Ozileras10

Their new single 「赤色」 (Akairo) is planned to be released on 2018.02.28.
 
Limited edition : 1944 yen
CD :
1.赤色(Akairo)
2.青空やめて(Aozora yamete)
DVD :
1.赤色(Akairo)
 
Regular edition : 1620 yen
CD :
1.赤色(Akairo)
2.青空やめて(Aozora yamete)
3.濡烏(Nuregarasu)
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

@AlroyHazuki can play bass, guitar, is the only other competent drummer and can play piano to some degree
Yusuke is the only other competent singer. if he plays another instrument we'll never know cause he always takes vocals in Hazuki's place
AK can play guitar at least enough to take the lead parts when they do their part swaps
Reo can play bass
Asanao can play guitar just barely well enough to do non-complex stuff on stage

as their alter egos AK and Asanao will sing but it's exactly what you'd expect

I always mix this band up with SchwarzKain but I guess now that problem will be solved at least.

Idk why they got akinori back, they can just use Hazuki instead

Holy shit I am actually in love with the new 腐海!!
 
I'm still not expecting anything incredible with IIID EMPIRE or Beautiful Dirt, but still wanna hear them. And I actually didn't know the other tracks on this were remastered, but actually hearing the teaser vids with my headphones, I can notice the difference (saku, ゆらめき). My opinion on VOS is turning around and I'm starting to get interested. I still think I could have come up with better tracklists for the CDs, and maybe they could have re-recorded some more (older) tracks, but who knows, maybe after a listen or two of the full thing I'll agree that the selection they chose perfectly captures the band's essence ... or something.
 
And I'm also betting this won't end up on iTunes. If I had to guess, it's 100% because of pre-VULGAR material, and their label must be adamantly against digitally distributing such material for whatever reason. This is speculation on the grounds that DECADE 1998-2002 did not make it to iTunes, but DECADE 2003-2007 did (but I don't know if it's still there).

Finally a VK look I can pull off 

Is it there yet?
 
https://a.tumblr.com/tumblr_p21eyl14Xi1r6te05o1.mp3
 
It. Is. So. Fucking. Good.
Oh my gooooooood *~*
 
btw, source is http://yourfantasyparade.tumblr.com/

This month was pretty weak in my opinion

This person did a lyrics explanation for their entire discography. You guys should check it out, it's pretty cool 
https://www.google.com/amp/trauma-radio.tumblr.com/post/63632479315/the-gazette-lyric-explanation-masterpost/amp

We're a bit later than usual due to all of the seasonal business, but here's our latest installment of recommended tracks! We're not quite done with 2017 just yet!!!  
 
@The Reverend's Pick
"流れ☆" by Free Aqua Butterfly
"Nagareboshi" by Free Aqua Butterfly

I try to use writing mini-reviews for the Recommended Tracks thread as a chance to expand my musical horizons, explore things from around the varied Japanese music landscape, and share my discoveries; and then sometimes I throw those noble intentions out the window and just use this as a platform to talk about a band I really like that has released something cool lately. Free Aqua Butterfly's "流れ星" (Nagareboshi) is a pick from the latter category.
 
Free Aqua Butterfly have been a pet band of mine since I first heard them on the Deep More Deep #3 compilation back in 2015, and they do not at all fit the mold of J-bands I usually like.  I think being Visual Kei is at least partially defined by the other bands you play shows with, but Free Aqua Butterfly barely look like a VK band most of the time and have a very J-indie lineup that includes a girl on bass who shares vocal duties pretty equally. (I wonder if it's weird for her to be playing at VK event shows with 25 boys who all spend longer on their makeup than she does?)
 
Recommended if you're looking for some catchy, sweet pop-rock that is played and presented without any pretense, or if you're intrigued by the idea of VK band using a dual-female/male-vocal setup and playing upbeat tunes that don't veer too heavily into 'oshare' territory.
 
