Greenmachine

Lore & Background

Greenmachine formed in 1995, taking their name from the Kyuss track "Green Machine." Their debut album D.A.M.N. was released that same year on Man's Ruin Records, followed by The Earth Beater in 1997. The band initially disbanded in 1999 but resurfaced in 2003 with a new bass player, releasing The Archives of Rotten Blues on Diwphalanx Records. Diwphalanx also reissued the two Man's Ruin albums with bonus tracks in 2003.

The band played The Wizard's Convention in 2005, a show documented on a DVD featuring fellow Japanese artists Boris, Church of Misery, and Eternal Elysium. After that performance, Greenmachine disbanded again in 2007. Their final show was captured on the DVD This Is the End, released in 2007.

Reader's Guide

Greenmachine occupies a niche in Japanese heavy music as one of the early stoner/sludge metal bands from the country. Their association with Man's Ruin Records, a key label in the stoner rock scene, and later with Diwphalanx Records, helped solidify their place in the genre. The reissues of D.A.M.N. and The Earth Beater with bonus tracks in 2003 kept their early work accessible. Their appearance at The Wizard's Convention alongside Boris and Church of Misery highlights their role in the Japanese heavy rock showcase. Though the band disbanded in 2007, their music remains a reference point for Japanese stoner/sludge metal.

Did You Know?

• Greenmachine named themselves after the Kyuss song 'Green Machine'.
• Their debut album D.A.M.N. was released in 1995 on Man's Ruin Records.
• They played The Wizard's Convention in 2005 alongside Boris, Church of Misery, and Eternal Elysium.

Origins & Naming

Greenmachine emerged from the Japanese stoner and sludge metal scene in 1995, a trio built around Datsu on drums, Hasegawa handling bass and vocals, and Monzawa on guitar and shared vocal duties. The band's name is a direct nod to the American stoner rock group Kyuss, specifically the second track on their album Blues for the Red Sun, titled "Green Machine." This naming choice signals the deep influence that Kyuss and the broader desert-rock lineage had on Greenmachine's sonic identity from the very start. Their debut full-length, D.A.M.N., was pressed on Man's Ruin Records, a label that would anchor their early catalog. The band also cut a split seven-inch single with a group called Thug on Bovine Records, further cementing their presence in the underground metal circuit of the late 1990s. Though short-lived in their initial incarnation, Greenmachine carved out a distinct identity within Japan's heavy music community, blending the thick, downtuned riffs of sludge with the atmospheric weight of stoner rock.

Discography & Label Relationships

Greenmachine's recorded output spans two distinct label eras. Their initial catalog was built on Man's Ruin Records, which released both of their original studio albums: D.A.M.N. and The Earth Beater, the latter arriving two years after the debut. The Earth Beater was issued in both CD and ten-inch vinyl formats, a nod to the physical media culture that thrived in underground metal. In 1997, the band also contributed to a split seven-inch with Thug on Bovine Records, a smaller but meaningful entry in their discography. When Greenmachine reformed, Diwphalanx Records became their new home. In 2003, Diwphalanx reissued both Man's Ruin albums with three bonus tracks each, giving a new generation of listeners access to material that had been out of print. The following year, the band delivered The Archives of Rotten Blues, their first new studio record since the late 1990s, again on Diwphalanx. This partnership effectively preserved and extended Greenmachine's legacy, ensuring their early work remained available alongside fresh material.

The Reunion & New Direction

After disbanding in 1999, Greenmachine went silent for roughly four years before resurfacing in 2003. Their return was marked by a notable personnel change: a new bass player stepped in, signaling a fresh chapter for the trio. This reconstituted lineup quickly moved to press new material, releasing The Archives of Rotten Blues on Diwphalanx Records in 2004. The reunion was not merely a nostalgic exercise; it also brought a comprehensive reissue of their earlier work. Diwphalanx repressed both D.A.M.N. and The Earth Beater, each augmented with three additional tracks, effectively creating expanded editions that offered listeners a fuller picture of the band's original vision. The choice of Diwphalanx as their label for this second act was significant, as it positioned Greenmachine within a broader network of international underground metal and stoner rock releases. The band's willingness to return, adapt with new personnel, and deliver both new and reissued material demonstrated a commitment to their craft that extended well beyond their initial four-year run.

Final Chapter & Lasting Footprint

Greenmachine's second incarnation came to a close in 2007, with the band officially disbanding after a Wizard's Convention appearance. Their earlier 2005 set at that Japanese heavy rock showcase was captured on the event's DVD, placing them alongside fellow domestic heavy acts Boris, Church of Misery, and Eternal Elysium—a lineup that underscores the band's standing within the stoner and sludge community. The band's very last performance was documented on a DVD titled This Is the End, released by Diwphalanx Records in 2007, serving as a definitive visual record of their final show. Across both incarnations, Greenmachine left behind two original studio albums, a split single, one post-reunion album, and two live DVDs. Though their active years were brief—spanning from 1995 to 1999 and again from 2003 to 2007—their catalog, preserved and expanded through the Diwphalanx reissues, continues to circulate among collectors and fans of heavy, downtuned guitar music.