haido

Hm, it was Malice Mizer at first as I found out about them around... 2005 or 2006? Too bad they weren't active anymore back then ^^

So hard to compare these two, because their concepts are so different. I used to like them both... But I must admit that DIAURA is better in my opinion.
 
MEJIBRAY had an unique idea to presents their music and "visualistics" for their outfits & live shows, they showed some very unique style and each member had their own way to present themselves --- their outfits didn't match and that was one of the points. Their music was very energetic (as were their live shows too!) and their style varied a lot. It was  clear that they had a certain "raw" or "wild" style they preferred and it really worked. After Nepenthes (or during last 2 years) though they seemed to only repeat their themes and tried to search something new to get  inspiration  --- leading them to lost their concept. Their visual style and music some what lost their basics.
 
DIAURA used to be in search of themselves for first, but after re-releasing "Shitsuyoku no seiiki" they really seemed to know who and what they are. They have their own unique theme "dictatorial aura" that usually is about military-ish themed things. Of course they occasionally try something different (like the soft gentle ballad "Gekkou" etc.) but still they know and continue on their way steadily and still are able to bring new dimensions for VK genre/their own music.

So hard to compare these two, because their concepts are so different. I used to like them both... But I must admit that DIAURA is better in my opinion.
 
MEJIBRAY had an unique idea to presents their music and "visualistics" for their outfits & live shows, they showed some very unique style and each member had their own way to present themselves --- their outfits didn't match and that was one of the points. Their music was very energetic (as were their live shows too!) and their style varied a lot. It was  clear that they had a certain "raw" or "wild" style they preferred and it really worked. After Nepenthes (or during last 2 years) though they seemed to only repeat their themes and tried to search something new to get  inspiration  --- leading them to lost their concept. Their visual style and music some what lost their basics.
 
DIAURA used to be in search of themselves for first, but after re-releasing "Shitsuyoku no seiiki" they really seemed to know who and what they are. They have their own unique theme "dictatorial aura" that usually is about military-ish themed things. Of course they occasionally try something different (like the soft gentle ballad "Gekkou" etc.) but still they know and continue on their way steadily and still are able to bring new dimensions for VK genre/their own music.

To me, they lost their steam years ago, occasionally rising to one or two better songs in the near past. I hope this break either rejuvenates them, or makes them go onto some better projects.

Hm, only two things came up to my mind.
 
1. K's sudden death (the guitarist of Moi dix Mois)
 
2. MEJIBRAYs  weird change during last... 2 years? Their music and outfits has been turning in a really weird way and unfortunately I really can't say that I'm interested much of them anymore. It seems that they're trying to search something new to try on for their musical/personal styles but for me it just feels like they are lost in their search.

In my opinion "no-pictures" is a good thing. All the J-rock gigs/event's I've been in different countries (EU, Japan) has been having the same policy. Many times in EU I've been sadly seen the audience still taking pictures/video during the show despite the "no-photo" announcements before the gig and signs in the venue and it really makes me sad. After all, if you take the picture now you might never look back it again...
 
Nowadays it just feels that people are living through their smartphones and everyone is just concentrating to take pictures instead of the live itself. And for the artist... I guess "no-photos" is their asking and they're asking audience/fans to respect this. Band is selling photos that really look good and  are clear. It's part of their merchandise too - that'show they earn their money. If I was the performer on the stage I wouldn't want my pictures taken during the show by audience 'cause of the bad angles, sweating (sometimes that much that the make-up melts away) and the show itself that is going on.
 
And if you're in the VK gig you should be busy headbanging or making furi's XD

I need to answer this! I'm happy that this many people are discussing on this topic.
 
I've also been wondering this suddenchange for a while. Few years ago I used to have many friends listening VK but something happened & k-pop came. Most of my VK listening friends suddenly changed completely to listen only k-pop. It really seems weird for me because I knew that usually those persons weren't listening that much pop-ish music at all.
 
