Galneryus

Galneryus is a power metal band from Osaka, Japan that formed in 2001

History

2001–2002: Formation and indie days

Galneryus was formed in 2001 by guitarist Syu (formerly from Valkyr, Animetal, Aushvitz, and Masaki Project) along with vocalist Masahiro "Yama-B" Yamaguchi (frontman of AxBites and solo artist of Rekion, River End and 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 on keyboards (who had previously played with Syu in Valkyr), Shôgo Himuro on bass, and Toshihiro "Tossan" 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 record labels as well.

After playing with other metal bands like Fairy Mirror, Mephistopheles, Galactica Phantom, Mastermind, and Concerto Moon, Galneryus went back to the studio to record a second EP titledRebel 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 on bass, Toshihiro Yui again on drums, and Yoshinori Kataoka on keyboards (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.^{[citation needed]}

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 bandLoudness) 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 on keyboards. Both compilation albums were released simultaneously in December 2002 on the same day through Iron Shock and distributed through the record label VAP.

2003–2007: Gone major and formal members

VAP itself signed Galneryus and the band set to work on writing and recording their full-length debut 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.^[3] At this time Galneryus ceased using temporary members and permanently recruited Ryosuke "Tsui" Matsui (formerly of AxBites) on bass, Yuhki (formerly of Ark Storm and Marge Litch) on keyboards and Junichi Satoh (formerly of Concerto Moon) on drums. The album was finally released in October 2003. In March 2005, Galneryus released their second album Advance to the Fall, and later 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 (later Leda of Deluhi) was recruited to fill in for bass. The band shortly after released their fourth album One for All - All for One on August 22, 2007. On October 27, they released their first cover album Voices from the Past. Galneryus then debuted on iTunes Music Store, making their material available worldwide.

2008–2010: New lineup and Resurrection

In February 2008, both sides of their double A-side single, "Alsatia/Cause Disarray", were used as the opening and ending themes for the six-episode anime series Rin ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~.

On October 10, 2008, it was announced that vocalist Yama-B and bassist Yu-To were leaving the band at the end of the Back to the Flag tour. The decision was made during the recording/releasing of their fifth full album, Reincarnation. According to Yama-B's note left to the fans on Galneryus' official site, he left due to the band's growth and change. In the note, Yama-B stated that due to the differences in the style of their music, he was leaving. He and the rest of Galneryus and Mr. Hisatake are all okay with this and wish each other well as they go their separate ways. On October 23, they released their second cover album Voices from the Past II, and on March 25, 2009, Galneryus released two "best of" albums.

Their performance at "Loud Park Festival 2009" was the first to feature new vocalist Masatoshi "Sho" Ono and bassist Taka.

Galneryus' song "A Far-Off Distance" was used as the ending theme of the Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin anime, which began airing on April 10. On April 21, they released the digital EPBeginning of the Resurrection, and on June 23 released their sixth full-length album, Resurrection. On August 20, they released their third cover album Voices from the Past III.

In 2011, their song "Destiny" was used in the music video games GuitarFreaks XG2: Groove on Live and DrumMania XG2: Groove on Live. Also, their song "New Legend" will be used inGuitarFreaks XG3 and DrumMania XG3.

2011–present: Phoenix Rising

The band released their third digital EP Future Never Dies on September 7, and their newest album Phoenix Rising on October 5.

On January 25, 2012, they released the single "Kizuna". The title song was used in a Fist of the Blue Sky pachinko game, and the single's cover features the series' main character. Galneryus' song "Hunting for Your Dream" was used as the second closing theme for the new Hunter × Hunter anime adaptation. Ono's solo song "Departure!" (which was covered in English by Galneryus on "Kizuna") was previously the series' first opening theme, a new version titled "Departure! -Second Version-" will be its second.

