Formed in Kobe in 2002, Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs are a postrock band with a difference: melody. Oh sure, the trio's brutal live shows leave packed audiences around Japan with jaws agape — but they're also one of those precious few hard-edged live acts that also sound great on CD, charting highly as a result.

The first of their two mini-albums was produced by Flaming Lips cohort Dave Fridmann and released in 2008, earning them a legion of fans inside Japan and out. (They'll make their overseas live debut later this month with a show in Taiwan, with a Canada tour to follow in October.) Their first full-length, "Zerokonma, Irotoridori no Sekai," was released this week; the band, whose tongue-twisting name is usually shortened to "Masudore," will play at the Rock In Japan festival on Aug. 8 and at Rising Sun Rock Festival on Aug. 13. The Japan Times chatted with cofounder and guitarist/backing vocalist Chiemi Ishimoto to get the skinny.

Masudore's live show is extremely intense. Where do you find the energy to play like that?