crossparallel

guys,
 
he does crabwalk on stage............................
 

I find myself with a lot of time to think about the state of Japanese music and how things have changed since I first became a fan. I'm sure you guys have these thoughts as well. For the 10th anniversary, I'm going to publish some random musings I've had about the scene. They'll just be bullet points from one sentence to a few sentences about anything related to visual kei or J-rock. If you guys want to join in just leave your bullet points below and I'll be posting them sometime soon.
 
Thoughts from @Zeus:
 

the GazettE
 
We always had a dream of getting together a J-Rock Wikipedia of sorts to catalog our history. That idea is all but dead in the water. Last.fm is the closest we have to that and it's very decentralized. The day those servers go down is the day an entire epoch of international visual kei ends. From the perspective of an international fan, live distributed releases suck ass. It sucks more when the song in question is not put on another purchasable release, rendering that song out of reach for people like me unless we fork over tons of money to a third party reseller, so it's not like we could benefit the band if we tried. It really sucks when it was given away at a band's last gig, because the fans of that band will only dwindle from that moment on and the release will become even rarer until it reaches a tipping point where no one cares anymore. Then, you might get it if someone feels kind and doesn't purge it from their hard drives. An entire era of Japanese history was lost when Mega Upload went down. Many places exclusively used that website for all their deeds. It's said that 4% of all the traffic in the internet flowed through their servers at their peak. I say this because there are lots of releases that you just can't find anymore because links are dead and the fans have left. I've learned a valuable lesson about the permanence of data. I used to hate collection albums and viewed them as a quick way to make a buck. But after some stellar recent releases and faves of mine that broke up and left a collection album behind before they broke up, they are very useful for both sharing a blast from the past and for making mix tapes. Most blogspots have always seemed like a futile attempt to mimic what we do here for some bored teenagers 15 seconds of fame. I used to expend my energy trying to stamp them out, but that's just as futile. There were a select few that actually served as an archival device and were lit. Places like Byouto and Evil en lucifer existed with a plan and a demographic in mind and actually bothered with mirroring their own links and getting their own CDs. Re-recordings are almost always better than remasters for me. At least with the former it feels like the band put some effort into it. Speaking of which, the re-recordings on Lycaon's second album aren't that bad. I still don't like EROS or Aventure though. I've never listened to an X JAPAN song and I don't understand all of the hate Yoshiki gets sometimes. I like poking fun at Japanese Democracy, but other than that I'm from a different era than original X fans (are there even any left) so I can't cash in on nostalgia. I'm so far divorced from their music I have no feelings one way or another and if it ever does get released, I plan on buying, listening, and reviewing the new album fairly as if we haven't been waiting forever to hear it.  

THE PIASS
 
Never thought I would see a scene without UNDERCODE. Then again, there was a time I thought there would never be a scene without Matina and these days few people remember that label. Does YOHIO hang around here? He must visit every now and again - this place is too addictive and centralizing not to. Is there even anywhere else to go? Where do all the n00bs come from? I haven't heard anyone refer to anything as "too American" in years. We successfully stamped that ignorance out of the scene! I remember when XodiacK was first formed, their partnership with HearJapan, and their subsequent financial failure with their first single. They were a joke back then. Now they are considered a cult classic. It's crazy how malleable opinions are. BORN and Lycaon are two bands I waited forever for their disbandment, and when it happened I wasn't happy. Visual kei is making a third shift in sound away from the millenial-kei tunes into the unknown. This is a great time to be a fan!  
Thoughts from @fitear1590:
 

the fin.
I need more VK bands with technical guitar work that aren't necessarily tied to some offshoot of metal (Aicle was a perfect example) The lines between VK and certain brands of indie are getting more porous; a very exciting combination of worlds! Honestly, what happened to Shiina Ringo? She was such a prominent figure in my music taste at one point, but she fizzled out... Please. End. The. Treble. Synth. Fad. Long live "art kei". May the patron saints (ex-members of bands like Moran, yazzmad, amber gris, etc.) keep the style going!  
Thoughts from @emmny:
 

