Year : 2024 (Japan Edition)
Style : Neoclassical Power Metal
Country : Japan
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 155 mb
Bio:
Galneryus is a Japanese power metal band from Osaka, that was formed in 2001 by guitarist Syu and vocalist Yama-B. Originally the only official members, they utilized several support musicians until bassist Tsui, keyboardist Yuhki, and drummer Junichi officially joined for the release of their debut album in 2003. Yama-B left the group in 2008 citing musical differences, and Yu-To, who replaced Tsui in 2006, left the following year. Galneryus recruited Sho on vocals and Taka on bass, and released the album Resurrection in 2010. The band's highest charting studio album is their eighth, Angel of Salvation, which was released in 2012 and reached number 17.Galneryus was formed in early 2001 by guitarist Syu (formerly from Valkyr, Animetal, Aushvitz, and Masaki Project) along with vocalist Yama-B, frontman of AxBites, Rekion, River End and solo artist of Gunbridge. Both veterans of the Japanese metal scene they formed Galneryus with the intention to "express both of their musical tastes/ideas" and so they started looking for additional members to complete the band. They recruited A ..boards (who had previously played with Syu on Valkyr), Shôgo Himuro on Bass, and Toshihiro Yui (formerly of Cemetery, Honey Quest) on Drums.In October 2001, the band released a 2-track demo titled United Flag. The demo was self-produced and released independently. This EP started gaining the attention of both fans and independent Japanese record labels as well.After playing with other Japanese metal bands like Fairy Mirror, Mephistopheles, Galactica Phantom, Mastermind, and Concerto Moon, Galneryus went back to the studio to record a second EP titled Rebel Flag which was released through the independent label Iron Shock in August 2002. The EP again used support musicians to fill the band slots, with Shôgo Himuro again in bass, Toshihiro Yui again on drums, and Yoshinori Kataoka ..boards (replacing A).After this EP, the band started receiving several record deals and started touring more. In 2003, they were invited to play the 'Melodic Metal Festival' in Japan which featured Swedish power metal band Dragonland, as well as Australia's Dungeon. As a result, Dragonland invited Galneryus to play with them the next time they toured Japan.Galneryus was also invited to perform on two metal compilation cover albums with other bands such as Masaki Project, Saber Tiger, and Mephistopheles. Galneryus performed the song "Black Diamond" (originally from Finnish power metal band Stratovarius) on the compilation album Stand Proud! III and performed the song "Soldier of Fortune" from Japanese heavy metal band Loudness on the compilation album Japanese Heavy Metal Tribute Tamashii II. For these songs, the band used supporting musicians Toshihiro Yui on drums, Yusuke on bass, and Yuhki ..boards. Both compilation albums were released simultaneously in December of 2002 on the same day through Iron Shock and distributed through Japanese record label VAP.VAP itself signed Galneryus and the band set to work on writing and recording their full-length album The Flag of Punishment which featured all 5 EP songs re-written and re-recorded and also cover art by famed Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano. At this time Galneryus ceased using temporary members and recruited permanently Tsui on bass, Yuhki ..boards (formerly of Ark Storm and Marge Litch), and Junichi Satoh on drums. The album was finally released in October 2003.In March 2005 Galneryus released their second album Advance to the Fall. They released their third full-length album (Beyond the End of Despair...) in July 2006.After the Live for Rebirth tour, Tsui left Galneryus and Yu-To (Deluhi) was recruited to fill in for bass. The band shortly after released One for All - All for One in 2007.Recently, Galneryus has debuted on iTunes Music Store making their material widely available in the United States.The second self-cover album, "THE IRONHEARTED FLAG Vol.2 : REFORMATION SIDE", was released in September. Differ from "REGENERATION SIDE",a major renovation had provided such as lyrics and melodies. Although this alubm was said to be a exceptional and challenging,it made original songs bring out novel magnetism successfully. With this alubm, the tours, "ARISING THE IRONHEARTED FLAG" was held.In this tours, nearly at all concerts, including the final concert at Shibuya Public Hall, were sold out, and the number of audience recorded the all-time high.Through these activities which are satisfying and also full of topics, GALNERYUS aspires further evolution and progress even more!In March, the video works of a compilation of activities last year, "RELIVING THE IRONHEARTED FLAG" will be on sale with three different formats.And, it is sure to say GALNERYUS will throw whole of Japan into a state of feverish excitement again with their upcoming tours,"WELCOME TO OUR EVOLVING IRONHEART", which will be held after the release.And eventually, the long-awaited new original alubm is pronounced to be released in this summer. GALNERYUS is now approaching the next and higher stage this year. It is not wise choice to let your eyes off them!
