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My preorder came just today morning: Tracklist: 1. SE (World Anthem, piano ver.) 2. Angel 3. Hero 4. Born to be free 5. Beneath the skin (acoustic instrumental) 6. Jade 7. Angel (Japanese ver.) 8. Hero (Japanese ver.) Bonus Tracks: 9. Sakuracon 2009 commercial (feat. Mick Jagger) I like the throwback to Blue Blood era with the World Anthem.

We are all the new X Japan album.

I can't believe they actually got Mick Jagger to recite the entire Sakuracon 2009 commercial on the bonus track

🇺🇸 9 more days till their debut 🇺🇸

Smileberry new lineup: They will release their new maxi single "絶対LOVER" (2 types) on 2017/08/09 [Tracklist] M1.絶対LOVER M2.モノクロ片想い

Please Aikaryu come back to us, the VK scene needs its saviors once more.

The new X-Japan album was inside you all along.

Gu.遥 (Haruka) (ex-DAISY-->Villain-->VELGREED-->Diverse glare in Riot-->カルディア (Cardia)), Ba.暮橋 夕羽 (Kurehashi You) (ex-Gosick-->Kronos Cat-->Link) and Dr.Rye (ex-HigherEND-->VIVALET(DAIKI)) have joined DIEALO.

This video has been posted in another thread, but the news deserves its own topic. All of the original members except for Teru.

Setlist @ 6/29:

Miya just showed the artbook for both releases> Look pretty nice

Looks like me when I tried to do vkei.

does white people-kei count

so what is the point of those collabs again other than presenting an opportunity to squeeze out more gya dollaryens & fishing dried-up bandoman corpses out of the sea? none of the ones released so far really add anything other than that ''oh hey, it's that guy'' novelty that fades after like a minute or so

is this real

Ay. New single from Crossfaith coming out on August 2nd in two types. It'll be called FREEDOM. Disc 1 (Reg) 1300yen 1. Freedom (ft. Rou Reynolds from ENTER SHIKARI) 2. Rockstar Steady (ft. JESSE from RIZE / The BONEZ) 3. Diavolos Disc 2 ( LTD Edition only) 1600yen 1. Revolution (The Bloody Beetroots Remix) 2. Kill ‘Em All (Shikari Sound System Remix) 3. Rx Overdrive (TeddyLoid Remix)

NOW 1st single "Dirty money" will be released 2017.07.26 TrackList: 1. Dirty money 2. 1月14日

I think it's the latter. I can remember some of his moments that have amazed me the most: the first time I heard his deep growls in Vinushka, the chanting bit in Juuyoku, those insane headtones in the Macabre remake, things like that. He does so many things and he does them so well, but I think he does them too much. Sometimes I just want a song where he stays in his powerful midrange for the most part, then whips out a trick as a surprise. Otherwise it's just not special anymore.

Kei (ex-Eliphas Levi, Vinett) recently made an Instagram, and along with that, he started showing his face again!! ✨

When Crack Brain revived, Hizaki skipped it too. Revivals are rarely all of the original members unless they're all retired salarymen

obviously, fuck Teru butttttt

A tiny umbrella AND a tiny hat? The forbidden combo reveals itself.

s/o strawberry switchblade tho

I still like the Merry one.

Hello there! ^ww^ I've been lurking around shyly for like.. a year, and I finally decided to write this little introduction! I'm 26 years old, living in Stockholm (in the country the sun mostly forgets) and currently studying to become a pastry chef & baker. Besides making (and eating) sweet things I love animals, ball jointed dolls and different kinds of crafts - and of course Japan and visual kei! I've been listening to VK for like... 14-15 something years now, with too many favs to count. I "grew" up with Dir en grey, hide & X-japan, L'arc en ciel and the Gazette among others, but now I'm pretty varied in my tastes. I'm mostly disturbing my neighbours with Mejibray, vamps, Acid black cherry... and Initial L/lycaon, Kaya, Pentagon and well, many, many others.. (I'm also a fan of classical music, expecially Yoshikazu Mera (not because of Mononoke hime) and catchy pirate-songs). When I'm not at the bakery I'm mostly bugging my cat or my bestfriend with pictures of cats, playing videogames (mass effect!!!!), cooking or constantly procastinating important stuff... I think playing magikarp jump for three hours straight is totally acceptable. I'm always up for chats and making new friends, so if you ever wanna talk please send me a message, haha! I'm looking forward to learn more about everything MH has to offer and to meet all of you on this technological wonder called internet lol <3 Hope you all have a great day!