DIV
amber gris saved visual kei after Buglug tried to destroy it and before issei literally almost destroyed himself falling off a balcony meto style Few things were more depressing than seeing Yuuki ruin UnsraW and then flop into infinity with DOAK "Lost november" by Diaura is the most iconic vk song released in...ever Revival kei was the only thing that saved vk past 2012 DIR EN GREY's career trajectory has been amazing and no I don't care what you have to say about DSS No, i'm not EVER getting over D'espairsray so can it. Can bands stop acting like visual kei is still popular, trying to play massive venues (which would have been considered average size 10 years ago) and then flopping intensely? Miztavlah YOU'RE NEXT...300/1200 O-West wait on it DADAROMA and Mejibray have the biggest followings in the western fandoms since vk died and its actually kinda adorable...won't save vk tho Ikenai Kiss by DIV was both the peak and death of EDM kei...RIP  
Thoughts from @doombox:
 

CROSSFAITH
 
I still don't know how baby VK bands manage to pay for their costumes and make up artists when they can't get 100 people in a venue. MIYAVI proved you can survive after VK, have a public marriage and family, be covered in tattoos, and still be wildly popular. These days it's getting plain to see VK has gone down like the Titanic and we're all waiting in tiny lifeboats, clinging to each other and hoping another big ship will eventually come to save us. I'm still not over K (Pay money To my Pain), Shunsuke (Eldorado, bis), or Jasmine You (Versailles).  ONE OK ROCK took over the world. I'm still in shock. Japanese electro-core burnt out way too fast but man it was fun while it lasted.   
Thoughts from @tetsu_sama69:



BAISER
 
When will people realize that most VK bands are just homage of older previous groups and THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A THING?!!? Most VK singers are just massive fanboys of Kiyoharu/Kyo/Hyde/Ruki even if it doesn't seem like they are there always SOMETHING that gives it away and trust me even your vk daddies had people they were fanboys of as well. "Musical differences" is just an excuse for you ran out of mommy/daddy's money for your costumes/recordings OR you just don't get along To survive in this fandom you either have to be extremely open-minded or stick to what you know you like but trust me... not everyone is going to like what you like and you have to accept that Accept it, we're all weeaboos.  
 
Thoughts from @Ito:

Sel'm
 
Not only has aie somehow managed tostill be sticking around, he is almost seemingly trying to  single handedly save VK...and somehow suceeding?  It took nearly the full span of 10 years, but every one of my favorite VK bands from 2007 has disbanded I am not sure if VK has gotten worse or if I've just gotten older and grumpier Yoshiki has transitioned from a legend to a laughingstock in the community It surprises me when I meet someone IRL and they tell me they are a big VK fan...and then I find out they haven't heard of MH. Like where the hell else are you going? I wish I was more inclined to go back and check out older work. I know I have missed out on plenty of wonderful Jrock, but I am just so keen on keeping with what it current. I really need to fix that. Are we ever going to get any VK bands to come to the States again, outside of the biggest of names? While I listen to far less VK now than I used to (read that as my musical tastes have broadened), it still holds an incredibly special place in my heart.  
Thoughts from @CAT5:
 

八十八ヶ所巡礼
 
International Visual Kei fans are some of the craziest, most irritating, and deranged people that I've come across. They're also some of the most passionate, interesting, fun-loving, and generous music fans that I've had the pleasure of knowing. There's always been a stigma surrounding the community, but in my experience, there's more good to be said than bad. Monochrome-Heaven is one of the most slept-on forums of all time. We've been around for a decade and the community is still thriving despite the fact that forums are continually slipping into obsolescence. The world of J-rock is vast and infinite, and there's always something new and different to try if you look for it or ask the right people. Trying to convince VK fans that music outside of VK is somehow "better" or more worthwhile is an exercise in futility. Condescending or scoffing at VK fans is also equally idiotic. I've done both. Don't do it. You'll just come off as an absolute dick who's insecure in his own tastes and interests. VK marketing ploys are still pretty fucking hilarious and ridiculous.  Speaking of which, most of us have, at one point, gone broke for Visual Kei and Japanese music in general. It's expensive and wallet-crippling, yet glorious all the same. I still can't wrap my head around cheki or conditional disbandments. DIR EN GREY have never NOT been relevant.  

