Aldious

 is a Japanese all-female power metal band from Osaka, formed in 2008 by guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami. After a few member changes, they released their debut EP "Dear Slave" the following year and soon after formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. A stabilized line-up including guitarist Toki, bassist Sawa and drummer Aruto was established by 2010. Their first album "Deep Exceed" (2010) reached the top 15 on the Oricon chart, as did their second "Determination" (2011). However, Rami announced she was leaving the group in June 2012 and new vocalist Re:NO joined Aldious just one month later. They produced their third album "District Zero" in 2013 and it became their highest-charting release to date, reaching number 7.
Their fourth album "Dazed and Delight" (2014) peaked at number 20, before Aruto left the band in September and was replaced by Marina in April 2015. Their fifth album "Radiant A" was released in December 2015 and was their first album on the VAA record label and their first released in Europe via JPU Records. After one more album, "Unlimited Diffusion" (2017), Re:NO left the band at the end of 2018 and was replaced by R!N in August 2019. Aldious have been labelled pioneers of the Girls Metal Band Boom that began in Japan in the 2010s.
History.
Formation, debut and Rami's withdrawal (2008–2013).
Guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami formed Aldious in Osaka in June 2008. The name Aldious was created by Rami shortening the phrase "Ultimate Melodious." In November they took part in the compilation album "Red Hot Burning Hell Vol.16", soon after which guitarist Ruki and bassist Sawa left. In January 2009, Toki and Kaze joined as guitarist and bassist respectively, later the band released their debut four-track EP "Dear Slave" on November 7. Kaze left in December, and drummer Aruto joined in January 2010. March saw the return of Sawa on bass and, around this time, Aldious formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. Their first single "Defended Desire", released July 7, reached the number 4 position on Oricon's Indies chart and number 49 on its regular chart. In April, Bright Star became a sublabel of Spinning and the band released their debut album "Deep Exceed" on October 13, 2010. It reached number 15 on the charts.
"Determination", the band's second album, was released on October 12, 2011 and reached number 13. The song "Spirit Black" was used as the ending theme song of the Fuji TV show . The album's single, "Mermaid", was previously released on April 6 and earned the number 20 position. On June 29, 2012, it was announced that vocalist and co-founder Rami would withdraw from the group due to health concerns. Only a month later, Re:NO (formerly of the pop duo Suitei Shoujo) was announced as Aldious's new singer on August 3. This line-up's first release was the single "White Crow" on November 14, which reached number 19 and was co-produced by Akihito Kinoshita, guitarist and leader of the veteran heavy metal band Saber Tiger. On May 15, 2013, Aldious released their third album "District Zero", which became their first release to break the top ten. Its song "Scrash" became the ending theme song for the TBS TV show from June to July. It was reported that for the album the band intentionally toned down their appearance and aimed for a "pure metal sound", so as to be recognized for their musicianship rather than being an all-female band.
Record label and member changes (2013–present).
Their fourth single and first double A-side, "Dominator / I Don't Like Me", was released on October 9, 2013 and is the group's highest charting, having reached number 12. Their next single, "Other World", peaked at number 22 and their fourth album, "Dazed and Delight," released on June 18, 2014, was their lowest charting CD, only reaching the 20 position. In September 2014, Aruto announced she was leaving Aldious and music entirely due to her upcoming marriage. She stayed with the group until the end of November 2014. Aldious announced their new drummer Marina, step-daughter of American drummer Terry Bozzio, on April 19, 2015. They also left their parent record label Spinning at their own request.
Aldious released the triple A-side single "Die for You / Dearly / Believe Myself" on July 8, 2015. The band released their fifth album "Radiant A" on December 2. It was their first release on the VAA (Village Again Association) label, under their own sublabel that shares the Radiant A name, and their first featuring new drummer Marina, with a limited "Marina Edition" of the album available exclusively through HMV Group and Loppi. A second triple single, "Female Warrior / Nostalgic / Fragile", was released on October 26, 2016. Throughout the year, the band played at several major festivals and concerts such as Summer Sonic, Loud Park, Visual Japan Summit, and hide Birthday Party. "Radiant A" became Aldious's first album released overseas when it was published in Europe by JPU Records on March 17, 2017, with two additional live tracks.
The group released their sixth album, "Unlimited Diffusion", on May 10, 2017. The album marked the first time each of the five members contributed songs and, like their previous album, it was produced by Shinichi Kobayashi of Zigoku Quartet. Their first mini-album, "We Are", followed on November 29, 2017. It begins with fans chanting "We are Aldious!" during a concert in Kōchi Prefecture which was recorded by Re:NO on an iPhone. A second mini-album, "All Brose", was released on November 21, 2018. Its title is a reference to blue roses, which do not exist in nature. On November 28, Re:NO announced that she would be ending musical activities after consulting a doctor about her patulous Eustachian tube. She left Aldious after their December 17 concert at Tsutaya O-East.
On April 20, 2019, Aldious began the national 45-date Evoke Tour with alternating guest vocalists R!N (SawanoHiroyuki [nZk]) and Saki (Cyntia). Toki began temporary maternity leave from the group after their June 9 show due to her pregnancy. The remaining dates of the tour were performed with guest guitarist Narumi (Destrose). The half-Filipino and English-fluent R!N officially joined the band as full-time vocalist on August 6. 
Aldious, with Narumi, performed their first international concert in Anaheim, California, at the NAMM Show on January 17, 2020. Toki returned to live activities with a performance on March 1. On March 18, the band released a self-cover album titled "Evoke 2010–2020", which also includes a new song written by R!N. Their 2020 Japanese tour Unlash was scheduled to run from April 25 to November 23, with their first shows in Europe scheduled to occur September 30 to October 2. However, both tours were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the European dates currently set for October 2021. Aldious held a concert with no live audience at Shibuya Club Quattro on August 14, 2020, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their debut, and released a second self-cover album, "Evoke II 2010–2020", on September 30.