Esprit D’Air is an alternative metal band led by The Sisters Of Mercy‘s guitarist, Kai. Featuring ex-Ghost and Pendragon drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco, ex-MergingMoon guitarist Takeshi on bass, and Yusuke on guitar.
As featured on Billboard, HuffPost, Loudwire, BBC Radio, Kerrang! & Louder, their sound is unique and fresh. From nu metal and djent to power metal and electronicore, no two songs sound the same—Esprit D’Air defies genres, blending soaring melodies, and futuristic soundscapes into a style that’s uniquely their own.
Their debut album, Constellations (2017), won Best Metal Album at the Independent Music Awards—judged by icons from Slayer, Sepultura, and Amy Lee (Evanescence).
Their 2022 follow-up, Oceans (Special Edition), stormed the Official Charts, hitting #8 in Rock & Metal and #5 in Album Downloads, with anthems like ‘Leviathan‘ and ‘津波 (‘Tsunami’), and features from Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy) and Ryo Kinoshita (ex-Crystal Lake & Knosis).
Their third album Seasons also saw the band climb up the Official Charts, and included a cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘The Trooper’, featuring ex-Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens.
Kai is not seeking a major record label but instead, follows a strong DIY ethos and produces everything himself to be as self-sufficient as possible. Consequently, Kai records and produces his own releases in his own home recording studio.
Esprit D’Air stands out as a completely independent act, with Kai handling everything from production to promotion without a record label, or management. Fueled by passion and fan support, the band stays true to their vision while delivering world-class music and selling out international shows.
A new dark future metal odyssey album, Aeons, is out on November 7, 2025, featuring songs Shadow of Time, Lost Horizon, Silver Leaf, Chronos, Broken Mirror (with two songs voted Metal Hammer’s Best Metal Song of the Week), and more.
Speaking about the concept, Kai says:
“Aeons is about time — how it can trap us, test us, and push us to the edge. These songs were written in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, where conflict, division, and crisis shape our lives. But within that darkness there’s still resilience, hope, and the possibility to begin again. The songs travel through themes of despair and struggle, but also resilience and hope, and a reminder that even in dark times, there’s a way forward.”
Check out Esprit D’air’s music video for Chronos here:
Listen to Silver Leaf:
Check out Esprit D’air music video ‘The Trooper’ (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens & Ben Christo) below.
Tour dates:
- 11 Nov 2025: Manchester, England, Rebellion
- 12 Nov 2025: Wolverhampton, England, KK’s Steel Mill
- 13 Nov 2025: Swansea, Wales, Hangar 18
- 14 Nov 2025: York, England, The Crescent (SOLD OUT)
- 15 Nov 2025: Dunfermline, Scotland, PJ Molloys
- 18 Nov 2025: Barcelona, Spain, Razzmatazz
- 21 Nov 2025: London, England, 229(SOLD OUT)
- 22 Nov 2025: London, England, 229 (SOLD OUT)
- 26 Feb 2026: Dublin, Ireland, The Green Room
- 27 Feb 2026: Belfast, Northern Ireland, Limelight 2
Let’s see what Kai has to say about Vocalzone!
“Performing night after night can take a toll, especially with the range and intensity Esprit D’Air songs require. Vocalzone keeps me in top form while also being vegan and sugar-free, which makes it even better.”
Follow Esprit D’Air on Bandsintown to see where they are performing next!