jaymee

Usually you see 無期限 or some variation for "indefinite hiatus" announcements. IMHO it sounds like a temporary hiatus, but who knows what could happen in between that time, lol.
 
I've translated the announcement, since posters above complained that none of MEJIBRAY's fans have done it.
 
"MEJIBRAY would like to give their sincerest thanks for your continued support. We have a very important message for everyone. MEJIBRAY has decided to pause their activities following 2017. To all our fans that have supported us, and to all related staff, we understand that this announcement is a sudden one, and we deeply apologize for any worry and inconvenience this decision may cause, though we hope you can understand. Nothing has been decided about next year's schedule or if we will resume activities again next year. Though only a short period of time is left, we would like to put everything we have into our remaining activities. We humbly ask for your support. May 10, 2017"
 
 
 
 
 

Even live DVDs don't fully capture a live performance, especially since those end up being edited and polished just like anything else. 
 
I fully understand the idea of some bands being better live than on record, but it's silly to imply that you can't judge a band until you see them live when they don't perform internationally. 

I feel like Mako from deadman is pretty underrated. Also, I know he gets (or used to get a lot of shit), but my heart has a soft spot for Sakito from Dué le quartz.
 
Back in the day I felt like Asagi from D was super overrated. I can't stand his voice. 

Usually you see 無期限 or some variation for "indefinite hiatus" announcements. IMHO it sounds like a temporary hiatus, but who knows what could happen in between that time, lol.
 
I've translated the announcement, since posters above complained that none of MEJIBRAY's fans have done it.
 
"MEJIBRAY would like to give their sincerest thanks for your continued support. We have a very important message for everyone. MEJIBRAY has decided to pause their activities following 2017. To all our fans that have supported us, and to all related staff, we understand that this announcement is a sudden one, and we deeply apologize for any worry and inconvenience this decision may cause, though we hope you can understand. Nothing has been decided about next year's schedule or if we will resume activities again next year. Though only a short period of time is left, we would like to put everything we have into our remaining activities. We humbly ask for your support. May 10, 2017"
 
 
 
 
 

Satellite Young is a Japanese band I recently discovered through a friend, but I feel like since they're synthwave they'd get way more love here. (And since they played SXSW back in March they seem to be gaining a lot more international attention lately.)
 
Their sound captures that period of synthy 80s anime openings/endings so well it's almost hard to believe they're a modern group.
 
Someone upped their entire album, of which I'm pressed to find any track I don't like. My favorite is probably "Ai no Threnody" tho. (20:35)
 
 

Usually you see 無期限 or some variation for "indefinite hiatus" announcements. IMHO it sounds like a temporary hiatus, but who knows what could happen in between that time, lol.
 
I've translated the announcement, since posters above complained that none of MEJIBRAY's fans have done it.
 
"MEJIBRAY would like to give their sincerest thanks for your continued support. We have a very important message for everyone. MEJIBRAY has decided to pause their activities following 2017. To all our fans that have supported us, and to all related staff, we understand that this announcement is a sudden one, and we deeply apologize for any worry and inconvenience this decision may cause, though we hope you can understand. Nothing has been decided about next year's schedule or if we will resume activities again next year. Though only a short period of time is left, we would like to put everything we have into our remaining activities. We humbly ask for your support. May 10, 2017"
 
 
 
 
 

OVERRATED: 
- Asagi (D) Back in the day he used to be quite overrated, at least. Nowadays it feels like basically no1curr about D at all anymore.
- Tsuzuku (Mejibray) 
- Karma (ex Avelcain)                                
- Yuuki (ex Lycaon, Initial'L) 
- Kamijo    
- Jin (ex Nega, The Black Swan) 
- Dada (Velvet Eden) Like.... ????? i never got what people saw here tbh, he's always sounded like shit to me 
- Satsuki (ex Rentrer en soi) Another case where I never got the hype 
- Keisuke (Deviloof) DUDE HARSH VOCALS LMAO
 
UNDERRATED:
- Shuuji 1 (ex cali gari) but only during his cali gari days, I haven't been v. impressed with his work after that 
- Loki (ex Sugar, More)
- Mako (ex deadman)
- Danchou (NoGod)
- Demon Kogure (Seikima-II) 
- Gara (Merry)
- Morrie (Dead End, Creature Creature) Dude doesn't get enough credit for his newfound meme vocals
- Ao Sakurai (LAB. THE BASEMENT, cali gari) May not be technically amazing or anything, but I've always thought his voice is interesting
- Jun Togawa
- Susumu Hirasawa (P-Model etc) Generally underrated among the weeb crowd 
- Ya-su (ex GRASS, Ya-foo) comfy as fuck

Preach!

