Release date: 17.01.18
番：SWSB-12
発売元：Starwave Records
販売元：FWD Inc.
価格：2,160円
仕様：CD+DVD
限定：666
CD
01. birth-M2-125
02. DaRK to DaRK
03. signal fire
04. ENDLESS DEAD
05. death-M2-70
Better late than never! Here's the newest batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team!
Check them out and let us know what you think!
@tetsu_sama69's Pick
"PM:500" by ラッコ(LACK-CO.)
I really don't know why it is that LACK-CO.'s ballads always seem to hit me in the right spot. "PM5:00" is definitely a track to be noted (if you can look past their drummer's current visual style) with its strange power ballad styling. It's very easy to get swept away by the tidal wave of guilt and depression, leaving you stranded in a sea of psychosis emitted perfectly though tenten's vocals and the bands messy but perfect instrumentals. Granted the rap segment of the track seems very awkward but it fits for me since it feels more like the ramblings of a man questioning his choices in life. Unfortunately, since I am not fluent in Japanese, I can't translate what is being said, only what is being musically expressed and LACK-CO. definitely know how to compose a robust track that can't be categorized as something "stereotypical". I really look forward to the release of their first album 『弱肉教職』 (Jakuniku Kyoushoku) , as it's hard to predict how it's going to end up. But if it's spiced up with a track like "PM5:00", then it's sure to land a place on this year's favorites list.
@helcchi's Pick
"お邪魔します" (Ojamashimasu) by まみれた (mamireta)
Mamireta have brainwashed me. This song is a drug. From the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking, to the deliriously hypnotic opening riff, to the disturbing lyrical and visual themes, “Ojamashimasu” is the intoxicating psycho fix that VK has been thirsting for. This band is so shameless in expressing their corrupt morals, and so unhinged in their mannerisms, you can't help but feel like many years of lunacy have been packed into the unit's short lifespan. Laden with fast talking featuring the ramblings of a madman, the eccentric vocal delivery adds to the song's intrigue, as this trope is so steeped in VK tradition.
Whilst a passionate chorus cuts through the repetitive rhythm that has pervaded through almost half the song, it quickly spirals into a fast-paced whir of pure neuroticism, leading back into the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking that started it all.
I've lost count of how many synonyms for “crazy” I've already used in writing this, but did I mention that this band is crazy?
Let Mamireta “ojamashimasu” into your head.
@emmny's Pick
"朧月夜 (Oborozukiyo)" by 己龍 (Kiryu)
Kiryu have passed 10 years together as a band, a massive milestone for any band, let alone a visual kei band. To celebrate they're...throwing it back to 1997? It's no surprise that Kiryu have an old school influence, especially as the band members have been active since the early 2000's. They're just very good at infusing it into trendy structures with their loud traditional instrumentation. I, however, live for the moments in their dark tracks when they really let loose and wear some blood on their sleeves *wink*. "Oborozukiyo" is three minutes and thirty seconds of kote-kei styled mayhem, melodrama, guts, gore; it's so indulgent and obvious a throwback that it feels like an inside joke between the band and their older fans, with the youth at the butt of the joke. Of course, all parties are in gleeful, head snapping, harakiri'd joy. Mahiro's vocal gymnastics recall the tortured voices of the late 90's, but with an amazingly melodic chorus to match the growls and grunts (all on pitch by the way, eat your heart out Matina and Soleil). The trebly, pitch-harmonic laden guitar lines paired with frequent gyakudai-style rhythm shifts disorient the listener, creating an air of chaotic noise. The track is a throwback, but not a copy in anyway- a representation fitting of an intelligent band who have grown from the scene and still know how to extract every bit of theatric gold from a sound long forgotten, keeping it fresh 20 or so years later in 2017.
@plastic_rainbow's Picks
"管" (Kan) by umbrella
umbrella is a band that I regrettably have not paid much attention to until recently. I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I've finally realized the greatness of their soft and melodic rock sound, plus their heartbreaking and soothing ballads are to die for. "Kan" sits as one of those beautiful tracks but takes it up another level. The beginning feels cinematic with the playing strings until a steady drum line and lovely guitar walk in. Yui's comforting vocals both sing like a slow heartbeat and an ocean wave that clashes against a rock gently; the perfect balance of softness and passion put into a ballad. Although umbrella may fall short because of their messier production, especially in their early days, they deserve much more love than they already do. I mean, if those mellow guitars don't tug at your heart strings then you must be on crack.
"Snow the Dark" by Spook Jack
Not being a fan of The Candy Spooky Theater, this new solo project of their vocalist Spook Jack (aka Jack Spooky) took me by surprise. While Spook Jack continues to portray his 'spooky' character, his solo work is not the usual fun spoopy-Halloween trope that The Candy Spooky Theater was. Instead, it's downright gothic and dark industrial. Apparently, Full (ex. Guniw Tools, Nookicky, Shilfee and Tulipcorobockles) collaborated with his solo project and although it's not certain how much he was involved in producing the music, some Nookicky influences can be heard. The slow tempo, the ghostly ethereal singing, the use of pianos and harmonious noises in "Snow the Dark" all make up the sound of Nookicky. However, being much darker, the track opens with a haunting industrial vibe, setting a gothic and bone-chilling atmosphere. Spook Jack's ethereal vocals tinged with a gloominess works wonderfully and reveals how mesmerizing his voice can be, unlike his The Candy Spooky Theater performances. If Spook Jack keeps this up with his new approach to a sinister and despairing night of horror, I'm all for it.
