ESPRIT D’AIR

track-list:
Tempus
Chronos
Shadow of Time
Quetzalcoatl
Silver Leaf
Stardust
Machina
Lost Horizon
Broken Mirror
絶望の光 (‘Zetsubou no Hikari’)
Like A Phoenix
羽ばたけ (‘Habatake’)

Esprit D’Air are:
Kai – guitars
Vincent Velazco – drums
Takeshi – bass
Yusuke – guitar

Tour dates 2026:
feb26th The Green Room Dublin/IRE
feb27th Limelight 2 Belfast/NIR

discography:

Rich Hobson, Metal Hammer:
“Esprit D’Air are at their cinematic best, striking a balance between noir grit and electro-enhanced sci-fi elements.”
Nel Hylton, BBC Radio 1:
“Gargantuan, taking electronic-sounding elements and just layering it over some of the best guitar riffs I’ve heard in a minute.”
Alex Baker, Kerrang! Radio:
“Showcases how these guys have the ability to mix up so many flavors. It’s proggy, cinematic, it’s synthy, it’s a bit DragonForce-y at times, a bit metal-y, but all the time, it’s bloody great.”
Gary Trueman, Devolution Magazine:
“You just know what you hear in your headphones will be recreated perfectly live too such is the band’s reputation. Aeons marks another step forward for one of metal’s most consistent acts.”
Benedetta Baldin, Chaoszine:
“‘Aeons’ is a masterpiece from start to finish, so mark your calendars for November 7th. You do not want to miss it!”

Esprit D’Air return with their fourth studio album, ‘Aeons‘, released in November 2025 – a bold, self-produced work that pushes their signature blend of alternative metal and cinematic atmosphere into deeper, darker territory.
Written and crafted entirely by the band, the record features recent fan-favourite singles ‘Chronos‘ and ‘Silver Leaf‘, both crowned Best New Metal Track of the Week by Metal Hammer readers.
‘Aeons‘ follows the success of ‘Constellations‘ (2017), ‘Oceans‘ (2022), and ‘Seasons‘ (2024), each of which made an impact on the Official Charts, with multiple singles landing in the Official Top Ten Single Sales Chart.
Explaining the concept behind the new album, bandleader Kai reflects:
“’Aeons’ is about time – how it can trap us, test us, and push us to the edge. These songs were written in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, shaped by conflict, division, and crisis. But within that darkness, there’s still resilience, hope, and the possibility to begin again. The music moves through despair and struggle, but always toward the belief that even in dark times, there’s a way forward.”
Esprit D’Air’s current lineup features Kai – guitarist, vocalist, producer, and a member of The Sisters of Mercy – alongside drummer Vincent Velazco (ex-Ghost, Pendragon), bassist Takeshi (ex-MergingMoon), and guitarist Yusuke.
Fresh off a successful European tour spanning ten countries and venues of up to 1,500 capacity, the band have also completed a UK run and added select Irish dates to support ‘Aeons‘.
This cycle sees Esprit D’Air returning to more intimate venues, aiming to deliver the album’s emotional weight and intensity in a closer, more immersive setting.
The tour also included a long-awaited rescheduled show in Barcelona, previously postponed due to a national power outage.
While earlier albums featured collaborations with artists such as Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy), Ryo Kinoshita (ex-Crystal Lake, Knosis), Tim ‘Ripper‘ Owens (ex-Judas Priest, KK’s Priest), and Heavygrinder, ‘Aeons‘ marks a new era – one defined by the band’s complete creative independence.
An award-winning force in alternative metal, Esprit D’Air continue to work entirely outside the traditional industry framework, self-producing and self-releasing every record.
Their commitment has earned them international tours, chart placements, and a dedicated global fanbase.
With its compelling blend of ambition, emotion, and technical precision, ‘Aeons‘ is already positioning itself as a strong contender for #1 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart.

Esprit D’Air European Tour 2025:
22.03. Marble Factory Bristol/GB
23.03. Academy 2 Manchester/GB
24.03. Digital Newcastle/GB
25.03. The Garage Glasgow/GB
26.03. Electric Ballroom London/GB
15.04. Kavka Zappa Antwerp/BE
16.04. Essigfabrik Cologne/DE
17.04. Knust Hamburg/DE
18.04. Effenaar Eindhoven/NL
20.04. Columbia Theater Berlin/DE
21.04. Rock Café Prague/CZ
22.04. Klub Studio Kraków/PL
23.04. Barba Negra Budapest/HU
24.04. Legend Club Milan/IT
27.04. Mon Madrid Madrid/ES
28.04. Razzmatazz 2 Barcelona/ES
29.04. New Morning Paris/FR

