BI KYO RAN

I do consider that most of rock bands might enter show biz as copy bands and some of them, getting their originality and their world, should be more famous all over the world. So I want to say, I'll be fretful if you say BIKYORAN be only a copy band of King Crimson. :-)

BIKYORAN (Beautiful Madness? Beauty-Freak? ...sorry.) is one of the most famous Japanese heavy progressive bands. We can say the sound master of the band is Kunio Suma, with sharp-edged guitar sounds and 'Japanese Geddy Lee (by Cesar Inca)' voices. Nobody has suspicions that Kunio could construct BIKYORAN sound style rigidly with his guitar and voice, and his previous band 'MADOROMI' was absolutely a copy band of King Crimson. However, what I have to emphasize here is, with the Crimsonish core of their sound, they could get, accept and digest more and more materials. For example, the first track Niju Jinkaku (Double) can remind us of a heaviness by Larks' King Crimson and of course Geddy Lee & Rush. Cynthia has exactly classical and lyrical flavour of Gabriel's Genesis...I can't help chuckling. Kyo (Psycho) Part 2 and Hitorigoto (Monologue) should have the Larks' Crimsonism but be more psychedelic (especially Kunio's dreadful and keen voice) I always feel. In the last Keikoku (Warning) lots of sound monsters come and attack to us! Exploded guitar sounds like King Crimson, Japanese atmospheres, and in the beginning French symphonic flavour should be around us. (Kunio had respect for Richard Pinhas, a French electroprogressive emperor...so it's natural he could get French flavour.) We can enjoy their heaviness with all-over-the-world tastes.

Only one sad thing for me is they could not get enough time to make the great product. Indeed, the rhythm section has a few dizziness and there are a few fumble with the guitar solo. But it's almost Ok. This album is surely brilliant sunbeam of heavy prog from Japan!