Noizegarden named Melon's July 'Track Zero' artist, prepares first comeback in 26 years

Legendary Korean rock band Noizegarden has been selected as the July Artist of the Month for Melon's indie music initiative, Track Zero.

On July 2, Melon announced that Noizegarden had been chosen as the featured artist for its Track Zero project, which aims to promote independent music. The platform also released a special interview with the band's founding member, Yoon Byung Joo.

Noizegarden is widely regarded as one of the defining Korean heavy metal bands of the 1990s. Their self-titled debut album, 'nOiZeGaRdEn' (1996), is recognized as one of the 100 Greatest Korean Pop Albums.

Introducing the band, Track Zero described Noizegarden as "an artist that went beyond simply imitating overseas rock music to establish a distinct identity for Korean rock, creating music whose value continues to shine over time."

The band is preparing for a comeback to mark its 30th anniversary. It will be Noizegarden's first new activities in 26 years, following the release of its second album, '...But Not Least' (1999), after which the group went on an extended hiatus.

Explaining why he decided to revive the band, Yoon said, "I never overused the name Noizegarden. I thought our 30th anniversary was the right time to bring it back."

He added that fellow musicians also inspired the reunion. Lee Seok Won of Sister's Barbershop had planned new music to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his own debut album, while Noizegarden also received an invitation to perform at the Asian Pop Festival.

The comeback features a new lineup. Following the passing of original member Park Gun in 2016, Yoon became the band's only remaining original member. He has since recruited Ham Jin Woo and Kim Kwang Il from the rock band Unchained.

"Unchained is one of the few bands making music similar to Noizegarden," Yoon said, adding that their musical chemistry made them the ideal choice.

The band's performance at the Asian Pop Festival also drew attention after Kim Kwang Il appeared on stage wearing a mask. Yoon explained, "We prepared thoroughly because we didn't want people to think, 'They were famous, but that's all there is.'"

Yoon also expressed gratitude to longtime fans.

"To be honest, when I was actively promoting with Noizegarden, I didn't fully appreciate how thankful I should have been to our fans. As I've gotten older, I've come to understand just how much their support means."

Noizegarden is currently working on a new EP. Yoon noted that having a fixed schedule has helped keep the project moving forward.

"If there's no deadline, I tend to put things aside whenever I'm not 100% satisfied. This time, we have a set schedule."

Melon's Track Zero project was launched to support Korea's indie music scene. Each month, it highlights a featured artist and recommends standout new releases from independent musicians.