In part 2 of our conversation with Adam from FACT, he takes us through the different eras of FACT, his history with the band prior to joining them, and early days of touring internationally. We also dive into some unique differences in marketing styles for major label bands in Japan vs overseas. 

FACT will be playing their final show on October 5th at Makuhari Messe with many friends that they’ve made over the years including many amazing Japanese hardcore acts. The show is sold out as of October 1st but there is an aftershow at the Liquidroom in Ebisu with True Fight, Tive, Kandaravis, and Ichirock. 

Got questions or comments about Japanese hardcore? Shoot them our way!  [email protected]

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We welcome our first guest on the show today! Visiting from LA but hailing from the UK, Adam Graham has played guitar in the legendary post-hardcore band FACT since 2012. In part one, Adam takes us through the early 2000’s scene in Japan, his unique experience with the music industry, and eventually how he ended up as the third guitarist of FACT. 

FACT will be playing their final show on October 5th at Makuhari Messe with many friends that they’ve made over the years including many amazing Japanese hardcore acts. Tickets at: https://rock-o-rama-theend.com/

Some bands discussed on this episode:

• FC Five
• EVERLAST
• State Craft
• Naiad
• Taylor Swift

Got questions or comments about Japanese hardcore? Shoot them our way!  [email protected]

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Today we’re catching up on some great shows we went to over the summer and diving into the Summer Bash 2025 & Bloodaxe lineups. For the newly acquainted, Summer Bash is Osaka’s summer hardcore fest that usually runs a week before Bloodaxe Fest. 

Some bands + other stuff discussed today:

• Geji
• Fight It Out live at El Puente
• MUT
• Divine Right (NC Straight Edge)
• Point of View
• Furious Records

Summer Bash Tickets: https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/4354120001-P0030001

Bloodaxe Tickets: https://bloodaxefest.thebase.in/items/111186905

Got questions or comments about Japanese hardcore? Shoot them our way!  [email protected]

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Our summer vacation is almost over but, in the meantime, here's another episode! Join us as we check out the latest announcements for the summer season, discuss bands that might not be on some radars and judge Phill for his pronunciation of a particular word & hangover cures.

A few of the bands mentioned:

Tive -  https://tive.bandcamp.com/

Horsehead Nebula - https://horseheadnebulahc.bandcamp.com/

Doggy Hood$ - https://doggyhoodscult.bandcamp.com/

Facecarz - @facecarz.official

Serotonin Mist - https://serotoninmist.bandcamp.com/

Buckwheat - https://buckwheat2.bandcamp.com/

A list of livehouses, bands and other things mentioned throughout this series:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jsvI3TCDIM-kdMajLdtZzghURDjjvaNCbKz0PfNtXDc/edit?usp=sharing

Artwork by @motty59

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This week we sit down and chat about Dan’s recent trip to Bangkok for Concrete Jungle Fest! We discuss some new music from Japan's next biggest band - View From The Soyuz and upcoming shows for the summer/fall in Tokyo. 

Got questions or comments about Japanese hardcore? Shoot them our way!  [email protected]

Livehouses & future sources for hardcore in Japan:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jsvI3TCDIM-kdMajLdtZzghURDjjvaNCbKz0PfNtXDc/edit?usp=sharing

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Today we’re catching up on some recent events around town - Nine Percent news, bands are doing listening parties, and Dan is off to Bangkok. 

Got questions or comments about Japanese hardcore? Shoot them our way!  [email protected]

Huge shout out to Motty for the artwork!

Livehouses & future sources for hardcore in Japan:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jsvI3TCDIM-kdMajLdtZzghURDjjvaNCbKz0PfNtXDc/edit?usp=sharing

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CD still rules the land of Japan, but idol CD singles are king. Today we explore how the country that gave us the Walkman didn’t have major artists on Spotify until 2019. We also catch up on some recent shows today and Phill reveals his painful injury suffered at the hands of View From The Soyuz. Then go digging for some rare Japanese hardcore, punk, and more on Den6’s YouTube channel!

