Defspiral Profile

Also known as	Transtic Nerve the Underneath Wilma-Sidr
Origin	Hyogo, Japan
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock
Years active	1996–2007 (as Transtic Nerve) 2007–2010 (as the Underneath) 2010 (as Wilma-Sidr) 2010–present (as Defspiral)
Labels	Stirring/Def Spiral, Avex Mode, Plug Records/Knowledge Alliance/PCI Music (Japan) JShock (United States)
Website	defspiral.com

Defspiral (stylized as defspiral and formerly known as Transtic Nerve, then the Underneath, and briefly as Wilma-Sidr) is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 1996 and currently signed to Plug Records/Knowledge Alliance/PCI Music in Japan and JShock in the United States. As Transtic Nerve, the band played more straightforward rock styled music, but shifted to a heavier and darker style upon transforming to the Underneath. When their name changed to Defspiral, they changed their style once again to suit a more mainstream and alternative rock audience.

History

Transtic Nerve was formed in November 1996 with the lineup of Tal on guitar, Ryo on bass and Masaki on drums. The band later recruited Taka as vocalist and Masato, another guitarist. The following August, Transtic Nerve released their debut album, Transtic Vision. In 1998, the band was noticed by famed guitarist Hideto Matsumoto (formerly of X Japan) and signed to his label, Lemoned.

In 2007, Transtic Nerve resurfaced with the announcement of a new band identity, the Underneath. The band saw no lineup change, but a deep stylistic change, moving to a heavier and darker style of music. The band's debut would be the Taste of Chaos Tour 2008 across the United States, being one of the three Japanese rock bands featured on the years' lineup (the others being D'espairsRay and Mucc). Without any releases or concerts in their home country, the band performed a lengthy American tour. the Underneath eventually announced their first album, Moon Flower, to be released in March 2008, first in the United States on the newly formed JShock label, partly founded by Yoshiki Hayashi of X Japan.

The band announced that they would disband on May 3, 2010. They released one last single titled "Diamond" on March 17, and had a disbanding tour called Last Live 2010 "Last Scene". Before entirely disbanding, the Underneath, sans Tal, reunited under the name Wilma-Sidr to perform "Leave all Behind", the theme song for Kamen Rider Accel for the Kamen Rider W soundtrack. "Leave all Behind" was released as a single on April 28, 2010.

The Wilma-Sidr line-up then reunited under the name Defspiral on Avex Group's Avex Mode label and released the single "Dive into the Mirror", the opening theme song for TV Asahi broadcasts of Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. Prior to the switch, Ryo had been serving as an arranger for songs on the Kamen Rider Kiva and Kamen Rider Decade soundtracks.

Members

Taka – vocals
Masato – guitar
Ryo – bass
Masaki – drums

Former members

Tal – guitar (1996–2010)