Kyoki Joins Music Labs, Bringing Visual Kei Horror and Melodic Deathcore Fury

Saitama Japan based Kyoki

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Saitama, Japan

Music Labs just added a new monster to the roster. Kyoki, a deathcore and visual kei band with a taste for nightmare folklore, is officially part of the Music Labs ensemble.

The five-piece lineup includes Kenji (vocals), Ren (guitar), Dai (guitar), Akira (bass), and Kenta (drums). Their mission is clear: heavy, melodic deathcore with a theatrical visual identity rooted in Japan’s darker stories, spirits, and shadows.

“Like yōkai, we want to invoke images of horror and fear in our presentation,” says vocalist Kenji. “We want to stand out as much as we can.”

Kenji’s path into the Japanese metal scene is part of what makes Kyoki hit different. Born in Los Angeles to Japanese parents, he moved to Japan in 2022 on a student visa, expecting a life change. What he found was a thriving heavy music underground.

“I’m Japanese-American,” Kenji explains. “My parents are fully Japanese, and even though I was born in the U.S., I always felt pulled toward Japan. When I got here, I realized the heavy metal scene wasn’t just alive, it was thriving. I wanted to be part of that.”

Musically, Kyoki is built on pure melodic deathcore aggression, but with a wider emotional palette than your average breakdown factory. The band leans into harmony, atmosphere, and cinematic contrast, and Kenji’s bilingual delivery opens the door for both Japanese and English lyrics without feeling forced.

“The band’s style is 100% melodic deathcore,” says guitarist Dai, speaking through an interpreter, “but we also want harmonies and beautiful landscapes in the music. Kenji gave us the ability to sing in both Japanese and English, and that matters, because most of us only speak Japanese. And when he sings clean, it has this comfort to it, but he can also bring raw power. That contrast is a big part of Kyoki.”

Kyoki’s debut full-length album is currently slated for summer 2026. Expect more details soon, including release plans, visuals, and the first official singles.

Welcome to the roster, Kyoki.