Monolith

Monolith formed in Tokyo in 1999 with vocalist Kouji, guitarists Masaki and Ryuichi, bassist Shigeru, and drummer Ikuo. Their debut album 'The Dawn of a New Era' came out in 2001, mixing melodic metal with introspective lyrics. The band's name comes up in conversations about Japanese heavy metal from that period, though they never became a mainstream fixture.

Their 2003 album 'Byakuya' gave them their most recognizable song, the title track that fans still talk about. That album also included 'Samidare No Koi' and 'Ame Ni Nemuru Shoujo,' songs that showed their preference for atmospheric, sometimes dark arrangements. The music had a gothic quality without fully committing to that genre.

Bassist Shigeru left in 2006, and Kouji took over bass duties while continuing as vocalist. Their sound shifted over subsequent releases, touching on progressive metal elements and electronic textures. They kept recording through the 2000s, with albums like 'The Edge of Silence' following the 'Byakuya' period.