8
Cover1

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[49] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[50] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[51]
Countdown to Evolution 26 — 23
Bloody Palace 25 38 25
Fate
  • Released: October 26, 2016
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
 23 33 21
Revenant 21 34 18
Confessions
  • Released: June 12, 2019
  • Label: Tokuma Japan Communications
 19 29 18
Mary's Blood
  • Released: September 29, 2021
  • Label: Tokuma Japan Communications
 23 23 22
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

EPs

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[49]
0-Zero
  • Released: June 8, 2011
  • Label: R.J Records
 —
Scarlet
  • Released: November 21, 2012
  • Label: Naked Sound
 —
Azure
  • Released: July 10, 2013
  • Label: Naked Sound
 195
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Cover albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[49] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[50] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[51]
Re>Animator
  • Released: August 26, 2020
  • Label: Tokuma Japan Communications
 34 56 37

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[49] 		JPN
Billboard
Hot
[50] 		JPN
Billboard
Top
[51]
Queen's Legacy
  • Released: April 6, 2022
  • Label: Tokuma Japan Communications
 37 54 32

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[52]
"Save the Queen"
  • Released: December 20, 2009
  • Label: Ander Luce
 2009 —
"Last Game"
  • Released: November 28, 2011
  • Label: R.J Records
 2011 198
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Video albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
DVDs
[53] 		JPN
Oricon
Blu-rays
[54]
My Last Game
  • Released: March 2012
 — —
Scarlet ~ 2012 Live at O-West
  • Released: April 10, 2013
 — —
Live at Blaze ~ Invasion of Queen Tour 2015-2016 Final
  • Released: April 13, 2016
 14 —
Live at Liquid Room ~Change the Fate Tour 2016-2017~
  • Released: May 10, 2017
 35 22
Live at Intercity Hall ~Flag of the Queendom~
  • Released: May 23, 2018
 41 41
Live at Blitz ~Make the New World 2018~
  • Released: October 24, 2018
 54 70
Mary's Blood 10th Anniversary Box
  • Released: February 14, 2020
 — —
The Final Day ~Countdown to Evolution~ 2022 at Toyosu Pit
  • Released: July 30, 2022
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The DESTROSE Connection ~The Prologue~". jame-world.com. March 16, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  2. ^ "ガールズメタルバンド「Mary's Blood」20日デビュー". Sanspo (in Japanese). August 11, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "劇的！Mary's Blood 遂に登場！". HMV Japan (in Japanese). May 16, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "【インタビュー】Mary's Blood、重みを増したバンドのいまをそのままパッケージできたアルバム『Bloody Palace』". Barks.jp (in Japanese). October 13, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Mary's Blood 激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). August 14, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Mary's Blood、メジャー1stアルバムリリース決定". Barks.jp (in Japanese). April 28, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Mary's Blood、マーティ・フリードマンのライブオープニングアクトに". Barks.jp (in Japanese). August 14, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  8. ^ "Mary's Bloodが本格始動。今秋アルバムリリース". Barks.jp (in Japanese). June 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Mary's Blood、Secret Sphereの来日公演のオープニングアクトに決定！". OK Music (in Japanese). December 15, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "「NAONのYAON」に杏子、PERSONZのJILL、中川翔子が追加". Natalie (in Japanese). July 31, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  11. ^ "DRAGONFORCEが絶賛するガールズ・メタル・バンドMary's Blood、へヴィネスを増し劇的進化した最新アルバムを発表". Barks.jp (in Japanese). September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  12. ^ "Mary's Blood、2ndアルバム＆東名阪ツアーはともに10月". Barks.jp (in Japanese). August 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  13. ^ "Mary's Bloodの東名阪ツアーにOUTRAGE、相川七瀬、寺田恵子". Barks.jp (in Japanese). March 8, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c "Mary's Blood激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). October 21, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  15. ^ "Mary's BloodのニューALに、ルーク篁や五十嵐☆sun-go☆美貴が参加。ゆよゆっぺ提供曲も。". Barks.jp (in Japanese). September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "New Album from Mary's Blood". jame-world.com. