Pretsy

"Tone deaf" or not (debatable whether @Xetem meant the certain form of amusia or another lazy criticist cliche), what Kyo has lacked for these years is the amount of stamina needed for these studio efforts which otherwise required many tries to get desired results right. However, as we know (possibly), Kyo's position can be defended as follows: 1) Kyo doesn't do "midriff/diaphragm growls" only - he is still incorporating "incorrect, damaging" grunting he has been doing on MOAB in his latest cookie monster moments. Name at least a couple of artists (no, not retarded picks akin to Dani Filth or Mike Patton with similar issues) who managed to save at least 50 % of their stamina for somewhat okay high-key singing (how I'd describe Kyo during specific parts) while meddling with these damaging grunts etc. 2) Kyo's trademark squeals (once again, the "damaging" mix of vibrato'd whistle register, deranged screaming and shouting) require precice focusing and "allocation" of your stamina unlike traditional screams (if you do them "correctly")...and do you expect him to be always aware of when to focus on getting his fry screaming or tenor belting right? 3) If you ever noticed from Dir's usual setlists, he gets no proper, long "breathing pauses" for his next set of deranged growling/screaming - singing ballads are merely brief and still require a lot of straining from Kyo's vocalcraft (even the simplest effort arrangement-wise "Un Deux" is not that easy to emulate), and for the most part they are beefed inbetween crazy studio-focused numbers. Can you really blame him or the band in overall for such choice then? So all in all, I am not sure what Xetem is trying to get at with cliched manifest a la "Kyo sucks, he is the weakest link" we have been hearing for a decade or perhaps even more if we consider long-time weebs like myself *clears throat*. Yes, he might be doing his techniques "incorrectly" in a variety of ways, technically speaking. However, would "musically correct approach" improve or actually damage Dir's art and practice of "gender-bending, varied vocal magic" as it has been known among various, open-minded music journo circles? Blaming Kyo for not being able to adapt "99%" (as WB said) to the BAND choices of multi-tracking, dubbing and "one chance, one take"-efforts (e.g. Kyo's freakout during Red Soil etc.) makes any astute, but still respecting listener question your otherwise very conflicting role here. I am not trying to raise my "BTFO" card here but I wonder - what are you getting at exactly? Do you acknowledge the fact that most of your proofs are merely preaching to the choir? Do you know that we have learned not to mind these minor mistakes in his atypical vocal palette? Are you legitimately trying to adopt classical/conservatory-tier music principles on assessing the ALTERNATIVE/EXPERIMENTAL BAND (which was supposed to be a standard vk fare at first)? Would really love to derail this discussion and go for "where they'd go next"-kind of topic for the nth time, but as always - last.fm snobism is always present here...

This is rather off when it's about this band but are we even listening to same vocalists? Hyde could barely even contain his shaky, out-of-breath almost drunk karaoke-sounding mistakes nowadays in regards to L'Arcasino or some awkward moments off that 2014 Kokuritsu live. Also - are you saying that even his acclaimed, non-vk KISS-era singing sucked ass? Sheesh. As for Ryuichi - he has a lot to be proud of as the legendary vk vocalist but he is not a "great singer" by professional means (assuming your earlier statements, you may have touched this context). Hobo yelling era of '90-'91 and failed, vocal coached vocalcraft which barely resonates with rockier material back in '98-99 are just a few instances which leave a lot to be desired in his past. And to counter on-topic statement, for once: Ruki lost a lot off his range after DIM actually. Even just a glance at DECADE live is enough to hear that he's more suited in being a screamer/growler or raspy shouter (a la Corey Taylor) instead of being your beloved VK crooner. --------------------------------------- But then again, I am not really feeling like measuring and jerking our vocal study-logical wangs to musically most non-professional movement (considering that VK is more of DIY in terms of musical growth than other rock movements)...so yeah. Speaking of which: they just need to pull out some sort of fast-tempo growler/screamer album one day (DOGMA is too retardant and generic croons are anything but pleasant). Guess this will grant another dimension for further cooperation between Kai, Uruha and Aoi (Reita shalt remain in the background since he doesn't have much to offer in the midst of drop As) and will test Ruki's improvements in wider scope.

Most of you Nakata enthusiasts have been familiar with their respective cameos (Japanese x American collab which doesn't really happen that often in the pop territory), so let the quote off SBS do its thing: Snippet off "Sushi Police" and to clarify the first statement: ...well, maybe video is gonna be cool instead?

