Hellchild arrived on the Japanese death metal scene in 1987. With an ever-changing lineup, the band released two demos and played several small shows in Japan, slowly gaining a loyal following. By 1993 the band had seen the release of a four-song EP on Ritual Records and finally had a solid lineup. With founding members Eiichiro Suzuki (guitar) and Satoru Naitoh (drums) along with Tsukasa Harakawa (vocals) and Matsunaga (bass), Hellchild released their first full-length album Where the Conflict Reaches, also on Ritual Records. In 1994 the band released a split EP with U.S. band Discordance Axis and a 4-song EP titled Gleam in the Gloom. That year they also joined Carcass on a tour of Japan. They first visited the U.S. in 1995, touring the east coast, which included a gig at the legendary CBGB's. Upon their return home they immediately went back on the road, accompanying Cannibal Corpse on a Japanese tour. In 1996 Hellchild saw their first U.S. release, Clockwork Toy, and in 1997 Ritual released Circulating Contradiction in Japan. By the end of the decade Hellchild experienced another change in their lineup, replacing Naitoh with drummer Junichi Harashima before joining Slayer at the Japanese metal festival Live Undead. Howling Bull America picked up Hellchild in 1999 and re-released Circulating Contradiction in the U.S. as well as a new album, Bareskin. ~ Kevin Odle