, abbreviated AFOC or , is a Japanese rock band formed in Tokyo in 2006 by vocalist and guitarist Ryosuke Sasaki and drummer Kazutaka Watanabe. Since 2018, the lineup has consisted of co-founders Sasaki and Watanabe, bassist Hisayo, and guitarist Tetsu Aoki. The band's sound mixes blues and rock and roll, and is easily identified by Sasaki's powerful vocals.
History A Flood of Circle was formed in Tokyo in 2006 with a lineup of vocalist and guitarist Ryosuke Sasaki, drummer Kazutaka Watanabe, guitarist Masashi Okaniwa, and bassist Yasutaka Ishii. The following year, they released their self-titled first mini-album on July 11. The band released the single "Buffalo Dance/Thunderbolt" only at Tower Records stores on March 4, 2009. They also contributed "Electric Stone" to the omnibus album Under Construction ~Rock'n'Roll Revival from Tokyo!!!~, which was released on the same day. On April 22, they made their major label debut on Speedstar Records with their first full-length album, Buffalo Soul produced by Junji Ishiwatari. In July, Okaniwa disappeared before the final concert of the band's nationwide tour. Although they were eventually able to confirm he was safe, the other members were unable to contact him for over three months and therefore announced his departure from A Flood of Circle on October 14. They released Paradox Parade, their second album, on November 18. It features guest guitarists Dai Okumura of Wash?, Eijun Suganami of The Back Horn, Takeo Noriaki of FoZZtone, and Takuro Yasutaka of Tsubakiya Quartette.
2010 saw the release of their first proper single "Human License" on July 21, and the release of their third album Zoomanity on September 15. On December 14, it was revealed that Ishii had informed the band that he wanted to leave on October 14 due to chronic tendonitis, which left him unable to play to his own satisfaction. The message also announced his replacement, female bassist Hisayo of the Tokyo Pinsalocks. The band's fourth album, Love is Like a Rock'n'Roll, was released on November 23, 2011. A Flood of Circle switched to Imperial Records on September 20, 2012, and released the mini-album Fuck Forever on December 5.
Former Rootless guitarist Duran joined the band in September 2014, and they released the album Golden Time on November 5. However, he left the group less than a year later on March 31, 2015. In an interview conducted with Natalie to explain the situation, Sasaki and Duran revealed it was due to the latter's commitments to his other band, Made in Asia, conflicting with those of Flood. In February 2016, A Flood of Circle traveled to the United Kingdom to record, and also performed their first three overseas concerts in London, where Sasaki lived as a child. They released their first compilation album, The Blue, on February 24. In June, the band held open auditions for a new guitarist. Tetsu Aoki was selected from the audition as a support member in September 2016, and the album New Tribe was released on January 18, 2017. Aoki became an official member of A Flood of Circle on February 17, 2018. Three days later, the band released their self-titled eighth studio album.
In 2019, A Flood of Circle released the album Center of the Earth on March 6, and the mini-album Heart on November 6. The former's single, "The Key", was used as the ending theme song for the Japanese anime adaptation of the Chinese manhua Ultramarine Magmell. The band's tenth album, 2020, was released on October 21, 2020.
Members
Current members – vocals, guitar (2006–present) – drums (2006–present) Hisayo – bass (2010–present) – guitar (2018–present; support member since 2016)
Former members – guitar (2006–2009) – bass (2006–2010) Duran – guitar (2014–2015)
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon JPNBillboardHotPeak chart positions for studio albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart: New Tribe: A Flood of Circle: Center of the Earth: 2020: Densetsu no Yoru o Kimi to: Hana Furu Sora ni Fumetsu no Uta o: Wild Bunny Blues: JPNBillboardTopPeak chart positions for studio albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums Sales chart: Buffalo Soul: Paradox Parade: Zoomanity: Love is Like a Rock'n'Roll: I'm Free: Golden Time: New Tribe: A Flood of Circle: Center of the Earth: 2020: Densetsu no Yoru o Kimi to: Hana Furu Sora ni Fumetsu no Uta o: Wild Bunny Blues: Yozora ni Kakaru Niji: Buffalo Soul Released: April 22, 2009 Label: Speedstar 103 — 86 Paradox Parade Released: November 18, 2009 Label: Speedstar 81 — 71 Zoomanity Released: September 15, 2010 Label: Speedstar 62 — 62 Love is Like a Rock'n'Roll Released: November 23, 2011 Label: Speedstar 41 — 39 I'm Free Released: July 17, 2013 Label: Imperial 35 — 31 Golden Time Released: November 5, 2014 Label: Imperial 19 — 31 New Tribe Released: January 18, 2017 Label: Imperial 37 52 30 A Flood of Circle Released: February 21, 2018 Label: Imperial 16 32 16 Center of the Earth Released: March 6, 2019 Label: Imperial 46 63 36 2020 Released: October 21, 2020 Label: Imperial 41 43 38 Densetsu no Yoru o Kimi to Released: December 22, 2021 Label: Imperial 72 73 60 Hana Furu Sora ni Fumetsu no Uta o Released: February 15, 2023 Label: Imperial 35 31 29 Wild Bunny Blues / No Usagi no Blues Released: November 6, 2024 Label: Imperial 38 40 32 Yozora ni Kakaru Niji Released: November 6, 2025 Label: Imperial 38 — 36 "—" denotes a recording released before the creation of the Hot Albums chart, or that did not chart.
Mini-albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon JPNBillboardHotPeak chart positions for mini-albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart: Best Ride: Heart: Candle Songs: JPNBillboardTopPeak chart positions for mini-albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums Sales chart: Best Ride: Heart: Candle Songs: A Flood of Circle Released: July 11, 2007 Label: Crux — — — Doromizu no Melody Released: May 14, 2008 Label: Crux — — — Fuck Forever Released: December 5, 2012 Label: Imperial 61 — — Best Ride Released: June 17, 2015 Label: Imperial 28 53 33 Heart Released: November 6, 2019 Label: Imperial 45 66 37 Candle Songs Released: March 13, 2024 Label: Imperial 35 34 26 "—" denotes a recording released before the creation of the Billboard chart, or that did not chart.
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon JPNBillboardHot JPNBillboardTop Before the Flood Three Released: December 3, 2008 Label: Crux — — — Live! for All the Young Rock'n'Rollers Released: October 5, 2013 Label: Tsutaya — — — "—" denotes a recording released before the creation of the Hot albums chart, or that did not chart.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon JPNBillboardHotPeak chart positions for compilation albums on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart: The Blue: JPNBillboardTopPeak chart positions for compilation albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums Sales chart: The Blue: Kakumei Misui no Chō ga Miru Yume: The Blue Released: February 24, 2016 Label: Imperial 30 46 25 Kakumei Misui no Chō ga Miru Yume Released: August 5, 2026 Label: Imperial 19 — 19 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
References
External links
Official page at Imperial Records