Dan’s favorite albums on Den6: 

• Umbrage - Demo 
• Element - 残像
• Switch Style - Self Titled
• Extinguish The Fire - No Emancipation Eternal Suffering

Talk shit to us via email! [email protected]

Live house map 

Photo by: JJ Fenwick

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What makes a good venue? How actually mosh-able are all of these live houses we go to? With well over 1000 live houses in Japan, we dive into the holy trinity of hardcore live houses and our favorites we’ve been to over the years. 

Live house map (far from complete but includes live houses discussed in this episode and more)

Talk shit to us via email! [email protected]

A reminder that if you’re coming from abroad and need a ticket to Bloodaxe Fest on May 31, email [email protected] to reserve your ticket now! 

Also on tour…

• Counterparts/Dying Wish 5/30 - 6/7
• Arkangel 5/29 - 6/1
• Home Front 5/23 - 5/31
• Torena 5/30 - 6/1

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We sit down to chat about Japan’s largest hardcore festival - Bloodaxe, and look at how this whole thing got started and dive into May’s lineup! Be sure to check out all of the bands playing + surrounding tours below ↓

If you’re coming from abroad and need a ticket, email [email protected] to reserve your ticket now! 

• Bloodaxe Fest Lineup
• Bloodaxe Spotify Playlist 

Bloodaxe Spring 2025 Bands: Stained, Stranded, ReVERZE BOYZ, C/GATE, Otus, Prompts, View from the Soyuz, Gates of Hopeless, Dying Wish, Numb, Loyal to the Grave, Arkangel, Counterparts, Kublai Khan

Also on tour…

• Counterparts/Dying Wish 5/30 - 6/7
• Arkangel 5/29 - 6/1

Other bands mentioned in this episode: The Spit, Bruo, MUT, Killout, Speakeasy

Talk shit to us via email! [email protected]

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Who is Phill with two L’s? Who is Dan? What’s a livehouse and why are we going to them? Find out all of that out and more in Episode 1 of Tales From The Livehouse. 

Talk shit to us via email! [email protected]

A few of the bands mentioned in today’s episode: 

• Tive (Osaka) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/5F6ol4wCxpsAjVRlwTQVTp?si=egjpfn5JR36557mvn7Wkjw
• Universe Last A Ward (Fukuoka) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/5jLcmnaYp2ONvUt6vwnhT3?si=ViA1aiEFRfmQBbzWXIWdQA
• Make Mention of Sight (Sendai) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/35sAwWfHECHhcEpsJNfuqa?si=AX5MvnNmT0K8Oim7vnH9CQ
• Blow Your Brains Out (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/3Ckt0Pj6fSkZPpsqyWvcUU?si=THgBMYUWSQqpGtd_eq_y9w
• View From The Soyuz (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/3F0nXEE0ikWWVavikJGkOT?si=WTa98vjGTbmTBD1wU516rA
• Numb (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/7aMlrHIyT9ndhpveBptYRT?si=e802d0f4188143f0
• Loyal To The Grave (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/7xI83OMF2TTyXHEcFMkVL3?si=ca735e00744a4b09
• Shadows (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/0VyVlaKyEJ2NFJnxxYgyt3?si=4RxwUVPbRdaX8E6Z5P6BlA
• Otus (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NgVz693TXUKsh7wFGPEPe?si=vyiSyXtWSAGwY-nzpFKB6Q
• Super Structure (Tokyo) https://open.spotify.com/artist/0S2f7NmqwDaY9k1FyhWfPR?si=i93akyAVT8GQfTiB6_XmZg

Live Show Videography

• Monji: https://www.youtube.com/@onemediumfilms/videos
• Iktr hn: https://www.youtube.com/@iktrhn
• Okisnufftapes: https://www.youtube.com/@okisnufftapes

Photographers

• @jjfenwick 
• @piikan_livephoto 
• @photo_eotwtimez 
• @came_is_kame 
• @apolotary (thanks for the pic for the episode art!) 
• @cleareyesmedia50 
• @seijiro243 
• @takumagg

Upcoming shows/tours

• @japangigs for a view of shows across Japan
• @punxolotl for a more Osaka focused account

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