Matenrou Opera Interview

This year Visual Kei band Matenrou Opera will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a brand new album titled "PANTHEON -PART 1-". Before the band will kick off its European tour in June we talked with Keyboarder Ayame and Drummer Yuu (both in the center of the picture above) about their experiences abroad, their time after the departure of guitarist Anzi and of course also about the new album:

Please tell the people who didn’t check out your music yet what’s special about your music and Matenrou Opera itself as a band.
Ayame: Matenrou Opera is a Japanese Visual Kei Band. European music influenced us a lot, so we’re happy Europeans like our music.
Yuu: We are a Visual Kei heavy metal band being active in Japan. Mainly we play melodious music and are holding lives at which the audience can sing along with us.

Which songs do you recommend to people who want to get to know Matenrou Opera?
Ayame: Which song is the first song I want people to listen to who don’t know Matenrou Opera… Recently it’s PANTHEON. I also would like you to listen to GLORIA and PHOENIX.
Yuu: Of course this is different for every person but please listen to songs like GLORIA, kassai to gekijou no Gloria and PHOENIX.

You have released your Album “PANTHEON -PART 1-” in April 2017. What is the concept of the CD?
Ayame: We’ve created the heavy metal sound we like. I think it became an album that is worth the 10^th anniversary of Matenrou Opera.
Yuu: It’s Matenrou Opera’s Heavy Metal Album.

If there is a part 1, everyone will expect a part 2. Will this become a series of CDs with the same concept?
Ayame: There will be a PART 2. But the details are still a secret. Please look forward to it!
Yuu: I don’t know how long we’ll continue like this but since there is 1 there will also be 2.

Last year guitarist Anzi departed from the band after 8 years. Did you ever think about getting a new guitarist? What changed the most for you when you became a four-member band?
Ayame: Maybe a new guitarist will join us one day. But even after becoming four members our feelings towards music haven’t changed. The way we record our songs has changed a bit but that’s no problem.
Yuu: One day I want to be active again with another guitarist. Since we became four members there has been a new connection between us.

This year you are celebrating your 10th anniversary. Please tell us one day in your time as member of Matenrou Opera that has stuck in your memory the most.
Ayame: That we could hold concerts outside of Tokyo. We held concerts all over Japan at so many different places. And I’m happy we could even hold concerts abroad.
Yuu: Our European tour 9 years ago was our first tour as band in general. So back then we’ve created many memories. But it’s difficult to pick one single one.

In 2016 you performed in Canada at Anime North. What surprised or amazed you the most there?
Ayame: I was so amazed by the huge number of Fans in Canada. We did some sightseeing and went to the Niagara Falls. They are so much bigger than the waterfalls in Japan, I was surprised!
Yuu: I was amazed by so many Anime-Fans all over the world. I didn’t think the day would ever come when I would see the Niagara Falls. I’m so happy about it.

Where did you travel abroad until now – and for which reason?
Ayame: We held concerts in America, Korea and Europe. In private I travelled to Taiwan. I like going abroad.
Yuu: On our European tour 9 years ago we travelled to Sweden, Finland, Germany, France and Spain. 2011 we held event lives in Korea and America. With my family I travelled to Singapore.

Please give a message for everyone who is planning to come to your shows as well as all your other fans all around the world.
Ayame: I know that we have fans all around the world. It’s my dream to go to everyone’s places to hold concerts there.
Yuu: I think Matenrou Opera’s songs are accepted all around the world. I’d be very happy if you listen to it once and if it’s possible to come to our lives. Let’s sing together at the live halls!

And this summer European fans will have the chance to do so! The first live of this year's European tour will be held on June 30th in Finland and the last one will be held on July 11th in Russia.