Phantasmagoria
 
MH and VK fans at large love themselves a good drama/scandal. From what i've seen, it's usually best to just have a sense of humor about these things. J-rock changes over time. Your favorite era may have been five, ten, or even fifteen years ago. Hell, it might even be NOW. Whatever the case, accept that the musical landscape is constantly changing. I think it's more effective to cherish your favs. and continuously sing their praises than it is to bitch and moan about bygone styles and eras, and how all new music sucks. Sharing keeps the J-rock community alive. It's what's kept us going this long. And not just the sharing of the music itself, but the sharing of news, lyrics/translations, scans, review, live reports, images...even something as simple as sharing your own, unique thoughts about a band or a release. It all counts. Every little piece contributes to keeping the scene alive at large. MH has truly been blessed in this regard, as so many of our members have come here to share openly and freely all out of love for VK, J-rock, and Japanese music as a whole. It's a beautiful thing and I thank everyone for every penny spent, every CD ripped, every mb uploaded, every post typed, and every general ounce of energy poured into our common love for Japanese music.

Thanks for reading!

If and only if "another country" includes Japan, we're set. But yeah, back when this was a thing I was seriously planning traveling 2 x 25+ hours by bus to see them (because I didn't have the money for a flight). Guess nah xD

& this is like the 1 vk band i'd actually be prepared to even travel to another country for.... FUCKING B7KLAN REEEE

Guys,
 
I don't think that EU tour is getting rescheduled. 

no shit, sherlock
 
this is b7klan we're talking about

・new single "VLACK APRIL" (1,620yen)
[track list]
01.アルトラブラック
02.バナナ・スキンヘッド
03.時に夢想者は
 
・LIVE DVD "2016.12.10「LIPHLICH ONE MAN TOUR 2016 発明 FINAL」at 日本橋三井ホール" (6,500yen)
[track list]
※main part no-cut
01.発明家A
02.アナグラムシティ
03.メランコリー
04.It's a good day to anger
05.7 Die Deo
06.二人の事件
07.ガベル・マンの真相
08.ロボトミー
09.ウロボロス
10.この密室よりくちづけを
11.脳裏のドロ
12.SLAP TEA TIME
13.三原色ダダ
14.GOSH!
15.Give me Chill me Killing me
16.MANIC PIXIE
17.星
18.星の歯車
 
 

cali≠gari will release their new album titled "13" on 2017/05/10 in 2 versions: limited "Kyoushin-ban" CD+Blu-ray edition (￥6,000+tax) and regular "Ryoushin-ban" CD-only edition (￥3,000+tax). The limited bonus Blu-ray will feature scenes from the album's recording and various offshot footage. Also, the "Kyoushin-ban" cover art will be done by mangaka Maya Mineo (apparently known for classic shoujo and BL style manga).
 
They will also hold their Japan tour "cali≠gari △15th Caliversary”2002-2017″ TOUR 13 -Hell is other people-" from June 3 to July 22.
 

so, I really hate introductions but oh well here we go...

I've been into vk/ japanese rock for like 11 years now and thanks to that I've been able to meet some very nice people! I couldn't list my favorite bands or anything because there's so much stuff I love it but some very special bands for me are deadman, Vasalla, S, Malice Mizer and Madeth gray'll. But I listen to all kinds of music really, apart from the japanese stuff I like metal, some ambient music, lots of soundtracks from movies and games like Silent Hill, and I also love romantic classical music, you know, guys like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Paganini, Chopin and the list goes on... I also like jazz/fusion and guitar-oriented instrumental music a lot but I guess this isn't really the place to talk about that. lol Anyway, nice to meet you all.

