Ruins

The Japanese duo of Yoshida Tatsuya and Sasaki Hisashi are Ruins, a twisted progressive rock outfit that specialize in short, sharp, spastic numbers that resemble the improvisational convulsions of

The Japanese duo of Yoshida Tatsuya and Sasaki Hisashi are Ruins, a twisted progressive rock outfit that specialize in short, sharp, spastic numbers that resemble the improvisational convulsions of Boredoms. The group, formed in 1985, was originally intended to be a power trio, but the guitarist never showed up to the band's first rehearsal, so the group became (and remains) a duo.

The French progressive rock band Magma is the group's most important influence, to such an extent that Ruins' original lyrics are written and sung in an invented language which, at first glance, resembles Kobaïan, the language invented by Christian Vander of Magma. Ruins' material (which Yoshida, the group's composer, writes out in score form) is of extreme complexity and thus incredibly inaccessible for most listeners, who will be bewildered by the band's unrestrained yet disciplined approach. In addition to the "prog rock" label, the group's music has also been described as "math rock." That said, Ruins' style has consistently evolved since the band's beginnings.