ARK STORM beginning of the new legend KICS1025

A key album from Japanese neo-classical guitar hero Katsu Ohta’s band, Ark Storm, is the focus for this entry. We are looking at their second album, “Beginning of the New Legend,” released in 2003 on the Nexus label (King Records) with the catalog number KICS 1025. This particular copy includes the original obi strip.

This album marked the debut of the band’s solidified “Phase 2” lineup, most notably introducing the powerful vocalist Yasuo Sasaki, whom many fans considered a significant step up from their first release. He was joined by Katsu Ohta (Guitar), Isamu Takita (Bass), Ichiro “VAL” Nagai (Drums), and Yuhki (Keyboards).

“Beginning of the New Legend” is a full-throttle dive into the neo-classical, “Yōshikibi” (style-beauty) metal sound that Ohta is famous for. The album is packed with Ohta’s virtuosic, high-speed guitar work, which draws heavy and unapologetic comparisons to Yngwie Malmsteen.

Despite the strong similarities, fans praise the album for its well-crafted, “careful,” and highly listenable songs, which showcase Ohta’s strong melodic and compositional sense. It’s not just solos; it’s a collection of solid tracks, including band anthems like “Ark Storm” and “Message To DNA.” While some listeners wished for more prominent keyboards, the album is widely loved by fans of the genre.

KICS 1025 stands as a high-quality, essential document of Japanese neo-classical metal, capturing a powerful lineup and a guitar hero at the top of his game.