Church of Misery
Bassist Tatsu Mikami has been the sole constant member in their line-up. History. Beginnings and line-up changes (1995–2008). Church of Misery formed in 1995 with a lineup of Mikami, vocalist Kazuhiro Asaeda, guitarist Tomohiro Nishimura and drummer Hideki Shimizu. This line-up recorded the "Vol. 1" album, released in 1997 by Doom Records without the band's consent (it was later officially reissued in 2007 by Japan's Leaf Hound Records). In 1996, vocalist Nobukazu Chow replaced Asaeda. The band's first EP, "Taste the Pain", was released in 1998 by Bad Acid Records, followed  by the "Murder Company" EP in 1999 on Man's Ruin Records. Singer Yoshiaki Negishi and drummer Junji Narita replaced Chow and Shimizu, respectively, in 2000. In 2001, Southern Lord Records issued the band's official debut full-length album, "Master of Brutality". After its release, founding guitarist Nishimura was replaced briefly by Osamu Hamada and then by Takenori Hoshi. New singer Hideki Fukasawa joined in time for the band's second full-length album, "The Second Coming", released in 2004 by Japanese label Diwphalanx Records. That same year, Leaf Hound released "Early Works Compilation", collecting the first band's  two EPs, cover versions and other material from 1998-2000. Guitarist Tom Sutton replaced Hoshi in 2006. They released numerous split albums and EPs between 1998 and 2006, including two with Sourvein, with whom they toured Europe in 2006. Church of Misery performed at the Roadburn Festival in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Departures, line-up changes and recent activities (2009–present). The band's third album, "Houses of the Unholy", was issued in 2009 by Rise Above Records and Metal Blade Records. Following its release, prior vocalist Negishi rejoined, lasting until 2011, while Sutton was replaced first by Kensuke  Suto and then by Ikuma Kawabe. Fukasawa rejoined on vocals for their fourth album, "Thy Kingdom Scum" (2013). In 2014, Church of Misery toured Europe three times, the first being a support slot for Monster Magnet. Following the band's extensive summer tour, Fukasawa, Kawabe and Narita collectively quit, leaving Mikami as the only remaining member of the group. On January 1, 2015, Mikami announced on the band's official Facebook page that he was planning a new Church of Misery album. Mikami recorded their sixth album, "And Then There Were None...", that May in Maryland in the U.S. with  session musicians Scott Carlson (ex-Cathedral, Repulsion), Eric Little (Earthride) and Dave Szulkin (Blood Farmers). The album was released in March 2016 by Rise Above. This line-up did not tour. Mikami searched for new members, and vocalist Hiroyuki Takano (from Japanese sludge band Sithter) and guitarist Yasuto Muraki joined in 2015. On April 24, 2017, it was announced via the band's website and Facebook page that drummer Junichi Yamamura had been added as an official member, with the message "Church of Misery rises again!" A fall tour of Europe along with festival shows were confirmed shortly after, the  first to feature the new line-up and the first shows for Church of Misery since the last live line-up ended in 2014. After extensive touring, in mid-2020 once again the band announced member changes. Muraki departed ways with the band followed by Yamamura, citing health reasons and creative differences for the latter in June. As quickly as August 2020 the band announced its new drummer and guitarist on its official Facebook page. Drumming duties were announced to be taken over by Yasunori Takada (ex-Mono) also with a new, young guitarist, Fumiya Hattori, on board. However, as soon  as winter 2021 it was announced again on the official Facebook page that both members already left the band, the reasons being cited as "personal reasons."