Himeaimichu

ヒトリエ (Hitorie) frontman wowaka has passed away April 5th due to sudden heart failure. He was 31. A funeral has already been performed, but only for relatives and friends. Their tour has been cancelled and future band activities are undecided.

https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/hitorie/info/505751

It's mostly because as of recently, Kiryu's had a very rigorous release schedule, and it's sorta been showing in their music after Hyakki Yakou, which wasn't a bad album, but not nearly as good as Kyouka Suigetsu or Shuka Ensen

So they're rerecording Yuukaku? Nice. I thought that song was forgotten into the abyss with other enjoyable Kiryu classics. 
Still waiting for the day they rerecord 愛シクモ切ナイ仄甘ク喘グ其ノ声ヲ (and give it an easier to say title lol)

the world is ready for Israel Kamakawiwo'ole-size Mako, it's what the VK scene deserves

Glad to see Mako's still around. Hopefully he weighs more now. I remember he used to be dangerously skinny

Those outfits look like traditional Manchu tunics, but ugly

14 year old me would have liked this.
It's not the worst song in the world, but I miss old DEZERT

Because that's totally going to solve Japan's declining population problem!!

i lold so hard
"btw i returned to fukuoka to record "flashback". dear people of kyushu, please use contraception to avoid pregnancy. if it's too late let's raise the children"
 

Those outfits look like traditional Manchu tunics, but ugly

After hearing the new Kiryu song recycle a certain Mi'ze:lia song, I wanted to kind of talk about one of the bands that Kiryu seemed to have really taken a few bits of influence from. Cuartet.
I've been listening to these guys and their contemporaries a lot, and I've noticed a few interesting things.
First off is their song "Koibumi". This at first seems like your run-of-the-mill attempt at an Akuro no Oka, and it is, but it also seems to have been combined with Aoi Haru by Gill'e Cadith. The beach they filmed the PV on was also used some music videos by other band. Most notably, the GazettE, whom at the time were kind of brother-bands with Cuartet. 
The song later inspired Tsukubai by Kiryu. Mahiro even tried to emulate Saki's wailing and screaming at the end. Only, Kiryu's version is much more metal. Why did Kiryu decide to tribute Cuartet? I have no idea why, other than the fact that Mahiro probably is friends with the members. There are setlists with LutenA and Koroshi (Mahiro's first band, and Cuartet's first era, respectively) preforming together that I've found here and there. Mahiro is also a former Luciffer's Record artist, and while Cuartet wasn't on Luciffer's Record, the owner of the record label, Yuuga from Devil Kitty, was closely associated with Cuartet's label, Climax Enteprise. As a result, Curse and Mareli (2 of Mahiro's bands) appeared on 2 omnibuses with Cuartet (edit: for sine reason I originally put Gill'e Cadith here? I really should proofread more). 
One of Mitsuki and Takemasa's earliest bands, Mi'ze:lia, was on Sequence Records, whose owner, Tomozo, was close friends with guitarist AIKA of Cuartet, having played in Black:List and Triggah, and AIKA still being a close associate of Tomozo's current label, Dual Core Sound Enterprise. So it's safe to say, Kiryu and Cuartet's members probably were friends, or at least aquainted with eachother, and bounced ideas off eachother.  
Another thing Cuartet liked to do is use a lot of traditional Japanese aesthetics in some of their looks. Most notably, Sphere and Deep Bonds of Ogre. The Sanskrit overlays and all were later used a lot by Kiryu. Though they were probably initially inspired by La'Mule.  (Sphere scan taken from ZOMBIEXJUICE)
Next is a personal favourite of mine, PROGRAM. This one is pretty much their attempt at combining Zan by Dir en Grey with Devil Kitty and Gill'e Cadith. It's pretty good if you like a lot of screaming and that rhythmic talking thing that isn't exactly rapping that Saki (though it was really Karuna's thing) does. 
 
Finally, I want to talk about a certain PV location that I've seen used in 3 different bands. I have no idea what this place is called, but maybe someone could help. 
The first band I know that used this is the GazettE, with their song "Wife". During one part, it shows the outside of the building. 
Ogre by Cuartet was later filmed in the same building, and even shows the exterior. 
The final PV that I know of that takes place there was Pink Woman by Etcetera. 
The filming crew for these PVs are probably all the same people who film stuff for Eternal, Climax Enterprise, Luciffer's Record and Mission Music Factory. 
 

It probably was. What record label was this band associated with? I wonder if probably the same staff filmed it.
EDIT: Just realised it's Vidoll. Knowing Vidoll was on Matina, they probably had the same video staff and all, since Eternal Records was a sublabel of Matina.

Late as fuck, but SHAZNA's new album has been delayed due to production issues, and so far they have 4 songs recorded.
 
 

Kuroyuri were kind of bleak and gross thematically, but weren't too serious about themselves to not name one of their songs literally "great song"
 
 
 
Grieva were a good-era DIRU cover band that really shined when they actually tried writing their own music
 
 

Today's setlist...THESE ARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS..👀

Apparently, Mitsuki is a singer now. He did a cover of Meikyo Shisui.
While no one can really truly replace Mahiro, I think if he does have to retire, Mitsuki should take the role of vocals.
 