Yet it will be merely a b-side for her new single instead (other A-sides would involve Teddyloid = more ME!ME!ME!-ish EDM/pop-rap stuff) also, that video is anything but PC at this point (not that no one cares but...Kodama, what the heck are you doing)

I am not trying to antagonize you if you assumed that. Sorry ofc if I did misunderstand but as for myself and others who seemed not to get the actual gist behind your words, it just seems rather odd to see when someone criticizes certain "potentially kid-friendly" franchise for attracting groups of the"wrong age" - while still posting and participating frequently in the forum dedicated to the movement of much more grandiose "stigmatizations". Look, visual kei is still unfortunately regarded in various mediums as some sort of "it's just a phase bro"-kind of fad that would seem to "attract kids looking for their ever-missing identities". Should we, the publicly stigmatized community, seriously give a single damn at this point about widespread, conservative assumptions and judgments? No, but tolerating it INSIDE of our community would be just turning a blind eye on double standards. Therefore, assumptions like "uhh this is too childish" and "all of you need to grow up" are ought to give a very selfish, show-offy vibe in this context. Not sure if this was your actual intent but consider this nonetheless.

Thankies and sorries @CAT5 for being too fast with my posting xD Now to the other point: I have yet to see you being genuinely happy or positive about anything related to this community or life or so, dear - no desire to look for silver linings? Sure, you don't need to like everything here but c'mon - that's just too much (not sure how this will be processed "upstairs"). As for Pokemon GO, I also don't really dig the idea that it has been taking a huge heap of time from my circles (who may usually e.g. end up going back and forth with some goddamn strangers for the sake of egg hatching), but I can cope with that (not to mention that I had tons of pokephilia in not-so-distant past too as we speak).

Is the vocalist (Kouki?) still under Tokuma label then? Or was his enka revival career always indie? The sample sounds very interesting nonetheless...

First and most of all, I still fail to see that how I gave @Zeusand @CAT5an impression of handling American matters "much better" than actual inhabitants with experience and whatnot (i.e. "knowitall" and "expert"-attitude). As those hints in my comments already say - there is a big difference when I DICTATE and when I SUGGEST (please do feel free to point out where are such hints). At this point we, non-American MH participants, attempt to facilitate the atmosphere of cooperation here - to outline the discussion for catering various aspects in order to get the bigger picture together - what is truly going on? Of course, as it was mentioned above, there are no immediate solutions available at the moment. Yes, we definitely lack on-site experience in terms of current events. However, generally saying things like "you have it much easier there due to your race" or similar stuff is 1) Dismissing possible BG information about said person's nationality and ethnicity (since racism touches these subjects as well, FYI). Sure, I didn't expect Zess to read my bio like an open book since we are not that familiar with each other but this move is nonetheless guaranteed to rub your partner in conversation the wrong way. I ain't the victim of institutionalized racism, no - but even so, as the person of ethnicity different (and looked down upon) from my country fellows, I can say that I at least "get the gist" of it. Therefore, let's just stop personal addressing and "HA! You said this back in the day"-kind of accusation and assess the merit of our arguments instead. And if we lump this "you live abroad so you just stay away from our business"-rhetoric here as well, it's also 2) Shutting your partners out. Don't exclude - but explain, guide, debate...make the progress if you want us to understand! It doesn't help at all if you find our positioning potentially hurtful and consequently shut us out from your matters. As a global, worried community we are equally worried and willing to help you discover the "right path" . Isolating us from specific topics is just...not exemplary nor helpful for our esprit de corps: we have this shared spirit of J-enthusiasm and it would really suck if it all went away due to such "cloaking". None of us wants you to close your ears and eyes to the potential plethora of choices and literally follow the idiom of "fighting fire with fire", which is really, really, REALLY NOT recommended if you strive for radical changes in racism or any form of complex, prejudice-driven interaction from its institutionalized to its "milder" form (since it cannot vanish, unfortunately). As such, it's advised in the meanwhile to address other frightening realities of today's plethora of events TOGETHER - even if your partners in conversation seem to be really "out of touch" or "biased" about them - be it militarization of police forces; questionable, almost illogical status of amendments; the lack of direct "channels" between the gov and citizens; "bandwagoning"/"witch-hunting" and so on. This may not be of course the wordbook definition of "solution" , but it would at least help to settle some things and avoid the large-scale, social catastrophe. The worst fate for any country is basically the "implosion" - the moment when citizens from different blocks start antagonizing each other and bear very radical intentions to "break the system" (coup, armed takeover, riot, etc.) in hopes of providing better future. For now, this is what you COULD attempt to ponder upon if possible. This is just me and my take (please agree to disagree), but I think there's much more than just and "solely" racial motives. Sometimes, the most complex bodies, entireties can be realized and fixed by assessing the "easiest" parts first. Let this be my final, "non-PC" note on this discussion - and to recap: I had no intents to racially nor prejudice-wise hurt anyone around here. I came here for the sake of cooperative, constructive and eye-opening discussions.

