Gonin-Ish

A progressive metal band, for lack of a better term, Tokyo, Japan's Gonin-Ish (which translates as "to unite songs by five members") blend influences as diverse as pop, jazz, world music, and death metal, with lyrics inspired as much by modern graphic storytelling (aka Manga) and archaic words drawn from classic Japanese literature -- all of it housed under the aegis of art rock. Active since 1997, the group also prides itself in being entirely self-sufficient, handling not only all aspects of their songwriting and performance, but also the artwork, layout, recording, distribution, and mastering of their albums, which include an eponymous 2000 debut and 2005's Naishikyo-Sekai. As a result, Gonin-Ish members Anoji (vocals, guitar), Fumio Takahashi (lead guitar), Masashi Momota (piano, synthesizers), Oyama Tetsuya (who supplanted original bassist Yukihiro Matsuo), and Gaku Yamaguchi (who replaced the Sigh-bound Junichi "JunJun" Harashima), didn't enjoy much public recognition for lack of proper label backing and distribution until 2008, when their second opus was reissued worldwide by the Season of Mist label.
© Eduardo Rivadavia /TiVo