Unlucky Morpheus , usually abbreviated to Ankimo , is a Japanese power metal and neoclassical band formed in 2008. If you're a fan of the genre, you should keep an eye on them!
The group features vocalists Fuki and Kasumi , guitarists Jinya and Shiren – who also performs the guttural vocals –, bassist Ogawa Hiroyuki , drummer Fumiya Morishita , and violinist Jill . All the instrumentalists are machines of precision and technique that take the breath away from anyone who listens to them, both in the studio and live.
Ankimo began as a doujin music project (the Japanese word, in the entertainment industry, refers to works published by people who share common interests). Initially, the group focused on rearrangements of the Touhou Project (a series of games), but quickly evolved into a high-level original band. Since then, they have released albums with their own compositions that impress with their technique and incredible sound.
What makes the band unique, besides the contrast between Fuki's clean vocals and Shiren's guttural ones, is the focus on Jill's violin. This special touch makes all the songs more epic and exciting. Before entering the metal scene, the classically trained violinist performed in orchestras.
A little about the band's discography and sound.
Ankimo started as a group that rearranged songs from the Touhou , but in 2014 released *affected* , their first completely original album. In 2017, the band released their first music video for "Black Pentagram" to promote the EP of the same name released in December 2016. Currently, the song has 3.9 million views on YouTube , making it their most listened-to song to date.
The band's most successful studio album is Unfinished (2022), which reached number 15 on the Oricon . This album features the track "Top of the 'M'" which has 1.5 million plays on Spotify . However, the most important track on the album, and I would say also for the band as a whole, is "Carry on singing to the sky," which is a tribute to Andre Matos .
The track begins with a sample of Angra and the lyrics speak of the great loss that metal has suffered, showing great respect and admiration for the maestro. The song also contains references to Angra's "Carry On," both in the title and the lyrics.
Although Unfinished is their most successful studio album, the group has another album that reached an impressive 11th position on the Oricon , namely EVOLUTION & DIVERSITY LIVE 2022 at Zepp DiverCity Blu-ray , released in 2023.
Unlucky Morpheus isn't just another power metal band; they're innovative. In 2018, they released the single(s) “CADAVER/REVADAC,” which, despite being distinct songs, share a unique characteristic: they share the same sheet music! On YouTube, the songs are together in a single video and, according to the description, “they have a trick that no one has done before”: the sheet music for “REVADAC” is literally the reverse of “CADAVER.” The tracks share the same notation, but one is read backward, hence the single's name.
Recently, the band made its debut in the anime world with the single "Sekai Rinne." The track was the opening theme for the series "Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?" Even though the anime wasn't successful in the West, it's a great step forward for Ankimo's exposure.
Metal without borders
Unlucky Morpheus proves that high-level metal knows no geographical boundaries. With a technical, powerful, and accessible sound for both power metal and neoclassical fans, the band has been growing in the international scene and is already revered by musicians and enthusiasts worldwide.
If you enjoy bands like Kamelot , Angra , Rhapsody , or Stratovarius , get ready: Unlucky Morpheus might be your next obsession.
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