Yakuza

Yakuza from Chicago, IL

From their break-out debut album 'Amount to Nothing' in 2000, which was met with critical acclaim, YAKUZA have been a phenomenon in the world of heavy music, hot on the tongues of those who know. Their second album 'Way of the Dead' in 2002 landed YAKUZA a deal with Century Media and worldwide notoriety, securing them live slots with like-minded progressive heavyweights like Candira, Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Lacuna Coil and Mastodon.

Several albums of top tier eccentric metal followed with 'Samsara' in 2006 which was recorded by Matt Bayles (Isis, Botch, Pearl Jam) and featured Sanford Parker, and Mastodon’s Troy Sanders; the jazzier and spaced-out 'Transmutations' in 2007, and 'Of Seismic Consequence' in 2010 and 'Beyul' in 2012 respectively released on cult underground label Profound Lore.

Like John Coltrane jamming with Napalm Death, Bruce Lamont (saxophone, vocals) has discussed an appreciation for Pink Floyd, Huun Huur Tu, Peter Brötzmann, Battles, Enslaved, Brighter Death Now, George

Orwell, Ethiopian music, and Blut AusNord, perfectly picking up on the multifaceted angles that YAKUZA exhibits. Standing in a world utterly of their own making, YAKUZA’s unique mind-melting post-rock has never felt more ripe and fitting for the current state of the planet.

Singer Bruce Lamont opts for letting YAKUZA’s music do the magic, explaining that, “Experience is subjective, and we hope each listener can come away with their own interpretation. We hope you go into this listening experience with an open mind and heart”.

If ever there was a metal album where approaching with an open mind will reap rich rewards, then YAKUZA’s 'Sutra' is it. A thinking person’s extreme and inventive metal band, check out first single "Alice" to have your expectations and understanding of heavy music turned upside down and inside out.