Onmyouza

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Vocal : Kuroneko
Bass, Vocal : Matatabi
Guitar : Maneki
Guitar : Karukan
Drums : Tora

OFFICIAL LINKS
Onmyouza - official site

PROFILE
Onmyouza are a band that are difficult to categorize. The band members themselves introduce their music as "Yokai Heavy Metal" Yokai (creatures from Japanese folklore) being the subject matter of many of their songs. This however, does not give full scope to the wide range of styles that the band performs including pop, rock, ballads and their own special "matsuri" style compositions that end every concert performance. Admittedly their music has a strong metal influence, but there are also many aspects of traditional Japanese music woven throughout their compositions. The unusual band lineup of two vocalists, one female and one male backed by twin guitarists and drummer strengthens the band's conceptual focus of contrasts and opposites which in turn gives rise to the meaning of the band's name Onmyouza "The fusion of darkness and light".

BIOGRAPHY
Onmyouza formed in Osaka Japan during 1999 as a four piece group consisting of Matatabi (b, vo), Kuroneko (vo), Maneki (g) and Karukan (g). The band debuted at the Osaka Brandnew venue on the 20th of June and on the very same day the band released their first demo tape titled "Tsune ni Gessho Wo Motte Senji ni Kuwa wo Nisshin Inyo so min". At this early point the band were without a drummer and so to end this unsatisfactory situation Tora was recruited as support drummer. During the Summer and Autumn of 1999 the band performed a small number of concerts in and around the Osaka area. By the end of the year Tora had become a full member of the group, but up until that point and on the band's first album he is credited as support drummer only. Kikoku Tensyo was released on December 5th 1999 through the bands own "Moryo's Box" label. Unusually for a first indies release the CD was a full 10 track, hour long album instead of the typical indies pattern of releasing singles and mini-albums before embarking on a full length album. The band brought their first year to a close by performing at the Shinsaibashi Muse Hall at the "end of the century chapter 4" event.The following year was a highly progressive year for the band, a steady stream of live performances, the development of a lively and enthusiastic fanbase and Onmyouza's first live one-man show brought the band both recognition and respect. In August Onmyouza's first single Oka no Kotowari was released. The year was crowned with the band's highly anticipated second full album Hyakki Ryoran. Both released on their own label before they were re-released on the "Mandrake Root" label.By 2001 Onmyouza were going from strength to strength thanks to their energetic performances, fine musicianship and tireless enthusiasm. The band's hard work was recognised as the band was signed to the major label King Records. Onmyouza performed their major debut concert at the end of July, and after extensive touring for the remainder of the year made their major label debut with the single Tsuki ni Murakumo hana ni kaze. The year ended with a special session band performance alongside members of progressive metal band Gonon-ish and Uchida Yuuichiru the bassist of Kinnukushoujotai. The band's third full album Kojin Rasetsu was released on the 10th January 2002. This was soon followed by the major label re-release of the band's first two albums as well as Fuiin Kairan which was a compilation album of early rarities and previously unreleased songs. Between the releases came a small number of in-store events to celebrate the many CD's that the band had released in their debut major label year. The band then embarked on their first nationwide tour to great acclaim.Matatabi, the main song writer of the band had always mentioned in interviews that he was very fond of the UK metal band Judas Priest, and this was one of the reasons why the band recorded a special cover version (in English) of the Judas Priest song Beyond the Realms of Death for the A Tribute to the Priest tribute album. Previously the band had recorded Iron Maiden's The Trooper (in English) for another tribute album A Tribute to the Beast On both CD's, released in 2002/ 2003 Onmyouza were the only Japanese bands included on the albums.2003 was once again a very busy year for the band. The year started with the release of their album Hoyoku-Rindo followed by a pair of fairly short but intense tours. Onmyouza's next single Hoyoku Tensho was released on the 4th of June followed on the 25th June by a DVD release of the former indies VHS version of Hyakki Korinden and a special live performance album Sekinetsu Enbu. The band then performed two tours between which the maxi-single Mezame was released. Mezame marked a change for the band as it was their first "stand alone" single that contained songs that could only be found on that CD single instead of being released later on an album. Further presses of the band's first two albums as well as the maxi-single Nemuri were put on sale in January 2004. Soon after a live concert DVD entitled Hakko Ranbu containing footage from the band's performance at the "Electric Ladyland" venue preceded the band's latest full album release Mugen-Hoyo Several in-store events were held to promote the releases including two special events to showcase the band's first two scorebook releases. The band then toured extensively to promote their releases as well as performing their new material to the delight of their fans. On the first day of the band's Autumn tour, Onmyouza released the first of a special trilogy of singles in their Yoshitsune trilogy. The remaining two singles were released in the subsequent months to critical acclaim. The three title songs from each of the single releases would be put together as one complete 23 minute song for the band's next album release.Unusually 2005 did not begin with a series of new releases from the band, Onmyouza's first release of the year came in March and was a concert performance DVD containing footage from the previous years, Wagashikabane wo Koete yuke tour. The DVD unlike previous DVD releases included full footage of the entire concert including MC breaks and three full encores. The concept of including the entire concert was to involve the viewer as much as possible and even included Matatabi addressing the DVD viewer to join in the famous "Ooichi ni no saiyodo" chant during the song Gainageteya. In April the band released the single Koga Ninpocho which the band wrote and recorded for the anime series "Basilisk". The band's first live performance of the year was a special "fanclub only" performance at the Nogakudo Noh Theatre in Tokyo, Onmyouza were the first band to ever play on a Noh stage in Japan. A DVD of the concert titled Yugen-Reibu was released in August. However, proceeding the DVD, the band's long awaited sixth album Garyo-Tensei was released on the 22nd June. It is notable that the album made an appearance into the Oricon top ten album chart. In the summer of 2005 it was announced that Onmyouza would be playing their first ever overseas concerts. The band played three concerts, Belgium, France and Germany between the 28th of October and 1st November 2005 as well as attending special autograph sessions. The tour was successful and Kuroneko on behalf of the rest of the band has promised to return to play in Europe once again!At the beginning of 2006 Onmyouza released a long awaited double "best of album" entitled Inyo Shugyoku (which included in the first press edition bonus) live tracks and footage taken from the band's 2005 European tour. The footage contained many candid shots of the band enjoying a timeout from their offstage duties and gives a brief glimpse the contents of their first ever photobook Hyaku no Oni ga Oushuu wo Yuku which was released on February 28th.Two live releases were made available for sale in July 2006, a live concert double CD Onmyo-Raibu (a pun on the word "live") which was followed soon after by a live concert double DVD Syugyoku-Enbu. The summer of 2006 brought the beginning of a Japan-wide tour of more than 50 concerts. Concert performances in Paris and Berlin have also been announced. The tour is planned to end in November with a Tour Final at the Zepp Tokyo.