Ugh Japan finally got ahold of "Closer" and places have been playing it non-stop. I can't stand anything by the Chainsmokers TBH. I almost prefer the Bieber kick Japan was on before that. D:
 
As for unpopular opinions, I prefer old Lareine and think everything Kamijo has done after has been a mistake. Sorry not sorry Versailles fans. D:
 
 

Satellite Young is a Japanese band I recently discovered through a friend, but I feel like since they're synthwave they'd get way more love here. (And since they played SXSW back in March they seem to be gaining a lot more international attention lately.)
 
Their sound captures that period of synthy 80s anime openings/endings so well it's almost hard to believe they're a modern group.
 
Someone upped their entire album, of which I'm pressed to find any track I don't like. My favorite is probably "Ai no Threnody" tho. (20:35)
 
 

Perturbator was insaaaaane! He brought the house down (or the ship if we wanna get technical xD), total retro-future club bangin' for an hour. He looked like he was doing lots of stuff too, tho from my viewpoint I couldn't really see the specific equipment. Anyway, he was really concentrating and always turning knobs and pushing buttons while looking #seriousasfuck and #evilasfuck. Background projection was pretty sweet too. Also shout out to our very own Lazerpunk, his warm-up show was cool too! (he has more of a retro video game / B-movie aesthetic)
 

 
Next up: September 12, Carpenter Brut live!!

How to spot a VK noob (possibly outdated version):
 
- Says they have like 10 VK albums, but every one of them is a Chinese/Taiwanese bootleg.
- They claim to be "a fan" of a new VK indie band, but they live overseas and the band doesn't have any physical releases out yet.
- Buys polaroids and posters of bands they don't even listen to.
- Constantly points how this/that/everything could be VK or lolita style whenever they go shopping.
- Talks about how Asian/Japanese guys are hotter than Western guys or assumes the majority of Japanese people are as "hot" as VK guys.
- Their favorite VK songs (and possibly the only ones they know) are all anime themes.
- Confuses fanfiction with reality.

I have seen X Japan three times now and every time X Japan is super late to start, there are more theatrics than music, and most X fans (Japanese or foreign) are annoying as fvck. A lot of them are cosplaying obangya (and when I say obangya, most of them are 40-60 y.o. women/grannies) and their tall hair blocks out pretty much any chance you might of had of seeing the stage. It's not as bad at arenas where the seats are tiered, but at the Visual Japan Summit last year everyone was just in a standing zone and I had to watch most of their performance through a screen.
 
Also, their fans don't seem to understand the "switch out" system for taiban lives. X Japan were playing last, but some of their hime-sama fans had already decided to take up the front row at 10:00 a.m. when PLC came on.
 
At a previous show I saw, Yoshiki decided to have some random/awful h.naoto fashion show in the middle of the concert, and even liking h.naoto at the time, it was still like wtf I didn't pay 12,000-15,000 yen for an hour-long intermission when X Japan only had like 8 songs to play in total. Then at every live they play, you have to listen to X Japan and their fans yelling "WE ARE X!" for like 30+ minutes.
 
The only other person that I've seen put more emphasis on bad theatrics than performing is Gackt, but at least he played more than 8 songs and had better tour goods.
 
TL;DR, they have good songs and I appreciate them paving the way for visual kei, but there is certainly a cult-like hype around them that isn't entirely deserved. 

I have seen X Japan three times now and every time X Japan is super late to start, there are more theatrics than music, and most X fans (Japanese or foreign) are annoying as fvck. A lot of them are cosplaying obangya (and when I say obangya, most of them are 40-60 y.o. women/grannies) and their tall hair blocks out pretty much any chance you might of had of seeing the stage. It's not as bad at arenas where the seats are tiered, but at the Visual Japan Summit last year everyone was just in a standing zone and I had to watch most of their performance through a screen.
 
Also, their fans don't seem to understand the "switch out" system for taiban lives. X Japan were playing last, but some of their hime-sama fans had already decided to take up the front row at 10:00 a.m. when PLC came on.
 
At a previous show I saw, Yoshiki decided to have some random/awful h.naoto fashion show in the middle of the concert, and even liking h.naoto at the time, it was still like wtf I didn't pay 12,000-15,000 yen for an hour-long intermission when X Japan only had like 8 songs to play in total. Then at every live they play, you have to listen to X Japan and their fans yelling "WE ARE X!" for like 30+ minutes.
 
The only other person that I've seen put more emphasis on bad theatrics than performing is Gackt, but at least he played more than 8 songs and had better tour goods.
 
TL;DR, they have good songs and I appreciate them paving the way for visual kei, but there is certainly a cult-like hype around them that isn't entirely deserved. 