Members

• Syu – guitar, backing vocals, leader (2001–present)
• Yuhki – keyboards, Hammond organ, keytar, backing vocals (2003–present, support in 2002)
• Junichi Satoh (佐藤 潤一 Satō Jun'ichi^?) – drums (2003–present)
• Masatoshi "Sho" Ono (小野 正利 Ono Masatoshi^?) – vocals (2009–present)
• Taka – bass (2009–present)

Former members

• Ryosuke "Tsui" Matsui (松井 亮介 Matsui Ryōsuke^?) – bass, backing vocals (2003–2006)
• Masahiro "Yama-B" Yamaguchi (山口 将宏 Yamaguchi Masahiro^?) – vocals (2001–2008)
• Yu-To – bass, backing vocals (2006–2008; support guitar in 2011 as Leda)

Support members

• Shôgo Himuro – bass (2001–2002)
• A – keyboards (2001–2002)
• Yoshinori Kataoka – keyboards (2002)
• Toshihiro "Tossan" Yui – drums (2001–2002)
• Yusuke – bass (2002–2003)

Discography

Albums

• The Flag of Punishment (October 22, 2003) Oricon Album Weekly Chart Peak Position: #161^[7]
• Advance to the Fall (March 23, 2005) #86^[7]
• Beyond the End of Despair... (July 12, 2006) #57^[7]
• One for All - All for One (August 22, 2007) #53^[7]
• Reincarnation (September 10, 2008) #55^[7]
• Best of the Braving Days (March 25, 2009, compilation album) #154^[7]
• Best of the Awakening Days (March 25, 2009, compilation album) #157^[7]
• Resurrection (June 23, 2010) #35^[7]
• Phoenix Rising (October 5, 2011) #23^[7]

Singles/EPs

• United Flag (October 21, 2001, EP)
• "Rebel Flag" (August 23, 2002)
• "Everlasting" (June 27, 2007) Oricon Single Weekly Chart Peak Position: #68^[8]
• "Alsatia/Cause Disarray" (March 19, 2008) #60^[8]
• Shining Moments (July 30, 2008, digital EP)
• Beginning of the Resurrection (April 21, 2010, digital EP)
• Future Never Dies (September 7, 2011, digital EP)
• "Kizuna" (January 25, 2012)

Cover albums

• Voices from the Past (October 8, 2007)
• Voices from the Past II (October 23, 2008)
• Voices from the Past III (August 20, 2010)

Compilation contributions

• "Black Diamond" (originally by Stratovarius) – Stand Proud! III (December 11, 2002)
• "Soldier of Fortune" (originally by Loudness) – Japanese Heavy Metal Tribute Tamashii II (December 11, 2002)
• "Struggle for the Freedom Flag" – Hard Rock Summit in Osaka (June 16, 2004)
• "Serenade (D.N.mix)" – The Songs For Death Note The Movie ~The Last Name Tribute~ (December 20, 2006)
• "A Far-Off Distance (TV Size)" – Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin Opening/Ending theme digital EP (June 16, 2010)
• "Holy Blood: Tatakai no Kettô" (originally by Seikima-II) – Tribute to Seikima-II: Akuma to no Keiyakusho (September 15, 2010)
• "Against the Wind" (originally by Stratovarius) – Crying Stars -Stand Proud!- (September 29, 2010)
• "The Spirit Carries On" (originally by Dream Theater) – Crying Stars -Stand Proud!- (September 29, 2010)
• "Tonight I'm Falling" (originally by TNT) – The Voice -Stand Proud!- (October 5, 2011)
• "Angel Don't Cry" (originally by Toto) – The Voice -Stand Proud!- (October 5, 2011)

DVDs

• Live for Rebirth (November 22, 2006)
• Live for All - Live for One (March 5, 2008)
• Live in the Moment of the Resurrection (December 8, 2010)
• Phoenix Living in the Rising Sun (March 28, 2012)

Music videos

• "Struggle for the Freedom Flag" (The Flag of Punishment)
• "Silent Revelation" (Advance to the Fall)
• "My Last Farewell" (Beyond the End of Despair...)
• "Everlasting" ("Everlasting")
• "New Legend" (One for All - All for One)
• "Alsatia" ("Alsatia/Cause Disarray")
• "Shining Moments" (Reincarnation)
• "You're The Only 2010" (Beginning of the Resurrection)
• "Destiny" (Resurrection)
• "Future Never Dies" (Phoenix Rising)
• "Kizuna" ("Kizuna")

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