Kokui no Tennyo

June 27, 2007

1. Kokui no tennyo黒衣の天女
2. Dorotabou泥田坊
3. Agito顎門
4. Yurikago no ki揺籠の木

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Garyou Tensei

June 22, 2005

1. Kami no furumeki靂
2. Ryu no Kumo wo eru Gotoshi龍の雲を得る如し
3. Samayoeru彷徨える
4. Kouga ninpouchou甲賀忍法帖
5. Shiranui不知火
6. Oni koroshi鬼ころし
7. Gekka月花
8. Mizuchi no Miko蛟龍の巫女
9. Kumikyouku "Yoshitsune" ～Akki hougan組曲「義経」～悪忌判官
10. Kumikyouku « Yoshitsune » ~ Muma enjou組曲「義経」～夢魔炎上
11. Kumikyouku "Yoshitsune" ～Raise gaikou組曲「義経」～来世邂逅
12. Waga Shikabane wo Koeteyuke我が屍を越えてゆけ
~PART 1, PART 2~

Mugen Houyou
March 3, 2004

1. Mugen夢幻
2. Jami no houyou邪魅の抱擁
3. Nemuri睡
4. Kodou鼓動
5. Maikubi舞頚
6. Wanyudou輪入道
7. Enenra煙々羅
8. Nehan ninpouchou涅槃忍法帖
9. Yumemushi夢虫
10. Kappa odori 河童をどり
~PART 1, PART 2~

Nemuri
January 7, 2004

1. Nemuri睡
2. Tanuki bayashi貍囃子
3. Kodou鼓動
4. Nemuri ( instrumental version ) 睡（唄無し演奏のみ）
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Kikoku Tenshou
January 7, 2004

1. Korin 降臨
2. Memaizaka 眩暈坂
3. Oni 鬼
4. Omagatoki 逢魔刻
5. Fuguruma ni moyu koibumi 文車に燃ゆ恋文
6. Kori no kusabi 氷の楔
7. Onikiri ninpouchou 鬼斬忍法帖
8. Hyaku no oni ga yoru o yuku 百の鬼が夜を行く
9. Onmyoji 陰陽師
10. Inoko uta 亥の子唄
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Mezame
October 1, 2003

1. Mezame醒
1. Nemuri睡
2. Akuroou悪路王
2. Tanuki bayashi貍囃子
3. Shizukeganuma静ヶ沼
3. Kodou鼓動
4. Mezame (Karaoke)醒（からおけ）
4. Nemuri ( instrumental version ) 睡（唄無し演奏のみ）
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Houyoku Rindou
January 00, 2003

1. Homura no tori 焔之鳥
2. Houyoku tenshou 鳳翼天翔
3. Kirin 麒麟
4. Youka ninpouchou 妖花忍法帖
5. Nue 鵺
6. Sogenbi 叢原火
7. Rokurokubi 飛頭蛮
8. Omokage 面影
9. Hoshi no yadori 星の宿り
10. Maiagaru 舞いあがる
~PART 1, PART 2~

Fuuin Kairan
July 14, 2002

1. Kasha no wadachi火車の轍
2. Dodomeki百々目鬼
3. Kamaitachi窮奇
4. Utsusemi Ninpouchou空蝉忍法帖
5. Tsuchigumo Kitan土蜘蛛忌譚
6. Uwabami Banzai蟒蛇万歳
7. Shinshoku Rinne浸食輪廻
8. Tsuki Hime月姫
~PART 1, PART 2~

Tsuki Ni Murakumo Hana Ni Kaze
December 16, 2001

1. Tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze 月に叢雲花に風
2. Hotaru 螢
3. Ashioto 跫音
4. Tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze (karaoke) 月に叢雲花に風 （からおけ）
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