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Violent Magic Orchestra promises to be one of the most powerful acts set to explode at MUTEK MTL. The Osaka-based group presents itself as a flesh-and-blood manga/anime, an absolutely unique form of immersive hardcore ripe for explosive moments.
VMO is embodied by Zastar (vocals, Darkthrone, electronics, and “agitation”), Gorgoroth (guitars, Mayhem, dance, and choreography), and Kezzardrix (visuals). Hidden behind their stage names and black metal-inspired costumes, these Osaka artists infuse their music with an energy that is simply mind-blowing. Get ready to be bombarded with a plethora of frenetically interlinked musical styles, somewhere between gabber and black metal.
When you attend several concerts in Japan and listen closely to the backing tracks of pop artists, you immediately notice the eclectic range of influences in the virtuoso performances of their musicians. You can hear this very clearly here with Violent Magic Orchestra: they master techniques specific to various forms of metal (black, speed, doom, etc.), as well as mathcore, electronic hardcore, hard techno, dark ambient, jungle/drum ’n’ bass, footwork, trance, and even jazz-fusion—all with an almost innocent melodic touch when the contrast calls for it.
Phew!
Violent Magic Orchestra performed for the first time in Montreal last March (Ritz PDB); the Japanese band’s reputation is spreading like wildfire, and now they’re set to take the stage at the prestigious MUTEK – Nocturne 4 event at the SAT on Saturday, August 29. VMO also will perform at Abitibi’s FME, Friday (Thursday night in fact) at 1:30AM.
PAN M 360 a fait parvenir ses questions à VMO avant la grande traversée du Pacifique, voici les réponses d’un membre du groupe qui n’a pas voulu s’identifier, vu l’anonymat prévalant au sein du groupe. Une fois de plus!
PAN M 360: What are the foundations of what makes you unique?
VMO: We don’t see ourselves simply as a musical project, but rather as a comprehensive artistic project. We want to go beyond the visual and auditory senses to engage all the senses and offer a supernatural experience.
PAN M 360: Can you briefly describe the role of each band member?
VMO: The members—whose names are inspired by legendary black metal bands written in katakana—each strive to explore all forms of expression.
PAN M 360: Tell us about your musical eclecticism. How did you incorporate so many musical styles to become the excellent musicians you are today?
VMO: We consider ourselves still inexperienced musicians, but we hope to play musical combinations that no one has ever heard before and that perhaps still linger a little in this world. It’s all about balance and musical sensibility.
PAN M 360: How did you learn to play? Through training at a music school? Are you self-taught? Or both?
VMO: We’re self-taught, with no formal training. For example, for the singer Zastar, this project is her very first band.
PAN M 360: Beyond the framework of the language you use, tell us more about your explosive mix.
VMO: I think our ability to blend genres while maintaining our own balance is what makes us unique. But perhaps it’s mainly because we construct scenes—much like a film director—taking into account the scenery, the “actors,” the movements, and the audience’s emotions, and then translate them into music.
PAN M 360: What influence does manga and anime culture have on your work? Even if it’s a bit of a cliché question, try to explain how pop or traditional culture is reflected in your music, whether consciously or unconsciously.
VMO: Anime and manga are very important to some members of the group. This is perhaps what the Japanese can be most proud of today. I think that from a very young age, this has been a significant part of Japanese identity, and I’m so influenced by this culture that I’d like to create interesting collaborations with the world of animation in the future.
PAN M 360: From tragedy to humor, the full spectrum of emotions is present in your work. What are you trying to express?
VMO: Thank you. That is precisely where the source of our expression lies.
PAN M 360: Do you collaborate on audiovisual productions? In film? On television? In video games? In any case, your own music videos are amazingly crafted!
VMO: I think this aspect of our work will grow in the future. I can’t talk about it yet, but we’re planning to release a very large-scale multidisciplinary artwork next January.
PAN M 360: We assume that the name Violent Magic Orchestra is linked in some way to the legendary Yellow Magic Orchestra. Could you comment that connection to us?
VMO: We realized it without even realizing it. We can’t say there’s no influence, nor that it’s huge, but for any Japanese person who’s had even the slightest exposure to electronic music, YMO is a bit like an anime or a manga.
PAN M 360: We’ve heard you were big fans of Aphex Twin. At first glance, his IDM music seems very different from yours, but how does Aphex Twin’s influence show up in your work?
VMO: We’re really impressed by the way he presents his work—that is, as a total work of art. Staying a star without losing his dignity in a genre where it’s hard to become a star. It’s completely different from us, but oh well, haha.
PAN M 360: Could you name other musicians who have influenced the members of Violent Magic Orchestra?
VMO: There are many, but they’re all the ones who dare to take on challenges.
PAN M 360: How do you present your music on stage compared to your studio recordings?
VMO: Both are still evolving, but we create our music with the goal of showcasing the best of ourselves and presenting the kind of show we want to put on.
PAN M 360: Does the music scene in Osaka, where you’re based, have any distinctive characteristics?
VMO: I’d say its uniqueness lies in its originality.
PAN M 360: What will the lineup be for the concert in Montreal? Who will play which instrument? What will the visual staging look like?
VMO: The four regular members of the tour—The Star on vocals, Dark Throne, the manipulator and agitator, Gorgos on guitar, and Mayhem, the dancer and backup singer—will be joined by Kezzardrix on visuals to deliver an explosive audiovisual concert.