nope i only got the version with "2 for loveless" (probably my favorite song of 2017 so far? lol) i only realized there were 2 types after i ordered so i'd probably grab the other one sometime in the near future..

What do people base themselves on when they call a VK band influential? Gut feeling? Observation? Or something sourced from actual members of the visual kei scene back in the day? You can draw parallels between La'mule and early 2000's bands all you want but how much of it is actually rooted in VK history?

Didnt they say before the concerts that no recordings are allowed? (at least in the 3 lives Ive seen in Tokyo it was like that) And I have the feeling that while doing all the recording etc. etc. stuff ppl misses a big part of the show, they have to be quiet to not ruin the audio, still to have a good image, checking the phone from time to time to see everything is ok...Dunno, I just miss the times when you went to a concert and nobody was holding a cellphone or similar...just a few traditional small cameras to take a couple of pics.

you had me thinking it was actually out for a hot second LOOOOOL actually no from now on since it's now june 30th let's all act like it's actually out now

this era of ryuutaro is literally unbeatable i cant listen to any future pura releases knowing he literally crushed the end of 2016 and the first half of 2017 with this fkin ART

what a muricabooo

If he was a real AMERIKAJIN he would have debuted on July 4th.

he named it USA because it's gonna be a Versailles' official rival just like Trump (USA) vs Macron (France).

Oh man I can't wait for America-Butt-Rock-kei to take Japan by storm. Now that VK bands with French and German names/themes are worn out, we need some good ol' MURRICA worshiping.

