RYUJIN seek early termination of old record deal in public statement

Headlines about unfair working conditions and payment disputes in the rock and metal scene seem to be increasing. Now, the Japanese samurai metallers RYUJIN (formerly known as Suicide Heaven and GYZE) have spoken out. In an open statement released on RYUJIN‘s Instagram account, amongst other social media platforms, the band around frontman Ryoji Shinomoto is requesting “an early termination” of an old record deal with an Italian record company, which they have chosen not to name:

“Our first two albums from the GYZE era, Fascinating Violence (2013) and Black Bride (2015), were released under a contract with an Italian label. On Apple Music, ‘GYZE’ and ‘RYUJIN’ are still displayed separately. This is because, despite multiple formal requests for a name change, the updates have not been implemented. Over the past decade, we have faced unpaid or delayed royalties, long periods of label inactivity (the official website and YouTube remained dormant for many years until the owner’s own project was released this year), and distribution issues such as missing listings or outdated artist names. These situations have continued to disadvantage us as artists. While the contract states a 20-year term, given the prolonged inactivity and lack of professional communication, we are seeking an early termination in good faith. During negotiations, a 50% digital royalty rate was once proposed, but later reduced unilaterally by a representative to around 30%. Remaining silent any longer would mean ignoring the confusion around our artist identity and the realities artists face today. This statement is not a threat or attack — it is a call for transparency and fairness. If you believe in fair treatment for artists, please ‘like’ or comment ‘#FairMusic.’ Each reaction will serve as a digital signature of empathy.”

– RYUJIN

RYUJIN close their statement by saying that “this statement does not intend to harm or defame any individual or company” and that it “is based on factual records and aims solely to promote transparency and fairness”. The original statements, in English and Japanese, can be seen below: