Life

Life is a Japanese crasher crust punk band from Tokyo, Japan. The group is a punk act with roots in crust punk and hardcore punk, and its name is expanded by the band as Liberty Independence Freedom Equality.

History

The band begins to form in 1991, when Abe-chan on bass and Ishiyama “Aniki” on drums start looking for other members at amateur band shows. Hiro joins after being recruited at a performance at Kokubunji Morgana in May 1991, and Naoya, a guitarist from Hiro’s hometown, joins later that year. Life plays its first live show in December 1991 at 20000V in Koenji, Tokyo.

Line-up changes and musical development

The group’s early sound combines Japanese hardcore and crust. In 1992, Ishiyama “Aniki” leaves and Kajiyan becomes the drummer. In 1993, Naoya leaves and is replaced by another guitarist, after which the band’s music moves towards Scandinavian crust noise core. In 1998, the second guitarist leaves and the band goes through a period without a bassist, using Matchan from FRIGORA as a fill-in. Maakun joins on guitar in 1998.

In April 2008, Maakun leaves. While searching for another guitarist, Abe-chan switches from bass to guitar and the band continues as a three-piece without a bassist. Nori-san of Screwwithin joins on bass in September 2008, and Taka joins as a twin guitarist in September 2009.

Activity

Life continues to pursue changing forms of punk and crust music over time.