Shazna

Shazna (stylized as SHAZNA) is a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. Originally having a strong gothic/post-punk influence, the band's sound greatly shifted to a more new wave direction by 1996. At their peak in the mid-to-late 1990s, they were considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of visual kei" alongside La'cryma Christi, Malice Mizer and Fanatic Crisis. Their 1998 major label debut album Gold Sun and Silver Moon reached the number two position on the Oricon chart, sold over a million copies and was named "Rock Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. Shazna has reunited several times; first in 2006, which saw the release of a new album, then in 2017 with the addition of three new female members. The core trio resumed activities for a third time in 2023.

==History== Formed in 1993 with Izam on vocals, A・O・I on guitar, Niy on bass and Katsura on drums. Katsura left in 1996 and joined Baiser, leaving the trio. Perhaps the band's most notable feature was vocalist Izam and his choice of fashion; taking the cross-dressing feminine look to an extreme. Izam was largely influenced by Boy George and Culture Club, whom he later did a cover album of in 1998.