Esprit D’Air Live Report (Barcelona, Razzmatazz 2)

Brick by brick.
The phrase might be an Internet meme these days, but it perfectly sums up the long, stubborn climb of Esprit D’Air. Those early years playing at small Spanish anime conventions in Málaga or Granada, and the days when their former vocalist performed solo just to promote the band, feel like they belong to another lifetime. Fast forward to today: Esprit D’Air are touring their fourth album, Aeons, and Kai is now also part of the legendary gothic rock outfit The Sisters of Mercy.

It’s been many years since that Japanese band based in London first formed in 2010 and played their very first international show that same year in Málaga. Kai and his band have been through a lot since then. Line-up changes, including the difficult task of replacing a vocalist, plus a three-year disbandment between 2013 and 2016, would’ve ended many projects. But Esprit D’Air refused to disappear.

Ever since Kai grabbed the wheel and turned Esprit D’Air into a solo-driven project, the momentum hasn’t stopped. Their debut album Constellations won Best Metal Album at the Independent Music Awards in 2017. The trajectory has only gone upwards: Aeons hit number 1 in the OCC UK Rock & Metal charts in 2025, a milestone that speaks for itself.

If there’s one thing Esprit D’Air are known for in Spain, it’s their bad luck. After having to reschedule their 28 April show this year due to the infamous power outage, they now faced a new enemy: a massive Cloudflare crash causing unstable internet everywhere. Tickets weren’t loading, X (Twitter) wasn’t accessible, and websites were breaking left and right. Kai, strolling around Port Marítim at the time, confirmed via Instagram stories that some fans couldn’t load their tickets, yet insisted nothing would stop the show this time. He sounded absolutely determined.

The Cloudflare chaos also had NIPPONGAKU on edge. Our press confirmations never arrived and we couldn’t even log in to our email, our main way of contacting anyone. With a sliver of hope, we messaged Esprit D’Air on Instagram, but received no reply.

We had basically given up until less than 30 minutes before the concert, when Esprit D’Air suddenly answered with a heartfelt apology. They explained they hadn’t seen the message and that their day had been frantic, since they were performing this rescheduled show without their crew. They also posted on Instagram that the show would be delayed slightly. Perfect. That gave us just enough time.

NIPPONGAKU made it inside just before the first of the two setlists of the night, though we unfortunately missed the opening band, Ashes of the Crow, who not only played the support slot but had also provided the drum kit for Esprit D’Air.

Razzmatazz 3 was packed to the brim, later we’d learn it had officially sold out. The crowd was already chanting for Esprit D’Air. At 20:30, the intro for Machina (Aeons) echoed through the venue. The band walked on stage.

– SET 1 –

Kai roared into the mic: “VAMOS BARCELONA!”
The audience exploded. The show had begun.

The first full song of the evening was Lost Horizon, the lead single from Aeons. Vincent’s energetic drumming set the tone immediately while Kai’s soaring vocals catapulted the audience into the band’s first sonic journey. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

But Esprit D’Air can’t seem to escape misfortune: both Kai and the audience noticed unstable levels on his microphone. Ever the professional, Kai tried to fix it himself mid-song, discreetly powering through by projecting his voice.

For the second track, Nebulae (Oceans), the mic issues seemed momentarily under control. The drums drove the rhythm as Kai jumped and danced to every beat. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, though some of us, including NIPPONGAKU, were still quietly worried.

Disaster struck during the third track, Grudge (Constellations). The microphone failed entirely, forcing the band to stop. Kai took the moment to remind the audience that this was already their second attempt at performing in Barcelona this year, and that NOTHING would stop them this time. He also confirmed that tonight would include two full sets.

Once the techs fixed the problem, the music came roaring back to life. Grudge restarted with Takeshi’s sharp, prominent bassline and delivered a powerful industrial-leaning punch.

Before the fourth track, Kai apologised for not speaking Spanish and shared that Aeons had been released on 7 November. Thanks to April’s blackout, they were finally able to perform these new songs in Spain.

The fourth song was Broken Mirror (Aeons), the album’s latest single. A nu-metal-flavoured track with sharp guitar work and melancholic hooks, it quickly had the room jumping.

Kai then asked who had been there in 2018 and 2023. The crowd cheered back.
“AND NOW?” Kai shouted.
A wall of screaming answered him. Barcelona wanted more.

The fifth track was Ocean’s Call (Oceans), followed by the fan-favourite Guiding Light (Constellations), its majestic piano joined by Kai’s delicate vocals. The entire room swayed side to side, fully immersed.

After the song, Kai’s expression turned solemn:
““This is a truly sad and emotional song. I always end up crying when I sing it because it’s so beautiful… It’s about wanting to see someone who is no longer with us. Takeshi wrote it thinking about his beloved cat, whom he loved very much. So I dedicate this song to all the cats in the world.””

With a bittersweet smile, he began Stardust (Aeons). Kai’s gentle voice soared over Vincent’s relentless drums. For a moment, it was clear he meant what he said, his eyes welled up as he sang. He placed a hand over his chest, steadied himself, and finished the song.

The opening notes of Habatake (Aeons) had to be cut short: the mic failed again. After checking the cables, the issue resolved. Many bands would’ve been furious, but Kai simply smiled and said they were going to keep going with the new material.

With his hair blowing across his face, Kai sang with majesty while Vincent delivered a powerful rhythmic contrast to the previous ballad.