yes

DISCLAIMER: this may or may not have restored @Zeus' will to live/enjoy vk. this is indeed a DANGEROUS post. Have your favs disbanded and you're looking for some new bands to follow? emmny's got ya covered with some of the hottest up and coming bands in the indies circuit. This isn't just any old "stan my favs" list, but rather a list more in tune with what is/will possibly become popular in Tokyo, Osaka and surrounding areas for visual kei. This is seen with higher than average online engagement through views, comments and individual member followings + impressive label signings or big venue bookings. It looks to be like these guys are in the process of making it big, but only time can tell--we know shit changes pretty quickly and its quite silly to judge bands in their infancy, but hey its fun to play fortune teller. All the bands featured here are not more than a year or two old, so they're quite fresh off the press--even if individual members might not be. It's cool that most of these guys are on the same circuit more or less, playing a fair bit of events together. What's also interesting is how none of these bands appeal much to western audiences, the core sound is either some deviant of oshare which isn't trendy here at all or menhera (in the case of gosan...literally both) which is an untranslatable culture-specific thing. At this point, it's pretty much understood that menhera has a fair bit of dollar bills attached to it, especially considering R-Shitei's success from shock value and now The Raid's popularity in vk circles. This isn't an article discussing the meaning of menhera, just know that is quite trendy on online communities (it originated from 2ch), and considering vk's long time love story with sadness, sorrow, lalala, directly addressing manifestations of mental ilness aren't too far off from the genre's roots. Note that this is probably in conflict with what we might perceive as being popular or cool in Japan for whatever reason, and thats probably because there has always been a kind of disparity with the taste of Western audiences and whats actually "liked" within the scene. Just because a band has 100k views on 1 video and a few tumblr fan pages doesn't really mean much of anything *cough* VEXENT *cough*. Also note that I have no actual idea on what is "popular" in Japan--my ass is firmly planted in Canada, so take this as more of an educated guess and me playing gaijin bangya more than anything of actual fact. Now without further delay, let's get to this shit! 1.)キズ Kizu Receipts: - Their one song "Oshimai" has 100+k views between the MV and audio-only vid - They debuted at a massive taiban i don't think you need any receipts these guys have HUGE connections - First oneman at ikebukuro edge, pretty sure it'll sell out Claim to fame: - Okay they cheated, vocalist is ex-LEZARD and guitarist is ex-LOUD GRAPE Band Description: These once mysterious hunties started anonymous promotions in February with just a poster saying they'd debut at a Unite/Pentagon/D-out/Dog in PWO event and a telephone number to call in on, saying they'd listen to your sorrows, emo lalalalala. Of course, both the west and nihon started blowing up with "Zomg its KARMA LADIES!!!"...much to my discontent--how dare they slander my husband. Let the facts state that AvelCain were actually good and didn't need to stoop to cliches like this, but of course no fandom can recognize TRUE DEPRESSION ART. Anyways, girls called and realized Karma wasn't stupid enough to further pander into the mentally unstable subgenre of bangya after doing it for like 4 years straight because it clearly didn't sound like him. The reveal comes a month after...it's mostly oshare guys trying their hand at...pandering to depressed chicks. Fast forward to May and we have their only recorded song to date, "Oshimai". They sound more or less like "Shinitai" era Xaa-xaa + Arlequin with a vocalist who resembles an oshare rooster or Aki from Laputa. I'm not crazy for the track, but these guys are offering something new musically over an incredibly tired concept. B-sides aren't up on Youtube anymore (go off Free Will lawyers), but my hunties enjoyed it and I'll update once I've listened. Recommended to: - Closeted oshare fans 2.) 0.1gの誤算 0.1g no gosan Receipts: - Oneman tour with O-west tour final + single release coming up - More or less packed takadanobaba area for a oneman - Yandere boy has an abnormally high amount of engagement in comments; they get people talking - More or less co-headlining Xaa-xaa's 2 sponsored event lives - Featured on beauty;tricker, stylish wave, AINS event tours - Two-man live with Pentagon Claim to fame: - ADHD tunes - All the members are actually pretty handsome - Wild furitsuke, live atmosphere - Massive social media engagement, very tech savvy for a visual band Band Description: I found 0.1g no gosan on youtube after seeing this hideously cute and colourful band thumbnail and so I wanted to see what was going on. It was the opening of "Yuugai menhera doll", and anyone who's listened to this song knows how funny the song is. It starts with this hilariously campy opening typical of a children's show showing you just HOW cute and innocent they can get. Shit gets quite heavy after with scratchy, borderline chiptune synths and typical metal riffing, morphing between different instrumental sections each suited to their own choreography. The rest of Gosan's songs follow with this oshare/abare dichotomy, and they remind me alot of