@doombox's Pick
"PULSE" by defspiral

It was nice to see defspiral back in rare form this month with “PULSE”; It’s been a while since they've been quite this leather clad and smokey eyed -- possibly not since they were in their previous incarnation as The Underneath. defspiral have been riddled with some identity issues over the years that kept them from gaining as large of a following as they deserve, but I’m glad to see they haven’t lost their spark along the way. The song’s vibe is dark, dangerous, and sexy. Basically, the perfect storm to get your heart racing!
 
@plastic_rainbow's Pick
"絲" by BABOO
"ito" by BABOO

Who would've thought that BABOO, one of the biggest WTF bands of 2017 with their supposedly 'kawaii' toddler-in-diapers act, would turn things around and reemerge as a band with a lot of promise? Dropping the cute and bright oshare-kei look, they've gone darker yet still embody a kind of tainted playfulness to their look and sound. Upon listening to their new single 黒白-kokuhaku-, I was blown away by the very first track, "絲" (Ito). It starts abruptly but introduces an ardent guitar that soothes an empty heart, and Bero's impressive vocals float about in the background and come back to the foreground like a guiding light as he sings with heightened emotions. If you thought the year of 2017 was feeling short on notable VK ballads, you can add "絲" to that miniscule list. With such an unexpected change in sound within one year of their formation, it's not certain whether BABOO will stick with their current direction or not, but whatever they give us next I hope it'll be just as good!
 
@CAT5's Picks
"凍狂" by 八十八ヶ所巡礼
"koukyou" by 88kasyo Junrei

It's been three years since 88kasyo have released a proper album, and to the average J-rock fan that seems like an eternity. To make matters worse, the guys have teased our starving ears with a few new music videos since the end of 2016, and now going into 2018, they've yet to announce any new releases! "koukyou" is their latest appetizer and it's a delectable mix of catchy hooks and melodies offset by the band's quintessentially progressive quirk. Their sound is continually being refined, and here they've hit the perfect stride between accessibility and untrammeled instrumental wankery. In short, it's a jam! Let's just hope they actually release something new this year!
 
"同じ夜" by DAOKO
"Onaji Yoru" by DAOKO

"Wait....THIS is DAOKO????" is exactly what I thought when I first heard this track. It's dark, cinematic, atmospheric and dare I say 'mature'-sounding? Basically, the song is a stark contrast from the 'kawaii' hop-hop of her early career and miles away from the nondescript Jpop fodder that she's releasing now. It's produced by indie up-and-comers D.A.N., which explains why it's so different for DAOKO, as it essentially sounds like one of their songs with her on vocals (which is actually an improvement over D.A.N.'s tonedeaf vocalist, but I digress). It's great to hear DAOKO excel in a style so foreign from her usual, and although this song is a one-off, it shows that she has the ability to morph and adapt to the artistic inclinations of her producers. I just hope she does more cool collaborations in the future, because I could take an entire album of this!
 
"鏡面の波" by YURiKA
"Kyoumen no Nami" by YURiKA

I'm a HUGE haisuinonasa fanboy, so as soon as this song started and I heard the robotic vocal lines, the strategically place guitar-flourishes, and the single piano hits that sound like raindrops gracefully hitting the ground one by one, I KNEW this was produced by Yoshimasa Terui! His style is unmistakable, and YURiKA sounds right at home with it. I love how Terui brilliantly tailors his mathy and experimental tendencies to the kind of wondrous and imaginative pop soundscape that you'd expect from an anime OP - all without sacrificing ingenuity for accessibility. I haven't heard every OP of 2017, but I love Terui's work so much that i'd proudly deem this the best anime theme of the year anyways!  
 
-
Liked our list? Have some new recommended tracks of your own? Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts!  

I was convinced that Akinori was done and Lynch. would just revert back to having only session bassists. When i seen this thread title I had to do a double take because of how harsh Japan is when it comes to drugs in general and past incidents (IE the former drummer of L'arc en ciel). For the first time ever (?) on here I can actually see both sides of feels expressed here.  This was a fairly big deal and a huge blow to long time fans, only to have dude come back a year later. Also on the flip side, facts is facts. No matter how you feel about Lynch's musical direction, AK is that missing piece that they needed for so long. He's a pretty kick ass bassist and on top of that, his personality and stage presence just blends well with the rest of the members. I also remember reading on here (i think @cvlticmentioned it) that having him around was great for fans as well. This whole situation is a nice lil testament to show that these guys are more than just band members and are willing to stick their necks out as a unit for one of their own. 
Turn your location on, bro. You sound like you need a long over due hug, lemme give it to you. This literally says "It sucks that they're no longer mad at this dude and the situation is resolved."

i vouch for dogma and all of their other dark age looks

My favorite is the one that's my profile picture. I like their older looks that were more over-the-top better than their current ones.
 

