geist

That's the entire crux of my argument. Let's stop pretending that band's didn't see what Dir en grey were doing in the mid-to-late-2000's and didn't rush to emulate their style. Some bands switched to 7 string guitars (lynch), some bands were direct copies (Sadie, 12012), some bands copied the vocal styles of Kyo (Nega, Rentrer en soi).
 
The fact is, bands made sudden stylistic shifts when Dir en grey started getting (minimal) international recognition and it's obvious. You were around (I assume), I was around -- we all saw it in real time.

Bullshit. Nega is basic and bland compared to Dir en grey, sure; but their vocalist sure loved copying Kyo when he started incorporating a low-rent version of his high screams. 
 
Like I said, not nearly as unoriginal as Mao or Wataru; but derivative nonetheless. 

This band sucks so much dick. 
 
"Nega" is your typical mediocre mid-2000's VK band that thought aping Dir en grey was a good idea. They're second-rate. I put them a step below Sadie and 12012 in terms of unoriginal cringe; but it's close.

This band sucks so much dick. 
 
"Nega" is your typical mediocre mid-2000's VK band that thought aping Dir en grey was a good idea. They're second-rate. I put them a step below Sadie and 12012 in terms of unoriginal cringe; but it's close.

This band sucks so much dick. 
 
"Nega" is your typical mediocre mid-2000's VK band that thought aping Dir en grey was a good idea. They're second-rate. I put them a step below Sadie and 12012 in terms of unoriginal cringe; but it's close.

Are you kidding me? This is my dream question. I would hang out with Papa Kaoru and we'd spend the first part of the day talking about music, his guitar rig, etc. And then we'd spend the second half of the day drinking beer and writing guitar riffs together.
 
It may even end with a kiss goodnight if he plays his cards right 😉

Way better than the original. Buck-Tick Sucks-Dick.
 
They’re one of those bands who I want to like, but then I get super bored and put on D’erlanger. 

Way better than the original. Buck-Tick Sucks-Dick.
 
They’re one of those bands who I want to like, but then I get super bored and put on D’erlanger. 

Way better than the original. Buck-Tick Sucks-Dick.
 
They’re one of those bands who I want to like, but then I get super bored and put on D’erlanger. 

Way better than the original. Buck-Tick Sucks-Dick.
 
They’re one of those bands who I want to like, but then I get super bored and put on D’erlanger. 

D'erlanger is by far more interesting imo. Buck-tick started to be a thing since 'Aku no hana', then with 'Kurutta taiyou' their classic sound embraced its true form. No wonder why the most part of their hits come from this albums, and not from their prior ones. Speaking of them, they are a wank of formulaic pop punk rock, same as other acts like Boowy. 

Maybe that is Akinori effect
 
Except BABYMETAL is still entertaining.
 
SINNERS EP (2017) was decent, and they got all these other bassists collaborate with them. But when Akinori returns for XIII, it sounds as uninspired as they were again, something that been going on since I BELIEVE IN ME (2011)..., after Akinori was becoming official member, and presumably finally able/allowed to give input on lynch.'s music and direction? 
 
So the answer to this is; fire Akinori for good 
 

lmao, yeah, that sounds about right. I remember at one of the Apocalyptica co-headline shows where some friends and I were standing in the middle, and I said to one "When Red Soil rips, I want you to push me and I'll do the rest". Sure enough, the song picks up, I get a solid push in the back, and I begin trucking through these small Asian girls (sorry) with my arms outstretched to part the seas. After that, the pit was awesome the rest of the night. Even a few girls were getting into the mix and having fun. Oddly enough, they were Apocalyptica fans who had never listened to Dir en grey before so it was a cool experience.
 
There's only been one show where we tried to get a pit going and security shut it down. The security guard came up to me and said "Man, I love what you guys are doing; but this isn't the kind of show for this", so instead we spent the rest of the show getting drunk at the bar with the vocalist of the opening band.

lmao, yeah, that sounds about right. I remember at one of the Apocalyptica co-headline shows where some friends and I were standing in the middle, and I said to one "When Red Soil rips, I want you to push me and I'll do the rest". Sure enough, the song picks up, I get a solid push in the back, and I begin trucking through these small Asian girls (sorry) with my arms outstretched to part the seas. After that, the pit was awesome the rest of the night. Even a few girls were getting into the mix and having fun. Oddly enough, they were Apocalyptica fans who had never listened to Dir en grey before so it was a cool experience.
 
