There are two bands that use the name the Underneath. One is a Japanese rock band formed in 1996, previously called Transtic Nerve and reformed under that name in 2007 and now (since 2010) known as defspiral. The second one was a solo project of Lemon Kittens and Shock Headed Peters member Karl Blake, who released an EP (The Imp of the Perverse - 1986) and a full-length album (Lunatic Dawn of the Dismantler - 1987) on the El label. Japanese the Underneath: the Underneath's line-up is the same as that of Transtic Nerve, a rock band that started their career back in 1996. At the end of 2007, after spending a few years with a low profile, the members surprised their fans by announcing the Underneath as their new project. Their first release, Moon Flower, was released on the United States market before it hit Japanese shores with a limited pressing that included a new cover and a longer track listing for native fans. The band has quickly gained international exposure and were invited in Spring 2008 to join the well-known North American alternative rock tour, RockStar Taste of Chaos. They performed with big bands like Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold, as well as two other Japanese acts, and toured forty-six cities nationwide. In May 2008 they played at the HIDE MEMORIAL SUMMIT in Japan before launching into their first one-man in June 2008 at Shibuya O-West. US fans had the opportunity to see the Underneath again in August 2008 where they performed along with DaizyStripper at Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland. the Underneath kicked off 2009 with with a performance at Site Kobe and have continued to perform at shows monthly. At their live at Shibuya O-West at 2010/05/03 they disbanded and continued as "defspiral" without TAL. Their last single DIAMOND was released on 2010/03/17. Their sound: With a high level of musicianship and a mysterious charisma, the Underneath is rapidly shaking up live houses throughout Japan with an aesthetic explosion of sound. As the moral support and backbone of the band, drummer MASAKI provides a rhythm that is at once heavy and danceable, working together with a strong electro beat. The partner to the rhythm section is bassist RYO, a man of great wisdom in everything from programming to recording engineering. The most aggressively provocative on stage is guitarist TAL. More the technical type, guitarist MASATO is a talented individual with skills from web design to graphic art. And with a vocal range exceeding three octaves and a beguiling, androgynous performance, frontman vocalist TAKA's character molds the image of this band. They are a band that can be called the Visual Band of the New Era, with every member involved in composing the music, and the ability to freely command two sides to their act---the creative group of the digital age, with each member's ability to manipulate ProTools to their will, and the physical rock band that rampages through their live performances. Thrilling and sexy with electro style and raw group fusion, and possessing two opposing shades with their blend of heaviness and romanticism, the Underneath are the new and powerful rock band that represents the next generation of Japan. Vocals: TAKA Guitar: MASATO Guitar: TAL Bass: RYO Drums: MASAKI http://underneath.jp http://myspace.com/underneathjapan Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.