Esprit D’Air are no strangers to challenges. We’ve seen them put on a phenomenal show for tiny crowds before. When the microphone failed yet again during Glaciers (Oceans), they had to stop once more. The audience encouraged them with shouts of GANBARE! while guitarist Yusuke filled the silence by listing everything he loved about Spain, from tapas to Estrella.

He didn’t get to finish. Glaciers kicked back in, its piano melody and pounding drums unleashing energy that sent Kai spinning and jumping across the stage. Meanwhile, Takeshi connected with the crowd, shaking hands and posing with his bass.

The final song of the first set was Zetsubou no Hikari (Aeons). Critics have described Aeons as a blend of nu-metal and prog, and this track proved them right. Yusuke’s groovy guitar tone and Kai’s vocals carried hints of early-2000s Korn. The crowd erupted.

The first half ended with the band leaving the stage, jokingly telling us to grab a drink “wherever the bar is”. During the interlude, remixes of Distant Waves, the Hunter (Reprise), Starstorm (Shudan Remix) and 光の矢 played over the speakers, while fans raided the merch booth for shirts and vinyl.

– SET 2 –

The band returned with Tempus, the intro and opening song of Aeons. Takeshi reappeared wearing a stylish floral shirt. Rock on, Takeshi.

The next track was Chronos (Aeons), a high-energy piece blending electronic touches with a distinctly Japanese flair that would charm fans of Versailles. Melancholic brushstrokes, a subtle shamisen line, Yusuke’s rapid-fire guitar, gang vocals and hard-hitting beats, all of it fused into a quintessentially Esprit D’Air blend.

To balance Chronos’ intensity, they followed with Quetzalcoatl (Aeons), a more melodic track built around magical electronic notes and Yusuke’s looping textures, framing Kai’s voice in an epic, almost cinematic journey.

Kai then reminded everyone that Barcelona holds a special place in their story; they even recorded a live album here in 2023. As soon as he finished, electronic notes kicked off the thirteenth song of the night, Shadow of Time (Aeons). Kai asked the crowd to jump, and the room obeyed instantly.

Then, without warning, Kai vanished offstage. Before the crowd could react, Vincent, once an anonymous member of Ghost, launched into a blistering drum solo, delivering sheer technical brilliance.

Kai returned wielding a black-and-white Schecter Stargazer, ready to shake things up.

The addition of a second guitar was immediately noticeable on Shizuku (Constellations), one of Esprit D’Air’s earliest tracks and the fourteenth of the night. With updated 2023 arrangements by Australian producer Misstiq, the song showcased exactly why it became the first Japanese track ever included in Rock Band 3 & 4.

The crowd, very aware of the song, went wild. At one point, Takeshi dragged the strings of his bass against a pillar for a gritty, dramatic effect. The audience roared as the song closed, and Kai screamed “BARCELONA!” again.

Once silence returned, Kai introduced everyone involved in making the night possible: the whole band, the staff, the openers, the venue manager, and even Sara at the merch table.

They continued with Reminisce (Constellations), an alternative-rock track with gothic undertones that only intensified in the next song, Dead Zone. Featuring vocals by Ben Christo, Kai’s bandmate in The Sisters of Mercy, the track became a sweetened duet with a strong early-2000s guitar presence.

The night was approaching its end. Kai revealed they had not one but two more songs left. The audience groaned, but Kai reassured them they’d love what was coming.

Song seventeen was Tsunami (Oceans), an undeniable fan favourite. The room screamed every lyric.

Esprit D’Air kept their promise. The opening seconds of the final scheduled song confirmed it: Leviathan. A personal favourite of ours at NIPPONGAKU, its chorus hit hard, with the entire room chanting along and raising their hands. Yusuke and Takeshi held their instruments high, finishing the track with theatrical flair.

It could’ve been a perfect ending, but the crowd wanted more. After chanting ENCORE, Takeshi returned wearing an adorable Kuromi hat gifted by a fan.

Before the next song, Kai reminded everyone how special Barcelona is to him, and that this next track was actually written here. He added that its title is in Spanish. The crowd guessed it instantly: Aire (Seasons).

A jazzy atmosphere filled the venue as fans joined in on the chorus. Soft j-rock and visual kei vibes made the performance feel like a treat for fans of Janne Da Arc and the gentler side of the scene. Kai passed the Kuromi hat around playfully until it landed on Yusuke, who danced so the ears would bounce.

The final song of the night was Starstorm (Constellations). The abrupt change in energy was welcomed; it’s one of the band’s signature tracks and the namesake of their own independent label, Starstorm Records.

As a closing rock anthem, it delivered everything: cheers, jumps, dancing and pure catharsis. Kai’s final words were:
“Thank you for giving us a second chance. Always in our memory.”

It was 22:30. Two hours had flown by inside Esprit D’Air’s dreamlike, melodic universe, and time felt suspended. The venue overflowed with smiles as fans returned once more to the merch booth. We stepped outside.

Yes. Esprit D’Air never disappoint.

SET LIST

1st Set:
Machina (Intro)
Lost Horizon
Nebulae
Grudge
Broken Mirror
Ocean’s Call
Guiding Light
Stardust
羽ばたけ
Glaciers
絶望の光

(Interlude)
Distant Waves
The Hunter (Reprise)
Starstorm (Shudan Remix)
光の矢

2nd Set:
Tempus (Intro)
Chronos
Quetzalcoatl
Shadow of Time
Drum Solo
雫
Reminisce
Dead Zone
津波
Leviathan

Encore:
Aire
Starstorm