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Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @The Reverend's Pick "Lunar Regret" by BLESS THIS MESS At first blush "Lunar Regret" is just another VK song in a long history of mediocre tracks released by nobody visual kei bands. It's got all the hallmarks: the band playing in a nondescript basement, frilly black jackets, piano in the intro that isn't quite necessary, a drummer consigned to the shadows because he's not actually in the band, random stock footage of things that set a mood but don't really say anything. But then you start to notice the things that make this track a winner: a band with the patience and maturity to let the song breath and introduce elements gradually, the vocalist's unique timbre that makes you think you could actually identify him without the band's name on the screen, the chorus being catchy as hell, the guitarist Kevin Shields-ing a smart guitar solo that doesn't just ape the vocal melody, and the band interacting in natural ways in the video! (Don't get me started on this tangent... why do so many VK bands seem to only acknowledge they're sharing a stage with other people during the prescribed 'this-is-our-fanservice-minute' portion of a show?? I blame Dir en grey) I'm rooting for BLESS THIS MESS to have success and find a wider audience with the backing of their new label home Starwave. This video may have been released slightly too early to be a teaser for an album that doesn't drop until December, but if this is a taste of what's to come I'm excited for their future. Fingers crossed Yanagi stays healthy!! @emmny's Pick "症状4" by SCAPEGOAT "Shoujou (shi)" by SCAPEGOAT Back at it again, our consistency legends SCAPEGOAT are continuing to snatch the wigs firmly off our heads. They've been on a murderous streak for the past three years (*wink*), combining mid-era DIR EN GREY heaviness with Royz-core melodicism. The basis of their sound isn't new, but the band's execution is god-tier, resulting in some of the strongest songs to come out of the scene in the past few years. I had written them off for a while simply because they weren't a superlative band--they weren't 'br00tal', highly technical, virtuosic, challenging, über melodic or with shocking presence. They're a middle of the road band--but they're far from average. "Shoujou shi" is a perfect example of their trademark compositions. Haru's raspy vocals ratchet up the tension, but it never culminates in a screaming match--rather gang shouted, exclaiming 'despair" among his yells. Guitar and bass are simple, laying a firm rhythm while the band's trademark circus-y synth/guitar occupy the lead space. The structure follows like clockwork, from fist bumping riffs, blastbeats and key change to a dazzling chorus; rinse, repeat and topped off with a beautiful vocal solo toward the end. A track this good off another of SCAPE's concept mini-albums has me literally counting down for October when it drops...let's see what other medication the band have prescribed for us. @plastic_rainbow's Pick "Utopia" by Behind the Shadow Drops If you haven't heard yet, Takaakira 'Taka' Goto, the guitarist and composer of post-rock band MONO, released an album titled H a r m o n i c under a new solo project called Behind the Shadow Drops. Being less rock and metal oriented, the album breathes out an ambient and neoclassical soundscape full of melancholy with a tiny glimmer of hope, portraying much of the orchestral side of MONO. There were many remarkable tracks from the album; it was hard to pick just one track to recommend, but of the many standouts, "Utopia" presents a refreshing taste to MONO listeners. Contrary to its title, the track sounds nothing like bliss, rather expressing a desolate and haunting view of the world. The intro leads a trip-hop beat with a blaring noise in the background as an eerie drone seeps in. The guitars lament in a melody and the strings sway in a sad prayer. "Utopia" feels like you're losing your mind slowly when everything has become blurry and deafening, yet it is somehow quite soothing at the same time due to its subtlety. I'm very pleased with this new solo project of Taka and wonder if he will have anything else planned in the near future. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "puzzle" by アルルカン "puzzle" by Arlequin Overall, 2017 has been an extremely solid year for Arlequin and they seem to have no intention of slowing down or releasing anything but pure bangers. Not a trace of overwhelming bloops to be found or predictable br00tal breakdowns. "puzzle" is a sweet refined candy that you can't help but hit the replay button to get another wonderful taste. It's hard to pick out a favorite part of "puzzle" since the composition is so damn top notch and the vocals take the perfection up another level. I'm a major fan of when both guitarists play an amazing solo together, especially since Kuruto and Nao have no issues keeping up with each other to make it shine brilliantly. If you haven't already been charmed by Arlequin, then I highly recommend anything they've released this year since none of it has fallen short. @doombox's Pick's "グラスの底は、夜" by JYOCHO "Glass no soko wa, yoru" by JYOCHO Math rock isn't normally my gig, but every once in a blue moon a song gets a hold on me. "グラスの底は、夜 (Glass no soko wa, yoru)" happened to do it this month and I got sucked into the emotional ebb and flow of the track. There's a wonderful musical contrast JYOCHO has that takes their math-y, complex time signatures and put them across in a very restrained, almost minimal fashion. I can really dig their gentler approach. Maybe JYOCHO will finally be my foot in the door to dive into this genre properly, what about you? "Phoenix" by SEVER BLACK PARANOIA The boys are back with a new release and a new label, recently making the switch to Epictive Records. As one of the bands still carrying the electronicore torch they maintain a blend of metal with it that's become rare after most bands in the scene chased the popularity of more dance-able EDM or have disbanded over the years. "Phoenix" is a great showcase of all the elements that make this band great and only getting better. It's a good place to start if you've never heard of SEVER BLACK PARANOIA before, or something to hype you up even if you have. Guest Submissions: @Ada Suilen's Picks "Mademoiselle" by KAMIJO After the glorious return of his historical band Versailles, Yuuji Kamijou turns back to his solo project, where he continues to be majestic, starting from the sublime "Castrato" (where he shows a great improvement in his English). In this new track, after having tricked us with a goth industrial look, the Prince kicks out a ballad which goes back in time, recalling the nostalgic work of Lareine's best tunes and a bit of personal fascination, in a tender melody and sweet vocals, showing that Kamijo hasn't lost his 'tendresse'. "Sadistic Emotion (D'Erlanger cover)" by Kiyoharu With a thrilling line-up worth of guys like Hyde, Kiyoharu, Dir en Grey, Acid Android, Mucc and Merry among others, the D'Erlanger tribute album is a real attraction for true J-rock adepts, especially for the lineage that band has for the scene itself. All the interpretations were made different from each other, but Kiyoharu made something which no one expected: he Kuroyume-ized the famous hit "Sadistic Emotion," driving it with deep vocals and an engaging rhythm, with a sumptuous touch of nostalgia. In general, "Stairway to Heaven" is only for true J-rock lovers, so listen to it as soon as possible! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

