MINSTRELIX - JAPAN

Reflections - 2009 - Black-Listed
Tales Of Historia - 2012 - Stay Gold
Chronostrings - 2014 - Stay Gold
11 Trajectories - 2021 - Radtone
Minstrelics - 2024 - Rubicon

MINSTRELIX image
  
 
Members
Vocals
Astraea, Crystal Angel, Hanmo, Grand Design, Energia, Solo>>LEO FIGARO [MORIGUCHI RYOU]>>Dragon Guardian, Solo, Dreamstoria, Marchen Station, Epicross - Lola - Astraea, Crystal Angel, Solo, Hanmo, Perfect Crime, Grand Design, Energia, Dreamstoria, Marchen Station, Epicross, Dragon Guardian>>LEO FIGARO [MORIGUCHI RYOU]>>Solo, Dreamstoria, Marchen Station, Epicross, Dragon Guardian

Guitar
The Final Elysion>>TAKAO [TAKAO SHIGEYUKI]>>The Final Elysion

Bass
Shin-D - 奏楽忍者隊Hanzo>>Mizuki>>奏楽忍者隊Hanzo - Windzor, Concerto Moon, Emerald Aisle, Gunbridge, Dreamstoria>>Toshiyuki Sugimori>>Dreamstoria, D_Drive, 六合

Drum
Yuki - Manipulated Slaves, Black Yak.>>OCHOCO [SAITA TAKAYOSHI]>>Black Yak.

Keyboard
Mandylion, Crystal Angel>>Yui>>Roman So Words - Wild One>>葵 [Aoi Takahashi]>>Wild One




History & Biography
Another so-called neoclassical band from Japan, Minstrelix, stylized MinstreliX, was founded by Takao and Leo in Osaka in 2004. Takao was influenced by Dark Moor. The band immediately released a demo called Death Maria, which carried the one song. Lost Renaissance was the next demo. The band was still in the demo stage, but called its next one Memoirs. American female singer Lola was upfront now. Takao and Leo had had a falling out and the inexperienced Lola, who was a fan of the band, ended up in the group. The group’s first Tokyo concert was in 2008. Singer Leo Figaro had left, but would return in 2010. Legend Eve Origin was a demo in advance of Reflections, the debut album. Reflections contained songs written, and initially performed, by the original singer.

Not clear what it meant, but the title for the next release, which was a demo, was Rose Funeral Of Tragedy. Ochoco became the drummer in 2011. The act performed with DragonGuardian and Lightbringer in 2011. The band played several concerts in Japan in 2012. The following EPs appeared in 2012 and 2013: Through The Gates Of Splendor and Through The Gates Of Death. The band obtained a slot at Destrose Presents Mina & Miho Double Birthday Live! Vol.2. The group also snagged the opening slot for Dark Moor in Japan.

Chronostrings was due in 2013, but was delayed to 2014. The group re-recorded its Lost Renaissance track before taking a break. The return came in 2017 and the Eternal Zero EP. Keyboardist Aoi and bassist Toshiyuki left the act after December 2018. Takao was hospitalised at the beginning of 2020.

11 Trajectories contained eleven tracks and was on a new label. Former member Yui was a guest on keyboards here. Minstrel Fest. Vol.1 was a show in Osaka in the spring of 2023. Bands like Valhalla and Rosario Ark appeared alongside the organisers. Minstrelics was the 2024 album by Japan-based Neoclassical act Minstrelix. It was out through Rubicon Music.

The band’s monicker stands for a combination of ‘minstrel’ and ‘relic.’ The band prides itself on mixing elements of pomp, anime and metal, but the core of the music is Neoclassical and the band uses Classical pieces liberally. The band has called its style ‘Dramatic metal.’


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