After hearing the new Kiryu song recycle a certain Mi'ze:lia song, I wanted to kind of talk about one of the bands that Kiryu seemed to have really taken a few bits of influence from. Cuartet.
I've been listening to these guys and their contemporaries a lot, and I've noticed a few interesting things.
First off is their song "Koibumi". This at first seems like your run-of-the-mill attempt at an Akuro no Oka, and it is, but it also seems to have been combined with Aoi Haru by Gill'e Cadith. The beach they filmed the PV on was also used some music videos by other band. Most notably, the GazettE, whom at the time were kind of brother-bands with Cuartet. 
The song later inspired Tsukubai by Kiryu. Mahiro even tried to emulate Saki's wailing and screaming at the end. Only, Kiryu's version is much more metal. Why did Kiryu decide to tribute Cuartet? I have no idea why, other than the fact that Mahiro probably is friends with the members. There are setlists with LutenA and Koroshi (Mahiro's first band, and Cuartet's first era, respectively) preforming together that I've found here and there. Mahiro is also a former Luciffer's Record artist, and while Cuartet wasn't on Luciffer's Record, the owner of the record label, Yuuga from Devil Kitty, was closely associated with Cuartet's label, Climax Enteprise. As a result, Curse and Mareli (2 of Mahiro's bands) appeared on 2 omnibuses with Cuartet (edit: for sine reason I originally put Gill'e Cadith here? I really should proofread more). 
One of Mitsuki and Takemasa's earliest bands, Mi'ze:lia, was on Sequence Records, whose owner, Tomozo, was close friends with guitarist AIKA of Cuartet, having played in Black:List and Triggah, and AIKA still being a close associate of Tomozo's current label, Dual Core Sound Enterprise. So it's safe to say, Kiryu and Cuartet's members probably were friends, or at least aquainted with eachother, and bounced ideas off eachother.  
Another thing Cuartet liked to do is use a lot of traditional Japanese aesthetics in some of their looks. Most notably, Sphere and Deep Bonds of Ogre. The Sanskrit overlays and all were later used a lot by Kiryu. Though they were probably initially inspired by La'Mule.  (Sphere scan taken from ZOMBIEXJUICE)
Next is a personal favourite of mine, PROGRAM. This one is pretty much their attempt at combining Zan by Dir en Grey with Devil Kitty and Gill'e Cadith. It's pretty good if you like a lot of screaming and that rhythmic talking thing that isn't exactly rapping that Saki (though it was really Karuna's thing) does. 
 
Finally, I want to talk about a certain PV location that I've seen used in 3 different bands. I have no idea what this place is called, but maybe someone could help. 
The first band I know that used this is the GazettE, with their song "Wife". During one part, it shows the outside of the building. 
Ogre by Cuartet was later filmed in the same building, and even shows the exterior. 
The final PV that I know of that takes place there was Pink Woman by Etcetera. 
The filming crew for these PVs are probably all the same people who film stuff for Eternal, Climax Enterprise, Luciffer's Record and Mission Music Factory. 
 

I found the Mi'ze:lia song they recycled. 
 
For once, my useless somewhat-knowledge on obscure proto-bands comes in handy.

Apparently, Mitsuki is a singer now. He did a cover of Meikyo Shisui.
While no one can really truly replace Mahiro, I think if he does have to retire, Mitsuki should take the role of vocals.
 

Karasuna Mei of Kuroyuri to Kage performing Tsubasa wo Kudasai by Michio Yamagami. 
I will be real here, I never heard Tsubasa wo Kudasai and while I do enjoy a lot of Kayokyoku, I cannot name any artists or songs (except for like Haruo Oka).
 
Guruguru Eigakan - Bokutachi no Shippai (Originally from Morita Doji).
I actually knew somewhat of Morita Doji from back when I was just getting into Japanese music, but never really listened to anything of her's until I found Guruguru Eigakan. 
 

Amano Tonbimaru rises out of his grave, making this a true horror story, but does not decide to continue Guruguru Eigakan.... or do music at all... 
 
Kiryu goes major, but abandons Vkei, abandons Metal, and is cursed to an existence as a normal band playing slightly-hard pop rock with rapid Japanese instruments à la Wagakki Band. 
 
Etcetera revives.... and makes more releases... 
 
Yayoi forms a new label, gets some bands signed to it. One of them is a newbie band that's gonna get really popular. The other is rejects from Ma'die Kusse/Mareydi Creia/Parasite Lucia. Yuuga forms a new band titled "Kar Maria" and says it's not the same as the old Kar'mariA. Deadly Sanctuary revives! but changes their name to "deadl" because "Deadly" wasn't short enough. The final are some no name bands that won't get nearly as popular as the Yuuga band and the Newbie band that gets the most funds. The whole thing flops in a dumpster fire, Yayoi runs, rinse, and repeat. 
 
Yukika's entire singing career.
 
The GazettE start smoking meth, drinking bud light, eating Chick Fil'a to be the most non-Japanese Vkei band in Japan. 
 
Miyavi x KRS-One collab to try to appeal to the Hip Hop crowd. Miyabi fanbase has no idea who tf KRS One is and think he's a new rapper. Mumble Rap fans whose first rapper was Drake will believe he's a pioneer in a new type of rap where they clearly speak their words.
 
Yoshiki x Garth Brooks collab
 
 

The location was also used for a Grieva PV. We also know the song borrowed from Myaku, but that probably has little to do with the location. It's actually almost unfitting
 

I'm pretty sure it's from 1987.
 
 
 
Also 1987, if you consider them VK.

Don't forget using Japanese flag as aesthetic too. Combined with non-Kpop inclusion, people will believe Visual Kei is Koreaphobic/Chosonphobic (For the Koreans up north) altogether
 
That actually exists.. people where I live listen to that... Yoshiki making Country Trap would not be too far off....
 

Probably does the electronics or something. 
Either that, or his job is to manipulate fans and bandmen so Noah doesn't have to lol