Why can't people just listen both genres at the same time? That I'd understand... But suddenly changing one genre of music/abandoning it and start to listencompletely different one? Hm. For me, I really don't get k-pop. Meh.

@orange Paris is only option for me (weekend), but now it seems that I'm also seeing them in Helsinki ^^

I was hearing some possible rumours that they'd be interested in touring outside Japan, which would make sense I guess at their current situation.
 
I wouldn't be super surprised if they did call it quits though, because they seem to be pretty loose cannon and anything is possible I guess.

I'm haido from Finland. I've been visiting this forum for a while and finally decided to join here.  So shortly a bit about me! ^^
 
I've been listening vk for ~10 years and my favorites are DIAURA, D, MEJIBRAY and DADAROMA. I started as a hc - Malice Mizer & Moi dx Mois fan. Vk music and fashion are great points of interest for me. Joining to this forum I wish to get to know more people interested in visual-kei -- since it seems that way too many people have stopped listening it. 

I think my top 3 is now set for some time, but rest are changing on weekly basis.
 
1. Mejibray
2. Avelcain
3. Nocturnal Bloodlust
4. Grieva
5. My Bacteria Heat Island
6. Krad
7. Killaneth
8. Dadaroma
9. whatever hiLo is doing (he is active kinda)
10. Arlequin
 
I feel like I'm forgetting some bands..

In my opinion "no-pictures" is a good thing. All the J-rock gigs/event's I've been in different countries (EU, Japan) has been having the same policy. Many times in EU I've been sadly seen the audience still taking pictures/video during the show despite the "no-photo" announcements before the gig and signs in the venue and it really makes me sad. After all, if you take the picture now you might never look back it again...
 
Nowadays it just feels that people are living through their smartphones and everyone is just concentrating to take pictures instead of the live itself. And for the artist... I guess "no-photos" is their asking and they're asking audience/fans to respect this. Band is selling photos that really look good and  are clear. It's part of their merchandise too - that'show they earn their money. If I was the performer on the stage I wouldn't want my pictures taken during the show by audience 'cause of the bad angles, sweating (sometimes that much that the make-up melts away) and the show itself that is going on.
 
And if you're in the VK gig you should be busy headbanging or making furi's XD

I'm haido from Finland. I've been visiting this forum for a while and finally decided to join here.  So shortly a bit about me! ^^
 
I've been listening vk for ~10 years and my favorites are DIAURA, D, MEJIBRAY and DADAROMA. I started as a hc - Malice Mizer & Moi dx Mois fan. Vk music and fashion are great points of interest for me. Joining to this forum I wish to get to know more people interested in visual-kei -- since it seems that way too many people have stopped listening it. 

Moi kaikille, uutena suomityyppinä heti eksyin tännekin!
 
Gazetteen en oo tulossa keikalle asti, koska en oikeen kuuntele... Viimeksi eksyin kyllä keikalle kun ostin lipun halvalla jonosta.  Mutta paria kaveria varmaan tulen nyt moikkailemaan. Onko täällä miitin tynkää siis tiedossa?
 

I'm haido from Finland. I've been visiting this forum for a while and finally decided to join here.  So shortly a bit about me! ^^
 
I've been listening vk for ~10 years and my favorites are DIAURA, D, MEJIBRAY and DADAROMA. I started as a hc - Malice Mizer & Moi dx Mois fan. Vk music and fashion are great points of interest for me. Joining to this forum I wish to get to know more people interested in visual-kei -- since it seems that way too many people have stopped listening it. 

I'm haido from Finland. I've been visiting this forum for a while and finally decided to join here.  So shortly a bit about me! ^^
 
I've been listening vk for ~10 years and my favorites are DIAURA, D, MEJIBRAY and DADAROMA. I started as a hc - Malice Mizer & Moi dx Mois fan. Vk music and fashion are great points of interest for me. Joining to this forum I wish to get to know more people interested in visual-kei -- since it seems that way too many people have stopped listening it.