There's only been one show where we tried to get a pit going and security shut it down. The security guard came up to me and said "Man, I love what you guys are doing; but this isn't the kind of show for this", so instead we spent the rest of the show getting drunk at the bar with the vocalist of the opening band.

uh exquise moi, only real fans (TM) are allowed to call him by his honmei (that means real name for you gaijins (that means foreigner for you foreigners out there) out there)
 
uh no he still HATES it even if he says he still wants to do it
because people always want to do things they HATE
and nobody in the history of everyone has EVER changed their opinion
obviously, statements from TEN YEARS AGO still are TRUE omg
you just don't get Kyo-sama the way I do smh

I find the discourse about when and how the audience reacts during a DEG show ridiculous. A few months back fans were claiming Kyo reverted back to his self-harm theatrics as a way to get more from the crowd, so the solution was to give as much as you can. Now it’s “don’t cheer when he’s using the red microphone cord as a prop for his intestines”? 
 
Like, what is it?

At a metal show, yes. You may not enjoy metal shows; but that's the kind of crowd you'll draw when you're an "extreme" metal band with breakdowns.
 
And you can't blame the crowd for that. You should blame the band for that because this is the style of music they've chosen to create and perform. They've chosen to play drop-tuned 7 string guitars. They've chosen to have breakdowns in their songs.  They've chosen the setlist as it's currently constructed. They've chosen to emphasize heavy songs over ballads -- which were damn near non-existent in this tour. They've made these choices knowing exactly what kind of crowd they would draw.

At a metal show, yes. You may not enjoy metal shows; but that's the kind of crowd you'll draw when you're an "extreme" metal band with breakdowns.
 
And you can't blame the crowd for that. You should blame the band for that because this is the style of music they've chosen to create and perform. They've chosen to play drop-tuned 7 string guitars. They've chosen to have breakdowns in their songs.  They've chosen the setlist as it's currently constructed. They've chosen to emphasize heavy songs over ballads -- which were damn near non-existent in this tour. They've made these choices knowing exactly what kind of crowd they would draw.

At a metal show, yes. You may not enjoy metal shows; but that's the kind of crowd you'll draw when you're an "extreme" metal band with breakdowns.
 
And you can't blame the crowd for that. You should blame the band for that because this is the style of music they've chosen to create and perform. They've chosen to play drop-tuned 7 string guitars. They've chosen to have breakdowns in their songs.  They've chosen the setlist as it's currently constructed. They've chosen to emphasize heavy songs over ballads -- which were damn near non-existent in this tour. They've made these choices knowing exactly what kind of crowd they would draw.

Vkei bands rarely come to the states because it is significantly more expensive, and a logistical nightmare, than anywhere else to tour and most of these bands couldn’t draw a crowd of 100 people, so it’s not worth it. 
 
Dir en grey, and the GazettE have smart management because they’re two of the only vkei bands that could reliably come to the states and do well. This is why both bands on their tours of the states hit specific markets because I imagine they’re aware that people will travel a long distance to see them and then spend over $200 on merchandise. 
 
I bought a hoodie, shirt, and a tote bag to carry my merch. And that was small time compared to what other fans were buying. 
 
as long as this frenzy exists: as long as Dir en grey can reliably sell out shows in big markets, like they have pretty much done on this tour, while also selling a shit load of merchandise, they will come back sooner rather than later. 
 
And they’re one of the only vkei bands that can pull it off. There are non-VK bands like Boris who have big followings in the States; but the frenzy to buy merch is almost nonexistent compared to Dir en grey shows.

Tbh I was sad at lack of merch but otherwise that black shirt and hoodie were really sick looking 

It’s a song where nothing happens for nearly 6 minutes. Those are my favorite!! 

It’s a song where nothing happens for nearly 6 minutes. Those are my favorite!! 

It’s a song where nothing happens for nearly 6 minutes. Those are my favorite!! 

Yeah. My only wish is for the new Mazohyst (even a live version) to be dumped on a single or something. Still haven't heard it.