PRESS KIT

WORSHIP PAIN: A Fusion of Darkness, Experience, and Unrelenting Sound

Worship Pain is a Tokyo-based black metal band formed by four seasoned musicians: two Americans, one Canadian, and one Australian. With over 100 years of collective experience in Japan's underground music scene, the band has deep roots in booking, performing, and curating extreme metal events. Members have previously played in renowned acts such as Black Line Fever, Funeral Sutra, Retch, Darkcorpse, Amputee, and Swazönd, contributing to their reputation as veterans of the underground.

Fusing black metal with elements of hardcore, Worship Pain delivers an intense, genre-blurring sound that defies the conventional boundaries of extreme music. Their music is a visceral experience that combines raw energy with haunting, atmospheric undertones, creating a sonic journey through themes of darkness and despair.

Since their inception, Worship Pain has become a prominent force in Japan’s metal scene, performing at venues across the country and throughout Asia. Their live shows are a powerful testament to their musical philosophy: unrelenting, immersive, and deeply cathartic.

With a growing fanbase and a relentless drive to push the boundaries of their sound, Worship Pain continues to carve out a distinct niche in the global black metal scene, blending dark aesthetics with aggressive sonic textures. 

For booking inquiries, media requests, or more information, please contact worship.pain.jp@gmail.com

  • No Clean Singing

    ...when Starless, Endless finally kicks into gear it kicks in hard with some seriously savage, stripped-to-the-bone Black Metal reminiscent, in places, of early Ultha or Instinct Decay-era Nachtmystium (with the latter comparison being particularly apt during the shifting rhythms and malevolent lead melodies of “Knife”).

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RECORDS

Worship Pain’s compositions are expansive, dark explorations that blend black metal and hardcore, built on themes of emptiness, impermanence, and catharsis. Each track is crafted to evoke an intense, brooding atmosphere, taking listeners on a journey through relentless soundscapes, where aggression meets deep reflection.

In the studio, the band captures the raw, visceral energy of their live performances with precision. Their latest release, Starless, Endless, is a testament to this, offering sprawling compositions that maintain a relentless pace while diving into atmospheric and emotional depths.

  • Toilet ov Hell

    Starless Endless runs... a black metal funnel of pitch with the hardcore curtailed to the angsty final stretch, but I love the contours of the rusty riffwork that powers the three tracks. 'Candle' and 'Knife' corral the flickering heat and wicked edge, true to form, but the 12-minute 'Ghost' has the most post-metal mist emanating from its depth.

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GIGS

Worship Pain’s live performances are more than music—they’re an immersive, multi-sensory experience that goes beyond the typical concert. With brooding lighting and incense filling the air, they create a dark, ritualistic atmosphere. Combined with their intense blend of black metal and hardcore, the band pulls audiences into a visceral, otherworldly journey.

Their gigs across Japan and in cities like Taipei highlight their rising presence in the global underground metal scene. Each show is a cathartic collision of sound, sight, and scent, cementing their reputation as one of Tokyo’s most immersive live acts.

  • No. We're Australian, Canadian, and American. All members are long-term residents of Japan.

  • Our music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

  • We're not particularly demanding, though we do have requests for lodging, meals, transportation, merch, sound & lighting, backline, and hospitality. You can see details in our rider.

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