Versailles

Versailles embraces the label "pompous" as high praise. Their melodic metal style paired with an extravagant visual presentation quickly drew widespread attention, aided by the group's strategic use of emerging digital platforms and the surging international appetite for flamboyant J-rock. Formed in 2007, the act operated as a visual kei supergroup assembled by Kamijo of Lareine on vocals and Hizaki of Sulfuric Acid on guitar; the remaining members were bassist Jasmine You from Hizaki's prior project, guitarist Teru of Aikaryu, and drummer Yuki of Sugar Trip, the last two recommended by the staff at Tokyo's Rockmaykan venue. Rather than progressing through conventional club shows or demo releases, the band launched with a YouTube trailer that rapidly attracted overseas interest. Offers for tours and interviews arrived in volume, yet domestic coverage only materialized once a German television crew journeyed to Japan specifically to film the group. This exposure propelled Versailles onto Yahoo's list of top searches, after which the act finally performed its first live show and simultaneously issued the debut CD/DVD single The Revenant Choir in 2007. The EP Lyrical Sympathy appeared before year's end and received releases in both Japan and Europe, where the band toured alongside Matenrou Opera in 2008. An initial U.S. appearance came next, followed immediately by the full-length album Noble in 2008, marketed stateside under the name Versailles Philharmonic Quintet to avoid conflict with an existing American act called Versailles. Warner Music signed the group in 2009 and scheduled its second album for release that same year.