Kelly SIMONZ & Yutaro Abe
Masters of Japanese Neo-Classical Metal, Shred & Melodic Virtuosity
Biographies & Musical Synergy
Kelly SIMONZ (born Kazuhiro Shimazuka on July 1, 1970, in Osaka) is widely regarded as one of Japan's foremost neo-classical shred guitar masters. After studying at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood during the early 1990s, SIMONZ burst onto the international guitar radar with his self-produced 1998 breakthrough Sign of the Times and 1999's Silent Scream via Roadrunner Records. Renowned for his blinding alternate picking, sweep arpeggios, and soulful classical vibrato, he has led ensembles such as Kelly SIMONZ's Blind Faith and Bad Tribe, authored the bestselling Transcendental Guitarist Training instructional book series with Rittor Music, and toured alongside international vocal luminaries including Mark Boals.
Yutaro Abe (阿部ユウタロウ) represents the next vanguard of high-speed Japanese neo-classical and progressive metal. A prominent instructor at ESP Entertainment Tokyo, studio musician, and online educator, Abe leads his own virtuosic project, Yutaro Abe's ASTRAL WIND. Combining neoclassical speed, progressive rhythms, and soaring melodies, Abe collaborates with top-tier Japanese metal vocalists and musicians such as Atsushi Kuze. Both SIMONZ and Abe share a deep mutual dedication to the neo-classical metal tradition, frequently engaging in cross-promotional masterclasses, technical demonstrations, and discussions on high-speed technique.
Key Albums & Discography
Kelly SIMONZ – Selected Key Albums
- Sign of the Times (1998)
- The independent debut that put SIMONZ on the global map, showcasing an astonishing mastery of Bach-influenced neoclassical progressions and lightning-fast fretwork.
- Silent Scream (1999)
- His major-label debut via Roadrunner Records Japan, establishing his reputation for high-octane neoclassical speed metal and melodic hook writing.
- The Rule of Right (2002)
- The second major release under the Kelly SIMONZ's Blind Faith banner, licensed in Europe via Finland's Lion Music to wide critical acclaim among instrumental guitar enthusiasts.
- Blind Faith (2014)
- A triumphant return to major label prominence on King Records (Nexus), delivering polished, heavy-hitting neoclassical power metal alongside a revitalized band lineup.
- At the Gates of a New World (2015)
- The follow-up on King Records, highlighting explosive guitar solos, dynamic keyboard interplay, and symphonic power-metal arrangements.
- Overture of Destruction (2017)
- A hard-driving, aggressive Blind Faith record packed with relentless tempo changes, dramatic orchestrations, and virtuosic lead passages.
Yutaro Abe / ASTRAL WIND – Key Albums
- Cycle of Life (2018)
- The ambitious debut album by Yutaro Abe's ASTRAL WIND, setting a high benchmark for modern Japanese progressive shred with blistering arpeggios, symphonic backdrops, and complex arrangements.
- Unchained ~Soul of the Brave~ (2025)
- The powerhouse sophomore outing from ASTRAL WIND featuring vocalist Atsushi Kuze, highlighted by hard-hitting neoclassical tracks like "Forever Gone" and intricate twin-lead guitar dynamics.
A Thorough Analysis of the Superhuman Guitarist "Kelly SIMONZ" - Part 1 - [Yutaro Abe's Neo-Classical Music Lover's Gloomy Channel]