Project U.D.M is a powerful new visual kei metal band which fuses authentic metal music with the beauty and transiences of visual kei. 
Blending heavy riffs, intense grooves, and brutal energy with captivating melodies and emotional depth, the band creates a world where aggression and fragility coexist. Their live performances are explosive; headbanging, stage diving, and raw emotion that fully embodies the “Going crazy and rampaging!” spirit.
We spoke with the members about the band’s formation, their dedication to music, their thoughts on live performances, and their future prospects.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

■ Could you please introduce yourselves?

Isara: I’m Isara on Vocals. My birthday is on March 6, from Osaka and I have blood type B.  

Lin: I’m Lin on Guitar! Born December 26, from China! Blood type O.  

Asato: I’m Asato on guitar.  

Rabi: I’m Rabi on Bass. Born December 6, from Tokyo, blood type AB.  

Raika: I’m Raika on drums. Born December 3. I’m from Osaka. Blood type B. I’m currently into smoking Ploom※.

※Ploom is a brand of heated tobacco devices produced by Japan Tobacco International (JTI)

■ What made you choose the instrument you play now?

Isara: I tried to play various instruments, but I was most praised for my vocal skills, so I ended up being a vocalist.  

Lin: After seeing a music video of my favourite guitarist, I was inspired to start playing the guitar. It made me think, ‘I want to play the guitar like that too,’ and I started learning to play. 

Asato: Because the person I admired was a guitarist.  

Rabi: An acquaintance once told me that my face was typical of a bassist, which inspired me to play bass. Although I initially wanted to play the guitar, I’m now glad I chose the bass.

Raika: The drums were calling out to me. It was guidance.

■ What first sparked your interest in visual kei, and what has kept you interested in the genre??

Isara: It all started when I was in elementary school and I went to a concert from SID, that was the trigger. After that, I rented tons of visual kei CDs from the rental shop and listened to all sorts of music, but mainly visual kei. This is my first time actually challenging visual kei myself. So, I’m sure to give everything that I got!

Lin: I was drawn to its unique music style, glamorous makeup and costumes, and also the cool stage presence. visual kei has its own unique aesthetic beauty, and I’ve always respected that one-of-a-kind worldview. It’s a genre with incredible wide range and freedom; it can express intense music, beautiful music and dark worldviews. Above all, because I was so drawn by visual kei which made me fully love visual kei, that’s why I continue to be in a visual kei band. 

Asato: When I was in middle school, I played CDs that I had at home one after another. The moment I heard one specific song, I was totally blown away. Since then, I’ve mainly listened to visual kei.  

Rabi: I come from a metal background, but I’ve always liked visual kei culture and fashion. As I naturally started checking out visual kei songs, I was drawn to the high compatibility between visual kei and metal.  

Raika: I originally loved metal, and then I discovered visual kei metal and got hooked. NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST had a particularly big influence on me.

■  What does music mean to you?

Isara: I can’t live without music.  

Lin: It’s something that brings back memories and records them. When you listen to a song, you remember the scenery and emotions from that time, right? I love that feeling. Also, music enhances emotions. Whether you’re happy, having fun, or sad; music is always on your side.

Asato: Blood.  

Rabi: It’s something that embodies my emotions. I’m not good at expressing feelings or putting them into words, so when I listen to music or play in a band, it feels like music expresses and conveys my emotions for me. It also brings back memories. Whether it’s painful times or happy times, music feels inseparable from every memory.  

Raika: Music is my inner core and so precious that I can’t live without it.

■  Do you have a favorite kanji? If so, why?

Isara: 幾億 (Ikuoku). Because it sounds good when I’m singing it (laughs).  

Lin: “凛” (Lin). It’s in my name, and I like both its meaning and visual balance. Also “凰” (O). It’s used as name for my signature guitar “凰火 -Ouka-” and represents the phoenix. The word gives a feeling of nobility and strength. I also associate it with the indomitable spirit and rebirth of a phoenix. So this kanji has a deep connection to my music activities.  

Asato: “桜” (Sakura). It’s my favorite flower.  

■ If you had to give yourself a catchphrase, what would it be?

Lin: Chinese Guitarist  
Raika: 100 million times more energetic, muscle drummer

■  What are your favorite foods and drinks?

