is a four-piece Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Tokyo in 2013.
History
The formation of Arlequin was associated with the aspiration to be a band of a new generation of Nagoya kei, a dark subgenre of visual kei that emerged in the early nineties. Bands such as Kuroyume, Rouage and Laputa served as models.アルルカン、"次世代名古屋系 "という新たな個性 90年代以降シーンの変遷から考える, realsound.jp (April 16, 2018). Retrieved July 2, 2021. The band's name corresponds to the French term for harlequin, a clownish stage character whose origins are often located in the theatrical tradition of the Italian commedia dell'arte. According to the members' own statements, it was chosen to give the band's image a touch of the "eccentric" and "toxic."「アルルカンの全貌がついに明らかに」 , ViSULOG (2013). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
Arlequin's beginnings were crowned with quick success: Their first single Arlequin (2013) reached #7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and within a year of its formation, the band managed to sell out a concert at Shibuya Public Hall. According to various media, they achieved this feat faster than any other band in previous years.jp/news/66126 アルルカン、近年最速の結成1年で渋谷公会堂ワンマンを発表, okmusic.jp (January 19, 2015). Retrieved July 4, 2021.com/digaonline/interview/798 アルルカン、結成3年目、本気でシーンを牽引すべく制作した新曲完成。その決意とは！？, diskgarage.com (February 3, 2016). Retrieved July 4, 2021. In April 2019, a Japanese music website Real Sound stated that Arlequin and Dezert had the potential to rise and become the "two big guns" of their visual kei generation, like X Japan and Luna Sea or Dir En Grey and Pierrot before them.DEZERTとアルルカンはヴィジュアル系の "二大巨頭 "に？ 2年半ぶりの『ダブルラリアット』を見て, realsound.jp (April 5, 2019). Retrieved July 4, 2021. In addition to a variety of singles and EPs, Arlequin has released five albums to date: Near Equal (2014), Utopia (2016), Bless (2018, mini-album), The Laughing Man (2020), and Monster (2022). Best-of albums were also released in 2017 (Kachikan no Chigai wa Yuiitsu no Sukuidatta), 2021 (Pieces), and 2022 (Anthology).Arlequin Discography, jpopasia.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021. Currently, the band is signed to indie label Goemon Records.
Arlequin regularly undertook major tours of Japan and released several live DVDs. In July 2016, vocalist Aki was forced to withdraw from scheduled live performances to recover from chronic vocal cord inflammation due to overuse of his voice.Arlequin's vocalist Aki will be absent from performances due to vocal cord inflammation, jrocknews.com (June 28, 2016). Retrieved July 4, 2021. Arlequin hosted the So no Sekai event at Nanba Hatch on August 27, 2022, which also featured acts such as D'erlanger, Plastic Tree, Dezert, and Kizu. On October 24, 2022, they took part in a two-man live held by Deadman at Shinjuku Blaze.
On September 2, 2022, the band lost contact with Tamon. They decided to postpone the first three shows of their 9th anniversary tour, but the drummer got back in touch on the 5th. On January 20, 2023, Tamon reported that he was going to the hospital due to a fever and the band lost contact with him again. After he was absent from two events on the 21st and 22nd, he was fired from the band on the 23rd. In February 2023, Shūkan Bunshun revealed that Kuruto was under police investigation, accused of sexually assaulting Shohei's girlfriend in July 2021. Four months later, the case was dismissed.
Style
Arlequin's music is conventional metalcore (hard and fast guitar riffs, growling interludes), interspersed with poppy rock elements. The themes of their songs are often melancholic as well as of socio-critical and provocative character (Dame Ningen, Omit, Makka na Uso). The lyrics are mostly in Japanese, with rare English passages.
As is common for visual kei bands, Arlequin's focus lies heavily on flamboyant, polished, and frequently varied optics, presented in a variety of music videos and other visual media.【V系】「これを読んだ人は皆ライブに来るべよ～☆ミ」DEZERT・千秋×アルルカン・暁 ロング対談, ure. pia.co.jp (January 29, 2017). Retrieved July 4, 2021. According to their band name, the members almost exclusively present themselves in heavy makeup and colorful, clownish costumes, with vocalist Aki miming the role of a crying clown. An important visual leitmotif, the circus, has also been used on a larger scale in stage decorations at live shows.Arlequin recaps first show in 8 months on circus-themed stage, jrocknews.com (November 21, 2020). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
Members Aki (暁) - vocals (2013–present) Kuruto (來堵) - guitar (2013–present) Nao (奈緒) - guitar (2013–present) Shohei (祥平) - bass (2013–present)
Past members Tamon (堕門) - drums (2013–2023)
Discography Source:
Albums and mini-albums 2014 – Near Equal 2016 – Utopia 2018 – Bless 2020 – The Laughing Man 2022 – Monster
Best-of albums
2017 – Kachikan no Chigai wa Yuiitsu no Sukuidatta (価値観の違いは唯一の救いだった ) 2021 – Pieces 2022 – Anthology
Singles and EPs
2013 – Arlequin 2014 – 似非林檎-eseringo- 2014 – Eclipse 2014 – Stella (ステラ) 2014 – Hakaana (墓穴) 2014 – Ichijiku (無花果) 2015 – Dilemma (ジレンマ) 2015 – All I Need 2015 – Douke no Hana (道化ノ華) 2015 – Qualia (クオリア) 2016 – Paranoia 2016 – Karma (カルマ) 2017 – Kageboushi (影法師) 2017 – Makka na Uso (真っ赤な嘘) 2017 – Puzzle 2018 – Exist 2019 – Razzle-dazzle（ラズルダズル） 2019 – Anima 2020 – Ikari (怒り) 2020 – Veludo (ビロード) 2021 – Sekai no Owari to Yoake Mae (世界の終わりと夜明け前) / Siren (サイレン) 2022 – Monster 2022 – Libra 2022 – Pictures 2022 – Chaosdive
References
External links Official website of Arlequin (Japanese)