【IAC】 Japan’s leading progressive rock band, Bikyoran, will release their new album, “BLOODLINERS,” on Friday, September 12th.
IAC Press release: September 8, 2025 Japan’s leading progressive rock band, Bikyoran, will release their new album, “BLOODLINERS,” on Friday, September 12th. The legendary band returns to the Reiwa era with progressive alternative rock Bikyouran is a rock band active since the 1980s. They debuted in 1982 with a self-titled album, and the following year, their album “Parallax” was hailed as a masterpiece of progressive rock
representing Japan, thanks to its technique and a highly refined sound reminiscent of King Crimson. Then, in September 2025, they released their first new album in a long time, “Bloodliners.”
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This album was completed in June of this year, featuring violin by their son, Kazuyoshi Suma, who has been with them since their fifth album, “Anthology Vol. 1” (2002). Recorded at Mountain North Studio, perfectly situated with Mount Fuji as their backyard, this album avoids the stale, outdated feel of “progressive rock” and instead approaches modern and alternative sounds, maintaining the sharp, thrilling sound and astounding performance ability that make “Bikkyoran” so beautifully eccentric, reminiscent of King Crimson’s “Sun and Terror” era. The jacket and booklet feature work by Tadayuki Naito, Miles Davis’s official photographer and renowned for his art photos of albums such as “Sakura” and “Zebra.” Recorded in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the band’s hometown and base of operations, with a lineup that includes Kazuyo Suma (violin) and his sister, Harumi Saegusa (vocals), this album is aptly titled “Bloodliners.” In addition, the music video for “Short Film,” the first track on “Bloodliners,” has been released on YouTube. The second track, “Rock Me,” will be available on various subscription services on September 9th. The music video, which took place at Mountain North Studio, captures the performance of related band members Kunio Suma (guitar), Harumi Saegusa (vocals), and Kazuyoshi Suma (vn, choir). Bikyouran Formed by Kunio Suma in 1974, Bikyouran performed as a live band, mainly in Shizuoka, but in the 1980s they signed with NEXUS, a subsidiary of King Records that emerged from the progressive rock revival. They debuted with a self-titled album in 1982, and the following year, their album “Parallax” was hailed as a masterpiece of Japanese progressive rock thanks to its technique and refined sound reminiscent of King Crimson. Along with Shingetsu and KENSO, they became one of the most important bands in Japan’s “second generation” of progressive rock. After that, despite several hiatuses, they continued recording as Bikyouran, producing albums with a wide range of musicality that transcended the category of progressive rock. Kunio Suma is currently active in many fields, including producing solo albums and composing soundtracks for TV anime. In 2025, he finally completed his long-awaited new album, “BLOODLINERS,” as Bikyoran.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/77510/32/77510-32-7abbb8155d6a62124bb1a0512f9d79aa-2800×1869.jpg Release Information Artist: BIKYORAN Title: Bloodliners ／ BLOODLINERS Release Date: Friday, September 12, 2025 Price: ¥3,520 (tax included) Product Specifications: Domestic Edition/First Press Limited Edition Paper Jacket UHQCD (Ultimate Hi Quality CD. High-quality CD using a new fine transfer technology and a special alloy for the reflective film. Enjoyable on all CD players.) Label: June Dream Disk Union Purchase Link:
https://diskunion.net/progre/ct/news/article/1/132369 Tower Records purchase link:
https://tower.jp/item/6940761 Amazon purchase link:
https://amzn.asia/d/glFmGP2 “Short Film” music video link:
https://youtu.be/Dj7FOaRCTCY “Rock Me” distribution link:
https://linkco.re/YYTDMtPT Contact:Inter Art Committees Inc. Entertainment Business Division (IAC MUSIC JAPAN)
iacmusicjapan@interart.co.jp / 048-633-4090 7th Floor, KOMON, 2-5-1 Takasago, Urawa-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, 330-0063
https://www.interart.co.jp/business/entertainment.html For more information about this release