Alice Nine members (at least Shou and Saga - composers of this track btw) are avid Muse fanboys - this also explains the similar concept of "song trilogy" behind GEMINI and the one Muse had in their 2008-2009-ish album. (for reference: Alice Nine often mention U2, Muse, Number Girl, Luna Sea and some sophisticated brit acts akin to Underworld and so)

I could get around what Cat actually said. However, isn't what you said basically the epitome of argumentative fallacy? Why all of the sudden relationship of my personal background vs. your homeland becomes significant when I do not even attempt to spotlight American issues completely? At least you could ponder the impact of things I brought up there: could you even fathom the widespread dominance of race being the core subject in pretty much any field of discussion around the globe? Do you honestly think that we Europeans are "free of worries" and "in peace" while minding the spiral of latest European events, political tensions (which in fact give their own part for increased racism and xenophobia in my soil, I TELL YOU), the overall effect of American matters on anything Europe and prejudices towards everyone rooted in the "ethos" of my homeland? "Insitutionalized racism" exists in all kinds of forms, and US is not the sole embodiment of the said phenomenon. Appeals to the stone and ad hominems here are truly blessed in this comment though - why such disenfranchising, rude remarks? Oh, and Just to clarify that there's much more than just me being the "white male". So you'd at least be kind and take your comment back like this: Apologies for such finale, but thank you for confirming my views on the staff and wavering concept of "neutrality" and "cooperation" though. also: Thank you @colorfuljinsei.

Speaking of which, after lurking jrocknyc (hi, veterans) again, I remember that Arche DVD - or the hell, most Dir DVD menus have rather neato BGMs (had to quote this picolink from there) http://picosong.com/xrt9/ (off Arche DVD - @Saishudo you think that this is off the ALBUM or that budokan DVD?) That sounds rather Uroboros-y for some reason - with oriental stuff and whatnot (speaking of composers, I sense heavy Kaoru-isms there). Why wouldn't this replace otherwise very bland "And Zero" instead?

What a way to dismiss one's point - do you really think the topic of racism is limited EXCLUSIVELY to the American soil? (I think we have discussed this much earlier in a bit different context and you provided that same "argument" again, wow) Not to mention that I didn't base my POV solely on current events over there - I used it as a slight reference. There's a difference, right? Racism and xenophobia exist elsewhere as well in equal proportions if you looked a bit closer.

I like how peeps are literally attempting to evade "PC culture mines" very carefully while trying to get their point across w/o accusations of race-related racism (read further), whereas EVERYONE gives specific cultural racist statements a pass every.single.time. instead. This community is no exception tbqh. In the wake of latest events and clashing responses, I'd love to bring up a huge reminder: fighting hate with hate will trigger more hatred and havoc-tier division between different peeps. Accusing WHOLE races, ethnicities AND nationalities for inferiority and/or "supremacy" (racism in overall caters discriminatory behaviors and beliefs based on cultural, national, ethnic, caste, or religious stereotypes - so it's not merely limited to the standard tumblr definition) is equally idiotic and bigoted. What we should be discussing here should be merely the nature of circumstances (gun laws, possible criminal backgrounds, federal discipline, corruption etc.) and not the vendetta against all representatives of the "oppressor's" race or occupation. Of course, I may face misunderstanding or slandering after these comments but here's the thing: whenever we bring up the case of races - be it its addressing in the name of "inferior opinions" or "instant bigotry" - we will lose the human, personal touch in discussions of various fields. I, most of all, want to discuss with people - with personalities, mutual interests, hobbies and activity-based backgrounds. I don't give a single damn about your race, nationality, caste, ethnicity or culture unless you intentionally and unreasonably attempt to slam these aspects of mine as the means of providing so-called "counter-arguments" (i.e. "because you represent the ethnicity x, you are subhuman troll and your opinions are invalid" - pretty much almost any baltic MH user I have met, as the case in point) or as the tool of opposing my social presence. Sure, I have been equally guilty for this kind of bullshit but just read everything what I said above - hate will give birth to more hate, and it will go on and on until there will be no one left here. So let's not be hypocrites in this case and understand this loop of miseries and division - let us see each other as the avid (Japanese) music enthusiasts and hobbyists from different blocks and slices of life instead. Discussing races, ethnicities, nationalities or "what would be PC" all the time will just put us against each other and crash the concept of "unity", "community"... If you didn't find this comment "PC" enough...well I am not sorry. Those who know me better will get my point across very easily.

