SABLE HILLS also known as Tokyo Riff Lord gained attention with their first album “EMBERS,” released in 2019, and quickly rose to the forefront of Japan’s metal scene.
They have performed alongside Japanese acts such as coldrain, Crossfaith, Crystal Lake, SiM, as well as international acts like Slipknot, Korn, Parkway Drive, Fit For A King, After The Burial, and Counterparts. They have also appeared in major festivals like the Knotfest Japan, BLARE FEST, Satanic Carnival, Bloodaxe Festival and the True North Festival.
In June 2022, they released their second album “DUALITY,” collaborating with renowned metal producer Mark Lewis, known for his work with Trivium, Unearth, Whitechapel, and others.
For the release tour of the album, they embarked on a journey not only in Japan but also in Europe, performing at prominent festivals such as the world’s largest metal festival “Wacken Open Air,” Germany’s “Summer Blast,” and Czech Republic’s “Brutal Assault.” At “Wacken Open Air 2022,” they won the METAL BATTLE 2022 Grand Prix, becoming the first Japanese band to achieve this honor among strong contenders from 28 countries worldwide. Their triumphant tour finale at Spotify O-WEST was also a sold-out success.
In 2023, they accompanied UNEARTH on their Japan/Taiwan tour in January. In March, they performed as a guest band at the W:O:A METAL BATTLE Philippines, held in a stadium with an audience of 10,000 people.
They invited PHINEHAS from the United States and gathered an audience of nearly 1,000 people at their self-hosted festival, “FRONTLINE FESTIVAL.”
With their upcoming appearance at “Wacken Open Air 2023,” they continue to attract even more attention. In August, they will hold a new tour called “Chaos J.P. 2023,” with guest bands Like Moths To Flames from the United States and Knosis from Japan.