The starting line-up of this unique Japanese progrock band is: Tsutomu Izumi (keyboards, Moog synthesizer, vocals), Hisashi Mizutani (guitar, vocals), Toshkazu Taki (bass, vocals), Kazuo Okamoto (drums & percussion) and Misao on violin. They made a series of albums in the Seventies with every time another sound: the debut album "An Old Castle of Transylvania" ('73) sounds like early FLOYD/VANILLA FUDGE, the third album "Black Hole" (75) is more in the vein of complex KING CRIMSON (nerve-racking FRIPPERIAN play), the second LP "The journey.." sound rather weird and freaky and their fourth entitled "Metal Reflection" is, as the title suggests, pure hardrock/metal.The long title track of their debut album "An old Castle of Transylvania" (around 20 minutes) is a mindblowing blend of psychedelia and progrock with great build ups and eruptions, very moving! It contains sumptuous keyboardplay (Hammond and Mellotron) and biting guitar. The interplay between guitar and organ is like "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" from PINK FLOYD. The other songs are also loaded with Hammond and Mellotron, a real 'keyboard nirvana'. Line-up / Musicians Tsutomu Izumi/keyboards,Mellotron,synthesizers,vocals Hirashi Mizutani/guitars,vocals Kazuo Okamoto/drums,percussion Toshikazu Taki/bass,vocals Misao/violin Discography(Album) An Old Castle of Transylvania 1973
1.Soundtrack 1984 2.Maybe 3.Soft focus 4.Fantastic mirror 5.Poltergeist 6.An old castle of Transylvania: a.) Forest of the death b.) The cursed c.) Darkness of the world d.) An old castle of Transylvania