Kyo was the lead composer of DREAMBOX as well (I wish I could find a full link for full-on DSS analysis stream by the band but we could only hope due to those pesky niconico copyright hijinks). He started out with his vocal part/melodies then let the whole band construct the suitable arrangement on his own invention (not otherwise like with most songs). This kind of practice has been showcased on Vulgar's TV special with "Sajou no Uta" too except that Kyo had to 50/50 with Die due to his not-so-fully developed, individual songwriting skills back then. Nowadays he's at least fully aware of functions and principles of music theory, not to mention much wider plethora of various influences (artsy movies, dark vidya games, etc. etc.). The same goes for his earlier "creations" like Karma or Domestic (as mentioned), which were for the most part supervised and supported by Kaoru's expertise back then. To sum it up, DREAMBOX may be so far the first "credited" (orally) Kyo song which involved his INDEPENDENT work before band's involvement.

Yes, Takumi has been the significant figure in their programming antics ever since RES' disbandment (as an assistant) and post-DSS days (DSS left him uncredited for some reason even though he *was* there). This includes pianos, midi synths, programmed zithers (Tousei), partial guitar manipulation/mixing (considering that he used to work as a guitar tech for DEG at first) etc. etc. So you might as well go out on a limb and assume that Takumi may be the "sixth member" by that sense. Fun fact: he is also responsible for post-Uroboros band scores (even though he goes under his real name which...isn't different from his pseudonym, lol). As for Arche, sure - there is a handful of songs (Tousei, Cause of Fickleness, STU, Un Deux, The Inferno, Midwife) that may have been conveyed in the same fashion live-wise as well. However, we are talking merely about "handful" in this case: not much has been learned from very studio-centered ambitions on DSS and THE UNRAVELING. As such, my point still stands along with how I see their current inter-relationships (negativity is anything but tinfoil theory at this point) - even these "supposed" improvements in songwriting tactics didn't come out as we speak. What I personally hear now, is basically hindrance of mutual interests. Since @Undead burgerpointed out the case of "Kyo blame", allow me to point out another missed detail: during their ARCHE stream it was mentioned that Kyo's role was equal to other band members "during the final phases of the album". Shouldn't we feel bad for our angst-ridden chanteuse when he tries to meddle between two acts, and oopsie-daisie: he happens to contribute a lot more to his own project? Does that make ARCHE more of "Kaoru album" (see: the stream again) than "Kyo + Kaoru + co." album then? How can ARCHE be the "representative" of Dir en grey's sound then? Is DEG literally "all Kaoru"? We might never know...or do we?!

At first I was as biased about this release as any other Dir fan which anticipated for "much simpler, catchier and back-to-the-roots-ier" package, but as I put it already - this is where I felt that I contradicted my tastes. So yes, ARCHE unfortunately is not up my alley in the wake of my renewed perceptions on how I wanted to see DEG to progress in the first place (i.e. not being retrospective again). Being retrospective doesn't mean that you'd go 1:1 with your older material - but using it as the sole reference instead of leaving more room for new ambitions and directions? You don't evolve simply by redefining things from your past, right? What @Saishusaid MAY have been the marketing goal of this album (i.e. to salvage possible post-DSS damage). However, isn't this too tacky at this point? Should they really be very dependent on the "what sells well in our situation" (i.e. being pseudo-artsy with plastered one-off choruses) instead of "what we are able to do well" (i.e. utilizing their commercial rock status and move on with accomplishable, yet very interesting results)? My points are not genuinely objective btw - but I thought it would be very nice to discuss our personal perceptions of "so where are we now with DEG" instead of comparing our DEG-o-prog and avant-DEG cocks ("THEY NEED TO GO WACKO!!", "NO I WANT THEM TO GO THALL DJENT DJENT1!!") like they do on YT. God knows whether the out-of-nowhere decisions akin to MOAB being a very surprising move post-WtD will take their place next year as well (ANOTHER big year for DEG btw).

