9mm Parabellum Bullet (キューミリ・パラベラム・バレット,Kyūmiri Paraberamu Baretto) is a Japaneserock band, formed in March 2004 inYokohama. It consists ofvocalist andrhythm guitarist Takuro Sugawara,guitarist andbacking vocalist Yoshimitsu Taki,bassist Kazuhiko Nakamura, anddrummer Chihiro Kamijo, who came up with the band's name. Piano pieces included in some songs are performed by Taki, while the characteristic shouts are provided by Nakamura.

The band signed to under_bar, a sub-label of Reverb Records, and released two early mini-albums,Gjallarhorn in 2005 andPhantomime in 2006, and played live shows inYokohama andTokyo.^{[citation needed]}

2007 saw the band signed toEMI Music Japan and the releases ofThe World e.p. which featured newly recorded version of songs fromGjallarhorn and two new tracks, and theDiscommunication e.p., which features the song "Discommunication" and a 35-minute live recording.^[4][5] At the end of 2007 they released their first full album,Termination, after which they began their first solo tour.^[6]

In the summer of 2008 the band released the double A-side single "Supernova/Wanderland", which also included piano instrumentals of both songs and a third song called "Wildpitch".^[7] 9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play atAsian Kung-Fu Generation's Nano-Mugen Festival that year at theYokohama Arena, a festival notable for featuring up-and-coming acts alongside more well known and foreign acts. They covered "Motorbreath" for the October 2008Metallica tribute albumMetal-ikka.^[8]

In October the band released their second full albumVampire and proceeded onto the Vampire Empire Tour 08/09. In April 2009, the band released their first live DVD,Act I, which contains 4 concerts from different points in their career.

In late spring of 2009, the band released the mini-albumBlack Market Blues e.p., which also included a recording of their free live performance atYoyogi Park as a B-side. 2009 also saw 9mm Parabellum Bullet's first nomination at theMTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Rock Video", where they were nominated for the video of their song "Living Dying Message". They also performed this song live at the show.

9mm Parabellum Bullet appeared at numerous rock festivals across Japan notably includingRock in Japan Festival,Rising Sun Rock Festival and Space Shower's Sweet Love Shower. On September 9, 2009, 9mm Parabellum Bullet had their first show at theNippon Budokan titled 999. This performance would appear on theCold Edge e.p., released on September 30.

9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play at Countdown Japan 09/10. In early-January they released the single "Inochi no Zenmai", which was used as the theme for the live-action adaptation of theHiganjima manga. The single includes a cover ofLinda Yamamoto's 1972 song "Dou ni mo Tomaranai".^[9] It was announced that April 21, 2010, would be the date of 9mm Parabellum Bullet's third full album release, titledRevolutionary.^[10] It was followed by a tour across Japan. In late March, a music video was shot for the last track of the new album, called "The Revolutionary".

On May 18, 2011, the single "Atarashii Hikari" was released. The band's fourth albumMovement was released on June 15. They also performed atYokohama Arena on June 26.^[11]

9mm Parabellum Bullet covered "Territorial Pissings" for the albumNevermind Tribute, which was released on April 4, 2012 and is composed of various Japanese bands covering the entirety ofNirvana's highly acclaimed albumNevermind.^[12] Their first acoustic performance forMTV Unplugged was held at Billboard Live Tokyo with a limited capacity of 150 fans and released on home video on May 27. Their fourth single "Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete" followed on October 24, 2012.^[13]

On April 1, 2013, EMI Music Japan was completely merged intoUniversal Music Japan as a sublabel by the nameEMI Records Japan as a result ofUniversal Music's purchase of EMI in September 2012. All the artists from EMI Music Japan will continue releasing material at Universal Music Japan while still maintaining the catalogue code (TOCT).^[14] Their fifth single "Answer and Answer" was released on May 29.^[15] 9mm Parabellum Bullet released their fifth albumDawning on June 26, 2013.^[16]

They performed a cover of "Instant Music" for the February 2014The Pillows tribute album,Rock and Sympathy.^[17]

The band took part in the first day ofLuna Sea's Lunatic Fest atMakuhari Messe on June 27, 2015.^[18] Luna Sea bassistJ joined them onstage for "Cold Edge".^[19] 9mm Parabellum Bullet released a quadruple A-side single, "Hangyaku no March/Dark Horse/Daremo Shiranai/Mad Pierrot", on September 9.^[20] They also contributed a cover to a November 2015 tribute album for The Telephones,We are Disco!!! ~Tribute to The Telephones~.^[17]