Esprit D’Air announce new album ‘Aeons‘ with release of nu metal single, ‘Lost Horizon‘.
Fronted by Kai (The Sisters Of Mercy), drums by Jan-Vincent Velazco (ex-Ghost, Pendragon, Gus G).
Esprit D’Air released their single, ‘Lost Horizon‘, on 28 February 2025.
Written and produced by vocalist, Kai (current guitarist of The Sisters Of Mercy), the song blends nu-metal, hip-hop, and alternative metal, taking inspiration from artists such as Bad Omens, Bring Me The Horizon, and Linkin Park with a Japanese twist.
The single is one of many leading up to their upcoming fourth album ‘Aeons‘, set to release on 24 October 2025.
‘Lost Horizon‘ explores themes of grief and loss.
Kai describes the song as a reflection of their experience navigating the aftermath of personal loss, characterised by a sense of searching for resolution that feels out of reach.
“The ‘scream within a dream’ represents the silent but overwhelming pain I felt”,
Kai explains.
“It’s about the struggle to heal while feeling trapped in a state of longing”.
It’s a cathartic experience for listeners who have faced grief and loss.
Esprit D’Air is the award-winning Japanese electronic rock/metal project led by Kai, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist.
With a strong DIY ethos, Kai records and produces all music independently, alongside managing every aspect of their tours and releases without a record label, management, promoter, booking agent, or any external financial backing.
Known for their dynamic collaborations, Esprit D’Air has previously worked with renowned artists such as Tim ‘Ripper‘ Owens (ex-Judas Priest, KK’s Priest), Ben Christo (The Sisters Of Mercy), and Ryo Kinoshita (Knosis, ex-Crystal Lake), further cementing their reputation in the international rock and metal scene.
Featured in major outlets such as Billboard, Loudwire, Kerrang! Radio, and BBC Radio, their previous albums, ‘Constellations‘, ‘Seasons‘, and ‘Oceans‘, achieved chart success, with singles such as ‘Leviathan‘ and ‘Shizuku‘ entering the Top 10 of the Official Singles Sales Chart without label or management backing.
Esprit D’Air will embark on a 17-date European headline tour, performing double sets without a support band.
The line-up features Kai (The Sisters Of Mercy), Takeshi Tokunaga (ex-Knights of Round) on bass, Jan-Vincent Velazco (ex-Ghost, Pendragon, Gus G) on drums, and Yusuke Okamoto on guitar.

Exciting news from award-winning electronic metal band Esprit D’Air…
They are thrilled to announce the release of a powerful remix of their hit single ‘Shizuku‘ by renowned metal drum and bass producer Zardonic.
Led by multi-instrumentalist Kai, also guitarist for The Sisters of Mercy, Esprit D’Air has been making a significant impact in the music industry with their unique blend of electronic and metal sounds.
In addition to her work with Esprit D’Air, Kai will be joining The Sisters of Mercy on a 26-date tour across North America this Fall 2024 alongside Andrew Eldritch, Ben Christo and Chris Catalyst.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable musical experience…

Esprit D’Air UK/European Tour Dates 2023
Oct 8: Kraków, Poland, Klub Zaścianek (SOLD OUT)
Oct 10: Budapest, Hungary, Dürer Kert (SOLD OUT)
Oct 12: Barcelona, Spain, La Nau (SOLD OUT)
2024
Feb 12: Bournemouth, UK, The Old Fire Station
Feb 13: Exeter, UK, Exeter Phoenix
Feb 14: Bristol, UK, Thekla
Feb 16: Swansea, UK, Hangar 18
Feb 18: Wolverhampton, UK, KK’s Steel Mill
Feb 19: Sheffield, UK, Corporation
Feb 20: Manchester, UK, Academy 3
Feb 21: Liverpool, UK, O2 Academy 2
Feb 23: Dublin, Ireland, The Grand Social (SOLD OUT)
Feb 24: Belfast, UK, Oh Yeah Music Centre (SOLD OUT)
Feb 26: Leeds, UK, The Warehouse
Feb 27: Glasgow, UK, The Garage
Feb 28: Newcastle, UK, Northumbria Uni S.U.
Feb 29: Nottingham, UK, Rescue Rooms
Mar 02: London, UK, The Garage
Mar 29: Heerlen, the Netherlands, Poppodium Nieuwe Nor
Mar 30: Hamburg, Germany, Headcrash (SOLD OUT)
Mar 31: Köln, Germany, MTC (SOLD OUT)
Apr 01: Antwerpen, Belgium, Kavka Oudaan

Esprit D’Air has released a cover of Iron Maiden’s classic track ‘The Trooper’, featuring Tim ‘Ripper‘ Owens (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest) on guest vocals, and Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy) on guitar to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its release.
Kai’s vocal video cover of ‘The Trooper’ on TikTok gained attention from Iron Maiden’s Official account stating, ‘Great Cover 🤯’, which inspired him to make it an official licensed release with Esprit D’Air.
The release is accompanied by a music video filmed and edited by Charlie Smith of MindArtVisual, who produced all the music videos for KK’s Priest.
Vocalist and guitarist Kai says:
“Like many metalheads, I was introduced to heavy metal with Iron Maiden. They are one of the biggest reasons why I am making music. Like for many metalheads, ‘The Trooper’ was one of the first heavy metal songs I got into. I am honoured to team up with both Ripper and Ben on this to commemorate its 40th anniversary with our own version! We also wanted to respect the original version but also make it our own, so Ben and I wrote our own guitar solos in it.”
As featured on Loudwire, BBC Radio 1, and Kerrang! Radio, Esprit D’Air released their latest album ‘Oceans‘ in 2022, which entered six Official Charts, including #8 in the Rock & Metal Albums, and #5 in Album Downloads.
In 2023, the band sold out their 7-day UK tour entirely and entered the Official UK Singles Charts with their single, ‘Shizuku‘ (feat. Misstiq).
Esprit D’Air will be embarking on a 22-date tour across eight European countries in 2023/2024 with seven dates already sold out.
Joining Kai on tour are Jan-Vincent Velazco (Pendragon, Gus G) on drums, Takeshi Tokunaga on bass, and Yusuke Okamoto and guitar, who all feature in the music video and recording.
Tim ‘Ripper‘ Owens will be on tour with KK’s Priest in October 2023 with Paul Di’Anno and Burning Witches as special guests on their ‘Priests, Killers & Witches‘ UK tour in Birmingham, Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester, and London.
Ben Christo is currently on a 40-date European tour with The Sisters of Mercy.
Ben will also be joining Esprit D’Air as a special guest in Budapest on October 10th to perform ‘Dead Zone’, a song he co-wrote with Esprit D’Air.