Album:
After last year’s disappointing ‘Between Dread and Valor’, my expectations for its follow-up were mixed. On the one hand, the last album wasn’t exactly a reason to be hopeful for what would be next. However, Galneryus has a habit of following up their most disappointing releases with something good. That is more or less what happened with ‘The Stars Will Light the Way’. It’s Galneryus’ first hour-long album of all-original material since 2019’s ‘Into the Purgatory’, and it breathes new life into the band’s tried-and-true mildly progressive power metal sound. It’s a bit formulaic at times, but generally it’s just really good.The first thing that stands out about ‘The Stars Will Light the Way’ is how much better the production is than on its predecessor. Gone is the bone dry guitar sound that made Yuhki’s keyboards feel weirdly out of place. The lively contemporary power metal production just works with the material on display here. Also, the album feels a bit more riffy than the average Galneryus release overall. Syu still plays plenty of melodic lead guitar themes, but the most memorable moments on the album are largely characterized by his riffs. A welcome tweak of the general Galneryus formula.‘Lost in the Darkness’ was an early favorite because of this. The main riff of the song seeks to inject a bit of an NWOBHM flavor into the band’s power metal sound, which gives the song a delightful old school heavy metal vibe. The more modern, downtuned ‘Finally, It Comes!’, on the other hand, has a somewhat darker atmosphere not unlike 2008’s criminally underrated ‘Reincarnation‘ album. Also, it features what is probably Masatoshi Ono’s best vocal performance on the album. Later on, ‘Voice in Sadness’ is a more traditional power metal track that sounds like it evolved from one of Helloween’s ‘Keeper of the Seven Keys’ albums.One thing that has always set Galneryus apart from the contemporary power metal pack is the quality of their middle sections. This is usually where the band goes full prog, and where they surprise the most. Such sections elevate fairly standard Galneryus tracks like the singles ‘The Reason We Fight’ and ‘In Water’s Gaze’, while they lift already awesome tracks like the surprisingly intense ‘Heartless’ to an even higher level. ‘Crying for You’ is Galneryus’ best attempt at an AOR-styled track since original singer Yama-B left the band. Yuhki’s classically tinged piano arrangement really makes it something fairly unique within this category of Galneryus material.Sure, ‘The Stars Will Light the Way’ is not without its flaws. The eleven-minute closer ‘I Believe’ is a fairly blatant rewrite of their popular epic ‘Angel of Salvation’, and Ono’s vocals are subject to a few awkward production choices. Overall though, ‘The Stars Will Light the Way’ sounds more relevant than most power metal bands manage to do in their third decade of existence. A riff-driven Galneryus will always be the best version of Galneryus to me. While it doesn’t quite live up to the likes of ‘Angel of Salvation‘ and ‘Union Gives Strength‘, ‘The Stars Will Light the Way’ delivers what Galneryus fans want in spades.Recommended tracks: ‘Lost in the Darkness’, ‘Heartless’, ‘Finally, It Comes!’
Line-Up:
Sho - Vocals, Lyrics (tracks 3, 4, 7, 8)
Syu - Guitars (2001-present) - See also: Syu, Spinalcord, ex-Valkyr, ex-Animetal, ex-Aushvitz, ex-Cross-Large
Taka - Bass (2010-present)
Lea - Drums (2020-present) - See also: 罪號人~Zygote~, ex-Revoldia (live)
Yuhki - Keyboards (2003-present) - See also: Alhambra, Ark Storm, Destinia, Yuhkinen, ex-Castle in the Air, ex-Prophesia, ex-Marge Litch, ex-Elysium, ex-Masatoshi Ono
Tracklist:
01. Go Towards the Utopia 02:37 instrumental
02. The Reason We Fight 07:21
03. Lost in the Darkness 04:48
04. Finally, It Comes! 06:08
05. In Water's Gaze 08:23
06. Heartless 08:02
07. Crying for You 07:05
08. Voice in Sadness 06:16
09. I Believe 11:06
10. Life Will Go On 02:48 instrumental
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