Eh... I dunno, MERRY seems to be touring in the exact same places they've always played: livehouses (the medium ones, up to 1000 people), the occasional hall and playing smaller houses for their fanclub. Seems ok to me.
 
They did lose a bit of their fanbase during the Beautiful Freaks-era, but things seem to have calmed down.
 
The fact that they aren't on a major label anymore hurt them as well (and that would happen to anyone, see A9 for more). An indies label, no matter how well run and connected, can't compete with the level of exposure that a major can offer you. But, the fact that they appeared on TV shows somewhat recently (the same ones that DIR EN GREY/sukekiyo appeared, so that might mean that a producer on the show might dig those guys or Free-Will in general), show me that "hey, FIREWALL DIV. has SOME cash to spend on 'em."
 
PENICILLIN seems to be doing OK for a band with 25 years on the road. Those fuckers are charging ￥6,500 a piece.
 
As always with Japanese bands, you gotta check how much a ticket cost. Never fails. RADWIMPS, who just might be THE hottest Japanese rock band right now, are charging ￥7,900 for a ticket. I guess the older hardcore fans seem to fork enough money for HAKUEI and co. to be able to produce albums + singles and touring every year. 
 
 
 
 

Participating bands at MERRY presents threeman event, 「三月に咲く愚鈍共による錆びたハサミと戒厳令の雨あられ三輪車の花園にて、許しておくんなはれや」, have been revealed:
 
March 17 @ Osaka Kyoto Universe w/ sukekiyo and 犬神サアカス團 (Inugami Circus Dan)
March 18 @ Nagoya Bottom Line w/ sukekiyo and メトロノーム (Metronome)
March 21 @ Shinjuku RENY w/ sukekiyo and メトロノーム (Metronome)
 
Tickets go on sale on Feb 18.

I was just joking u guys............ come on, at this rate im gonna become the vk huffpost lmao (anyway i'm pretty sure Linda from KGF retired from the music scene (unfortunately) )
 
Real talk though, I would KILL to see a MERRY x KGF x Monokuro Kinema live (haha you prolly thought I'd say Marco here but I still don't like their vocalist oops), it's one of my VK dream lineups, but sadly it'll probably -never- happen

@midi:nette Oh, I have the Halloween live, it was every bit as gorgeous as I expected, by the way happy Yuu/Zaku is life, and alter-ego-Nero (not up for remembering that name) 's outfit falling apart, and yesss Mamurasaki's first appearace was too precious for words, and then there was Gara's immense fondness for swirling his cape xD I meant the music video, I don't have that one.
 
@TokageKyokutou Girl Friend. WHAT.

The DVD (excluding the live of course) mainly just showed short snippets of Merry/Super Merries talking to each other; it was probably around 15-20 min or so. Super Merries Nero tried to strip for Nero, and Midori/Mamurasaki wrote stuff to Gara; the only time she spoke was when she first came in the room and her voice was so soft and sWEET AND WHY ARE MY EYES SWEATING ALL OF A SUDDEN?????????? ;w;

the 3 man live is gonna be MERRY x Super Merries x a mysteriously revived Kyokutou Girl Friend
 

I haven't had the chance to watch it yet; I'll let you know tho~

New band "SOCKET" has formed
They describe their music as "digital" and "chiptune"
 
Members :
Vo.にぃにぃ (黒乃うさぎ(Kuro no Usagi)) (@kuro_no_usagi)
Gt.なかむら(@fuyumi_clp)
Ba.ようき(@youki_z)
Dr.大仏様
 
they have held their first live at 2016/10/30, and their next live will be held at Kokura FUSE at 2017/02/11.
they will also participate in THE VELVET presents live at Shimokitazawa MOSAiC at 2017/03/26 with マルコ (Marco), Lament. and ZRAYD
 

 
http://dxcxb-socket.click/
 
 

It was very funny to watch and listen.

