Rock in China

8 million visitors on Rock in China

azchael — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:36:49 +0000

Just a quick update. Over Chinese New Year our 8 millionth visitor checked out Rock in China!

Filed under: Website News Tagged: Rock in China

Discovering and Purchasing Chinese Rock Music

azchael — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:23:46 +0000

Finding Music: When it comes to Chinese music, it’s hard for a foreigner who has hardly any prior exposure to Asian music to discover new bands to add to their repertoire of music. The point of this post is to hopefully help people who have a general interest in Chinese music that has no connection to the Mandopop and Cantopop movements. It’s not that I find these genres of music to be terrible, I’m just ready to broaden my horizons when it comes to Chinese music in general, and think its time for the rock …

A nice summary for American rock fans on how to find and purchase Chinese Rock Music, especially if one cannot read Chinese and thus cannot use Douban.

Filed under: Article, Scenes in China Tagged: Chinese Rock

Nuclear Fusion G – Space exploration | Chinese Industrial

azchael — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:11:20 +0000

Li Ziwei formed the band Nuclear Fusion-G in July 2004. Since then they have composed 18 songs, all written by Li Ziwei, including music, lyrics and sampling. One of China’s leading electronic music acts, the band take science as one of its major themes, and by combining many different element such as the heavy rhythm of dance music, samples, the human voice and DJing, they create music that has the power a nuclear bomb detonating. In 2005, with their ambition redoubled and focus on more international exposure, Nuclear Reaction-G is finding its own way in a brand new sector of China’s still blossoming music industry.

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Metal in China, Video Tagged: Chinese Industrial, Nuclear Fusion-G, 核聚变-G

Four Five – Faith | Chinese Deathcore

azchael — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:54:22 +0000

Four Five, two words lined up together does not express any defined meaning to give you enough space of imagination, so is the music of the band Four Five. Due to different opinions on music by all band members, everything still go together as one, the appearance as metal and hard core combining multiple new elements. Strong metal riffing on progressive combi-beats, sometimes cut sharp, sometimes grooving, the sound waves are beating the ears and hearts of listeners like a heavy hammer. Complicated verses yet in clear shaps do not lack on power and strength, acting in chord with guitars and bass, bursting druming here and there, plus expressive vocals, all that marks out Four Five’s music. Each band member all have at least over five years of musician experience, arm in arm they go together for the main goal in their hearts.

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Metal in China, Video Tagged: Beijing Deathcore, Chinese Deathcore, 肆伍, Five Four

The ‘CORE scene of China | Screamo, Deathcore, Metalcore, Nintendocore

azchael — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:09:20 +0000

With guys like the ones above (Monkey King) hitting the stages of China, the metal scene has seen an invasion of ‘CORE related music in recent years.

Started in 2006-2008 with the likes of Ego Fall, re-born Yaksa, Hollow and Nuclear Fusion-G, the scene has moved forward and produced a number of quality bands screaming and thrashing their way into the hearts of the young generation.

With genres even as remote to traditional metal as Nintendocore - which was first introduced to China by leading artist HORSE THE BAND in 2008 – the wave of emo bands and hardcore bands that were pushed by HotPot Music certainly paved the way for Screamo to take its place among the hot and powerful. The 2007 compilation record King-Size China 2 already featured a range of bands that left the old school nu-metal and emo paths to divert into the heavier and more extreme genres.

Nowadays one has to open Douban to see the sprouts shooting up in every city with the likes of From Sad To Dead with their electronic influence and Tribute to Attack Attack! to emocore made in Wuhan, Romeo Bleed to die(喋血罗密欧), and Beijing’s Tun Shu (豚鼠乐队) deathcore advances.

For those interested in these core-related sounds, I can highly recommend to check out the following Douban groups and their links to bands and songs:

Also check out the never-ending list of Chinese metal artists that Rock in China has compiled so far and is extending, with its various subgenres.

