RAISE A SUILEN sounds like a high-speed chase through a futuristic Tokyo. It is a dense, maximalist collision of heavy metal grit and electronic dance precision. The guitars are sharp and distorted, but they share the stage with frantic turntable scratching and shimmering synthesizers that feel like they were pulled from a high-end club system. The rhythm section is particularly punishing, featuring slap-heavy bass and drumming that hits with industrial force.
What sets them apart is their sheer technical aggression compared to their peers. While many J-rock acts lean into melody, RAS prioritizes impact. Raychell’s vocals are powerful and authoritative, often punctuated by Tsumugi Risa’s rhythmic rap verses and DJ interjections. This isn't just rock with a keyboard player; it is a true hybrid where the DJ is as much a lead instrument as the guitar, creating a sound that is perpetually in overdrive.
Start with the album ERA to hear the band at their most definitive. It captures the transition from a backing band to a dominant force in their own right. If you want a single track to understand their DNA, look for 'A DECLARATION OF ×××' or 'DRIVE US CRAZY' for the perfect mix of heavy riffs and electronic chaos.
Raise A Suilen (stylized as RAISE A SUILEN) is a Japanese all-female rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise BanG Dream!. Formed in 2018, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! in addition to performing their characters' respective instruments in live concerts. Raise A Suilen consists of Raychell (vocals, bass guitar), Riko Kohara (guitar), Natsume (drums), Reo Kurachi (keyboards, vocals), and Risa Tsumugi (DJ, vocals). In-universe, the band is represented by Rei Wakana (Raychell), Rokka Asahi (Kohara), Chiyu Tamade (Tsumugi), Masuki Satō (Natsume), and Reona Nyūbara (Kurachi). Of the ten bands in BanG Dream!, Raise A Suilen is one of seven whose members perform their own music. The group has produced eleven singles, a mini-album and their first album was released on August 19, 2020.
Shares alternative metal, dance-pop, industrial metal (subgenres); digital clarity, maximalist, compressed loud (production style)
Shares studio polished, layered dense, digital clarity (production style); belting, rap, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares maximalist, studio polished, digital clarity (production style); alternative metal (subgenres)
Shares maximalist, studio polished, compressed loud (production style); festival, basement show, urban night (atmosphere)
Shares alternative metal, industrial metal (subgenres); compressed loud, studio polished, layered dense (production style)
Shares alternative metal, industrial metal (subgenres); compressed loud, studio polished, layered dense (production style)
Shares defiant, energetic, confident (moods); alternative metal, industrial metal (subgenres)
Shares studio polished, compressed loud, digital clarity (production style); rap, belting, intense (vocal style)
Shares maximalist, compressed loud, studio polished (production style); defiant, energetic, intense (moods)
Shares turntable scratches in metal, turntables, industrial metal, alternative metal (detail)
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