Onmyo-Za
aka The Greatest Japanese Metal Band of All Time!!!
There is precisely one woman in this picture. Can you guess who?
Man, I seriously can't believe I've never posted about these guys before. They're one of my favorite bands, quite possibly due to being a combination of three of the greatest things ever: great old-school heavy metal, kimonos (esp hot men in kimonos), and yokai. I think the best way to describe them would be Judas Priest meets kabuki, minus the makeup.
Anyways, here are some basic facts about Onmyo-za:
Name: 陰陽座 (literally means Onmyou (Japanese word for the concept of ying and yang, representing the male and female vocalists) gathering (座 is also used to denote constellations, apparently). Also romanized to Onmyouza, but Onmyo-za seems to be the official translation.
* Matatabi (瞬火): bass, male vocals, lyrics, composition. Name means silvervine, a plants with effects similar to catnip. Is made of awesome.
* Kuroneko (黒猫): female vocals, lyrics. Name means black cat. Is <3
* Karukan (狩姦): guitar. Named after a brand of cat food (no, really). Is the tall guitarist with the bangs.
* Maneki (招鬼): guitar, backing vocals. Name means Beckoning Cat.) Is the short one everyone mistakes for a girl.
* Atsushi Kawatsuka - support drums, percussion. Used to go by the stage name Tora (斗羅) - tiger - when he was a full-time member. Is made of 100% pure concentrated awesome.
Homepage: http://www.onmyo-za.net/eng/index.html
Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/%E9%99%B0%E9%99%BD%E5%BA%A7
^See, Yoshiki, this is how you mix metal and samurai. (No I still haven't forgiven Yoshiki for looking so stupid in his own fucking country's national costume. YOUR MOTHER SOLD HER KIMONO SHOP FOR YOUR BAND AND THAT IS HOW YOU REPAY HER?! ASDFGHJKL;!!!!!!!!!!!11111!!!! *headdesk*)
^Neko-chan shows off her flying (and singing) skillz. I love the kimono they wear here, too. So shiny....
^Oni Oni Oni dancey~! Need I say more?
^Song is called "Manji." Maneki gets a solo! =^_^=
^Oni-mode Matatabi! Meneki gets to sing, too! Very creepy-cool. It never ceases to amaze me just how low Kuroneko can make her voice go; lady has incredible range.
^Tanuki Song! One my favorites, just for the drumwork. Tora is <3<3<3<3 Also, if you can watch this without wanting to see these guys live, there is something wrong with you.
^Playing in a Noh theatre, the first jrock band to do so.
There is precisely one woman in this picture. Can you guess who?
Man, I seriously can't believe I've never posted about these guys before. They're one of my favorite bands, quite possibly due to being a combination of three of the greatest things ever: great old-school heavy metal, kimonos (esp hot men in kimonos), and yokai. I think the best way to describe them would be Judas Priest meets kabuki, minus the makeup.
Anyways, here are some basic facts about Onmyo-za:
Name: 陰陽座 (literally means Onmyou (Japanese word for the concept of ying and yang, representing the male and female vocalists) gathering (座 is also used to denote constellations, apparently). Also romanized to Onmyouza, but Onmyo-za seems to be the official translation.
* Matatabi (瞬火): bass, male vocals, lyrics, composition. Name means silvervine, a plants with effects similar to catnip. Is made of awesome.
* Kuroneko (黒猫): female vocals, lyrics. Name means black cat. Is <3
* Karukan (狩姦): guitar. Named after a brand of cat food (no, really). Is the tall guitarist with the bangs.
* Maneki (招鬼): guitar, backing vocals. Name means Beckoning Cat.) Is the short one everyone mistakes for a girl.
* Atsushi Kawatsuka - support drums, percussion. Used to go by the stage name Tora (斗羅) - tiger - when he was a full-time member. Is made of 100% pure concentrated awesome.
Homepage: http://www.onmyo-za.net/eng/index.html
Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/%E9%99%B0%E9%99%BD%E5%BA%A7
Click to view^See, Yoshiki, this is how you mix metal and samurai. (No I still haven't forgiven Yoshiki for looking so stupid in his own fucking country's national costume. YOUR MOTHER SOLD HER KIMONO SHOP FOR YOUR BAND AND THAT IS HOW YOU REPAY HER?! ASDFGHJKL;!!!!!!!!!!!11111!!!! *headdesk*)
^Neko-chan shows off her flying (and singing) skillz. I love the kimono they wear here, too. So shiny....
^Oni Oni Oni dancey~! Need I say more?
^Song is called "Manji." Maneki gets a solo! =^_^=
^Oni-mode Matatabi! Meneki gets to sing, too! Very creepy-cool. It never ceases to amaze me just how low Kuroneko can make her voice go; lady has incredible range.
^Tanuki Song! One my favorites, just for the drumwork. Tora is <3<3<3<3 Also, if you can watch this without wanting to see these guys live, there is something wrong with you.
^Playing in a Noh theatre, the first jrock band to do so.