Onmyo-za

Onmyo-za is a Japanese heavy metal band from Osaka, formed in 1999. Its lineup comprises 河塚篤史, 狩姦, 黒猫, 招鬼, and 瞬火. The group blends heavy metal, folk metal, and visual kei with a strongly traditional Japanese aesthetic. Its music pairs dramatic arrangements and contrasting male and female vocals with lyrics that use classical language and imagery drawn from folklore, spirituality, and historical Japan. Its songs often frame contrasts such as darkness and light, movement and stillness, and resilience and surrender. That identity also shapes its visual presentation, including Heian-era inspired costumes and theatrical staging. Its work has been released through King Records. On June 20, 1999, Onmyo-za gave its first live performance, 『降臨』, at 西九条BRAND NEW in Osaka, and later that year it released its first album. The band made its major debut on December 16, 2001 with the maxi single 『月に叢雲花に風』. In 2002 and 2003, it took part in Iron Maiden and Judas Priest tribute albums as the only Japanese artist on each release. On May 29, 2004, Onmyo-za performed at 東京・銕仙会能楽研修所, in the first concert by a rock band at a Noh theater. It completed its first Europe tour in 2005, then held its first hall concert, 『珠玉の宴』, at Nakano Sunplaza on February 25, 2006. 『魑魅魍魎』 and 『相剋／慟哭』 became the band's first weekly top 10 album and single. Its anime work includes "Kouga Ninpouchou (甲賀忍法帖)," the opening theme of "Basilisk." In 2020, Onmyo-za suspended activities when 黒猫 developed sudden deafness during a national tour. The band returned with 『龍凰童子』 in 2023 and released 『吟澪御前』 in 2025.