"ニヤ" (Niya) by Large House Satisfaction
There seem to be little to no fans of Large House Satisfaction here, so it's my job to make you start listening to them now, especially to those who like some new J-indie music. Large House Satisfaction is a three-piece band that have been around for over 10 years and play garage to classic rock music accompanied with harsh grating vocals. If you like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The Birthday, or any of Chiba Yusuke's side projects you may be interested in them. Usually their music is upbeat and faster-paced, but once in a while they'll chug out a few slower-paced songs as well. "Niya", from their newest album Highway to Hellvalley, happens to be one of those slower songs, yet is still stirred up by their punching garage-y guitar riffs and thick bass lines. The vocalist goes all out, and even sounds like he's about to croak, but his harsh singing effectively renders this piece as truly endearing. You'll be singing 'darling darling' all night once you listen to this.
Guest Blurbs from @Ada Suilen
"蛙-Kawazu-" (Kawazu) by キズ (Kizu)
In the contemporary visual kei scene, it's incredibly hard to find something appealing and worthy of some attention. One of the few times I had such a feeling has been with the second single of the new band Kizu, where the lead track "蛙-Kawazu-"shows their unexpected and engaging style: a powerful melody driven by astonishing riffs, and intense vocals by the former singer of Lezard, who seems to have found his own maturity with this new band. I can surely consider Kizu as one of the most interesting rookies of the year.
"愚かしい竜の夢 " (Orokashii Yuu no Yume) by D
D has been one of my first visual bands, and they are nowadays one of my fixed listenings. When they came back from the hiatus, they redid one of their dearest themes and tried to experiment with something new, which I enjoyed but not so much as I thought I would. But I was sure that one day this band would have found their unique energy, and in their fifth mini-album, a limited release, they used what made them so popular for the visual fans. The title track is surely one of the best works in their career, featuring an incredible mix of languages (a la Rozova Dolina) and a clash of tempos, going from soft to powerful in a blink, with a great technique and sublime vocals. If you had lost hope in D, with this track you will surely find it again.
KEEL new EP "死々" (Shishi) will be released at their 2-day oneman live tour "融けるナイフ" (Tokeru Knife) since 2017/12/18-19 at Shimokitazawa SHELTER to 2017/12/25-26 at OSAKA RUIDO (1500yen)
[tracklist]
1. 喘鳴 (Zenmei)
2. 星成り(Hoshi Nari)
3. Over
My newest translation is from one of the best songs by Grieva (I still can't believe that they will disband), because of its peculiar style, really different from what they accustomed us to. I hope that you like it.
Romaji:
Sangatsu nanoka no asa kimi wa
sora e ochite shimatta ne…
kimi wa itsumo egao de
tsurai kokoro kakushiteita no?
Mou sugu kimi no moto e yuku ne
fushigi to kowaku wa nai yo
kimi ga inai sekai de
ikiru imi o miidasenai kara.
Moshimo kimi no sono kanashimi ni
kidzuku koto ga dekita no naraba…
Sotto me o tojireba
boku o yobu kimi no koe ga
kikoete kite
futari te o tsunaide
aruita ano kaerimichi ga
kowaresou na hodo tsurai
Moshimo kimi no sono kanashimi ni
kidzuku koto ga dekita no naraba…
sonna koto o kangaetemo
mou kimi wa modoranai…
Asu kimi no moto e to
yuku to kimeta yoru no koto
kimi no heya no
tsukue no sumi no nikki
sotto naka o mite miru to
boku e ateta kotoba ga
“douka, atashi no bun mo anata wa ikite kudasai.
itsumo itsumo wagamama bakari itte hontou ni gomen ne,
demo saigo no wagamama o kiite…”
Arigatou…
gomen ne…
tsuyoku ikiru yo
itsu demo tonari ni
kimi ga iru kigasuru kara.
Translation:
The morning of 7th March
You fell in the sky
You always smile
Did you hide a painful heart?
Soon I will go to your place
I am not afraid of it
In a world where you are not there
I can’t find the meaning of life.
If it is your sorrow…
If you can notice it…
If I softly close my eyes
Your voice is calling me
You can hear it
Hand in hand
We walk in the way home
It’s so hard to break.
If it is your sorrow…
If you can notice it…
Even if I think about it
You won’t return anymore…
Tomorrow I will come to you
In the night when I decided to go
In your room
A diary in the corner of your desk
When I gently looked at it
The words addressed to me were:
“Please, please live even for me.
I am sorry if I always say the best
But you are listening to my last moment…”
Thanks…
Sorry…
I will live strongly
Always closer
Because I feel like you are there.
Kanji/Romaji from Jpopasia
Translation is mine, so credit me before posting elsewhere!
MIZTAVLA's drummer Fumiya suddenly passed away on 2017.10.15.
It seems his disease unexpectedly got worse. His family asked to the exact cause to be hidden. The funeral will be private too. It's hard to imagine they've just had a live on the same day and it seemed everything is okay even if they were tired... The members all left a comment about their feelings and will take an announcement about the band's future later.
It's really hard time for the members and the fans too, please show them respect.
You can find here the official announcemet and the comments: MIZTAVLA Official Blog
Ada Suilen got a reaction from Muskito in [Lyrics] Grieva - Diary (06.11.2013) [Kanji/Romaji/Translation]