The Underneath
(formerly known as Transtic Nerve
) is a Japanese rock band formed in 1996 and currently signed to Stirring Records in Japan and JShock in the United States. As of 2008, the band has released four full-length records as Transtic Nerve, and one full-length record as The Underneath. The groups lineup has remained consistent since 1996. As Transtic Nerve, the band played more straightforward rock styled music, but shifted to a heavier and darker style upon transforming to The Underneath.
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THE UNDERNEATH TICKETS
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History
Transtic Nerve was formed in November 1996 with the lineup of Tal on
guitar, Ryo on
bass guitar and Masaki on
drums. The band later recruited Taka as a
vocalist and Masato, another guitarist. The following August, Transtic Nerve released their debut album,
Transtic Vision
.
In 1998, the band was noticed by famed guitarist
Hideto Matsumoto (formerly of
X Japan) and signed to his label, Lemoned Label.The next year, Transtic Nerve released their first single, "Shindo", and their first major-label album,
Cell Flash
on Unlimited Records in July 1999.
In 2000, the band released two more singles, "Into Yourself" and "Binetsu", both accompanied by lengthy tours enduring most of the year. After touring, the band released another single, "Manazahi no Mukou e", followed by an album,
Recall
, in March 2001.After touring in support of
Recall
, the band released another single, "Manatsu no Yoru no Highway Star" in late 2001. Between 2002 and 2004, the band saw very few releases, with only one original studio album,
Raise a Flag
in 2004. Following their 2004 release, the band transitioned into a new style with more
metal influence, and in 2005 Transtic Nerve released an
EP,
Hole in the Wall
, demonstrating the new direction.
After a long pause in activity, Transtic Nerve resurfaced in 2007 with the announcement of a new band identity, The Underneath. The band saw no lineup change, but a deep stylistic change, moving to a heavier and darker style of music. The band's debut would be the
Taste of Chaos Tour 2008 across the
United States, being one of the three Japanese rock bands featured on the years' lineup (the others being
D'espairsRay and
Mucc)
[1]. Without any releases or concerts in their home country, the band performed a lengthy American tour. The Underneath eventually announced their first album,
Moon Flower
, to be released in March 2008, first in the United States on the newly formed JShock label, partly founded by
Yoshiki Hayashi of
X Japan.
After the completion of the Taste of Chaos tour, the band performed for the first time in
Japan at the Hide Memorial Summit. There, they played on the second day of the festival, alongside fellow Taste of Chaos bands D'espairsRay and Mucc, and other famous Japanese bands including
X Japan,
Luna Sea and
Dir en grey. The band has announced that their album will be released in Japan, but no date has yet been set. The Underneath's first headlining performance in Japan took place on
13 June 2008 at Shibuya O-West.
The band played along with fellow Japanese groups
MarBell and
DaizyStripper at
Otakon 2008, on
10 August 2008 in Baltimore, MD.
Members
- Taka – vocals
- Tal – guitar
- Masato – guitar
- Ryo – bass guitar
- Masaki – drums
Discography
Transtic Nerve
;Albums
- Shell
(1998) – Limited/Sonic
- Cell Flash
(1999) – Unlimited/Massive
- Recall
(2001) – Unlimited/Massive
- Raise a Flag
(2004) – Master Tune
;Extended plays
- Metabolism
– Master Tune
- Metabolism #2
(2002) – Master Tune
- The Moment of Metabolism
(2002) – Master Tune
- Metabolism #3
(2003) – Master Tune
- Hole in the Wall
(2005) – Master Tune
;Singles
- "Shindou" (1999)
- "Wake Up Your Mind's "Jesus" (1999)
- "Overhead Run" (1999)
- "Into Yourself" (2000)
- "Binetsu" (2000)
- "Manazashi no Mukou e" (2001)
- "Manatsu no Yoru no Highway Star" (2001)
The Underneath
;Albums
- Moon Flower
(2008) – JShock
References
- ''J!-ENT Taste of Chaos J-Rock Interview'' May 6th, 2008, by Wynne Ip, retrieved May 6, 2008