The name GALNERYUS comes from Guarnerius, one of the great families of violin makers. It is a fair warning of what the guitarist who chose it likes to play.
Ashiya
Syu was born on 23 September 1980 in Ashiya, in Hyogo Prefecture. As a child he idolised YOSHIKI of X JAPAN. In junior high school he heard Yngwie Malmsteen, was struck by the way the notes flowed, and has been devoted to that style ever since. He also learned the playing of Paul Gilbert and Zakk Wylde by copying it.
In 1998 he joined a visual kei band called VALKYR. In 2001, in Osaka, he formed GALNERYUS with the singer Yama-B.
For a few years he held down several jobs at once. He started a second band, AUSHVITZ, in 2002, and in 2003 he joined Animetal, the group known for metal versions of anime songs, staying until it went into retirement in 2006.
Two Eras
GALNERYUS has had two lead singers. Yama-B left in 2008, citing differences over the band’s musical style. In September 2009 the band announced his replacement, and it was a surprise: Masatoshi Ono, a pop singer with a million-selling single to his name.
The albums that followed made the second era the bigger one: RESURRECTION (2010), PHOENIX RISING (2011), ANGEL OF SALVATION (2012), the concept album UNDER THE FORCE OF COURAGE (2015) and ULTIMATE SACRIFICE (2017), which reached number 13 on the Oricon chart.
The band has kept its pace. THE STARS WILL LIGHT THE WAY came out on 25 September 2024 and A CRY FROM THE SKY ABOVE on 15 July 2026, with a tour from August.
On His Own
Syu has made three solo albums: CRYING STARS -STAND PROUD!- (2010), a set of covers; the instrumental YOU PLAY HARD (2016); and VORVADOS (2019), with guest musicians. His signature guitars from ESP carry the name CRYING STAR.
Why It Matters
Leading a band for twenty-five years is hard. Leading it through a change of singer and coming out larger is harder. Syu did it by choosing a replacement nobody expected and then writing albums to suit him.
Start with ANGEL OF SALVATION, then A CRY FROM THE SKY ABOVE.
