Onmyōza

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Onmyōza
General information
Genre (s) Heavy metal , J-rock
founding 1999
Website http://www.onmyo-za.net/
Founding members
Matatabi
singing
 Kuroneko
Maneki
guitar
 Karukan
Torah (until 2009)

Onmyōza ( Japanese 陰陽 座 , dt. About "meeting of Yin and Yang ") is a Japanese metal band. They describe their music as Youkai Heavy Metal, whereby the Japanese word " Yōkai " ( 妖怪 ) stands for eerie appearance, spooky, monster or monster.

Band history

Onmyōza gave their first concert in June 1999. After they had released their first demo recording in mid-1999 , followed in December of the same year the debut album "Kikoku Tenshou" (rebirth of the plaintive spirit), which the band brought out on their own before a single .

In 2001 King Records offered the five a major contract . In December 2001 followed with the single "Tsuki ni Murakumo Hana ni Kaze" (The clouds before the moon, the wind in the flowers), the major release debut, followed by the first major album "Koujin Rasetsu" (The noble thoughts of the evil spirit). The step to the west was also taken early: Onmyōza were the only Japanese band to appear on the Iron Maiden - as well as on the Judas Priest - tribute album . On the EP "Fuin Kairan" (Sealed Circulation) mainly songs from the indie era were released, which up to now could not be found on any album. In addition, numerous other singles, albums, DVD, VHS publications and band score books appeared.

Onmyōza were the only band so far that were ever allowed to give a concert in the Noh playing Hall , which is a stage for exclusively traditional Japanese stage plays; they contributed the opening title for the anime “ Kouga Ninpouchou Basilisk ”, which can be found on the single “Kouga Ninpouchou” (The Ninja Art of the Kouga Clan) and released the album “Garyou Tensei” (Das Eye of the imperialist).

In 2009 drummer Tora said goodbye to the band as an official member and will henceforth serve as support drummer. But no longer with the stage name Tora, but with his real name Atsushi Kawatsuka.

Members

Onmyōza were born in the spring of 1999 by bassist and singer Matatabi (Kanji: Feuerblitz, reading: Silberdistel), vocalist Kuroneko (Black Cat) and the two guitarists Maneki (Kanji: necromancer , reading: Welcome cat) and Karukan (Kanji: Hunters of Doom, Reading: cat food brand). A little later the drummer Tora (Kanji: sake drunkard, reading: tiger) joined them.

Except for Matatabi , Kuroneko and Tora , none of the other band members had any experience in the music business. Before Onmyōza, Matatabi and Kuroneko were together in the band " Kusou Kagaku Byounin ~ Kami to Memo Kami ~", which means something like "the patient's note of the science of daydreams". In addition, Kuroneko was a member of the Lorelei group, which was almost exclusively based on choral singing . Tora was mostly only active as a support drummer in unknown visual kei indie bands. In 2009 he left the band for personal reasons and initially supported them under his maiden name Atsushi Kawatsuka as a support drummer, but has since been replaced by Tomotaka Ishikawa. Masahiro Abe has been playing for Onmyōza Keyboard since at least the beginning of 2004.

style

Onmyō means "shadow and light", za stands for the position that one takes - in ancient China it was assumed that everything in the world is divided into shadow and light, the principle of yin and yang , which Onmyōza also celebrate .

As the band says about themselves, both the lyrics and the performance of the band in general contain a strong cultural bond with ancient Japan and China and their wisdom.

The stylistic image of ancient Japan during the Heian period (794–1185) is represented by wearing the traditional costumes typical of that time.

live

In keeping with the band's concept of opposites, Onmyōza present themselves on stage with male and female vocalists. At live concerts, Kuroneko's dances underline the atmosphere of the songs.

Maneki , one of the two lead guitarists, is beside his work as a guitarist also a background singer who supports Kuroneko and Matatabi vocally. He also creates illustrations for official band goodies.

Texts

The concept of opposites u. a. "Departure and standstill"; "Darkness (shadow) and light"; “Steadfastness and indulgence” is particularly strongly expressed in the song lyrics. Since all the lyrics of the band only in Japanese language and writing are held and often from the Old Japanese-derived terms and sometimes even Chinese Kanji use, it is possible that not even Japanese always understand all the songs.

music

The band's musical spectrum ranges from pop (especially in their newer songs) to ballads and heavy metal songs.