 
I also really liked Ruki's look in the PV of 飼育れた春、変われぬ春.
 

 
Their DOGMA look was pretty good though, I have to admit.
 

I got at least three favourite look.
 
One is from awhile ago, I am not sure from which era that was. Probably some magazine photoshoot. But Ruki was having this visual as if half of his face are having scars from burns. It was quite nasty but kinda cool.
 
then, the one with ruki wearing this red top hat. Iconic
 
Another one is the Dogma look actually.

This person did a lyrics explanation for their entire discography. You guys should check it out, it's pretty cool 
https://www.google.com/amp/trauma-radio.tumblr.com/post/63632479315/the-gazette-lyric-explanation-masterpost/amp

They have changed their look quite a lot? Whats your favourite?
My favourite one is from the live Decomposition beauty

These songs were performed unplugged (but not released officially):
 
ザクロ (performed during TOUR07 THE MARROW OF A BONE PREMIUMLIVE)
悲劇は目蓋を下ろした優しき鬱 (performed during TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN)
蟲-mushi- (performed during TOUR07 THE MARROW OF A BONE on 2007.12.25 at 新木場STUDIO COAST)
輪郭 (last part heard on disc II of 「a knot」LIMITED -2012.10.10 SHIBUYA-AX- during the "for 'a knot'" section)
304号室、白死の桜 (performed during TOUR07 THE MARROW OF A BONE on 2007.12.25 at 新木場STUDIO COAST) [I think I actually have a rip of this one at home, but I don't think it has leaked anywhere]
 
and probably more :]
 
An unplugged version of 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇 doesn't exist, from what I can see. But there's a symphonic version, released on disc 3 of DSS@NB.
 
And this is the list of all(?) unplugged songs released as studio recordings:
 
艶かしき安息、躊躇いに微笑み
Conceived Sorrow
The Pledge
Undecided
Agitated Screams of Maggots
我、闇とて･･･
Inconvenient Ideal
Red Soil
流転の塔
Unraveling
The Final
Different Sense
獣慾

This person did a lyrics explanation for their entire discography. You guys should check it out, it's pretty cool 
https://www.google.com/amp/trauma-radio.tumblr.com/post/63632479315/the-gazette-lyric-explanation-masterpost/amp

Probably this one for Dozing Green. Not really unplugged for me tho :shrugs:
 
 

New year, same old Kiryu pushing out bazillion singles and few albums and a couple of nationwide tours.

oh alright, still a  pretty weird name tho. They must love maths for adding "+" and "="

Dude was charged for possession of marijuana, right? Who fuckin cares??
 
People acting like they are giving free pass on a murderer or something, lmao

i will say if anything ever fucks this bands up eventually it will absolutely be a division between hazuki and the guys who drink his kool-aid (reo and AK) and yusuke. reo might be the leader but love hzk as i do, he's a high functioning megalomaniac and reo toes his line.

also i can see why individuals would be pissed/think this is kind of a shitshow because it undermines the statement their label put out to a hilarious degree...
but on a macro level it makes sense, imo. emmny said it best about the (highly successful) PR it gave them even thru a mediocre release in SINNERS, and AK is beloved in the industry including by other bandmen because he is an extremely affable dipshit, an effect amplified by him being the protege of reo/hzk/a well-connected band with a good reputation. being the only one with charisma other than hzk, AK was responsible for a lot of their charm/public face and he's very good at what he does on that level as well. yusuke and AK were inseparable prior to this anyway so it doesn't surprise me at all he caved with or without pressure from hzk & co.

That is a horrible name for a label jfc

Forum is the name of the label (or sub-label?). Not this forum.