In January 2016, 9mm Parabellum Bullet announced they had switched to the independent record label Sazanga Records.^[21] The albumWaltz on Life Line was released on April 27, 2016. The band provided the opening theme songs "Inferno" and "Sacrifice" for theBerserk anime adaptation.^[22]

• Takuro Sugawara (菅原 卓郎,Sugawara Takurō) –vocals,rhythm guitar
• Yoshimitsu Taki (滝 善充,Taki Yoshimitsu) –lead guitar,piano,backing vocals
• Kazuhiko Nakamura (中村 和彦,Nakamura Kazuhiko) –bass,screams
• Chihiro Kamijo (かみじょう ちひろ,Kamijō Chihiro) –drums

• Guitars - ESP
  • ESP Snapper-S/AL (Black, Vintage White)
  • Gibson Les Paul Special
  • Edwards Jr. Custom
  • Navigator N-LP-480CTM
  • Navigator N-LP-480LTD
  • ESP TYG (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model)^[23]
  • ESP Bricoleur (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model)
  • ESP Truckster (James Hetfield Signature Model)
• Amps -Marshall,Fender
  • Fender Twin Reverb
  • Marshall JCM2000
  • Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Amp Head
  • Marshall 1960AV
  • Marshall JCM800 2203
  • Marshall 1960X

• Guitars - ESP
  • ESP Snapper-S/AS (Honey Blond, Burner)
  • ESP Snapper-S/AS Matte Black (SUFFER Protomodel)
  • ESP Potbelly-STD (Amber Cherry Sunburst)
  • ESP Suffer (Yoshimitsu Taki Signature Model)^[24]
  • ESP Suffer Proto Type
  • ESP Max Cavalera AX (Max Cavalera Signature Model)
  • Edwards Karmaster
• Amps -Mesa/Boogie
  • Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
  • Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
  • Mesa/Boogie F-100
  • Yamaha F50-112

• Guitars - ESP
  • ESP AP 220 (Black)
  • ESP AP Custom Mat Black (Untitled Protomodel)
  • ESP Untitled (Kazuhiko Nakamura Signature Model)^[25]
  • ESPPB Type Custom
  • ESP Amaze-CTM (See Thru Black)
  • ESP X-JB (Acrylic Body)
  • Sepia Crue EAB-430Acoustic Bass
  • Landscape SWB-Artist ElectricUpright Bass
• Amps -SWR
  • SWR 750x

Kamijo is a full endorser ofYamaha drums,Remo drumheads, andZildjian cymbals and drumsticks. Kamijo was a former user ofLudwig drums (notably theVistalite series) prior to his switch to Yamaha, and has his signature model of drumsticks on Zildjian's website.

• Drums -Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute, Blue Ice Sparkle
  • 8"x10" Tom
  • 8"x12" Tom
  • 13"x14" Floor Tom
  • 15"x16" Floor Tom
  • 22"x18" Bass Drum (x2)
  • 6"x14" Snare Drum (as side snare)
  • 6.5"x14" Copper Snare
• Cymbals -Zildjian
  • 14" A Custom Hi-Hats
  • 6" Zil-Bel Small
  • 8" A Custom Splash
  • 10" A Custom Splash
  • 12" Z3 Splash
  • 12" A Zildjian Special Recording Hi-hat Bottom
  • 18" A Custom Projection Crash
  • 19" Z3 Rock Crash
  • 19" Z3 Thrash Ride
  • 20" A Custom China
  • 20" FX Oriental China "Trash"
• Drumheads -Remo
  • Bass Drums - Powerstroke 3 Clear (batter) | Ebony Powerstroke 3 (reso)
  • Toms - Emperor Clear (batter) | Ambassador Clear (reso)
  • Snare - Controlled Sound Reverse Dot (main, batter) / Black Suede Emperor (side, batter) | Ambassador Snare Side (reso)
• Hardware – Yamaha,DW
  • Yamaha FP9500 Direct Drive Single Pedal (x2)
  • DW 9000 Pedal (x2)
• Drumsticks – Zildjian
  • Zildjian 3A Wood Tip
  • Zildjian Chihiro Kamijo Artist Series Drumsticks
• Guitar – Gibson
  • Gibson Les Paul Standard (Blue)

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

• Japanese rock

• Official website
• Official blog