Madmans Esprit

Madmans Esprit is a South Korean metal group from Seoul, formed in 2010. The project is centred on vocalist Kyuho and works across black metal, alternative metal, avant-garde metal, depressive black metal, gothic, loud kei and related metal styles. The band’s live support line-up includes Juho on guitar, Somyul on guitar, Geon on bass and Limu on drums, and 叫號 is listed as a member.

Style and influences

The group describes its sound with the phrase “Depressive Suicidal Blackened Pop”. Its music draws on black metal but also incorporates shoegaze guitar melodies, Korean folk elements, post-punk, indie rock, grindcore, classical music, and modern metal breakdowns. Visual kei is a major influence on the project, alongside acts such as Dir En Grey, Opeth, Radiohead and X Japan.

Releases

Madmans Esprit’s debut album, NACHT, appears in 2014 on the Italian label ATMF. It combines black metal subgenres with shoegaze and Korean folk undertones. The second full-length album, Conscientization of Unconsciousness, arrives in 2018 through Gan-Shin Records and expands the sound beyond black metal while retaining a depressive core.

In 2019 the group issues the EP Glorifying Suicide, which uses a lower tuning and a heavier approach than the previous album. Later that year it releases the single Seoul during a tour in Asia, presenting a contrast between the band’s poppier and harsher sides. The following year it releases the single Jahaewa Haebang, followed by a live Blu-ray of the tour finale one-man concert Seoul and the single Mangtanshi. Together these releases raise more than 11,000 euro through crowdfunding. In January 2021 the band releases 백골의 정원 (Garden of Skeletons), which mixes alternative rock with black metal and modern metal elements.

Recognition

Madmans Esprit receives attention beyond the black metal scene after Conscientization of Unconsciousness. It tops the Viberate chart for South Korean Metal and is nominated for a Korean Music Award. The project becomes one of the better-known metal acts in Korea.

Related project

Kyuho is also the guitarist of ms. isohp romatem, a band established by Juho, who is Madmans Esprit’s guitarist.