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Filed under: Article, Metal in China, Scenes in China, Screamo in China Tagged: Metal in China, Romeo bleed to die, Screamo in China, Tunshu, Yaksa

Any More has new songs online | Beijing Screamo

azchael — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:45:36 +0000

Beijing Screamo band ANY MORE has uploaded (finally) another three songs and enabled them for download:

希望2010
折翼鸟（new) – Download from RiC
狂想夜demo

For your convenience and to archive the band, one of their songs can also be downloaded from Rock in China: 折翼鸟（new)

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Downloads, Screamo in China Tagged: Any More, Beijing Screamo, 折翼鸟

Dagon Power (大红袍) & Monkey King | Chinese Metal Downloads

azchael — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:21:07 +0000

Changsha metalcore band Monkey King and their song “Until you come 2010″ (Download).

Monkey King – Until you come 2010

Beijing metal band Dagon Power / Red Robe and their song Delusion.

Download the song

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, City Scene Changsha, Downloads, Metal in China Tagged: Dagon Power, Monkey King, Red Robe

Return the truth – Say Goodbye To Disgrace | Beijing Hardcore

azchael — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:58:43 +0000

Return of the Truth is a Hardcore Metal Rock band from Beijing. They have a few different musical instruments and play hardcore. Their spirit and hardcore music has the true Hardcore charm, all is not that the breach of your truest thoughts.

For a better quality sound, please visit their Douban page and give their 6 songs a listen. Unfortunately also these songs are not downloadable and hence I can’t make a good youtube video for you.

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Hardcore in China, Metal in China Tagged: Return the Truth, Say Goodbye to Disgrace

Ashtemato | Chengdu Metalcore

azchael — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:52:02 +0000

Found by the wonderful Douban, Ashtemato is a Chengdu based metalcore band, around since 2010 with a couple of songs on Douban for listening.

As with most of the bands I find these days, none of their songs is downloadable, so I can’t give you a youtube link for it, but I can only recommend to check out their page and give it a listen.

Filed under: City Scene Chengdu, Metal in China Tagged: Ashtemato, Metalcore

Interview with Zang Nan Recording | Shanghai Indie Music Label

azchael — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:34:47 +0000

On January 18th 2012, Azchael of Rock in China and Nichols of Zang Nan Recordings exchanged an email interview about the record label, the Shanghai music scene and their compilation “We Are Shanghai“.

Azchael: Can you briefly introduce yourself and Zang Nan Recordings and what you do?

Nichols: My name is Nichols (五毛). I am bassist/vocalist/producer for two bands, Rainbow Danger Club and Death to Giants. Along with Bren (bassist and vocalist for Stegosaurus?), I am co-founder of Zang Nan Recordings which, right now, is “whatever it needs to be” in order to help the Shanghai music scene grow. Our mission is geared more towards nurturing the scene and encouraging more people to to get involved (go to shows, start a band, record, etc.). We are also a label and albums by Rainbow Danger Club, Stegosaurus? and Friend or Foe have released albums under the ZN flag. We are also event organizers and we focus on spreading a net outside of our comfort zone of scene stalwarts (ex. free college shows, working with local comedians). We aren’t the only ones doing what we do and we don’t claim to have anything really figured out, and that is part of the fun. It’s something we enjoy doing and hope to make a mark in Shanghai in the process.

Azchael: You have recently released the compilation “We Are Shanghai”, what was the greatest difficulty to overcome while creating the compilation?

Nichols: Twin Horizon, an art/fashion collective, brought us on to help with mobilizing bands, organization, and being overall collaborators. The most difficult part was just compiling all the infomation for the website and CD printing. God love em, a lot of musicians are slackers and don’t reply to emails and phone calls. Who would have thunk it?

Azchael: What is the “Shanghai Sound” for you?

Nichols: Construction, car horns, loud people, drinking, eating, partying. Its in the music. Aesthetically, there’s a lot of energy and excess reflected in the sound. But, stylistically, there is no one dominant sound. This might have to do with the fact that a lot of people in Shanghai are from outside of Shanghai (another province or another country) and they all grew up on different

Azchael: As mentioned in another interview by Ivan, you plan to include more metal bands on the second compilation that is still in the future but planned. Which bands do you see on the forefront of Shanghai metal?

