Research - Heaven (1998)

"Research", 1998. Research formed in 1995. Late that year, the group released its first demo, "Fade Out", and Research released their second demo, which was self-titled, in late 1996. Research released two more demos throughout 1997, but ran into their first lineup change late that year when bassist Kazuya left. He would soon be replaced by Kazunori, and the group released three more demos throughout 1998, developing a loyal cult following by the end of 1998. In November of 1999, Research released their first single, "Go to the Top", which was a massive smash in the visual underground. In August of 2000, the group released its first full length album, "Time Capsule (タイムカプセル)", and later released their first VHS that October, "Over", with both having extremely strong sales in the visual underground as well. Despite their solid sales and large following, Research would eventually end up officially disbanding in May of 2001. Kazunori went on to join the popular indies visual group Aioria under the alias of Kazu, which would fold after about a year of activity. He then joined the legendary visual group Kagerou (蜉蝣), which would become one of the most popular visual groups of the 2000s. The drummer of Research, Kenichi, went on to join the indies group Captain Double Lynch, which also folded in 2004, and afterwards, he retired from the visual scene and instead joined the supergroup Attack Haus, which consisted of former members from popular visual group Cascade, which would also dissolve in 2009. The frontman of Research, Hiromitsu (裕光), formed his own solo project, Hiro-X, which would dissolve in 2006. One of the guitarists of Research, Naoshi, went on to join the obscure indies group C.A.N, which would eventually disintegrate by 2003, and he would then also retire from the visual scene. He would then join his first non-visual group Generation IV, which folded after about a year, and Naoshi then joined the underground group Yellow, which disbanded as well in 2006. in 2005, Research temporarily reunited, and would play a few lives before disbanding again a year later. Afterwards, Naoshi would then retire from the underground music scene in general, while Hiromitsu remained active in Hiro-X until it dissolved around the same time. Hiromitsu then retired from the visual scene and instead formed the duo Shandy Scope, under his full name of Hiromitsu Aoki (青木裕光), which he was active in until it also dissolved by 2009. He would then temporarily return to the visual underground when he revived his Hiro-X project, and also started another project, the non-visual Akashic Note, although they both ended up dissolving again by 2012. Afterwards, Shandy Scope reunited with Hiromitsu as a member, although when it disintegrated again in 2018, Hiromitsu would then retire from the underground music scene in general. Kenichi would join the indies group Acalli, which eventually folded in 2010, and afterwards, also retired from the underground music scene in general. Kazu would be the only member of Research to remain constantly active in the visual scene, as he would remain active in Kagerou and also joined the supergroup The God and Death Stars, although both folded in 2007. In 2009, The God and Death Stars reunited, although he would not return until 2010, and also joined the visual supergroup Dimmdivision., as well as two more supergroups: Stereo.C.K. and Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy. In 2020, Stereo.C.K. ended up dissolving, although Kazu would remain active in The God and Death Stars, Dimmdivision. and Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy, although Stereo.C.K. would temporarily reunite in 2012. Kazu currently remains active in The God and Death Stars, Dimmdvision. and Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy today, as well as a prolific support musician.