Onmyo-Za
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| Onmyo-Za | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Osaka |
| Genre(s) | Heavy Metal |
| Years active | 1999 - present |
| Label(s) | King Records (JP) Gan-Shin (EU) |
| Website | www.onmyo-za.net |
| Members | |
| Matatabi Kuroneko Karukan Maneki Tora |
|
Onmyo-Za (also Onmyouza or Onmyoza: Japanese; 陰陽座 literally "a band in Onmyodo") are a Japanese heavy metal band who released their first commercial album in 1999. They play quite orthodox heavy metal music comparable to Iron Maiden or Judas Priest, mixed with Japanese folk/pop musical elements. Their name Onmyoza literally means the gathering of yin and yang, and this is also represented by the female and male vocals.
Contents |
[edit] Band members
Matatabi - Bass and Vocals
Kuroneko - Vocals
Maneki - Guitar and Chorus
Karukan - Guitar
Tora - Drums
[edit] Stage Names
Each of their stage names has double meaning with a sense of humor.
- Kuroneko(黒猫) literally means a black cat, just symbolizing her personality.
- Matatabi(瞬火) is a flashing fire, but it can also be read as a silvervine (loved by cats).
- Maneki(招鬼) practically means "summoning oni", but its reading reminds most Japanese people of maneki neko.
- Karukan(狩姦) is not clear in its literal meaning, though Karu(狩) independently means "attacking" or "hunting" and Kan(姦) is "adultery" or so. (The words 姦 and 奸, with the latter now meaning "wickedness" or "evil", are the same in old times but have been deviated.) But its reading is familiar to Japanese people as a brand name of cat food.
- Tora(斗羅) has little literal meaning, but its reading is the same as tiger in Japanese. This suggests also that he is a fan of Hanshin Tigers.
So, all their stage names are related with cats.[1]
[edit] Theme and Inspiration
Their songs mainly deal with oni, yokai, the Japanese dragon etc, but some songs have more concrete theme and inspiration.
For example, Onmyo-za have ever composed 10 Ninpocho songs. "Ninpocho" means "tales of ninja magic", and those songs are tribute to Japanese author Futaro Yamada and his Ninpocho series. Their hit song "Koga Ninpocho" was written for anime "Basilisk" of which the original story is Futaro Yamada's "Koga Ninpocho".
There are also some other songs inspired by Osamu Tezuka and Natsuhiko Kyogoku.
The trilogy "Kumikyoku Yoshitsune" is based on the legend of Japanese ancient tragic hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
1999/12/05 - KIKOKU-TENSHO (鬼哭転生)
2000/12/24 - HYAKKI-RYORAN (百鬼繚乱)
2002/01/10 - KOJIN-RASETSU (煌神羅刹) #49 JPN
2002/07/24 - FUUIN-KAIRAN (封印廻濫) #62 JPN
2003/01/22 - HOUYOKU-RINDOU (鳳翼麟瞳) #23 JPN
2003/06/25 - SEKINETSU-ENBU (赤熱演舞) (Live Album) #66 JPN
2004/03/03 - MUGEN-HOUYOU (夢幻泡影) #27 JPN
2005/06/22 - GARYO-TENSEI (臥龍點睛) #20 JPN
2006/02/08 - INYOU-SHUGYOKU (陰陽珠玉) (Best Album) #13 JPN
2006/06/07 - ONMYO...LIVE! (陰陽雷舞) (Live Album) #33 JPN
2007/07/25 - MAOU-TAITEN (魔王戴天) #13 JPN
[edit] Singles
2000/08/19 - OKA NO KOTOWARI (桜花ノ理)
2001/12/16 - TSUKI NI MURAKUMO HANA NI KAZE (月に叢雲花に風)
2002/12/25 - YOKA NINPOCHO (妖花忍法帖) #57 JPN
2003/06/04 - HOYOKU TENSHO (鳳翼天翔) #66 JPN
2003/10/01 - MEZAME (醒) #30 JPN
2004/01/07 - NEMURI (睡) #40 JPN
2004/09/23 - KUMIKYOKU "YOSHITSUNE" - AKKI HOGAN (組曲『義経』～悪忌判官) #30 JPN
2004/10/27 - KUMIKYOKU "YOSHITSUNE" - MUMA ENJO (組曲『義経』～夢魔炎上) #32 JPN
2004/11/26 - KUMIKYOKU "YOSHITSUNE" - RAISE KAIKO (組曲『義経』～来世邂逅) #33 JPN
2005/04/27 - KOGA NINPOCHO (甲賀忍法帖) ("BASILISK" TV animation theme song) #31 JPN
2007/06/27 - KOKUI NO TENNYO (黒衣の天女) #14 JPN
[edit] DVDs
2003/06/25 - HAKKO-RANBU (Live Video)
2004/02/14 - HYAKKI KORINDEN (Live Video)
2005/03/02 - WAGASHIKABANE WO KOETEYUKE (Live Video)
2005/08/22 - YUGEN-REIBU (Live Video)
2006/06/21 - SYUGYOKU-ENBU (Live Video)
2008/01/23 - TENKAFUBU (Live Video)