Chris Corner will sue her :>

Hey, welcome! Our trajectories to here seem very similar, rediscovering B-T, spiraling from there into the world of j-rock and finally finding ourselves here a few years later. Great artists in that list too! Let's discover new bands together ^^

Hi there~ ^^
So I found this forum some time ago already and finally got the courage to make an account as well... haha.
I'm actually still kinda new to this whole visual kei / jrock thing, I only got properly into it like half a year ago or something, but I'm really glad I did. Some of my favorite bands are SuG, Mediena (though they sadly disbanded already T.T), Rides In Revellion, Damy, Dezert and Mejibray. I hope I can find many more awesome bands through these forums too, hehe ^^
Aside from jrock I'm also really into some metal bands like Amon Amarth, Powerwolf, Sabaton, Turisas, and even some kpop groups like Bangtan... ^^'
Anyway, I hope I'll have a good time here

Hey
So
 
I entered the forum some years ago with the main intention of helping with my social phobia, I guess no one knows me because I left it but now I'm back hopefully to stay. May I ask you to please be nice to me? I feel sick to my stomach when I receive a response online..........
I felt the need to start another introduction topic because I think I changed a lot during this time, this is kind of a new start to me, I can delete my old post (or can I?) if it's wrong to start another one.
I'm also kind of dumb and awkward, so don't mind some weird things I may say or do, sorry in advance...
 
I like mostly heavy stuff, be it rock, metal, electronic/industrial, punk, things that end in core, I love the screaming and the noises, but most things are disappointing me, specially in JRock, I was thinking of migrating to other genre like grindcore until I found Deviloof, so I'm giving it another chance... I also like discovering new genres like thall, japanoise or whatever and watching different and unusual things (Die Antwoord is a guilty pleasure of mine...), so if you find anything interesting and feel like sharing with someone, here I am~
 
My favorite bands are Dir en grey, Plastic Tree, Kagrra,, Mucc, Nocturnal Bloodlust (which reminds me that probably Deviloof will enter this list), The Piass, Sukekiyo, Kiryu, Ikd-Sj and recently I discovered Xaa-Xaa, Archemi and Kuroyuri To Kage, that I'm liking a lot too. I love traditional japanese things, so if you know more bands that use japanese instruments I'll appreciate if you show it to me. I'll also appreciate if you can recommend me more heavy bands like NB and Deviloof...
 
I hope it wasn't a waste of your time to read what I wrote, thanks for reading it.

Hi, everyone!
I have been interested in Visual Kei for 2 years, so I guess I'm a newbie.
 
The first VK band I like is Nightmare, because of the theme songs of Death Note and Mouryo no Hako, but I didn't get into the VK fandom at that time. Then I spent my high school time listening to Black Metal, Gothic Metal and Sound Horizon.
About 2.5 years ago, I rediscovered Buck-Tick and fell in love, now BT is my favourite band. I'm that kind of BT fan who found them through Trinity Blood and became a fan for Acchan-chan's face, but now I respect all five of them as musicians and people.
I still like Nightmare, other Jrock bands I like are: MUCC, Malice Mizer, Dead End, LUNA SEA, D'erlanger, Kuroyume, Der Zibet, Onmyouza, Kinniku Shoujo Tai, Inugami Circus dan, Yapoos, Zelda, DALLE, cali-gari, early Glay, etc. I'm not familiar with younger bands, but willing to try a lot of them from now on.
My favourite non-Japanse band is Tristania, my favourite female singers are Jun Togawa and Vibeke Stene.
 
I can read Japanese, but not good at it.
I decided to join this forum because there aren't many serious discussions in my country's VK fandom, 2ch annoys me a lot, and Tanuki has too many VK slangs, I have trouble understanding them.
It seems people here are really friendly.

Well whoop-de-doo Basil!
Ironic how the cover is just Yoshiki standing below the word "We" - must mean him and his ego.