Aicle for 2017's menhera kids. Melodies are razor sharp, songs move a lot and have surprisingly busy instrumentals. Their songs are beyond addictive and will be embedded in your head for weeks after the first listen. The music is absolutely remarkable, but their marketing is equally brilliant. Take for example a special oneman where 1 yen would be taken off the typical ticket price of 3500yen for every retweet the band got on a designated post. Simultaneously spreading their posts while making live events more enticing for fans goes above the typical 'free oneman' promotion. The band's embarking on their first oneman tour ending at O-west and I'm sure big things are coming with the tour final, keep your eyes peeled because I don't doubt these guys will stir up a frenzy previously unseen among younger fans since Pentagon's debut. Recommended to: -Anyone who finds Pentagon too weak -Anyone who has taste 3.) シェルミィ Shellmy Receipts: - YT comments flooded with "this sounds like rshitei/pentagon/plastic tree" etc - Newest MV spot on Danger Crue records of all places--whether this is just a distribution deal or a full on signing is unclear but this is a BIG fucking deal They got dropped ?!!??! - Slowly taking activities toward Tokyo, tour final in July - Album dropping soon Claim to fame: - Pushed menhera to new levels, more or less made it their entire concept - Vo. + composer Hyo is actually menhera, probably gets similar emo chicks for that reason - Songs that are more addictive than crack and actually incredibly well composed, far superior to R-Sh*tei Band Description: I was initially writing this when everything was lookin' good for our boys, not that things have gone to shit all of a sudden but it makes you just wonder sometimes what happens behind the scenes *sips tea*. So, Shellmy's MV spot for "Kanashii hi wa itsumo ame" was posted on Danger Crue's Youtube channel and promptly blew up, getting like 10K+ views within a few days. Around that time, the channel updated their intro video with Shellmy's clip spliced in with the rest of their permanent bands. All signs were pointing to a signing by Danger Crue, and even the jp netizens had their wigs snatched at this bangin' opportunity for these lil guys from Osaka. When the full MV dropped, it was on the band's official OHP instead of their rumoured label, and the shady queens from DC actually posted a new intro video with Shellmy promptly edited out. Hopefully the visual sleuths of the site can try to enlighten me as to what might of happened, but hey we might never know. Queens of depression are unphased, and are proceeding on full blast with their promotions for their upcoming album. In case you didn't know, Shellmy aren't really that new of a band, having been around under a similar name since '10. I'm counting them as a new band as Hyo started from scratch when the band reformed from a hiatus with 3 new members and stopped playing their old songs. They're a delightful nod to the simple rock of the early 2000's with a funky modern twist, and while the lyrical concepts can be suffocatingly dark, the band always trolls with upbeat and catchy instrumentals. They're different from Gosan as they're far less metal and more outwardly japonesque with the melodies and guitar leads as well as a more pronounced alternative rock influence, which got them the Pura comparisons on "Kanashii hi....". The band comes across as incredibly charismatic, even with a such a self-deprecating concept. I can't speak too much on the R-S**** comparisons, but from what I've heard from them....no. Just no. Comparisons aside, enjoy your wwwwrrrristooocattooo with some lovely visual kei, let's hope there's still a niche for menhera in the mainstream because Shellmy got what it takes. Recommended to: - People with ears - Anyone whos Japanese understanding is limited enough to not actually know what the songs are about and assume they're some washed up rock band 4.) ジャックケイパー Jack Caper Receipts: - 3 man with REIGN and Smileberry - Smattering of events with likes of Sick2, Initial'L, Scapegoat - Signed onto Riostar == Free will ties - New single coming in July! Claim to fame: - CUTENESS!!!!! - One of the last pillars of oshare, and no, Sonic Death Monkey is no competition whatsoever Band Description: Okay, I can't speak too much to Jack caper as I more or less hate everything Resistar/Riostar related BUT I will say these guys are really cool. I'm not an oshare expert so I can't speak on their abilities as revivalists of the classic sound but I feel like this would be it. They look permanently sugar high, are covered in all kinds of neon colours, have synths turned up to 1000, got an incredibly annoying vocalist and are actually fucking weird. Sound wise, they're the Codomo Dragon of Riostar, but with a lot of bizarre composition quirks thrown into the mix. Their songs are kind of formulaic, but fun in that each song has its own wacky appeal. "Dokudoku mushi" is a perfect example of this, as it has the typical pretty chorus, grinding guitars, some funky bass here and there and sharp synths. Where it becomes amazing is this persistent shout-along bridge that is turned into an interlude verse of its own before going into another round of the chorus...and that's where shit hits the fan. The song repeats that whole section again, chants and chorus but at double speed. It is absolutely wacky and something I have never heard before, and their ghost writers really deserve the acclaim that they're getting from me because they did THAT. Not that there's proof, but I refuse to believe a bunch of newcomers wrote a song this damn good without (more than) a lil' bit of assistance. I should stop writing this review because I'm turning into a fan as we speak and that would totally ruin my zetsubou image. I will leave you with this closing thought: if there's one band who is pushing Resistar's washed up shtick into the future, it's Jack caper. Once the old guys at the top retire or their fans realize they're chasing ojisans in kira kira makeup and decide to have children/get a life, it'll be Jack caper that will be Free Will's oshare queens (assuming the newly reformed LEZARD don't come for their wigs). Recommended to: - Anyone who has lost faith in oshare - People who like surprises! 