The girls-band manga genre — home to titles like K-On!, Bocchi the Rock!, and Futsuu no Keiongaku — has a new contender with an unexpected twist: Dungeon Band (ダンジョンバンド) throws an isekai dungeon into the mix, producing a fantastical coming-of-age comedy unlike anything else on the shelves.
Story: Open the Live-House Door, Find a Dungeon
The band Mayonnaise is formed by three girls attending Otomori High School in the Japanese countryside: Wajima Mayo (Mayo) on guitar, Suzuki Tama (Tama) on bass, and Nakajima Shio (Shio) on drums. After months of practice, they finally take the stage — only to find zero audience members waiting for them.
A devastated Mayo prays for any chance to have someone hear their music. After a lightning strike, she opens the door of live house Quonta and finds it has connected to a dungeon that looks exactly like her favourite game, BRAVE QUEST.
Music That Transcends Species
In the isekai world, Mayonnaise encounters a mage named Tarika, who is initially hostile and nearly destroys Mayo’s beloved guitar. But when the trio pours their hearts into a song called “The Mage’s Song,” Tarika is moved to tears.
Later, when a horde of goblins attacks, Tarika warns that “you can’t reason with them.” Mayo’s response? “We’ll blast them with our music and make them our fans.” It works — the goblins are instantly captivated. The series takes the old saying “music transcends borders” and upgrades it: here, music transcends species.
Tarika eventually falls in love with the electric guitar and joins Mayonnaise as a full member. Beneath the quirky premise lies a sincere theme: the joy of connecting with others through music. The once timid, self-doubting Mayo gradually gains confidence as her playing is accepted by bandmates and isekai creatures alike.
Creator: The Mind Behind Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru
Dungeon Band is drawn by Shincho Kagiri, who first gained attention with Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru, a manga that began on Twitter (now X) in 2019 and was adapted into a TV anime in 2024. Dungeon Band has already earned the “Isekai Manga of 2025” award at Google Play Best of 2025.
Just as Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru was set in Aomori — Shincho’s home prefecture — the fictional city of Otomori in Dungeon Band appears to be modelled on Aomori as well. The exterior of live house Quonta closely resembles the real-life Aomori Quarter venue.
Easter Eggs for Rock Fans
Rock enthusiasts will enjoy hunting for the many musical references woven throughout the series. Chapter titles borrow from iconic songs such as Master of Puppets (Metallica), Bach no Senritsu wo Yoru ni Kiita Sei Desu. (Sakanaction), and SPEED TUBE (P-MODEL), with chapter-opening illustrations that pay homage to the corresponding album artwork. The Mayonnaise band logo is also styled after Metallica’s iconic logo.
Volume 3 Now Available
Dungeon Band currently spans three volumes, with the latest released on 22 June. Fans of girls-band manga or anyone looking for a fresh take on the isekai genre should give it a look.
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