| Syu | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1980 Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | Heavy metal, power metal, neo-classical metal, speed metal |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, drums, piano, violin |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Associated acts | Galneryus, Spinalcord, Animetal, Valkyr, Cross-Large |
| Notable instruments | |
| ESP Crying Star | |
Syu (シュウ Shū) is a Japanese musician, best known as leader and guitarist of metal band Galneryus. But also performs guitar and lead vocals in Spinalcord (formerly known as Aushvitz), and was formerly a member of Animetal. On September 29, 2010 he released a cover album named Crying Stars -Stand Proud!-, covering songs from Scorpions, Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen, Skid Row, M.S.G., Racer X and more. It features some of his fellow band mates from Galneryus and Spinalcord, as well as other well known musicians like Eizo Sakamoto (Anthem), whom Syu was in Animetal with.
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Syu, born in Kansai, Japan, first began playing violin at the age of 6 years, and he also played piano. He continued playing violin until he was 12–13 years old. While in the fourth grade of elementary school, Syu discovered a passion for drums, which was fuelled by listening to X Japan. He says he found it easy to change from violin to guitar because they have similarly styled movements and finger patterns. He continued playing the drums for the band Cross-Large, but enjoyed the guitar more, as it was easier and he could better express himself through guitar than through drums. He soon gave up drums altogether, when he couldn't find good band members to play with.
Syu joined visual kei band Valkyr in August 1998, nearly a year later they released their first demo tape, titled "Love of Insanity". In August 2000, they released a "making of" VHS. In 2001 they finally released their first single, "Batta". After releasing 5 demos, a single and a VHS, the band broke up on April 24, 2004.
During his time with Valkyr he also formed the band Galneryus, which was a power metal band that he started with famous singer Yama-B. He started this band whilst he was living in Kujo, Osaka and heard him singing on the radio. Then they began working together as they were from the same area and made Galneryus. They hired support musicians A on Keyboards (who had previously played with Syu on Valkyr), Shôgo Himuro on Bass, and Toshihiro Yui (formerly of Cemetery, Honey Quest) on Drums. They went on to release a 2-track demo titled "United Flag". After playing live for a long time, they went back to record their second EP Rebel Flag with the independent label Iron Shock, with Yoshinori Kataoka on keyboards (replacing A).
In 2002, Galneryus were signed to VAP, and began work on the first full length album titled The Flag of Punishment. They released their next album, Advance to the Fall, in 2005. They then released their third album Beyond the End of Despair... in 2006. In 2007 they returned again with their fourth full-length album One For All – All For One. In 2008 they released their fifth album, Reincarnation, this would be the last album with Yama-B on vocals, as he decided to leave. He was replaced by Masatoshi "Sho" Ono and in 2010 they released their sixth full-length album, aptly titled Resurrection.
While he was still in the early days with Galneryus, Syu started another side project, with former fellow Valkyr member Kyoichi, called Aushvitz in 2002, in which he plays guitar and also does the main vocals. This style is much darker than his other projects. They released their first single, "Akarui" in September that year. They went on a very slow pace and went silent for a long time, but announced in 2006 that they were coming back as trio with Galneryus drummer Junichi. In the summer of 2008, Aushvitz was renamed Spinalcord and released their first maxi-single "The Spinalcord" on December 25, 2008. On April 4, 2009 they released their second maxi-single "Spinalcord 2". On September 23, 2009 they released their debut album Remember Me'Til Your Dying Day. With the change in the bands name also came a change in direction, which besides the old style now also incorporates a more popular style.
In 2003, Syu joined Animetal as their new guitarist. He recorded five full-length albums with them before they went on indefinite hiatus in 2006.
Syu's style of playing has been likened to that of Yngwie Malmsteen and many neo-classical guitarists. Syu himself lists some of his influences as: John Petrucci, Ulrich Roth, Paul Gilbert and Michael Schenker.
Syu has a signature series guitar available from ESP Guitars called the Crying Star, and is available from ESP Japan.
Syu mainly uses various models of Marshall amps and Hughes and Kettner amps.