You may think that this oddly named band, FATHOMLESS SKYWALKER from Tokyo, is the ugly duckling among all those female fronted power metal bands in Japan, but in fact they are simply different. First and most important, FATHOMLESS SKYWALKER are not a power metal band, they call their music symphonic metalcore. And secondly, just listen to their upcoming debut album “Anthems Of The Resilient” and you will hear what makes them different. We had an interesting email chat with singer Chihiro about their firstborn.

Let’s start with the fascinating band name. Who came up with that?

“The band name was born from a creative spark between me and our leader and guitarist, Takuma. FATHOMLESS is a clever fusion of Japanese and English. My name, Chihiro, shares the same kanji as ‘bottomless’ or ‘immeasurable, which ties into the idea of something vast and mysterious, like the depths of the ocean. Meanwhile, SKYWALKER evokes an image of someone fearlessly striding across the sky. By blending these two concepts, we crafted a name that embodies the limitless adventure of our music, soaring through boundless skies and diving into the unknown depths.”FATHOMLESS SKYWALKER are basically Chihiro on vocals, Takuma on guitar and Tetsu on drums. Who are the other two guys we see on the press photo (see main photo on top)?

“The musicians in our latest band photo are our live support members, guitarist Takahiro and bassist Ryoichi. Actually, we have some news about Takahiro, he has just joined our band as an official member! You can also spot both of them in our newest music video for “Dystopia Survivors”. Ryoichi also recorded some bass parts for the album too.”

Your vocals are very different from most of the other Japanese female power metal singers. Yours are more operatic. Does that distinguish FATHOMLESS SKYWALKER from the majority of Japanese power metal bands and is that the reason why you prefer to call your music symphonic metalcore?

“I originally majored in classical vocal music at university, but everything changed when I discovered Nightwish – it ignited a passion in me to start a metal band. Not long after, I crossed paths with our guitarist Takuma, who came from the raw energy of punk and metalcore. We realized that by fusing our drastically different musical backgrounds, we could craft something fresh and powerful. That idea became the foundation of our signature sound: symphonic metalcore, a blend of elegance and intensity. To push my artistry even further, I’ve been diving into a variety of vocal techniques beyond classical singing, constantly expanding my range of expression.”

“Anthems Of The Resilient” is your debut album. That’s always a milestone you won’t forget. What are your feelings about the album? Are you proud of what you have put down?

“At long last, our highly anticipated debut full-length album is complete, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve created! This album weaves an epic saga, bringing to life warriors from across time and fantasy… a dystopian future teetering on the edge of chaos… a grand medieval adventure filled with heroism… and a high-seas voyage with rowdy, ale-loving pirates. Each track is a world of its own, boundless and immersive, and we can’t wait for listeners to embark on this journey with us!”

Let’s have a look at the album. Like so many Japanese metal bands, you also use lowercase and uppercase letters to name tracks. What’s the meaning of that? And what is the idea behind the cover art?

“We carefully choose uppercase or lowercase letters for our song titles based on the imagery each track conveys. For example, “REVOLUTION” in all caps radiates strength and defiance, while “Pirates Of The Fathomless Sea” feels more refined and adventurous with a mix of uppercase and lowercase. As for the album cover, it features a striking goddess of the battlefield, her sacred melody guiding warriors to victory. Fun fact: her hair colour is actually inspired by mine! She’s like a glorified, more powerful version of myself! Haha.”

“Anthems Of The Resilient” starts off very powerful with “REVOLUTION” and “The Loyal Paladins” sounds like a live recording due to the audience screaming at the beginning. Was it really recorded live?

““REVOLUTION” is a high-energy, adrenaline-pumping track and an absolute fan favourite at our live shows. It’s not every day you hear an operatic voice soaring over this kind of relentless intensity, so I hope you’ll enjoy the unique soundscape we’ve crafted! This song was inspired by The Hunger Games, and to bring its rebellious spirit to life, our members even take on acting roles in the music video. Be sure to check it out! The roaring cheers at the beginning of “The Loyal Paladins” may sound like a live crowd, but they were actually created using sound effects! We wanted to go beyond just music and make the experience feel truly cinematic. As the voices rise in support, sending warriors off to battle, we hope you’ll feel as if you too are stepping onto the battlefield – ready to fight with honour and courage.”

“Pirates Of The Fathomless Sea” could easily have been a Visions Of Atlantis song, on “Dystopia Survivors” there are male growls. Who did them?

““Pirates Of The Fathomless Sea” is my absolute favourite song! Inspired by Pirates Of The Caribbean, we’ve woven many elements from the film into the melody, chord progressions, and lyrics – so keep an ear out for them! For the music video, we also drew inspiration from Visions Of Atlantis to fully capture that epic seafaring adventure. As for the fierce growls in “Dystopia Survivors” and several other tracks, those are delivered by our guitarist, Takuma. His powerful vocals have been incredibly well received, so we’re excited to feature more of  his  voice  in  future  songs,

pushing our musical expression even further!”

The longest track on the album is “REVENGE OF THE DEAD”. It starts like a folk song, but is speeding up to a very powerful piece soon after that and you singing with clean vocals as well. The two breaks at 3:53 and at the end are also very cleverly done, making this the highlight of the album for me. Which is your favourite?

““REVENGE OF THE DEAD” was inspired by the film The Crow, and among all the tracks on this album, it carries one of the strongest storytelling elements. I hope listeners can experience it as if they’re watching a dark, dramatic musical unfold. One of my favourite parts is the haunting intro, I recorded it with the image of a children’s choir singing in a vast, echoing church. We also made some creative changes to the ending compared to the original movie, so I hope you’ll enjoy that unique twist! As I mentioned earlier, my personal favourite is “Pirates Of The Fathomless Sea”, but honestly, every song on this album is something I’m deeply proud of. If I could, I’d turn them all into music videos!”

One more and another great song to discuss, “SEVEN DEADLY SINS”. Not difficult to guess what it is about, but which of the seven deadly sins are you most guilty of?

“If I had to embody one of the seven deadly sins, it would probably be envy. Lately, I’ve been struggling with my appetite….! But deep down, it’s jealousy that fuels me. When I hear a vocalist who’s better than me, it frustrates me, but that frustration becomes my motivation. I want to push myself beyond my limits, to be the best, to be recognized. That relentless drive is what fuels my music and my journey as an artist.”If I had to recommend “Anthems Of The Resilient” to anyone, I would say for fans of Silent Elegy and Misty Mountain, two Chinese metal bands with the same female singer, Li Xiaoyu. But I doubt if that would help.

“Thank you so much! We would love for metal fans in China and across Asia to discover our music and join us on this journey. Your support means everything to us!” ■

Henk van Nieuwenhoven

Thanks to: JPU Records