i was hoping they'll be getting at least 6 months/a year's break because 1) they deserve it 2) i'm broke

This was such an insane year for them. Fans probably had to work 2x as much too to afford all the stuff they released. 5 albums I think, not counting the tribute? And all the touring? Wow

If there's one band on Earth who deserves a break, it's MUCC. And it's only three months, so it's all good.

i may have fallen for the gallo <3

lynch. new single, "BLØOD THIRSTY CREATURE" (3 types, CD&DVD) will be released on November 8. [tracklist] 01.BLØOD 02.CREATURE 03.THE WHIRL [limited copies edition (数量限定生産盤), 6667 yen] [Blu-ray DVD] 「TOUR‘17『THE SINNER STRIKES BACK』FINAL -2017.8.11 at 日比谷野外大音楽堂- Live映像（完全ノーカット版）」(Complete Uncut Edition) + Bonus footage ("『THE JUDGEMENT DAY』 -2017.4.18 at 新木場STUDIO COAST- Live映像 (3 songs) + "CREATURE" Music Video) + LIVE "MOON" DIRECTOR'S CUT - HAZUKI ver. - | - REO ver. - | - YUSUKE ver. - | - ASANAO ver. -) ※ Special package specification, photo book included, audio commentary (secondary audio) [limited edition, 5000 yen] <DVD> "TOUR‘17『THE SINNER STRIKES BACK』FINAL -2017.8.11 at 日比谷野外大音楽堂- Live映像" * Special package specification [regular edition, 1389 yen] CD only

i thought the announcement was pretty ridiculous at first, too. but then i realized that a large chunk of their audience are people who WILL freak out if they don't hear any announcements/see any activity on social media for a couple weeks without an explanation, and being considerate of that audience makes a lot of sense.

