the GazettE HERESY LIMITED THE DARK HALLOWEEN NIGHT [-SPOOKY BOX-] at Zepp Tokyo

The upcoming year will be very important for the GazettE's members, who together with their fans will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their activities. Even though such an occasion requires a lot of work and preparations, the GazettE didn’t hesitate to surprise their fans with one more special event: a halloween party entitled HERESY LIMITED THE DARK HALLOWEEN NIGHT [-SPOOKY BOX-]. The party was a first in the band’s history, and took place at Zepp Tokyo on October 28th.

The start was planned for 18:30, but since the venue was filled to its capacity and getting everyone settled took a while, everyone had to wait an additional thirty minutes until the moody red lights finally went out. In complete darkness, the audience was able to see the opening visualization, which among colorful lasers and flashes that resembled lightning showed the GazettE's members’ silhouettes from behind the dropped curtain. Growing buzz and tension exploded with a full blast of shouts when the curtain went up and the five band members, dressed as monsters and creepy characters, appeared on stage. With a red-lit haunted castle behind them, the band started playing forcefully with INSIDE BEAST, vocalist RUKI inviting the crowd to clap to the rhythm of drummer KAI’s drilling drums. The members were dancing along with their vocalist and leading the cheering crowd through the first song when all the stage lights, except for a huge crystal chandelier, went out.

A single reflector illuminated bassist REITA, who played the intro to MY DEVIL ON THE BED together with KAI. The other members stood in one line with RUKI to heat up the gathered fans. The frontman, in his striped black and white high hat, walked along the stage, waving his decorative walking stick. Singing, dancing and acting according to the lyrics, the vocalist invited the audience to sing the chorus together with the band. Suddenly, the stick was thrown across the stage and the lights went out, leaving a single violet stream lighting up RUKI’s figure and closing in on him. Then, a deafening roar again shook the venue when digital sounds and chanting from VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB resounded. HERESY members in perfect unison danced with their hands and headbanged fiercely, alternately led by guitarists AOI and URUHA.

After massive flashes of lightning closed the song, RUKI greeted fans, “Happy Halloween! Are you having fun? For us this kind of event is a first, so it’s amazing! Let’s rage together tonight!” And as they promised, with each song AOI’s and URUHA’s guitars became more aggressive with faster rhythms, accompanied by shouts full of wrath.

The greatest joy could be felt during older songs such as Ganges ni akai bara, opened by REITA’s sensual bass phrases and jazzy guitars. From the very beginning, real fires burst alive on torches behind the band, creating a hellish atmosphere of mystery and harmonizing with RUKI’s pain-filled, yet glamorous voice. The moody atmosphere continued with DISTRESS AND COMA, which filled the hall with green light and vocals resembling one’s inner voice. AOI’s and URUHA’s guitars in harmony sang bewitching solos full of sorrow. With the last notes of this heartrending ballad RUKI commanded silence by touching his lips with a finger. For a couple of seconds, shrouded in darkness and complete silence, the venue experienced otherworldly charming incantations and distorted guitar sounds in 13STAIRS[-]1. Suddenly, the change in rhythm galvanized fans into forcefully headbanging along.

“Are you having fun? The first halloween event held by the GazettE, HERESY LIMITED THE DARK HALLOWEEN NIGHT [-SPOOKY BOX-]! What do you think?” asked RUKI in another MC and deafening shouts answered him. “We thought for a really long time about what should we wear on this occasion. So, as you see, it's like this on the right and like that on the left. But seeing your cosplays, we think ‘Mhm, it’s Halloween!’ I don’t know what I should say; I’m so nervous. We play like always and I sing normally but then, suddenly, I see ears on my shadow!” Gales of laughter followed RUKI’s MC; the deep family atmosphere of love and unison could be felt between fans and the band.

After the MC, heavy guitars and KAI’s fast drumming once again blasted the venue in VERMIN. RUKI shouted “Dance!” and together with AOI, started spinning and dancing on the stage. REITA and URUHA moved to the back of the stage to play together with KAI, who was hidden behind the curtain of spider webs. After a while URUHA joined RUKI on the platform. RUKI formed a gun with his hand and pretended to shoot URUHA in his head. The guitarist took the hit and swirled back to his place on the stage. Crazy headbanging transformed the crowd into a mass of hair and fists.

The main act was closed by LINDA～candydive Pinky heaven～, during which fans crowd dived, encouraged by REITA and guitarist AOI. After short guitar solos by AOI and URUHA, the members left the stage and the hall went dark. Not long after that, fans started tirelessly asking for an encore, which was answered by KAI. After asking fans how they were and if they were having fun and promising to give them good fun in the style of the GazettE in return for their love, KAI started his drum solo. However, during the solo, the tired band members entered the stage, REITA pushing RUKI. The hall went silent again when RUKI reminded everyone it’s KAI’s birthday. After the speech for KAI, the members played a prank on their fellow drummer by giving him puffs filled with wasabi. Fans sang happy birthday to KAI and a real cake was brought on stage.

Even though there was only one encore planned for that night, the GazettE decided to thank their fans with two encores. During the five-song first encore, everyone could once again hear melodic guitars and charming solos by AOI and URUHA, and dance rhythms in Psychedelic Heroine. The final delight, however, erupted during undying SILLY GOD DISCO. As RUKI sang through a megaphone, fans danced and jumped, spellbound by the spinning lights of a disco ball. Even the band members couldn’t resist the magic of the night and danced together on the stage.

the GazettE thanked their fans again with a second encore, bidding farewell with the song Kantou dogeza kumiai and saying that there's a chance for a halloween event again next year, making fans go crazy with happiness.


Set List

-SE-
01. INSIDE BEAST
02. MY DEVIL ON THE BED
03. VENOMOUS SPIDER’S VEB
04. RED
05. GABRIEL ON THE GALLOWS
06. Ganges ni akai bara
07. BURIAL APPLICANT
08. DISTRESS AND COMA
09. 13STAIRS[-]1
10. Hedoro
11. VERMIN
12. HESITATING MEANS DEATH
13. UGLY
14. HEADACHEMAN
15. ATTITUDE
16. LINDA ～candydive Pinky heaven～

Encore 1
01. Akai One Piece
02. Psychedelic Heroine
03. SILLY GOD DISCO
04. Hyena
05. TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Encore 2
01. Kantou dogeza kumiai