Versailles (JP)

About

Also known as: Versailles –Philharmonic Quintet–, ヴェルサイユ

Versailles brought something genuinely theatrical to metal: Rococo costumes, twin lead guitars, and symphonic arrangements that felt closer to an orchestra than a rock band. Formed in Tokyo in 2007 by vocalist Kamijo and guitarist Hizaki, the group built an international fanbase almost immediately, releasing their debut EP Lyrical Sympathy simultaneously in Japan and Europe. Their visual kei roots run deep, but the music leans hard into symphonic and power metal territory, with the dueling guitar work of Hizaki and Teru as a defining signature. The band's story has real weight to it. Bassist Jasmine You passed away in 2009, just days after the group signed to Warner Music Japan, and the major debut album Jubilee was finished with Hizaki stepping in on bass. Despite that, Versailles kept pushing: Holy Grail hit number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart, they toured Latin America and Europe, and even headlined their own TV show in 2011. After going on hiatus in 2012, they returned to the stage in December 2015, and released the VOGUE music video as recently as 2023.