Year : 2019 (Japan Edition)
Style : Neoclassical Power Metal
Country : Japan
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 112 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:
Galneryus is my favorite power metal band. Hell, they might just be my favorite metal band, period. I can’t call myself a ravenous fan of many artists, but Galneryus‘ enormous catalog of righteous Japanese power metal has me foaming at the mouth every time the band so much as hints that they’re entertaining the thought of a new record. The fact that I consider 2017’s Ultimate Sacrifice a low point of their career, yet still felt confident in giving it an honorable mention slot on that year’s list, should say something for their consistency. Yet a low point it was, taking the symphonic bombast of the utterly unfuckwithable Under the Force of Courage down a darker, less accessible path. In many ways, Into the Purgatory is an evolution of its direct predecessor, but is far more successful in the execution. Though sporadically weird and experimental, its eccentricities are balanced by a rekindling of what makes Galneryus‘ formula so endlessly enjoyable in the first place.In spots, Into the Purgatory feels like a conscious continuation of the sound introduced with Ultimate Sacrifice. “My Hope is Gone” and “The End of the Line” in particular would have existed comfortably on that record, carrying on its duality of speed metal calamity and foreboding heaviness. While Into the Purgatory might actually be Galneryus‘ heaviest record yet, it also returns to techniques which made their pre-Under the Force of Courage material so infectiously fun. The incredibly titled “Fighting of Eternity,” for instance, splices quirky prog touches into an instantly gratifying slab of speed-power. Elsewhere, “Glory” anchors its driving, mid-paced tempo on one of the best lead riffs guitarist Syu has ever written, while ballad “Remain Behind” expertly channels the bittersweet melancholy of prime X Japan into one of the band’s most memorable ballads. These tracks serve as personal highlights for me, but in truth, this is the first Galneryus album in many years to be bereft of weak tracks. It might even be the most consistently great record they’ve released this decade.While much of Into the Purgatory is business as usual for Galneryus, its experimental spirit shines through in a way that hasn’t really been heard since 2008’s Reincarnation. The experimentation accounts for much of the record’s heaviness, most notably exemplified with “The Followers.” This is one of the darkest and weirdest tracks in the band’s history, with bizarre, operatic vocals and modern metal riffs set against a deeply gothic and neoclassical backdrop. Importantly, it still maintains Galneryus‘ likability through its melodic chorus and soaring choral outro. “Come Back to Me Again” shows this same creative thinking through a more traditional framework, beginning with the expected speedy riffage before diverting to a more plodding, metalcore-esque riff in the chorus. This careful tonal balancing does much to cement Into the Purgatory as an uncommonly well-rounded record, even for a band as diverse as Galneryus.There is not much new to say for the performances here; as usual, Galneryus‘ lineup is maddeningly talented, top to bottom. Syu in particular continues to challenge himself from record to record, jamming as many pinch harmonics into his riffs as humanly possible while still maintaining his balance of dizzying complexity and soaring melodies. Vocalist Masatoshi Ono, now on his seventh LP with Galneryus, is not quite as energetic or dynamic as he was a few albums ago, but his performance here still feels rich and soulful thanks to a few legitimately captivating (“The Followers”) and heartbreaking (“Remain Behind”) performances. Into the Purgatory‘s excessive brickwalling is to be expected – this is a Japanese metal release, after all – but the instrumental balance does feel like a step back from Ultimate Sacrifice. The drums and bass are more buried in the mix, resulting in a muddier overall sound, but the absolutely filthy guitar tone does inject the proceedings with serious tonal personality.1.I’m obviously biased towards Galneryus. They tick every single one of my boxes for what a good power metal band should strive for and then some. Yet I’d like to think that I can identify their missteps, and as both a step up from their previous record and an example of consistently high quality songwriting, Into the Purgatory excels. It closes out an absolutely exceptional decade of releases in style, serving as both a celebration of the band’s successes and a bold furthering of their unmistakable sound. For the unaffiliated, it should serve as a solid jumping off point, and it’s hard to imagine many power metal fans hearing Into the Purgatory and not counting it among the 2019’s best power metal releases. I can tell you that, as of right now, it has no equal for me in the genre this year.
Line-Up:
Masatoshi Ono - Vocals (2010-present) - See also: ex-Fortbragg, Masatoshi Ono
Syu - Guitars (2001-present) - See also: Spinalcord, Syu, ex-Valkyr, ex-Animetal, ex-Aushvitz, ex-Cross-Large
Taka - Bass (2010-present)
Fumiya - Drums (2016-present) - See also: Fluorite, Thousand Eyes, Unlucky Morpheus, ex-Hizaki Grace Project (live)
Yuhki - Keyboards (2001-present) - See also: Alhambra, Ark Storm, Nozomu Wakai's Destinia, Yuhkinen, ex-Castle in the Air, ex-Prophesia, ex-Masatoshi Ono
Tracklist:
01. Purgatorial Flame
02. My Hope Is Gone
03. Fighting Of Eternity
04. Glory
05. Never Again
06. The Followers
07. Come Back To Me Again
08. Remain Behind
09. The End Of The Line
10. Roaming In My Memory
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