Here's the exact problem of that album: - "Arche wasn't meant to be the "next stage" of their genre progression". I just cited the common view most fans and anti-fans truly share when discussing this album in general. Why are we rejoicing about them taking more steps behind instead of adopting new musical "visage" for their repertoire? "Evolution of Dir en grey" - contradicting much? Didn't we already get "basic kind of DEG" in the past already though? Let it sink in for a while. - Song structures may be easy but that's where it falls down once you notice their disregard of commercial/catchy values in their art and practice: it's much easier to rule it out as one kind of blandfest. - Okay, it may have sparked your interest towards other DEG efforts again. But here's the riddle: Is it a genuine, standalone effort for you or just a "tool" for enjoying DEG once again? We have seen how these "reminders" have been washed away by other similar gargantuan repertoires of other household names and so on (Slayer, as a mainstream rock/metal case in point) I wonder if someone else managed to spot this illogical chain of events post-Uroboros through our usual "this song X is great and this song Y is forgivable = this album is great" -bias.

Cannot wait to see how certain nordic fanboys will defend this effort this time

Great choices you have there, guys! (especially mitsume) As for me, I have been jamming to latest Indigo la End album lately. They have surely matured a lot and it's really easy to get over possible Robin Thicke-isms (*COUGH* get the reference) of Enon by enjoying his otherwise simple yet very memorable hooks and highly technical interplay with his bandmates:

I thought I was looking at VERBAL for a second... His wardrobe is surely getting rather "trendy"...he looks younger that way I guess? o_O

Not that I would go out of my way to share this but I have been really troubled about "restarting" my (unfortunately) internet-dependent life without any signs of past complexes and headache-inducing questions about my life as it is, . Like the hell, I have been really more of tête-à-tête kind of person (i.e. willing to chat/discuss matters personally instead of letting others hop in whenever they could) rather than "okay, public, now go and see my wonderful/miserable life!!" (talk about irony of posting this here) - person. Do large social mediums a la facebook or similar portals suit my current social activities then? This left me to ponder whether my existence there is solely based on the bandwagon-like necessity, or actually utizilizing this huge social medium X (e.g. facebook, again) to connect with as many folks as I could for being informed about on-topic matters, latest events etc etc.. The former seems to be much more legit in my case: since none of us really bears no flaws in their nature - I am the kind of person who has rather really hard time in trusting. I am very phobic about possible backstabbing scenarios (to the point where my usual circles are, frankly enough, "easily predictable" - i.e. very simple). I could go on and on about my issues as we speak (then again, this thread seems to be DEDICATED for such matters too aside from memes, amirite?), but let's stick to the main focus here: Should I really just "go along" with this "bandwagon-like necessity" in order to keep my network stable, or risk in losing a lot of "I know, I might care but I don't know whether to trust" people (schoolmates, job colleagues, peeps of the past etc. etc.) by limiting my mediums to mere instant messaging clients instead? This is related to my trust issues to the extent where I usually end up doubting whether someone who befriended me after several IRL/other occasions actually "appreciates" my trust as it is, or uses it for the sake of friend collecting and other unfortunate means. Even the idea of actually abandoning huge mediums (see above) in my situation would lead to my family and friends alienating my current attitude/approaches and eventually causing me to fall down into this "pit" of isolation and eventual insanity (for the record: I am mentally stable person). I want to apologize for this huge blurb of long goddamn sentences, but this was something that troubled me and "blocked" my flows of thought lately, so I just wanted to spurt out everything I could. I would be really grateful if someone managed to get the gist of my words here >_>

I might as well lump Dynamite Tommy as the embodiment of anything WTF in VK as we speak: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/DynamiteTommy (includes the question/almost rhetoric blow on whether Dir was even associated with Extasy due to Yoshiki's hand in their major debut) Careful and curious observers may have noticed how much did his (possible) frauds/embezzlement cases have affected Dir's success and promotion antics (notice the slumps during certain periods)

Seems like Especia has gone a bit too far with their "A E S T H E T I C S"

I cannot see anything really bad in this either but it's not the epitome of "MUCC fresh" either...which leaves us to ponder whether there will be more new grounds for them to explore or not.

Was the video intro something similar to this one (check the beginning)?