Nichols: I love metal, but Ivan is the resident metalhead of our group so i concede to him to figure that one out. My personal mission is to include more electronic acts and young chinese artists. Conrank, Uprooted Sunshine, and Naohai are just three groups that I respect and might want on the next comp.

Azchael: On your catalogue I recognize mostly foreigner-driven bands, are you also open for Chinese only bands? What are your selection criteria for promotion?

Nichols: I hope we are only a few years away from labelling bands by their ethnicity. haha. But, selection criteria is “Do we like the music?” and “Do you want to be on the compilation?” It’s pretty simple. I’ve actually offered to mix a few young chinese bands’ demos for free if they are willing to put the time and effort into recording. Hopefully you’ll see that in 2012.

Azchael: How much tour promotion do you do for bands from Shanghai in other cities?

Nichols: Our model is to be “Whatever we need to be” and we do things out of neccesity. RDC will be touring the states this summer, so i imagine we’ll be doing some stuff with that. We are also organizing a China tour for a band from Austin, Texas (The Noise Revival Orchestra) in May and June of this year. That’ll be the first ZN-organized tour. We’ve organized a few excursions of our own outside of Shanghai, but our current goals are more introspective. We want to help develop a really strong homegrown scene first and foremost.

Azchael: Are you interested in band exchange concerts, e.g. with Hongkong bands to raise awareness of Shanghai creativity in Hongkong, where everybody only sees Beijing as rock capital of China?

Nichols: Absolutely! That goes for any city in the world!

Azchael: Having most of your records on Bandcamp for free, what is the value of music for you?

Nichols: The value of music for me to very personal. I love creating and showing off my creations. I am a bit of narcissist, as are most people who gravitate towards music performance. I don’t make net profit from music and maybe never will. Making money is second-place to that personal love and good feeling I get from people liking what I do. Music is most valuable when its authentic and comes from the heart of the creator. I want more people to listen and not put up barriers (aka costs).

And, what is the point in ever charging for a download when its so easy to get it for free elsewhere? There is so much music out there (some of it really good) that its damn-near impossible for John Doe’s Garage Band to get heard even if they put their polished album out for free on bandcamp. Monetarily, there is no value to MUSIC itself. As Helen Feng once told me, music is a vehicle for which a band can sell itself because a band is a brand. You have to be willing to sell yourself to make any money off of music. You have to have ambition. Those who thrive in the music industry today and in the future will be the ones that can balance artistic integrity and authenticity with hard work and ambition.

Azchael: Where do you see the future of labels like Zang Nan Recordings in the digital age and how do you try to monetarize from that?

Nichols: Labels like ours are fueled by a labor of love and an abundance of energy. These things have a way of running out eventually and I hope that by the end of our journey, we will have made a mark on the Shanghai scene, or perhaps even handed it off to a new generation to do even greater things. I don’t have any current plans to monetize Zang Nan. Our goals are simple and we do what we can when we can to improve the local scene.

Azchael: How do you try to promote Shanghai music overseas? Which promotion paths do you choose?

Nichols: Like I said, ZN is more introspective. We want people within Shanghai and within China invested in local independent music made right here. We are definitely interested in teaming up with an organization that is better at promoting Shanghai/China bands internationally.

Left to our own devices though, it’s contacting music blogs and sinophile college communities aross the globe as well as promoting within our own networks of musical friends abroad and social media. I think Music Videos are next. I still don’t think we’ve hit our stride in getting all that to work. We aren’t professionals mind you. We are still figuring it all out. If you have any suggestions, please contact me immediately!!!!

Azchael: What recording equipment do you use?

Nichols: With RDC, we prefer to use an old Roland Multitrack recorder because we like being able to record on our own schedule and whenever inspiration hits. Sounds cheap, but when coupled with a good vocal mic and decent pre-amps/compressors, you can get a good clean sound with minimal post-production EQing. With recording Friend or Foe, we got a lot of technical know-how by Acid Pony Club. They also brought expensive pre-amps and guitar amp simulators. I felt like a kid in a candy store scrolling through those presets. At the end of the day, Ableton is the best editing suite for my tastes though lately I have been experimenting with open-source software. My final peice of equipment comes in the form of my go to mastering professional Adam Gaensler (Luwan Rock). If producing a song is like remodelling a car, I repair the engine, clean it up and made it work, but he waxes it and makes it shiny and beautiful.