Isara: Ramune and cola.  
Lin: Ramen, curry, sushi, Monster energy drink (green and purple).  
Asato: Beer, sake, wine.  
Rabi: Beer and sweet latte-style drinks. For food, chocolate and sweet things.  
Raika: Alcohol, black coffee, Monster energy drink, sushi, yakiniku, sashimi.

■  Tell us something about yourself that most people probably don’t know.

Isara: I love fizzy, popping food textures.  
Lin: I get lonely easily.  
Rabi: I get lonely easily and I’m extremely competitive.  
Raika: I’m surprisingly the type who gets lonely as well.

■ Besides music, what are you most interested in or what are your hobbies?

Isara: Anime, horror.  
Lin: Anime, fashion.  
Asato: Bar-hopping, hot springs.  
Rabi: Fashion, food, travel.  
Raika: Watching anime.

■ Do you have any daily routines?

Isara: Vocal exercises
Lin: Face masks  
Rabi: Gym, beauty routines.  
Raika: Nothing specific. Maybe light muscle training? And listening to music.

■  What languages other than Japanese can you speak?

Lin: Chinese and English.  
Raika: English and a little Chinese, plus Osaka dialect.

■  What was your first impression of each member?

Isara:  
→ Lin: A reliable big brother.  
→ Asato: Someone I can be silly with.  
→ Rabi: Calm and composed.  
→ Raika: Someone I can be silly with.  

Lin:  
→ Isara: A young guy wearing metal T-shirt’s.
→ Asato: A handsome guy.
→ Rabi: A bassist of few words.
→ Raika: A Metalhead drummer.  

Asato:  
→ Isara: A weird guy. 
→ Lin: Wasn’t sure if we’d get along.
→ Rabi: Cool but funny. 
→ Raika: Tiny and cute. 

Rabi:  
→ Isara: Quiet and scary at first  
→ Lin: Scary at first  
→ Asato: Handsome  
→ Raika: Energetic and mischievous  

Raika:  
→ Isara: A crazy vocalist  
→ Lin: A guitarist who embodies adulthood. 
→ Asato: Handsome with a cute smile and has a typical Osaka vibe.
→ Rabi: Calm and very quiet. Handsome.

■  What are each other’s strengths?

Isara:  
→ Lin: Reliable when I’m in trouble  
→ Asato: Lightens the mood  
→ Rabi: Summarizes discussions.
→ Raika: Passionate. If I had to pick a leader, it’d be him.  

Lin:  
→ Isara: Cool vocalist  
→ Asato: Handsome guitarist  
→ Rabi: Handsome bassist  
→ Raika: Metalhead drummer  

Asato:  
→ Isara: Has aura, weird in a good way  
→ Lin: Can see the future. 
→ Rabi: Responsible person, easy talker.
→ Raika: Incredibly passionate and genius  

Rabi:  
→ Isara: Peaceful and kind no matter what  
→ Lin: Looks at the band objectively  
→ Asato: Takes initiative and is considerate of others  
→ Raika: Kind, passionate and surprisingly reliable.

Raika:  
→ Isara: Has an amazing talent as a vocalist, and is funny  
→ Lin: Big-brother type, reliable. He’s like the big-brother of our band.  
→ Asato: Kind and funny and is the type of person who works hard behind the scenes, even when you don’t notice it.
→ Rabi: Serious, calm, and can see things as a whole before making a decision. His occasional funny remarks are great.

Project U.D.M

■  Please tell us about U.D.M’s concept and worldview.

Lin: Project U.D.M. is a band that places a strong emphasis on visual kei, centering its sound around authentic metal and high-level performance. We blend heavy, intense sound with beauty, transience and storytelling. By combining metal’s overwhelming energy with the aesthetic sensibilities of visual kei, we create a unique worldview that is distinctively “Project U.D.M.” Our aim is to deliver music where intensity and beauty resonate together, rather than focusing on just one or the other.  

Raika: visual kei metal enables us to realise and express things that can only be expressed through visual kei. The core is important, of course, but since we are visual kei, we should be able to express whatever we want. I love metal, of course, but I also love visual kei. I wanted to combine the seductiveness, transience and beauty of visual kei with the brutal, destructive side of metal, as well as with songs that seek light and hope.

■  How did you all actually meet each other?

Isara: Half through the internet, half through venues.  

