Re:Kessoku Band


Re:Kessoku Band is the debut EP by Kessoku Band, a fictional rock band from the anime television series Bocchi the Rock!, released by Aniplex on August 14, 2024. It consists of six tracks, including the theme music of the two compilation films of the anime series. The EP peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart and the Oricon Albums Chart. It won Animation Album of the Year at the 39th Japan Gold Disc Awards in 2025.

Background and release

On May 21, 2023, Aniplex announced that the Bocchi the Rock! anime series would be receiving a compilation film project. It was later revealed to be two films, subtitled Re: and Re:Re:, that were scheduled to premiere in Japan on August 7 and June 9, 2024. "Shine as Usual" was announced as the first film's opening theme, with writing the lyrics and composing the music. On June 6, 2024, the ending theme for Re: was revealed to be "Now, I'm Going from Underground", written and composed by Yūho Kitazawa. A six-track EP titled Re:Kessoku Band was also announced and would include the theme music from the compilation films. "Shine as Usual" and "Now, I'm Going from Underground" were released for digital download and streaming on June 9, with the former being accompanied by a lyric video.
On August 1, "Me and the Three Primary Colors" was revealed to be included in the EP. Written by Higuchi and composed by, it is a tie-in collaboration with Coca-Cola's mineral water brand I-Lohas. Following the release of Re:Re:, it was announced that its opening theme is titled "Doppelganger", also written by Higuchi and composed by Tobinai. The song was heard during Kessoku Band's first live concert in the film as an additional performance that was not depicted in the anime series. The ending theme is a cover version of Asian Kung-Fu Generation's "Re:Re:", and features vocals by Yoshino Aoyama as the character Hitori Gotō. Both songs debuted on digital platforms on August 11 along with a lyric video for "Doppelganger". Re:Kessoku Band was released by Aniplex on August 14, 2024.

Critical reception

Writing for Mantan Web, Shō Higuchi said that Re:Kessoku Band contains "catchy, killer tunes" that leave a striking impression on the films. In 2025, it won Animation Album of the Year at the 39th Japan Gold Disc Awards.

Commercial performance

Re:Kessoku Band debuted at number one in Oricon's Digital Albums Chart, recording 5,473 downloads in its first week. It entered the Albums Chart at number two with 33,876 copies sold, behind Takuya Kimura's See You There, and later ranked second in the Combined Albums Chart. The album opened at number two in the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart with recorded sales of 30,551 CDs, ranking second in the Top Album Sales chart, and 3,949 downloads, ranking first in the Download Albums chart.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. All tracks are arranged by Ritsuo Mitsui.

Personnel

Credits adapted from The First Times and the album's liner notes.

Fictional line-up

  • Ikuyo Kita – vocals, guitar
  • Hitori Gotō – lead guitar, lyrics
  • Ryō Yamada – bass, backing vocals, composition
  • Nijika Ijichi – drums

Musicians

Technical

  • Gen Okamura – director
  • Gendam – recording, mixing
  • Mitsuyasu Abe – mastering
  • – production
  • Hideki Morioka – production cooperation
  • Yōko Shimane – production cooperation
  • Yōta Naka – production cooperation

Design

  • Kerorira – key frame
  • Rina Iwabuchi – coloring
  • Tsubasa Kanamori – photography
  • Yasunao Moriyasu – background
  • Tomoyuki Uchikoga – product design