Azchael: Thanks a lot for the interview.

Nichols: Thank you for making Rock in China WIKI exist!

Filed under: Article, City Scene Shanghai

Why Lazy – Dying in the dream | Henan Metalcore / Post Hardcore

azchael — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:46:47 +0000

Henan post hardcore / metalcore band WHY LAZY and their song Dying in the dream. Formed in 2007 they recently got featured on the Resurrection of the Gods 7 compilation record of Mort Productions. Cool song!

Filed under: Metal in China, Scene of Henan Province, Video Tagged: Chinese Post Hardcore, Dying in the Dream, Metalcore, Why Lazy

Androsace China Tour 2012

azchael — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:47:15 +0000

Shanghai grunge band ANDROSACE is heading for a China tour this February. Check out the schedule and watch their promo video.

Filed under: City Scene Shanghai, Festival / Gig Announcements, Rock in China Tagged: Androsace, China Tour 2012

Gothic / Visual Kei / Rock FALL INSECTS – 夜愿 (Nightwish)

azchael — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:33:00 +0000

Fall Insects and their song NIGHTWISH from their 2011 record 黑乐章.

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Rock in China, Video Tagged: Beijing Gothic, Beijing Visual Kei, Fall in Sex, Fall Insects, Nightwish

A new way of discovering Chinese music: Genre categories

azchael — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:13:05 +0000

A new way to discover Chinese Music has been implemented at the Rock in China blog: Genre Categories with which we are tagging every (nearly every) post at this blog to make it easier for you to search for specific music genres.

Definitely also check out our Metal, Rock, Punk, Hip Hop and Jazz/Blues Portals at the Rock in China wiki.

Filed under: Website News Tagged: Rock in China Blog

Electronic-Core / Post Hardcore: Goodbye Sunset

azchael — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:34:06 +0000

Beijing not only features metal bands but also the more extreme and modern style called Nintendocore and in this variant electronic-core / screamo with a band called GOODBYE SUNSET. Above the band is shown with American deathcore band SUICIDE SILENCE!

Listen to their song “Shadow of Sadness” on Douban.

Photo: Douban

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Metal in China, Screamo in China Tagged: Beijing electronic-core, Goodbye Sunset, Suicide Silence

Saving Molly – Beijing At The Top Of The World

azchael — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:20:50 +0000

Talking about new songs, here is another heavier song from the band SAVING MOLLY called “Beijing at the top of the world” (on Douban). Not going into the old discussion Shanghai vs. Beijing, this song does leave a little smile on my lips. Give it a listen!

Photo: Douban

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Metal in China, Screamo in China Tagged: Beijing Screamo, Saving Molly

New song of THE REASON

azchael — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:58 +0000

Screamo band THE REASON have uploaded a new demo song on their Douban entitled “Suffering is never END”. Aggressive music!

Photo: Douban

Filed under: City Scene Beijing, Screamo in China Tagged: The Reason

PROXIMITY BUTTERFLY 2012 Australian Tour “Tales from the Hypnogogue”

azchael — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:07:17 +0000

Band: Proximity Butterfly

Some people think the world is on the brink of its end. Those that don’t believe even have a slight nervous bone in the subconscious that wiggles them from the inside. Its the all of the all, the point in which humanity turns her mirror and sees the quantum of her own features. It can only be described by Henri Bergson and his textures of time, a steaming cauldron of lost perspectives and hidden momentum. It resembles a dream, or rather the waking from a dream, the moment in which your heart pounds and the shifting illusions of the mind, through dream-states and empirical contacts, welcome a tale that stands upon a mountain surrounded by trees and stones, water and wind. The journeys of the mind never end, regardless of faith and science, and our tales in turn revolve rather than fall through this ever-convulsing continuum. Our friends and friends to-be all gather in circles, to celebrate the gifts we have, the time we have… and our stories will forever echo through the chambers of life. And we’ll call those stories, “The Tales from the Hypnogogue”.

