On August 26, 2015, the GazettE, a trailblazing Japanese band, unveiled their eighth studio album, DOGMA. This album wasn’t just a standalone piece but a pivotal part of a larger, more intricate conceptual project called Project: Dark Age, which was crafted to celebrate the band’s thirteenth anniversary. The project, which was initiated in March 2015, is a complex tapestry of thirteen sub-projects, each symbolized by a logo of a circled dodecagon. This unique design choice, a circle added to a 12-sided polygon, represents the thirteenth element, reflecting the band’s journey of thirteen years and aligning with cultural symbols associated with the measurement of time. These sub-projects, initially referred to as movements, are differentiated by ordinal numbers and gradually unveiled in detail. DOGMA, the first movement of this project, serves as the linchpin, around which other textual and audiovisual elements were meticulously crafted in collaboration with 18 artists. The album is a harmonious fusion of various musical influences, combining the heaviness of SlipKnot’s Iowa, the unconventional structure of DIR EN GREY’s Dum Spiro Spero and the esoteric spirit of Marilyn Manson’s Holy Wood.
Fast forward to February 28, 2016, the GazettE staged a monumental concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, a renowned sports palace in Tokyo, known for its awe-inspiring suspended roof structure. The gymnasium, nestled in Yoyogi Park near Harajuku, with its capacity of 14,000 seats, was sold out since January, reflecting the anticipation for the final of the Dogmatic Tour 2015-2016, the fifth movement of the Dark Age project. As the clock struck 6:00 PM, the curtain fell, revealing a giant screen displaying a series of black images, a signature style of the promotional trailers of the different movements of Dark Age. These images, set to the mystic DOGMA, set the tone for the evening. The band members – REITA, RUKI, KAI, AOI, UHARA – emerged under the spotlight, dressed head-to-toe in black, aligning with the evening’s concept. The GazettE kicked off the concert by playing the opening title at the four corners of the room: only the drummer was on the main stage, the others were on elevated mini-platforms near the stands. This unconventional setup took the audience by surprise, triggering an explosion of joy. It was singer RUKI who stood in front. The song ended while the four members were swallowed up under the platforms, and then the GazettE appeared large on the screen. The group then took to the main stage of the Yoyogi National Gymnasium for the rest of the concert. The concert was nothing short of spectacular. The staging was absolutely fantastic, flamboyant, and epic, immersing the audience in an esoteric, almost satanic atmosphere: beautiful, classy, and chilling at the same time. The remarkable staging was further enhanced by fireworks, smoke machines, strobe lights, creating a visual feast for the eyes. The light show was truly surprising with its combination of colors, changing rhythm, power, and forms. The artistic team behind the Dark Age project left no stone unturned. Everything was meticulously cared for and masterfully executed. The concert reached a crescendo when the terms PAIN-GRUDGE-SORROW-FURY DELETE-HEADACHE-HANG UP-DIZZY appeared in neon green on the screen, rhythmically on the electro touches of the title from which they are drawn, VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB, sending the audience into a frenzy. The screen then displayed mesmerizing movements of red water on one of the flagship titles of DOGMA, ‘BIZARRE’, followed by slow-motion shots of blooming flowers, and various forms of water (waves, currents, drops). The first set ended with cinematic reminiscences, the dreamlike and black atmosphere of the short film scrolling on the screen, reminiscent of the masked evening scene from Eyes Wide Shut. The concert took a festive turn from the first encore to the end of the second. Suck My Beast appeared on the screen, the first notes of INSIDE BEAST were heard, and the audience was swept up in euphoria. The evening, masterfully orchestrated, concluded with a release of confetti and heartfelt thanks from each of the band members.
For those who missed the concert, it will be released on DVD. Furthermore, the GazettE will be touring Europe in June and other parts of the world. This is an opportunity not to be missed for fans of the band and lovers of innovative music.
Mandah FRÉNOT
(c) VMJ
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[The GazettE | SETLIST]
01. NIHIL
02. DOGMA
03. RAGE
04. DAWN
05. SLUDGY CULT
06. VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB
07. BIZARRE
08. DERACINE
09. GRUDGE
10. GODDESS
11. WASTELAND
12. PARALYSIS
13. LUCY
14. INCUBUS
15. UGLY
16. BLEMISH
17. DEUX
18. OMINOUS
19. UNDYING
-ENCORE-
01. INSIDE BEAST
02. VERMIN
03. COCKROACH
04. ATTITUDE
05. TOMORROW NEVER ENDS
-ENCORE-
01. Kareuta (枯詩)
02. shunsetsu no koro (春雪の頃)
03. LINDA～candydive Pinky heaven～
Photography by The GazettE prod’