Discography

Singles

  • Konpeki no Sōjin ( 紺 碧 の 双刃 ) (Dark Blue Double Blade ) February 9, 2011
  • Aoki Dokugan ( 蒼 き 独眼 ) (Blue One-Eye ) August 26, 2009
  • Sōkoku / Dōkoku ( 相 克 / 慟 哭 ) (rivalry / lamentation) January 21, 2009
  • Kureha ( 紅葉 ) (Red Foliage) August 6, 2008
  • Kokui no Tennyo ( 黒 衣 の 天 女 ) (Black Robed Sky Girl ) June 27, 2007
  • Kōga Ninpōchō ( 甲 賀 忍 法帖 ) (The Ninja Scroll of Kouga) April 27, 2005
  • Kumikyoku Yoshitsune ~ Raise Kaikō ( 組曲 「義 経」 ～ 来世 邂逅 ) (Suite Yoshitsune ~ Coincidence in the Afterlife ) November 26, 2004
  • Kumikyoku Yoshitsune ~ Muma Enjou ( 組曲 「義 経」 ～ 夢魔 炎 上 ) (Suite Yoshitsune ~ Burning Nightmare) October 27, 2004
  • Kumikyoku Yoshitsune ~ Akki Hougan ( 組曲 「義 経」 ～ 悪 忌 判官 ) (Suite Yoshitsune ~ Demon Judge ) September 23, 2004
  • Nemuri ( 睡 ) (sleep) January 7, 2004
  • Mezame ( 醒 ) (awakening) October 1, 2003
  • Hōyoku Tenshou ( 鳳 翼 天翔 ) (The wings of the Hou-ou ascending to the sky) June 4, 2003
  • Yōka Ninpōchō ( 妖 花 忍 法帖 ) (The Ninja Scroll of Mysterious Flowers) December 25, 2002
  • Tsuki ni Murakumo Hana ni Kaze ( 月 に 叢 雲 花 に 風 ) (clouds in front of the moon, wind in the flowers) December 24, 2000
  • Ōka no Kotowari ( 桜 花 ノ 理 ) (The Reason of the Cherry Blossoms) August 19, 2000

Albums

  • Kishi-Bojin ( 鬼子母 神 ) (Mother of Devils) December 21st. 2011
  • Kongō Kyūbi ( 金剛 九尾 ) (Diamond Nine Tail) September 9th. 2009
  • Chimimōryō ( 魑魅 魍 魎 ) ( Malevolent forest and water spirits) September 10, 2008
  • Maō Taiten ( 魔王 戴 天 ) (The Devil Conquering Heaven) July 25, 2007
  • In'yō Shugyoku ( 陰陽 珠玉 ) (Yin Yang Jewels) August 2, 2006
  • Garyū Tensei ( 臥龍 點 睛 ) June 25, 2005
  • Mugen Hōyō ( 夢幻泡影 ) March 3, 2004
  • Sekinetsu Enbu ( 赤 熱 演 舞 ) (Red Glowing Dance) (June 25, 2003) (live)
  • Hōyoku Rindō ( 鳳 翼 麟 瞳 ) (Wings of Hou-ou, Eyes of Kirin) January 22, 2003
  • Fūin Kairan ( 封印 廻 濫 ) June 24, 2002
  • Kōjin Rasetsu ( 煌 神 羅刹 ) January 10, 2002
  • Hyakki Ryōran ( 百 鬼 繚乱 ) December 24, 2000
  • Kikoku Tenshō ( 鬼哭 転 生 ) December 5, 1999

DVDs

  • Shikigami Raibu ( 式 神 雷 舞 ) (Shikigami Thunder Dance / Shikigami Live) July 1, 2010
  • Ryuuou Rinbu ( 龍 凰 輪 舞 ) (Dance of the Dragon King) April 21, 2010
  • Tenka Fubu ( 天下 布 舞 ) (Secular Cloth Dance) January 23, 2008
  • Shugyoku Enbu ( 珠玉 宴 舞 ) (Jewel Festival Dance ) June 21, 2006
  • Yūgen Reibu ( 幽 玄 霊 舞 ) (Mystical Soul Dance ) August 22, 2005 (2 discs, photos, live recordings, interviews)
  • Waga Shikabane wo koete yuke ( 我 屍 越 行 ) ( Strides over our corpse) (March 2, 2005) (December 9, 2004 live in Tokyo (Shibuya AX))
  • Hyakki Kōrinden ( 百 鬼 降臨 伝 ) (Legend of the Arrival of the Hundred Demons) February 14, 2004 (September 15, 2001 live in Tokyo (Meguro Live Station))
  • Hakkō Ranbu ( 白光 乱舞 ) (Wild White Light Dance) June 25, 2003 (January 26, 2003 live in Nagoya (Electric Lady Land))

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Torah leaves Onmyo-za . In: JaME . Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  2. ↑ Tomotaka Ishikawa's official website . In: Tomotaka Ishikawa . Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  3. ↑ Onmyouza tour 2011 !! . Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 30, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.onmyozatheatre.com