Add the bands Kingston Downes as the main supporting act, with God God Dammit Dammit, Like Leaves, Lady Strangelove, These Wild Animals and Irie Knights.

Saturday 14 Jan – Rocket Bar – Adelaide, South Australia
Sunday 15 Jan - Crown and Anchor Hotel - Adelaide, South Australia

Friday 20 Jan – Barwon Club Hotel – Geelong, Victoria
Saturday 21 Jan – The Esplanade Hotel – Melbourne, Victoria
Sunday 22 Jan – Yah Yahs – Melbourne, Victoria

Wednesday 25 Jan – The Pot Belly Bar – Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Friday 27 Jan – Wormwoodstock – near Sydney, New South Wales

Wednesday 1 Feb – Rics Bar – Brisbane, Queensland
Thursday 2 Feb – Between The Walls – Brisbane, Queensland

Filed under: City Scene Chengdu, Festival / Gig Announcements, Rock in China Tagged: Australia Tour 2012, Proximity Butterfly

AM444 – 神经末梢 (Shen Jing Mo Shao)

azchael — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:42:01 +0000

Great electro music from Shanghai: AM444.

AM444 is the Shanghai based project of singer ChaCha and producer Jay.Soul. Their debut cd Eye Wonder (PAUSE:MUSIC) is out now. Buy the digital album or CD directly from us at Bandcamp or download from Amazon, iTunes, Emusic etc.

ChaCha (Guizhou, China) is part of Shanghai’s no.1 reggae crew Uprooted Sunshine. She also records with the likes of Kode9, Clive Chin, Jahtari, Desto, Jimi Tenor, Sickstar & Sunbiz. One of China’s brightest underground stars, ChaCha effortlessly switches up styles to fit the reggae, electronic, hip-hop and leftfield grooves she sings her sharp self-penned lyrics over.

Jay.Soul is a versatile music producer and DJ from Amsterdam. He has made a wide range of tracks, both solo and for others, incl: Mr.Windmill, Cecilia Stalin, Sole Profit, Corey, NineFifty. He’s remixed Giovanca, Nas, Michael Franti & Spearhead, O.Boogie, The Proov, Roots Manuva and also composes music for commercials, film, websites, theatre and your momma!

Filed under: City Scene Shanghai, Electro in China, Video Tagged: Am444, Electro Music from China

This is rock! This is Shanghai! – Download “We Are Shanghai”

azchael — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:56:35 +0000

As others have pointed out, the Shanghai scene has a new masterpiece of music out: the compilation record WE ARE SHANGHAI featuring 20 local Shanghai rock, punk and indie bands hammering their way into the ears of the 2000s generation.

As a statement to the world, Zangnan Records, Luwan Rock and Twin Horizons kicked out this record with foreigner and Chinese only bands hoping to be able to make a second compilation soon with a more heavier influence. Meanwhile … head over to bandcamp and get the download.

Tracklist:

Duck Fight Goose - Light is God’s Bread
Boys Climbing Ropes - The Knitting Song
Stegosaurus? - Stinky Tofu
The Beat Bandits - Sukiyaki Beat
Break for Borneo - Complicated
Friend or Foe - Crazy Eye (The Horses Remix)
The Dangxin Mofos - Geeky Boy
Rainbow Danger Club - Drown The Creatures
X is Y - Never Sever
Pairs - I Wanna Die in the Ocean
Dragon Pizza - Bomb Cola
Moon Tyrant - I am the Way
The Fever Machine - Heartbrokenbleedin’ Again
The Instigation - No Way Out
The Horde - Beijing Sucks
Sonnet - Perfect Son
The Song Dynasty - Slow
Top Floor Circus - 进来白相相 (Jin Lai Bu Xiang Xiang)

Digital Only Tracks

Baltic States - The North Sea
Little Punk - I’m Not in the Mood for Making a Song

Filed under: City Scene Shanghai, Downloads, Rock in China Tagged: Boys Climbing Ropes, dragon Pizza, Duck Fight Goose, Free Download, Friend or Foe, Shanghai indie, Shanghai punk, Shanghai Rock, Sonnet, The Horde, The Song Dynasty, Top Floor Circus, We Are Shanghai