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  17. ^ "Mary's Bloodのライブ映像作品にsun-go、人時との共演も". Natalie (in Japanese). March 15, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  18. ^ "Mary's Blood to Release Special Edition of Latest Album in Europe". jame-world.com. July 7, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  19. ^ "Mary's Blood、徳間移籍第1弾アルバム発売＆東名阪ツアー開催決定". Barks.jp (in Japanese). February 23, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Mary's Blood to Release "CONFESSiONS" Overseas". jame-world.com. August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  21. ^ "J-metal fans rejoice! The first ever all-Japanese metal festival outside of Japan is coming to London!". Metal Hammer. August 30, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mary's Blood、アニソン・カバー・アルバム『Re>Animator』8/26リリース決定！". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  23. ^ "Mary's Blood、アニソンカバーアルバムをリリース". Barks.jp (in Japanese). July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Mary's Blood – Interview (2020)". UniJolt. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Mary's Blood、ニュー・アルバム『Mary's Blood』リリース記念し東名阪ツアー"Blow Up Our Fire TOUR"開催決定！". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). August 30, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "New Album from Mary's Blood". jame-world.com. July 6, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  27. ^ "【インタビュー】Mary's Blood、セルフタイトルの6thアルバム完成「原点回帰、メタルといったキーワードが自由度を拡げた」". Barks.jp (in Japanese). September 29, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Mary's Bloodが活動休止を発表". Barks.jp (in Japanese). December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "4月に活動休止前ラスト・ライヴを行なうMary's Bloodが3月に大阪・名古屋でもスペシャル公演を実施！". Burrn! (in Japanese). February 21, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  30. ^ "Mary's Blood、活動休止前ラスト・ワンマン"The Final Day ～Countdown to Evolution～"のライヴDVD＆Blu-rayが7/30リリース決定！". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). May 30, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  31. ^ "Interview: MARI of Mary's Blood looks back before hiatus". JRock News. March 26, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  32. ^ "Debut Single from Yako Ikuta". jame-world.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  33. ^ "Mary's Blood's EYE Announces Debut Solo Album Details". jame-world.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  34. ^ "Debut Solo Album from MARI". jame-world.com. December 28, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  35. ^ a b c "Interview Saki: "Free to try what I want"". Kevy Metal. November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  36. ^ "Amahiru's Saki: "It was so fun to work with Frédéric Leclercq and we both had a lot of ideas, so we decided to make Amahiru its own project"". Guitar World. February 25, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  37. ^ "Mary's Blood 激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). September 4, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Mary's Bloodが初のアニソンカバーアルバムをリリース！EYE(Vo)＆MARI(Dr)にインタビュー！". Disk Garage (in Japanese). August 24, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  39. ^ "Mary's Blood 激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). April 17, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  40. ^ a b c "Interview with Mary's Blood". jame-world.com. December 22, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  41. ^ "Mary's Blood 激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). June 11, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  42. ^ "Mary's Blood 激ロック インタビュー". gekirock.com (in Japanese). September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  43. ^ "再登場 Mary's Blood / Saki！". HMV Japan (in Japanese). June 27, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  44. ^ "【Mary's Blood】鮮烈な飛躍的進化が導く新たな革命". OK Music (in Japanese). August 15, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  45. ^ "【Mary's Blood インタビュー】自分たちの良さは残しつつ生まれ変わって再スタートするような気持ち". OK Music (in Japanese). April 18, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  46. ^ "【Mary's Blood インタビュー】楽曲のクオリティーも演奏技術もより高みを極めたハイパーな作品". OK Music (in Japanese). June 11, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  47. ^ "【Mary's Blood インタビュー】曲のキャラクターが全部違うから、どれも主人公になり得る". OK Music (in Japanese). September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  48. ^ a b "YASHIRO - Astraia". jame-world.com. August 4, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  49. ^ a b c d "Mary's Bloodのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  50. ^ a b c Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart
  51. ^ a b c Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums chart
  52. ^ "Mary's Bloodのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  53. ^ "Mary's BloodのDVD売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  54. ^ "Mary's BloodのBlu-ray売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 31, 2019.
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