How to spot a VK noob (possibly outdated version):
 
- Says they have like 10 VK albums, but every one of them is a Chinese/Taiwanese bootleg.
- They claim to be "a fan" of a new VK indie band, but they live overseas and the band doesn't have any physical releases out yet.
- Buys polaroids and posters of bands they don't even listen to.
- Constantly points how this/that/everything could be VK or lolita style whenever they go shopping.
- Talks about how Asian/Japanese guys are hotter than Western guys or assumes the majority of Japanese people are as "hot" as VK guys.
- Their favorite VK songs (and possibly the only ones they know) are all anime themes.
- Confuses fanfiction with reality.

How to spot a VK noob (possibly outdated version):
 
- Says they have like 10 VK albums, but every one of them is a Chinese/Taiwanese bootleg.
- They claim to be "a fan" of a new VK indie band, but they live overseas and the band doesn't have any physical releases out yet.
- Buys polaroids and posters of bands they don't even listen to.
- Constantly points how this/that/everything could be VK or lolita style whenever they go shopping.
- Talks about how Asian/Japanese guys are hotter than Western guys or assumes the majority of Japanese people are as "hot" as VK guys.
- Their favorite VK songs (and possibly the only ones they know) are all anime themes.
- Confuses fanfiction with reality.

How to spot a VK noob (possibly outdated version):
 
- Says they have like 10 VK albums, but every one of them is a Chinese/Taiwanese bootleg.
- They claim to be "a fan" of a new VK indie band, but they live overseas and the band doesn't have any physical releases out yet.
- Buys polaroids and posters of bands they don't even listen to.
- Constantly points how this/that/everything could be VK or lolita style whenever they go shopping.
- Talks about how Asian/Japanese guys are hotter than Western guys or assumes the majority of Japanese people are as "hot" as VK guys.
- Their favorite VK songs (and possibly the only ones they know) are all anime themes.
- Confuses fanfiction with reality.

I have seen X Japan three times now and every time X Japan is super late to start, there are more theatrics than music, and most X fans (Japanese or foreign) are annoying as fvck. A lot of them are cosplaying obangya (and when I say obangya, most of them are 40-60 y.o. women/grannies) and their tall hair blocks out pretty much any chance you might of had of seeing the stage. It's not as bad at arenas where the seats are tiered, but at the Visual Japan Summit last year everyone was just in a standing zone and I had to watch most of their performance through a screen.
 
Also, their fans don't seem to understand the "switch out" system for taiban lives. X Japan were playing last, but some of their hime-sama fans had already decided to take up the front row at 10:00 a.m. when PLC came on.
 
At a previous show I saw, Yoshiki decided to have some random/awful h.naoto fashion show in the middle of the concert, and even liking h.naoto at the time, it was still like wtf I didn't pay 12,000-15,000 yen for an hour-long intermission when X Japan only had like 8 songs to play in total. Then at every live they play, you have to listen to X Japan and their fans yelling "WE ARE X!" for like 30+ minutes.
 
The only other person that I've seen put more emphasis on bad theatrics than performing is Gackt, but at least he played more than 8 songs and had better tour goods.
 
TL;DR, they have good songs and I appreciate them paving the way for visual kei, but there is certainly a cult-like hype around them that isn't entirely deserved. 

No one mentioned these people, who think vkei is big in Japan and they call the musicians celebrities xD

These two radical degrees of n00blets: either they roast everything their "daddies" do in the nastiest possible way from music to wardrobe, or they're the hypersensitive "so-and-so is so vulnerable and perfect in every possible way no man can compare and they're definitely a virgin I WANNA HEAL THEM NO ONE GETS THEM LIKE I DO" trope.

"Why did Gackt leave Malice Mizer/when is Malice Mizer coming back?"

[obvious ripoff band of a more established band] is NOT a ripoff of [said more established band] (+ the occasional attached essay about how totally different they are even though they're actually not) gets me every time

I remember I once came across this guy who thought Etsy To Utsu by Kiryu was about "Two girls forbidden loving in a country rooted in its traditions"
And I explained that the lyrics have nothing to do with LGBT and he was like "that's because all you see is lyrics, but Mahiro has a deeper meaning in the lyrics you don't see"
Like, Mahiro doesn't write the lyrics xD. And also, traditionally, there was no stigma in Japan against gays until the Meiji era. I think Kiryu would know this best xD. He also went on about the music video and all, and honestly was pulling stuff out of thin air. But it was obvious the guy didn't know much about out Kiryu, or Japanese History xD

Any insinuation that MALICE MIZER were in some way a metal band.

"OMG they look like real life anime characters!! SMEXY BISHIES!!" 
 
Suddenly becoming edgy/offensive because they listened to a few Dir en Grey songs and now they're ready to one day fuck your parents I guess. 
 
Straight girls being like LOL I'M SO GAY because they're attracted to a man wearing makeup.