| Toshiaki Umemura | |
|---|---|
 Umemura in 2023 with Church of Misery. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth Name | Toshiaki Umemura |
| Alias | Ume, Zion |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Genres | Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Speed Metal |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals |
| Years active | late 1990s - Present |
| Labels | MeteorCity Records, Cornucopia Records, Heavy Psych Sounds, Rise Above Records |
| Associated acts | Eternal Elysium, Church of Misery, Sonic Flower, DeadClaw, Chorker's Queen |
Toshiaki Umemura is a multi-instrumentalist based out of Japan. Active since at least the 2000s, he is known for performing with the likes of several notable Japanese bands such as Eternal Elysium, Sonic Flower and Church of Misery.
Biography[]
Umemura's earliest known musical contributions would be with Eternal Elysium. Umemura would join the group on bass in May 2000 around the release of Spiritualized D and the new trio would record a host of cover. However this lineup would be short-lived with Kuroda leaving in February 2001. Rio Okuya would join the group on drums as the trio began work on a third studio album from May to November. The band's first gig with this lineup would be on 30 June 2001 in Tokyo. The band would get a second drummer, a New Zealand resident known as Tom Huskinson, to record a track. In November 2001 after recording sessions would finish, Okuya would leave the group with Huskinson taking over as the full-time drummer. Eternal Elysium's third studio album Share would be released via MeteorCity Records on 25 February 2002 to positive acclaim. With worldwide distribution (Century Media in Europe and Revolver in the United States) along with being signed to MeteorCity, the trio would tour the United States for the first time.
In support of Share and performing alongside Witch Mountain the trio would play in thirteen cities (Including an appearance at Stoner Hands of Doom). With the tour being a success the trio would begin work on a split CD with Japanese space rock band Of The Spacistor, working with hardcore drummer Antonio Ishikawa (Formerly of the band MUGA). However after the recordings of the split CD, Toshiaki Umemura would leave the group citing a desire to play guitar and sing in other groups. Mitsuru Kondo would fill in before Tana Haugo would join in November 2003. Umemura has since rejoined the group on drums in January 2020.
Following his departure from Eternal Elysium, Umemura would play guitar and vocals in Chorker's Queen though little is known of that band. He would also play bass in the speed metal band DeadClaw with his contributions appearing on the 2007 album Cease Fire Save Your Rounds. Little is known of Umemura's activity for several years.
In 2021, Umemura would join Sonic Flower on drums. On 26 February 2019 Tatsu Mikami would state "Sonic Flower rides again!" and announce a second album in the works along with a new lineup, including original Church of Misery singer Kazuhiro Asaeda. The forthcoming album is slated to have seven original songs along with a Savoy Brown cover.[1] On 4 November 2020 it would be announced that Sonic Flower had signed with Heavy Psych Sounds. Along with planning this new studio album for 2021, the label would re-issue the self-titled debut in 2021 along with a previously unreleased album in Rides Again, recorded and shelved in 2005 and featuring covers of Graham Central Station and The Meters.[2] On 13 July 2021 part of a new song would be shared on social media, revealing a new lineup and recording done at Studio Zen with Ken and Yukito Okazaki. This new lineup would include guitarist Fumiya Hattori and Umemura, now playing drums. In June 2022 details on the band's third album (And first recordings in over fifteen years) would surface. Mixed by Yukito Okazaki (Eternal Elysium), Me and My Bellbottom Blues would be released on 30 September 2022 via Heavy Psych Sounds.[3]
In turn this would lead to Umemura joining Church of Misery in 2022 as recording began on a new album. On 8 July 2022 Church of Misery would announce that a new studio album was in the works, featuring six originals and one cover of a 70s heavy rock band, later revealed to be a cover of Haystacks Balboa. Notably, Umemura would join on drums and Yukito Okazaki (Eternal Elysium) would join on guitar, reuniting the two for the first time in twenty years. Tour dates of Europe would be announced in late 2022, including festival appearances at Desertfest London and DesertFest Berlin. A second European tour would be announced alongside Eyehategod and confirm the new album's title being Born Under a Mad Sign. For both Europe tours, Fumiya Hattori would rejoin the band on guitar while original CoM vocalist Kazuhiro Asaeda would rejoin on vocals, his first performances with the band in over 25 years. It would also be confirmed in a Twitter post in November 2022 that Takano had left the band and Asaeda had recorded the vocals for the new album, his first appearance with the band since 1996's Vol. 1. Born Under a Mad Sign saw release on 16 June 2023 to widespread critical acclaim.
Bands[]
- Eternal Elysium - Bass, Vocals (2000 - 2003); Drums (2020 - Present)
- Chorker's Queen - Guitar, Vocals (2000s)
- DeadClaw - Bass, Vocals (2000s)
- Sonic Flower - Drums (2021 - Present)
- Church of Misery - Drums (2022 - Present)
Selected Discography[]
- Eternal Elysium - Share (Studio Album) (2002, MeteorCity Records)
- Eternal Elysium - Eternal Elysium / Of The Spacistor (Split CD) (2003, Cornucopia Records)
- DeadClaw' - Cease Fire Save Your Rounds (Studio Album) (2007, Sub-Effect)
- Sonic Flower - Me and My Bellbottom Blues (Studio Album) (2022, Heavy Psych Sounds)
- Church of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign (Studio Album) (2023, Rise Above Records)
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Eternal Elysium | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Yukito Okazaki • Tana Haugo • Toshiaki Umemura |
| Selected Past Members | Antonio Ishikawa |
| Studio Albums | Faithful • Spiritualized D • Share • Searching Low & High • Within The Triad • Resonance of Shadows |
| Other Releases | Eternal Elysium / Of The Spacistor • Mysterious Views in Stone Garden • Ascending Circulation • Highflyer • Masse no sōrei |
| Associated Bands and Labels | Cornucopia Records • Sonic Flower • Church of Misery • Ran-Ja • Dead Claw • Okuyama • Muga • Siscera • The Pollen • nibs |