| Another solid effort but it doesn't stand out as much as it could. With the head of a human, a bird's torso, a long, flowing tail, and a voice said to surpass all the gods and angels in Nirvana, the fantastical creature known as the Kalavinka is the inspiration behind 陰陽座's fourteenth album, 迦陵頻伽 (Karyobinga). 陰陽座's known for taking heavy amounts of inspiration from Japanese folklore and incorporating it into their music - even though they sound more like Iron Maiden than anything else - so this is a positively peculiar route to follow after their recent focus on Japanese deities and folklore. The Japanese interpretation of the Kalavinka is portrayed faithfully on the album cover; vocalist Kuroneko's upper torso is dressed as a winged Bodhisattva and her lower half is birdlike. It's both a gorgeous sight and a lofty proposition. I'm torn on 迦陵頻伽. On one hand, the feel and flow of the album are all too familiar. I peg it as some hybrid of 金剛九尾 (Kongokyuubi) and snippets of their last two albums because of the pacing and atmosphere. 金剛九尾 ranks among my least favorite of their albums, but to its credit, 迦陵頻伽 is much more polished and straightforward, as if MATATABI had a destination in mind when composing. On the other hand, there is lots of carry over from 風神界逅 (Fuujinkaikou) and 雷神創世 (Raijinsousei), which I regard as near perfect. It's not as ambitious as their last effort, and at times it feels like they're marking boxes off a checklist, but this consistency is why they've never released a bad album. An opportunity to incorporate some Indian and East Asian influences into more songs was missed and would have greatly opened up their sound, but I can look past that. If it didn't appeal to you before, this will not change your mind. Where this album impresses me is how the mystic, haunting atmosphere of their earlier eras returns. It's no longer as dark or ominous, but still present and mysterious. Opener "迦陵頻伽" really catches what I'm trying to describe here, and it's got one of the catchiest choruses in their repertoire. Centerpiece "人魚の檻" is a masterful emotional manipulator that's hogged my repeat button for the last few weeks. Those in need of a fix of heavy metal should check out "廿弐匹目は毒蝮" or lead single "愛する者よ、死に候え", and "轆轤首" is the token track where they buck all expectations and try something new. It's tone reminds me of "無風忍法帖" and it's one of my favorites of the album. The canned strings of "轆轤首" were a curious choice, and "御前の瞳に羞いの砂" sounds suspiciously familiar, but I'll admit these are minor quibbles. 陰陽座 is in the midst of a second renaissance after the release of 2012's 鬼子母神 (Kishibojin), breaking a streak of tepid albums with a concept so beautifully realized that it still sounds fresh today. 迦陵頻伽 stabilizes this upward trend, and while it's not the best thing ever it's pretty good. Support the band! CDJapan

I really don't get why japanese bands feel like they need to disclosure every single break they have. Western bands often go radio silence for very long periods of time and nobody could care less... really, what's 3 months to a band so accomplished as MUCC?

they should bring back those 2 new members they had for like a week and have them be the temporary replacement mucc while the real band goes on holiday imo

Make it 6 months. They deserve to rest a bit.

Tribute tracklist is out! ・風と太陽 / cali≠gari ・謡声（ウタゴエ） / 氣志團 ・溺れる魚 / gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy ・ブリリアント ワールド / 鬼龍院翔（ゴールデンボンバー） ・ニルヴァーナ / GRANRODEO ・EMP / Ken（L'Arc-en-Ciel） ・最終列車 / THE BACK HORN ・大嫌い / THE ORAL CIGARETTES ・暁闇 / シド ・ガーベラ / sukekiyo ・アカ / DEZERT ・ハニー / BAND-MAID ・Mr.Liar / ヒステリックパニック ・流星 / Plastic Tree ・CLASSIC / FLOW ・フライト / BREAKERZ ・アイアムコンピュータ / POLYSICS ・家路 / MERRY ・リブラ / 矢野絢子 ・茫然自失 / lynch. ・ハイデ / ROACH ・蘭鋳 / ROTTENGRAFFTY I cannot wrap my head around SID doing 暁闇.

Notice of suspension of activity 2, Oct. 2017 From 2018, we will suspend the expiration of our activities for the first time in the history of the band. "We will definitely come back! About three months ,,," http://55-69.com/news/82257

every vk costume change is basically paid dlc, in a way

inb4 next band, 「Insert coiN」, announced soon

rage quit

ha ha hey fellow gamers, i guess you could say something like...... they're....... ; ) only real gamer's survive......

So I guess it's a game over for them. :/

Mucc making an important announcement on twitter: Mucc: "We're going on hiatus, starting in 2018..." European fans: omg, how long will they be on a break? A year? Two years? Five? Forever? *freaking out* Mucc:"...for three months. We apologise." European fans: what. Mucc: what. Me: *facepalms* just take your break. Go on holiday, do something fun, for God's sake.

It's soooo tempting that BLESS THIS MESS released Lunar Regret PV too early. Like 4 months in advance. I can't really wait for December.

Introducing Halloween lucky bags! Lucky bags are on sale now, but only for the month of October! Each bag COULD contain randomly selected items from the following artists: A9, Avanchick, Chanty, DaizyStripper, Femme Fatale, heidi. Jin-Machine, Kiyoharu, Kuroyume, lynch., MeteoroiD, sads, SuG, and SHIN! $20 lucky bags will contain over $35 in value. $40 bags will contain over $75 in value. $60 bags will contain over $115 in value. AND each bag will contain a complimentary take-free magazine! You can also select ONE artist that you'd most like to see included in your bag! Artists are available only while supplies last! Get your lucky bag here!

