The story began in the early '90s, when You Oshima started his music career by forming a group called Black Maria. Their only release was a mini album, but it already established the basics for Kadenzza's songs which would be released 10 years later.
After Black Maria's split You Oshima moved to Tokyo for a year, then to New York, and later back to various places in Japan. His American visits ended in 1999 when he returned to his home country. In these years he diligently studied producing and programming music in order to gain a professional quality and skill level.
At the end of 2002, he composed the tracks of Kadenzza's first demo, which was then named The Reality In The Phantasmagoric World. The next year, a few record labels began distributing the demo and received a notable amount of positive feedback.
In June 2003, Kadenzza signed a recording contract with the French label Holy Records, through which he released the debut album Into The Oriental Phantasma. The album was a revolutionary piece of work from the samurai spirited artist.
The next release came out in September 2005. The Second Renaissance, available to European audiences, presented some impressive improvement; The sound was clearer and the arrangements elegant with symphonic orchestration. Also including zany vocals as sharp as a knife, astral soprano parts, church organs, wild blast beat drumming and stunningly fast guitars, not to mention the dancing piano and complicated rhythms. The result appeals to musical elitists seeking something startling and innovative.
The world looks forward to hearing from Kadenzza again.
Kadenzza describes himself as "Grand Orchestral Kamikaze Metal From Japan," which while rather dramatic, is also very fitting. You Oshima's one man act plays a highly orchestral, dark kind of metal. The music is very challenging and eccentric - even the word "orchestral" isn't sufficient to describe the style. The music includes a mix of guitar heroism, piano, synths, vocals with effects, as well as programmed, aggressive and hyper drum parts. Additionally, the music includes a mix of stylish elements that transmit both Eastern and Western atmospheres.
b>Kadenzza's style genuinely stands out among other Japanese bands and You Oshima is the gifted multi-talent who has yet to gain the recognition he truly deserves in the field of Japanese metal.
By way of reference, the music could be described as a mix of Emperor, Dream Theater and King Crimson, with added neo-classical elements.