Lin: I first got to know Raika through SNS, and then met the other members. 

Asato: I’ve been close friends with Isara for a long time, and he introduced me to these wonderful members.  

Rabi: Except for Lin, I already knew the others in a variety of years. When we were looking for a second guitarist, Raika found Lin for us.  

Raika: I met Isara and Rabi at a venue, we got along, and I invited them to join the band. Isara brought Asato, and Lin contacted me via DM after we became SNS friends.

■  Why did you choose to start U.D.M as a visual kei band? Also, what do you think can only be expressed through visual kei?

Lin:I’ve always loved visual kei, which is why I’m still in a band. I like metalcore and djent metal, and I’ve always wanted to start a proper metal band. When I met the right members, I decided to start Project U.D.M with them. visual kei has a unique aesthetic beauty and distinctive style of music and live performance that sets it apart from other genres. Put simply, visual kei has a unique beauty. The ability to combine intensity and heaviness with beauty and storytelling is the charm that can only be expressed through visual kei.  

Rabi: I was in a metalcore band and was having so much fun that I didn’t have any complaints. At the same time, however, I felt that I was losing my ambition and desire to challenge myself. Then Raika took me to see DxDxJ and Kizu live. I was inspired to try something new in the visual kei genre, so I decided to give it a go. visual kei has a decadent and enchanting worldview. Its unique darkness has a cult-like power to draw people in that other genres don’t have.  

Raika: Only visual kei allows you to express a worldview through makeup and visuals which makes it unique. That’s what’s great about it! And of course, my personal love for visual kei.

■ U.D.M has not released any songs yet, but could you introduce the songs you currently play live?

1. About IDEA  
Isara: A song where you can rage your emotions freely and just go wild.

2. About Amabilis  
Isara: A song where you can rage your emotion, sometimes jump around, and just go wild.

3. About M:ARIA  
Isara: You can immerse yourself, but in the end you go wild; it feels so refreshing.

4. About 堕天 (Daten)  
Isara: Raging your emotions as a premise and going wild, but if you fall deep into your emotions, you might end up screaming along with us before you realize it.  

Lin: “Daten” is a song that I composed. Although it has a heavy and aggressive sound, it also contains elements of beauty and transience. I actually completed this song long before Project U.D.M started. I had been thinking, “Someday I want to play this with the right members,” so I’m really happy it’s finally taking shape.  I think it symbolises the intensity and beauty of Project U.D.M perfectly.

5. About Lost to Evan  
Isara: Forget about tomorrow; give it your all. Go completely insane!

■ What are U.D.M’s future goals?

Isara: U.D.M’s songs will be played all over the world.

Lin: First of all, a ONEMAN, and I want to go overseas with this band!  

Asato: A sold out ONEMAN.  

Rabi: To become a band that is the leader of the next generation of visual kei metal.  

Raika: A ONEMAN on a big stage. I want to play overseas and become a band that opens a new era!

■ Why do you think people should listen to U.D.M? What unique aspects does it have that other artists don’t?

Isara: You can relieve stress, with the music which we create as a five member band.  

Lin: U.D.M delivers real authentic metal and insane vocal strength!!! That’s the unique strength of us as a five-piece band, which let us really shine through in many ways.  

Asato: Our genius songs are mixed together in perfect harmony, showcasing the talents of our brilliant vocalist.

Rabi: U.D.M. combines the intensity and brutality of metal and deathcore with catchy melodies. Our lives are also unique, with powerful energy.

Raika: All the members have strong personalities, and there are songs and melodies that only the five of us can create. Not just our songs; but everyone of us is strong!

■ Finally, a message to the fans and readers.

Isara: Simply by reading this interview and taking an interest in us, you’re already part of U.D.M.!  From here on, it’s down to our own abilities. If you enjoy the music we release in future, please come to one of our lives. We’ll be waiting! 🤘🤘🤘  

Lin: We hope you’re looking forward to the music we’ll be releasing! Be sure to come to our lives! Let’s go wild together!  

Asato: Please look forward to our announcements. Come to our lives!  

Rabi: There will be releases and various announcements in the future, please look forward and check them out . We put a lot of care in our music and our lives, so if you’re even slightly interested, please come hang out!  

Raika: We’ll be making various announcements soon, so please look forward to them! I’d be happy if you get to know us even a little.