Nepenthes
Tokyo doom supergroup forged from Church of Misery and Coffins alumni, dealing groove-heavy psychedelic punishment.
About
Nepenthes coalesced in Tokyo in 2012, pulling together players from some of Japan's heaviest underground institutions. The founding lineup included Negishi Yoshiaki (vocals, ex-Church of Misery, G.A.T.E.S.), Suto Kensuke (guitar, ex-Church of Misery, ex-Earth Blow), Zigen (guitar, Marble Sheep), Haruto (bass, Bitter Sweet Generation, ex-MAD3), and Iwamotor (drums, Marble Sheep). That pedigree alone made them an instant draw in Tokyo's live house circuit, where they supported a steady stream of international touring acts alongside their own headlining sets at venues like Earthdom. The band released a demo in 2013, followed by their debut LP "Scent" on Daymare Recordings in October 2015. "Confusion" followed in November 2017, and after a five-year gap, "Grand Guignol" dropped March 8, 2023 â again on Daymare. The current lineup of Negishi, Suto, bassist/vocalist Goto Tatsuya, and Iwamotor has refined the band's sound into something they call "groove monster" territory: doom and heavy rock with hardcore edges, psychedelic flourishes, and a foundation of '70s riff worship that never loses the groove. Kaala Music described them as "the new world standard in heavy rock," and that's not hyperbole from a band whose members helped define what Japanese doom sounds like internationally. Nepenthes is the continuation of that lineage â heavier on the rock-and-roll swagger, less interested in pure crushing doom than in making you move while they flatten you.
Upcoming Shows
- Sun, Apr 26, 2026BushbasheyeletDetails
Recent Shows
- Sun, Mar 29, 2026Moonstepgreentripe Presents. 1st Album”desert kief trip” release gigDetails