Dios Unleash Their Debut Album, “Castle”

Japanese pop-R&B influenced band, Dios release their debut album, “Castle”.

By the lakeside of fantasy, by its shores. A castle nestles quietly in the heart, existing somewhere, yet not anywhere. 

The album has been released on all major digital streaming platforms. The accompanying focus single, ‘Virtual Castle’, was released on the 1st of June.

About Their Debut Album

‘CASTLE’ tells a story of 12 chapters in a castle situated deep in the forest. Universal human emotions are depicted, no matter how much the times have changed, no matter how much plague covers the world. Vocalist of Dios, Tanaka shares, ‘‘I created a phantom castle that appears only when you listen to the music. I like that music can make things that don’t exist, exist, and that it can bring the scenery back to life vividly, and in an instant.” Together with Ichika Nito’s guitar, it’s sad and sorrowful sound which has been influenced by Japanese music legends such as Joe Hisaishi and Ryuichi Sakamoto, and with Sasanomaly’s detailed soundscape, a brand new reality is painted in which forests and castles float in the air. 

Each single is created individually by exploring different genres. ‘断面 (Integral)’ touches on the layers of love and how humans perceive it, ‘残像 (Afterimage)’ as well as ‘紙飛行機 (Paper Plane)’ cover the passage of time and of how we cannot control our memories. Since released in November 2021, the single, ‘ダークルーム（Darkroom)’ questions safety and happiness if we were to stay in a place with no stimulation. The single has catapulted the band’s international popularity. Other previously singles such as ‘Theater’ has become instrumental in being the main theme song to the Japanese TV drama, ‘Upper and Lower Relationships’. The album’s focus single, ‘Virtual Castle’, is an electronic dark pop dance tune, one that is very much attuned to Dios’ music technicality with it’s melody line created by Dios’ member, Sasanomaly who has a deep knowledge of game music and is an active vocaloid. 

Heavily influenced by various cultures including music and literature, the album ‘CASTLE’ is a record that shows Dios’ vision of “music as art’. 3 artists with completely different music sensibilities experimenting in different musical genres, weaved together as one band, resulting in the trajectory of the Dios listening experience that has culminated over the past two years. On the band’s synergy as 3 individual artists working together as a band, Ichika adds, “In the music we create, there is such a wide range in tone of the songs, it is hard to believe they were made by a single band, so I think there is something in our work for everyone to enjoy. Furthermore, Dios is a collective of 3 people trying to step out from everything that binds them and who are in search of freedom. That’s also why our debut single was ‘Runaway’ and the positivity that came with running from where you are.’ 

DIOS’ debut album, ‘CASTLE’ is has been released today, June 29th, 2022. It include past hit singles, ‘Darkroom’, ‘Paper Plane’ and ‘Bloom’. The band will also embark on a 5-city summer already sold-out live concert tour in Japan.

Dios, ‘CASTLE’ Album Tracklist 

1. ダークルーム(Dark Room) 

Two people who chose a world in which nothing unexpected happens by shutting themselves up in a blank room. This single was made the theme song for a Hulu Original, ‘Future Century SHIBUYA’ 

2. Virtual Castle 

In this dark pop dance tune, a protagonist yearns for tranquillity and happiness, building a castle of illusion. The thought of formidable shadows lurking is curbed with these illusions. 

3. 天国（Heaven) 

Realizing that a world that has only a pair of lovers, is really just an illusion. It feels as though Heaven in this scenario is broken. To accept things and move forward is the positive message here, or is that just an illusion as well?

4. 試作機（Prototype) 

Piling up on only sad things, forming insecurities and pulling the protagonist deeper down the dark hole. 

5. 残像（Afterimage) 

A slow reminiscent track that holds on to a memory of only the good things of a lover. Beyond limitless time, only love remains. 

6. Bloom 

A picture of idealistic hope while inner demons are still lurking somewhere in the far corners. The existing scars, while unfortunately cannot be rid of, serve as a reminder of looking at things in a different shade of tinted glasses. 

7. 断面（Integral) 

This chapter touches on the layers of love and how humans perceive it. This single was used as the theme song for ’教祖のムスメ, Kyōso no musume’. 

8. 鬼よ（My Inner Demon) 

Set in an obsessive world where the protagonist feels as though everyone is ridiculing him, it is actually his own inner demon. 

9. Misery 

Tied up with an obsession that no one can reach, Misery is all about the struggle and questioning of whether to give up on the ideals or have the pendulum continue to swing. 

10. 逃避行 （Runaway) 

As the debut single of DIOS, ‘Runaway’ is about two destined lovers wanting to escape and make their moment together forever, rather than facing what will happen tomorrow and being alone. 

11. 紙飛行機（Paper Plane) 

The feeling of foreboding resignation that haunts a protagonist, as though everything can go wrong, and it feels like a game of zero-sum. 

12. 劇場（Theater) 

‘Theater’ is DIOS’ interpretation of a one-sided love, with picturesque scenes that accompany the music and lyrics. ‘Theater’ was also appointed as the main theme song for the LINE NEWS VISION TV drama, ‘Upper and Lower Relationships”.