Zeni Geva

Among Japan’s more eccentric and intriguing great music exports from the past due ’80s and ’90s, self-professed “progressive hardcore trio” Zeni Geva (their name derives from a historical Japanese term for “cash” along with a corruption from the German “gewalt,” or assault) forcibly fused components of rock, hardcore, industrial music, sound rock, as well as the avant-garde, gaining zero small underground identification along the way. Having already produced a name for himself via many experimental clothes (Absolut Null Punkt, YBO2) and collaborations with Merzbow and Null previously in the 10 years, vocalist, guitarist, and programmer K.K. Null (true name Kazuyuki Kishino) founded Zeni Geva in 1987, contacting guitarist Fumiyoshi Suzuki and drummer Ikuo Taketani to become listed on him on debut record How to Wipe out, released on Null’s very own NUX Company label. Said record also highlighted a short-lived vocalist called Elle who was simply changed by bassist Bunsho Nishikawa arrive 1988’s amusingly called Vast Impotenz cassette EP, but he as well would be eliminated by the discharge of 1990’s watershed Optimum Cash Monster LP, which brought commercial self-discipline to Zeni Geva’s savage sonic outbursts while presenting brand-new guitarist Mitsuru Tabata (ex-Boredoms) and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, briefly lent from Ruins. Finally, Zeni Geva discovered stability using the recruitment of drummer Eito Noro, with it emerged greater worldwide touring and achievement, you start with Steve Albini-produced albums like Total Castration (1991), Reside in Amerika (1992), Desire to have Agony (1993), Independence Bondage (1995), among others. These initiatives reined in a few from the band’s previous flair for chaos using a heavier concentrate on sound rock, and the ultimate pair premiered by Jello Biafra’s Choice Tentacles label, while 1993’s FINE, You Small Bastards! constituted an effective Albini/Zeni Geva cooperation. When Noro made a decision to keep the music group in 1996, Zeni Geva continued touring irregularly (with American percussionist Blake Fleming moving in to the breach), but documenting activities found a standstill as Null more and more immersed himself within a string of single and collaborative produces. Another Zeni Geva record, 10,000 Light Years (offering Null, Tabata, and drummer Masataka Fujikake), didn’t emerge until 2001 through Neurot Recordings, and its own highly experimental character clearly shown Null’s latest avant sound exploits. The record also became a one-off, as Null resumed his prolific single endeavors quickly thereafter and Tabata also continued to be busy, mainly with Acid Moms Temple. The Zeni Geva engine had not been refueled once again until 2009, when onetime drummer Yoshida rejoined Null and Tabata for the spate of touring that yielded 2010’s Alive and Increasing, but it continues to be to be observed whether you will see more music group activity in the foreseeable future.