| Zeni Geva | |
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KK Null live in 2009 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Heavy metal, progressive rock |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | NUX Organization Skin Graft Records Alternative Tentacles Neurot Recordings |
| Associated acts | Acid Mothers Temple Steve Albini The Boredoms Hanatarashi Ruins |
| Website | Official KK Null webpage |
| Members | |
| KK Null Mitsuru Tabata Tatsuya Yoshida |
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| Past members | |
| Eito Noro Masataka Fujikake Ikuo Taketani Yasuko Blake Fleming Bunsho Nishikawa Fumiyoshi Suzuki Elle |
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Zeni Geva is a Japanese heavy metal group led by singer and guitarist KK. Null, together with guitarist Mitsuru Tabata and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida.[1] Formed in Tokyo in 1987, the group's name translates roughly as "money violence" ("Zeni" is an old Japanese term for money, and "Geva" comes from the German "Gewalt," meaning "violence").
Though broadly classified as metal, Zeni Geva's music can be diverse and experimental, incorporating elements ranging from death metal and hardcore punk[2] to math rock, psychedelic, and noise rock.[3] Their music is often technically unorthodox and demanding, and has earned progressive rock comparisons: critic Patrick Kennedy describes their 1993 album Desire for Agony as resembling "Motörhead meets King Crimson."[4]
The Chicago-based Skin Graft Records has released much of the band's music in North America, and the band released several albums with the American Alternative Tentacles label.
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Following several years in the Japanese noise rock scene that included collaborations with Merzbow and Hanatarashi, experimental noise rock guitarist and electronic programmer KK Null formed Zeni Geva in 1987 with guitarist Fumiyoshi Suzuki (also known as "NP"), vocalist Elle, and drummer Ikuo Taketani of the Japanese experimental groups The Boredoms and Hanatarashi. This same year, the group released its debut record, How to Kill, on Null's own NUX Organization label. With bassist Bunsho Nishikawa replacing Elle, they released the Vast Impotenz cassette early the following year.
Following the departure of Suzuki and Nishikawa, Null and Taketani were ultimately joined by permanent guitarist Mitsuru Tabata (also of The Boredoms) in 1988, and the group released the album Maximum Love and Fuck. Tatsuya Yoshida of the progressive rock band Ruins also joined later this year, replacing Taketani. They released the Maximum Money Monster album in 1990, packaging the Maximum Love and Fuck alongside of additional tracks featuring Yoshida on drums.
Yoshida left in 1990 and continued his prolific and lauded career with Ruins and in other projects. He was briefly replaced by drummer Yasuko, but Zeni Geva found a longer standing replacement in Eito Noro. This lineup began extensive world tours, catching the eye of such noteworthy rock figures as Steve Albini, who produced their 1991 album Total Castration, and Jello Biafra, who signed them to his Alternative Tentacles record label. They next released 1992's Live in Amerika and the collaborative All Right You Little Bastards live album with Albini performing with the band. The Albini-produced Desire for Agony marked Zeni Geva's Alternative Tentacles debut, and was followed by 1995's Freedom Bondage.
Noro left the band in 1996, and the band toured with temporary replacement Blake Fleming, an American musician. Masataka Fujikake became their next permanent drummer shortly thereafter, which was followed by further extensive touring. Despite extensive activity, the band did not release another studio album until 2001, six years after Freedom Bondage. The new record, 10,000 Light Years, was released on the Neurot Recordings label, and marked their most experimental effort to date. Null had been making increasing use of electronic instruments of his own design, and his "nulltron" device features prominently on 10,000 Light Years. A live album, Last Nanosecond - Live in Geneva 2002, followed in 2004.
The band was largely inactive for the next several years, as their members pursued other projects. Null remained prolific via solo and collaborative releases, while Tabata worked with many solo and group projects, including Acid Mothers Temple. Maximum Money Monster was remastered and re-released with bonus tracks in 2007.
In 2009, it was announced that Tatsuya Yoshida had rejoined, and they returned to touring. The live album Alive and Rising, recorded in September 2009 and released in February 2010, captures a live performance from this powerful incarnation of Zeni Geva.
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