5.) -真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ "True Heaven and Earth Beginnings Group" Zigzag Receipts: -2 live distributed singles for next oneman at Osaka MUSE (!!) - Taiban with Unite (im not kidding) - Cult (literally) following in Osaka - Get a fair bit of twitter buzz for single previews Claim to fame: - Absolute mystery - Unique tanuki kei concept Band Description: The biggest trolls in visual kei this side of old Devil Kitty and their ridiculous concept make for the most iconic band to come out of the scene in the past ~3 years that western fans probably haven't heard of. It's not your fault, as Zigzag go out of their way to be mysterious, even for Japanese fans. There's no member twitters, interviews, live footage, blogs, MVs or...anything outside of an official band twitter, ohp, and cryptic snippets of song previews that often have nothing to do with the song itself but rather the concept being explored for that release. They turn vk's innards outward, talking about mitsu, tsunagari, kusomen and anything that lives in the shadows of the internet's tanuki threads. Don't think that these are anonymous pundits of the scene though, as the three members of Zigzag are all from the now deceased oshare bands Ray C and Otoiroha. So, now that we've laid down their history...how does any of this have anything to do with their current look and sound? Their metal sound has a definite Kiryu tinge. While the music is secondary to the concept, Zigzag are sharp writers and definitely have an intense sound which is unique among their contemporaries. It's a cocktail of modern metal vk tropes, but without being rendered stale or old. Their sound goes with their Buddhist image and themes, and don't seem that out of place when you put two and two together. In case you don't have hunties who've seen these guys live, the highlight of their show is a song in which the vocalist, Mikoto goes out into the audience, chooses a fan, restrains them and performs an "exorcism". He is cleansing the fan of their sins of being a visual fan, at least as I'd like to understand the symbolism in tandem with their overarching concept...which is fucking brilliant. Their meta humour is backed with a solid live following, as the band is known to sell out merch, live distributed releases and even smaller live houses in their native Osaka on a whim. Whether they'll sell out MUSE will be indicative of future success, as it is the biggest oneman they've played to date and they're pulling out all the stops: discounted tickets, live distributes, lalala. They've been very careful since starting activities, and I'm under the impression Zigzag see visual kei more so as a game of Monopoly rather than a part time job. There hasn't been hype for a ~mysterious~ band like this since the early days of Avelcain, and as one of the most unique bands around, it'll be interesting to see where they go from here. Recommended to: - anything What do you think of this list? Are you an actual bangya/bangyao and think this is hysterical bullshit? Do you believe that Jack caper is actually the messiah? Will Shellmy come back to snatch wigs? What bands are you excited for this summer? Sound off below, I'd love to know your thoughts on not just these bands but rather the topic of what is valid "hype" and what is just...hot air. xx PS: Banner(s) courtesy of @helcchi <3

More various cheapos! DAZZLE & ReBIRTH are definitely the highlights here! 冥実誠 is absolutely ridiculous! Started to hunt down the rest of his discography, even though I should know better... Got some vinyl I'm quite stoked about as well!

support Gu.SIN will cease to act as support at 2017/8/30, after which he will retire from music.

For some reason the Kiwamu topic came to my mind after reading this...

Kuroyuri has some new T-shirt designs. And we get some wonderful pictures of Mei-Chan. Kuroyuri seems to be getting themselves hooked up now. They also changed their twitter's official profile pic to have the members in masks. They also have been preforming a lot with Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy, which we all know has ex members from many influential Vkei bands, such as Lamiel, Kagerou and L'arc en Ciel. (It'd be so cool to see Kuroyuri release a single with Gibkiy). I think they may have something big planned within the near future so keep your eyes peeled (Hopefully an album!! Give us one!!)

I am personally offended that there is no resolving chord at the end of Ariana.

High resolution covers for the live-limited versions 新痛絶 is plain af of course, but I love this version of 新葬ラ謳, because of how closely it resembles the original booklet cover.

haha wow can't believe no one mentioned oh wait.