Known for their genre-defying blend of heavy soundscapes, glitchy electronics, and unfiltered emotion, Paledusk has rapidly become one of the most exciting forces in Japan’s modern metalcore scene.
Hailing from Fukuoka, the band is fearless in both sonic experimentation and bold collaborations most recently making waves with “HUGs“, the explosive opening theme for the anime GACHIAKUTA.
In this exclusive interview, the members of Paledusk open up about their creative process, how manga influences their songwriting, and what it means to write music that confronts pain, celebrates chaos, and dares to be honest.
GACHIAKUTA, the highly anticipated TV anime series is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Key Visual:
Before you read the full interview, you can listen to “Hugs”:
AnimeTV: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
KAITO: We’re a band called Paledusk, born in Fukuoka, Japan! We don’t stick to any particular genre—just enjoy our music however you like!
How would you describe your musical style?
KAITO: It’s Paledusk’s original style, built on a foundation of heavy sound.
You produced the “Hugs” music for the eagerly-awaited Gachiakuta anime, and the manga has an atypical, almost crude style that perfectly suits the metal band, as can be seen in your music. How did this collaboration come about?
KAITO: The manga artists started coming to our shows a few years ago, and they gave us an incredibly passionate offer. We’re truly honored and deeply moved.
How did you go about composing the music? Did you read the manga to get a feel for it?
KAITO (from a lyricist’s perspective): Of course, I read the manga before writing the lyrics. While reading, I wanted to create a message that could apply not just to the main character, Ludo, but also to myself, to us, to you—to everyone.
I believe everyone carries some weakness or pain. There are parts of ourselves we feel ashamed of and want to hide. At the same time, we want to run away… but we also want someone to help us, to hold us. I wrote this song as if it were a reflection of life itself—capturing that inner struggle.
DAIDAI: I read the manga many times before composing the music. There were so many parts of Rudo’s story that overlapped with my own life. This song is about pushing forward—through pain, through being crushed, through breaking down—yet still surviving. It’s about laughing through the tears and embracing every moment of that journey. I poured all of that into this one song: a life lived with all its struggles, strength, and love.
Your opening theme song “Hugs” marks your debut with the avex’s label for the animation industry. Are there any anime/manga you’d like to work on? Do you have a favorite anime or manga?
KAITO: I love soccer, so definitely BLUE LOCK! And if we’re including series that have already ended, then I’d say I’m a big fan of Slam Dunk, Chainsaw Man, Dorohedoro, Golden Kamuy, and One Piece.
DAIDAI: There are so many manga I love, but Zatch Bell! has been one of my favorites since I was a kid!
BOB: I can’t think of a specific series I’d like to work on, but as for manga I enjoy—when I was younger, I used to read Dragon Ball and Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube. More recently, I found Smiley really interesting. The detailed portrayal of human psychology and the mystery elements really drew me in. Lately, I’ve also been reading Sumi Nigori and Bōkyō Tarō (Longing for Home).
TSUBASA: There are many titles I like, but there isn’t a specific one I personally want to work on. However, since our sound is rooted in metal, I think it pairs well with anime featuring intense battle scenes.
On “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.” and the collaboration with ONE OK ROCK. How did your
collaboration with ONE OK ROCK and CHICO CARITO begin?
DAIDAI: “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.” was one of the songs I worked on while producing ONE OK ROCK’s album. During the process, we talked about having TAKA shout on the track. Then KAITO joined the project, and before we knew it, we were planning a tour together! I feel really lucky!
What exactly was your role in the composition or production of “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.”?
DAIDAI: I was given a demo as the foundation, and TAKA told me to have fun and do whatever I wanted with it. So, I created the song freely, exactly how I imagined it.
I’ve been a huge fan since I was a kid, so I made the song with the image of ONE OK ROCK that everyone would want to hear—and that I would want to hear too.
You’ve already collaborated with a number of artists. Is there a dream featuring you’d like to do soon?
DAIDAI: There are so many, but among them are Skrillex, Linkin Park, and Post Malone!
Your latest EP PALEHELL seems to take your genre fusion even further – how would you describe its artistic intent?
KAITO: The title and lead track are both PALEHELL. For this track, I wrote the lyrics exploring the theme of how things often look surprisingly different from the outside versus the inside. What might seem painful or trivial to others can actually be fun or deeply important to someone else. I wanted to express the importance—and the difficulty—of loving what you love, no matter what anyone says.
Is a full-length album planned after PALEHELL?
We are currently working on it.
Do you have any last message you would like to spread to your fans around the world?
KAITO: To everyone meeting us here for the first time, nice to meet you, and thank you for coming across us! And to everyone who’s always supported us, thank you so much! Please keep loving Paledusk just as you always have. You’re all an important part of the Paledusk story that’s just beginning. I’m really looking forward to creating many miracles together with you in the future!
“HUGs” will be released digitally on July 28, with a limited-edition CD to follow on September 17. The CD will feature four tracks, including a TV-size version, and the first pressing comes with nine collectible trading cards. These include exclusive illustrations of the members of Paledusk, drawn by GACHIAKUTA creator Kei Urana.
Artist photo:
More about Paledusk:
The band signed a contract with Australian label Grayscale Records in 2020, EU/UK label Avocado Bookings in 2021, and US label SharpTone Records in 2023, and has performed at numerous overseas festivals and live shows. The four-piece band from Fukuoka, Paledusk consists of Vo.KAITO, Gt.DAIDAI, Gt.TSUBASA, and Dr.BOB.
The band’s unique stance and presence have gained tremendous support not only from metal and rock listeners, but also from hardcore, hip-hop, and other genre-defying cultures, and the band’s sound is evolving into a new phase. DAIDAI’s songwriting creativity has garnered attention both domestically and internationally, and his participation as a producer on Bring Me the Horizon’s new album “Post Human: NeX Gen” debuted at #1 on the iTunes Rock Albums Chart and reached #3 on the iTunes Overall Albums Chart. He also wrote/arranged the music for Lil Uzi Vert’s “The End ft. BABYMETAL” and contributed to ONE OK ROCK’s new album “DETOX” with the songs “Puppets Can’t Control You” and “C.C.”. ‘t Control You,” “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y. feat. Paledusk and CHICO CARITO,” “+Matter “+Matter”, and co-wrote and arranged three songs with ONE OK ROCK. He has collaborated with numerous world-class artists and has garnered recognition both in name and reality.
They are now the No. 1 young band in terms of both ability and talent, which everyone has been waiting for.
■ Paledusk links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paledusk1797
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Paledusk_jpn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paledusk_jpn/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/artist/2GWuBfYdmPB91krBNQavHa?si=gQj2YpcSRviflVEo7m6i_g&nd=1&dlsi=965c7846382f4ddf
© Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee
Interview conducted by Josh with questions from Babilonya.
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