"Out Through The Door" will be released on October 24, 2025.
BLAZE was founded by Hisashi Suzuki (guitars) with Wataru Shiota (vocals), Kenichi Kuwahara (bass) and Tsuneo Shibatani (drums) in the end of 1998 in Osaka, Japan, and began performing since 1999.
In 2001 they released the 2-song demo "See The Light". In 2002 Tsuneo Shibatani left the band and Yasuhito Yamamoto joined on drums the next year. It took a few years of rehearsals and in June 2007, Blaze independently released their first album, "Blaze". Their same-titled debut album gained a lot of popularity in the worldwide underground metal scene, where many fans found the elements that gave bands such as Scorpions, Rainbow and Heavy Load, their legendary status.
In January 2009 Yamamoto left the band and Takashi Funabiki joined, while after a huge demand, in 2012, the same-titled debut album was re-released on CD and for the first time on vinyl by High Roller Records. In January 2014, Blaze released the 6-song EP, "The Rock Dinosaur" on CD and vinyl by High Roller Records and in March of the same year, they performed live for the first time in Europe, at Up The Hammers Festival (Athens, Greece). In June 2015 Kuwahara left the band and was replaced in November by Fumihiko Kimura. In September 2024, Blaze performed at Pyrenean Warrior Open Air (Torreilles, France) and the band has already scheduled their return at Up The Hammers Festival in 2026. Meanwhile, they worked had on the new full-length "Out Through The Door", which fans of old-school hard rock and heavy metal are going to love! The album's cover artwork is created by Boss-hiko.
Recommended for fans of Scorpions, Rainbow, Saxon, Michael Schenker, Heavy Load, High Spirits.
LINE-UP:
Wataru Shiota: Lead vocals, backing vocals
Hisashi Q Suzuki: Guitar, backing vocals
Fumihiko Kimura: Bass, backing vocals
Takashi Bikky Funabiki: Drums
TRACKLIST:
1. 1335
2. Let The Right One In
3. The Man In White Boots
4. Picture On The Wall
5. Thrilled To Pieces
6. Someone Special
7. Rock 'n Roll Man
8. Fort Of Sand
9. 48 Parts
Listen to the first song, "Let The Right One In".