ギルティア(Guiltia) new single "Daubed lie" will be released at 2017/12/19.

亜季(aki) (Sadie) solo project "AXESSORY" has formed http://axessory.jp/ https://twitter.com/axessory_jp

Thanks. I remembered imgur but wasn't sure if people use it regularly still.

-for a request- Lyrics: Rayka Music: REALies Kanji and romaji available at peffy's blog English: Within the Shadow A petty monologue, "I want to rewind time" Always repeating within my insecurities and hesitations Everyday feels temporal, strumming in dissonance My soiled sense of worth became blurry Within the shadow, a large back profile signaled the beginning, a summer's day I pray that this song will stay within someone's heart Even if everything will disappear someday I searched within the shadow, I'll engrave these dreams and hopes so that we won't forget them I pray that this song will remain in someone's heart Even if I disappear someday I'll leave behind my "voice" "My story of madness, a dark world that knew after being stained Only shining for a moment, it was too late by the time I noticed..." The shadow was watching me at the crowded intersection Finally arriving at the terminal station in escape, in escape A silhouette catches up, swallowing me in the darkness The light disappearing once again Living life the way it is has always been tormenting me Without accepting anything Living life while giving up was unbearable and depressing I'll make my "voice" go dry So that this song will not end, so that it'll keep on echoing I'll spread all my dreams I lived within the shadow, I was certainly alive Burn all my "existence" and "proof" This song for someone's heart, this song for someone's dreams So that it'll remain forever, so that it'll be heard from far away This voice for someone's future, this voice for our future So that it'll remain forever, so that it'll be heard from far away ----------------------------------- Translated by me. Corrections and suggestions are much welcomed~ Enjoy! ^^

there first EP "DO OR DIE" will be released on 2017.11.22

WTFFFF they were REALLY good. They do good choruses like few others on the business, always liked their crazy composition style, even tho it may actually harmed their popularity over the years. this sucks

I read this after listening their powerful cover of Plastic Tree's Sangatsu Itsuka! Ready to listen them again when they will be back, stronger than ever!

AMAZING BAND. BUT NOT GOOD COMPANY.

JILUKA has done very well to maintain my interest this year, as well as Matenrou Opera since their switch to heavy metal. Kamijo's experiments have not gone unnoticed either, as Mademoiselle is very reminiscent of the days of Malice Mizer. I am curious to see what FUKI's Unlucky Morpheus has in store, if any, towards the end of this year/beginning of 2018. Their EP Black Pentagram was just too perfect, as I feel that the project they are working on this time is the best representation of the band thus far.

MUCC, a three month break isn’t a hiatus, you doofuses.

Maybe the general audience of VK has something to do with that. I can't say that many fans of any genre are mature in general, but when 90% of your fanbase is 18year old girls (I generilize, but that's not so far from the truth) who are easy to impress and lose their shit altogether ("why don't my fav musicians do anything, hey, I should harass them on Twitter to learn what's happened") - I guess that's the main reason.

I missed out on Mindsweep but checked them out again with this album. Pretty good stuff, I absolutely loved the more emotional tracks, Rou really pulls them off well, Airfield and An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces are beautiful. Some of the tracks have also grown a lot on me, for example The Sights, which is one of my favourites now. Lyrics are also fantastic, the "prosecco-glazed lips" line is brilliant. The whole album still absolutely sounds like Enter Shikari, so I honestly don't mind them trying out some new stuff, even though I'd prefer some more of that good old craziness on the next album.

Can we all just take a moment and appreciate that artwork? I mean hot damn

The band was called " All Must Die" , I remembered that they had a band before DEVILOOF , but I didnt know them in that period , so the start which I meant was from DEVILOOF lol ( I am sorry if I dont express clearly !)

hopefully still regretting their Tsumetai Hikari cover somewhere in Ryutaro's dungeon

I just use imgur.

come on warped tour!!

Better than their "gruiiiik" songs

Clean vocals aren't that bad ? He sounds a lot like Mikaru (ex-Dio)

I just wrote a status complaining about 2017 VK before I saw your post, lol Checking the 2017 Music Ratings thread is pretty telling. very few people with VK releases on the top of their list. I haven't listened one release that blew my mind yet, and most of what I consider really good this year has been compilations/best of, so... But all is not lost, I still believe Develop One's Faculties is the best thing that happened to VK in the decade, ACME and ORCALADE both are great newcomers, MORRIGAN usually does not disappoint, FAR EAST DIZAIN can be good, ZERO MIND INFINITY is a real promise... there's still hope