Yakuza (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Yakuza


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Origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre = Avant-garde metal
Experimental rock
Jazzcore
Post-metal
Progressive metal
Mathcore
Years_active = 1999–present
Label = Century Media
Prosthetic
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.yakuzadojo.com yakuzadojo.com]
Current_members = Jim Staffel
Matt McClelland
Bruce Lamont
John E. Bohmer
Past_members = Eric Plonka
Eric Clark
Jackson

Yakuza is a avant-garde metal band, formed in Chicago in 1999.Yakuza bio, Prosthetic Records. [http://www.prostheticrecords.com/bands/yakuza/12.php] Access date: September 30, 2008.]

History

Yakuza was formed in 1999 by the Chicago quartet of instrumentalists Jim Staffel, Eric Plonka, Bruce Lamont and Eric Clark. Using unusual instruments like the saxophone and clarinet and incorporating the musical styles of free jazz, world music, and psychedelic music, the band debuted with its first independently-released album "Amount to Nothing" in 2001, which was met with critical acclaim from "Terrorizer" and the Chicago Sun Times. Yakuza followed its release with a tour alongside Candiria and Burnt by the Sun, eventually leading to a slot on the popular Vans Warped Tour.

Such exposure led to a record contract and the release of their second album, "Way of the Dead", through Century Media Records in 2002. Gaining positive coverage in "Rolling Stone", "Metal Maniacs", "Brave Words & Blood Knuckles", "Terrorizer", and editions of "Metal Hammer", alongside hometown newspapers "The Chicago Sun Times", "Chicago Tribune", and "Village Voice", Yakuza then saw themselves sharing the stage with like-minded metal bands Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Mastodon. After the release of this album they were dropped by Century Media since the album was not as commercially successful as the label had hoped.

The band then signed to Prosthetic Records, on which the third album, "Samsara", was released in 2006, followed by "Transmutations" a year later, in collaboration with various improvisational solo artists (including Hamid Drake and Ken Vandermark) and members of bands like Mastodon and Minsk.

Influences

One of the band's labels describes the group as "incorporating elements of jazz, worldbeat, and post-rock ambiance", and as taking cues from King Crimson, John Coltrane, Tortoise, and Napalm Death. Bruce Lamont has discussed an appreciation for Pink Floyd, Huun Huur Tu, Peter Brötzmann, Battles, Enslaved, Brighter Death Now, [Interview with Chris Hodge, "Sonic Frontiers", April 3, 2007. [http://www.sonicfrontiers.net/php/feature_19] Access date: September 30, 2008.] George Orwell, Ethiopian music, and Blut Aus Nord. ["Lords of Metal" interview. [http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1902&lang=en] Access date: September 30, 2008.]

Discography

*"Amount to Nothing" (2001)
*"Way of the Dead" (2002), Century Media Records
*"Samsara" (2006), Prosthetic Records
*"Transmutations" (2007), Prosthetic Records

Band members

Current members

* Bruce Lamont – saxophone, clarinet, vocals, effects
* James Staffel – drums, percussion, keyboard
* Matt McClelland – guitar, vocals
*John E. Bomher – bass guitar

Former members

* Eric Plonka – guitar, vocals, mixing
* Eric Clark – bass guitar, vocals
* John E. Bomher – bass guitar

References

External links

* [http://www.prostheticrecords.com/bands/yakuza/12.php Yakuza's page on Prosthetic Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/yakuza Yakuza's MySpace Page]