Before they lit up Vietnamese stages alongside District 105 (read our show report here), we caught up with Taiwanese Xmoraz for a sit-down that was as warm and honest as it was full of musical insight.
Despite their aggressive sound, this band isn’t here to rage; they’re here to heal. Fusing classical elegance with breakdown-fueled intensity, the quintet stands out not only for their unique setup (yes, that is a violin you hear) but for the genuine energy they bring into every track. “Metal doesn’t always have to be about anger,” they tell us. “We want to spread joy and help people who are going through something.”
In this exclusive chat, we dove into their beginnings, writing process, Taiwan’s scene, and what’s next on their journey. Read on and meet one of the most sincere voices in modern Asian metal.
Ethos:
All right. The first one is a very basic question. How was the band formed?
Xmoraz:
(Willy) I’m Willy, the guitarist and the violinist, I went to school with Elim (bass/vocal) and our drummer YC. We found our vocalist and another guitarist on Facebook.
E:
When the three of you started the band, did you have a clear vision of what sound you wanted to shape? Or did it change once you had the whole gang together?
X:
The first idea was to do a metal band (hahaha). No clear vision compared to now. We just wanted to create some heavy music.
E:
So what are your music influences? Are there any overlaps in your tastes?
X:
(Willy) I’m originally coming from classical music. But when it comes to guitar-based genres, I prefer all kinds of core music, like metalcore.
(Elim) I can say As I Lay Dying would probably be like a common ground for all of us. Our drummer listens to progressive metal mostly, Yu Jie (guitar) is heavily influenced by guitarists like Zakk Wylde, while our singer is more into emo-adjacent styles of music.
The Violin Isn’t a Gimmick
E:
Since you mentioned a classical background, let’s stick to that. How did the idea to blend these two come into place?
X:
(Willy) I’m originally a pianist, actually. I just decided to play guitar instead of the keyboard because on the stage you can be more active, and there’s more dynamics. We have a lot of melodic parts; we make melodic songs. I was already adding some strings (programmed) into our music. So we had an idea that maybe we should put an actual violin instead.
E:
Why didn’t you go the “modern” route and just play all the programmed instruments from a backing track?
X:
(Willy) We do have some in the mix, like bigger strings. But we decided to have an actual instrument, so you can see the motion. It’s unique. People are looking at the stage, listening to metal, and then there’s a violin! In Taiwan, nobody had done this. It’s stunning to see guitar and violin going back and forth. There’s a guitar solo, then a string melody afterward.
E:
Are you now thinking ahead where to fit it in each song when writing new music or does it come naturally once the song is complete?
X:
(Willy) The violin is definitely one of our unique points. But we don’t push it. We try to incorporate so many things into our music. So it depends on the song. In our more emotional pieces, I’ll play more of it, but then some groovy pieces I’ll play the guitar.
E:
Does it make it hard for your live production? Acoustic instruments can be hard to control and amplify.
X:
(Willy) I always used an electric violin so it’s easier.
E:
Cool! Do you experiment with guitar effects on it?
X:
(Willy) No, not yet. I’m still working on it. You can make some cool stuff with distortion, make it bigger with delay and reverb. But I’m still working on it.
E:
Speaking of production, you guys are a self-produced band. How does that work for you?
X:
(Willy) Most of the pre-production process we do ourselves, then the post-production we let other people do.
E:
Does that change the way you write in general since you have an idea of how the final product should sound?
X:
(Willy) Yeah, in a way. We saw the process and we changed or adopted certain stuff into the pre-production stage. In the early stage of our band, we used to jam more. But after college we spread around. We have people living across the country. We adopted the work ethic and how to work on ideas remotely. Now we gather every month for two days at my house and write songs together.
E:
You (Elim) are the only female in the group. How are you dealing with all the guys, and do you feel more like their mom or a little sister?
X:
(Elim) I’m definitely their mom. Ever since we were in college, I needed to do things and take care of them (hahaha). But realistically speaking, there are no genders in our band (hahaha). They don’t treat me like a girl, and I don’t treat them like guys, more like children (hahah).
Taiwan’s Growing Scene — and Its Limits
E:
We touched a bit on your country. Could you tell me a bit more about Taiwan from a music perspective? It seems to us like your scene is growing and there are some major events focused on underground culture. Was there a moment in time that sparked all this, or did it just grow organically?
X:
(Jun Chen) The situation is like that mostly because of the government sponsored music events. Festivals mostly. Meaning more people get to notice this kind of culture. People never listened to this kind of music, or were only into pop music back in the day. But there’s a problem with that too. For example, medium and small bands in Taiwan, are in a way being crushed because the big festivals tend to invite the big bands while leaving the rest of the scene “hidden”. So in reality, it gets harder to survive.
E:
What about smaller events? Is there a support system among clubs or regular showgoers?
X:
(Willy) In recent years, the popularity of heavy music actually dropped. There are some promoters trying to do events to revive the underground scene. When it comes to the audience, it’s pretty much like this – when a big band comes to Taiwan, they go to see. But for the small bands, they don’t really show up. Meaning the competition between bands is tough, and we struggle and have to fight for more people to know about us. That’s why we also host our own festivals to promote ourselves. Also, people like Leon (band’s manager) and Aaron help us go abroad and introduce our music to the new audiences.
E:
Ok, this is your time to help your fellow musicians from the scene. Which Taiwanese bands would you recommend to to our readers?
X:
(Willy) That’s a good question! Infernal Chaos (Sonic founding – not sure what was the name) is like one of our Taiwanese greatest metalcore bands ever in our history, another band called Chthonic, Flesh Juicer, Diepression, UAD, (some band that combines traditional elements with metal), Find the Intersection
Vietnam Vibes and New Adventures
E:
What’s your first impression of Vietnam?
X:
(Willy) The traffic. It’s very crazy!
E:
What are your expectations from the show tonight?
X:
(Yu Jie) I want this show to be fire! We hope we can bring a lot of energy here.
(Elim) We wrote a lot of emotional things. So we want to bring this emotion to the audience here.
E:
Do you know any of the bands that are playing with you tonight?
X:
(Willy) We obviously know District105 since they played in Taiwan already and have put us on this tour with them. We actually went out to drink with the two rappers(Mikey Rotten, DED STARK) last night. They’re cool guys. All other bands are hardcore bands, so we’ll probably love it.
E:
Okay. Let’s wrap it up slowly. What are the plans of your band?
X:
(Willy) We are working on an album, actually. We’ll just keep making songs every weekend. And hopefully we’ll release it in early 2026. We will release some of our songs as singles.
E:
What would be your dream collaboration? Either working on music or supporting some artist on their Taiwan tour.
X:
(Willy) I think for me, that would be Imminence. They also have a violin leads so. Lastelle (?!?) an emo/post-hardcore band from UK, we listen to them a lot.
(Yu Jie) PANTERA!
(YC) Dream Theater for me any day!
(Elim) I’d like to play with I Prevail. I love their sound.
E:
A question everyone answers – What’s your advice to new kids getting into this music?
X:
(Jun Chen) Just do it! No matter what.
(Elim) Don’t care what your family or teachers say, just be true to yourself and speak your truth.
(YC) If you have your first show, go for the second and just keep going!
Xmoraz are the kind of band that stick with you, not just for their melodic metalcore/emo blend or their rare violin twist, but for their genuine mission to uplift people through heavy music. Their hearts are in the right place, their vision is clear, and their energy is contagious.
Whether it’s a packed room in Taipei or a sweaty floor in Saigon, they’re here to heal, not just scream. And that’s something worth backing.
