If you\u2019re a little bit \u2018into\u2019 the visual kei genre, you\u2019ve probably heard the name \u6469\u5929\u697c\u30aa\u30da\u30e9 (Matenrou Opera) before. Existing out of \u82d1 (Sono) on vocals, \u512a\u4ecb (Yusuke) on guitar, \u5f69\u96e8 (Ayame) as a keyboardist and programmer, \u8000 (Yo) on bass and \u97ff (Hibiki) on drums, the band can be filed under the loud kei and tanbi kei subgenres of visual kei, but they also make use of a symphonic metal sound in their works. <\/p>\n
The band recently celebrated their 18th anniversary at Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall on August 10, unfortunately without guitarist Yusuke, who was undergoing treatment for a fractured arm sustained in late July. Luckily, the preparations for the band\u2019s latest single AGONY<\/em> were already completed, which means he does appear in full on the single and in the music video.<\/p>\n When I see a music video, my main question is \u2018how much do the visuals convey the story of the lyrics?\u2019, and more often than not, this is a very difficult subject. Since a lot of lyrics are often describing an \u2018emotional state\u2019 rather than a \u2018movement\u2019 or an \u2018action\u2019. AGONY<\/em> is no different in this scenario. As the name implies, the lyrics express a feeling of \u2018agony\u2019 and Sono has written them in a rather poetic style, as is more or less customary for him at this point. The lyrics hint at losing the will to move forward, covered in the world\u2019s desires and the flood of voices echoing in the narrator’s head, sinking into the unwavering depths. So, \u2018heavy stuff\u2019 without being too detailed about it.<\/p>\n The style of the song is also more focused on the metal aspect, which is also more Sono\u2019s style of composing. (The other song on the single, Another Christmas<\/em> has a lot more keyboard in it, and has been composed by Ayame instead.) However, a new instrument is introduced in the introduction: a cello, played by \u77f3\u4e95\u667a\u5927 (Tomohiro Ishii<\/a>), adding an eerie vibe to the already more monotone vocals from Sono.<\/p>\nAh, let\u2019s continue to be covered in the world\u2019s desires<\/h3>\n