Kabukichoatmidnight

31 minutes ago, pawzord said:

why does the entire forum fight the last alive fan of damlam, let sister live the delusion land

It freaks me out how much someone is so obsessive over defending a band that is basically already dead. I've given up basically as they clearly aren't taking notice of what anyone is actually saying and is turning every negative point into some convoluted sign that the band is still doing great and everything is perfect. It's legit pretty creepy.

+ I have an inkling that this member is someone who has posted in this forum using a different username and come under fire from other members several times in other threads for the same kind of thing. haha. + + That member was also obsessed with Retsu/DIMLIM so it's hardly far out that this is the same person. lol.

35 minutes ago, zerozeroninex said:

Where's your source of these numbers? If you can't give one, then it's also all speculation on your part. 

Jeeez, why are you so intent on defending DIMLIM so hard? XD As I said I used to (and still do) love all their stuff before MISC, but if people are even questioning if the band is dead and are completely losing interest in the band something is clearly wrong with what they're doing, or not doing..... haha.

+ Is kind of ironic that Issei was kicked from DIMLIM for what seemed to be similar reasons to behaviour Retsu has been showing. Wanting total control and being melodramatic blocking anyone who says anything negative about DIMLIM online and all that. That's pathetic.

33 minutes ago, zerozeroninex said:

From show reports here in MH, they were still playing Cheodora songs in their last live show last December and they haven't performed songs from MISC yet. 

 

I'm more a fan of Retsu's songwriting but I still like some of  Issei's songs, he can really write some catchy tunes,with the Invisible as my favorite in his era. 

 

Bad news btw, if you check Japan Music Revolution's Twitter, they said the Dimlim international store has been dropped, only reason they gave was plans had been changed on JMR.Unless the wish of their detractors lol are fulfilled that they disband, disbanded, maybe they signed a deal (agency or label)  that wants control of their merch.

Yeah, I had a double check and that seems correct, but even still, the reports were not very positive either way. Sadly. But from here as they have changed, or at least seem to want to change the identity of the band it makes me wonder if they ever do anything again if they'll stick purely with MISC stuff. You said Hiroshi's insta story was him playing "What's up" right? So I can't help but feel they'll be dropping all pre-MISC stuff in the future. If there is a future for them at all.... lol.

For sure! Retsu isn't a bad song writer! Far from it. His work on everything since Issei left upto MISC has been pretty damn awesome. I still listen to all their stuff pretty regularly. The problem is, Retsu doesn't seem to know what he wants to do and building a solid fanbase is going to be hard if you keep changing your style/band identity so often. Sure they'll gain new fans, keep some old fans but they will also lose fans like that. So basically they seem to be struggling to maintain a stable fanbase. So if Retsu can just stick with one thing, push forward with that and build from there, maybe it can work. But as Demivee said above "There is no concept, no content and no clear path of what this band is aiming for." it's hard to really see at this point what is going to happen with them. Again, if anything. Weird about the store, guess there are some changes happening, but whether they're for the best or worst remains to be seen.

21 hours ago, zerozeroninex said:

Ryuya was a replaceable rhythm guitarist (support guitarist or backtracked 2nd guitars) that has no song writing credit, losing Taishi was a bigger lost but he had health issues and retired.While I do think they need to recruit a bassist, a female one would be better as there are a lot of talented female session bassist in Japan.

I get what you mean about those guys not really contributing much to writing but my point was more that a complete lineup would make them feel more like a "band" again. Backing tracks are ok for temporary situations but the feedback on their most recent shows that the backing tracks haven't really been working for them and the performance just sounds weak and a bit dead overall. That's just what I've heard, last time I saw them Taishi and Ryuya were still in the band and it was a killer show for sure! It does make me wonder how they'll approach future shows, if they will play older stuff or stick with MISC only as it seems anything before CHEDDAR has been dropped as of their more recent shows.

+ I would love to see more female members in v kei bands as well! Some of the female metal/rock bands in Japan are actually pretty wicked! Also, makes sense to get some actual girls in the bands rather than dressing one guy up in the band as a girl all the time.... Haha, still don't get why that seems mandatory for most bands... haha.

20 hours ago, sleepy coffee said:

whatever opinion you might have of retsu and dimlim it was definitely not ryuya/taishi that made their prior releases amazing either lol 

I know they didn't contribute to writing all that much. I been with DIMLIM since the beginning so am aware who the key song writers are.... But hell, my favourite era of DIMLIM was the Issei stuff, but hey...

1 hour ago, zerozeroninex said:

So how is it a downward spiral when the band is getting positive attention outside Japan? MISC is a great album and they finally  shed their D.I.D and Diru clone tag and Sho stopped trying to be Kyo 2.0.

Really? You're telling me since losing both Ryuya and Taishi that DIMLIM have everything together and are firing on all cylinders with their band activities?

+ It's just my opinion but MISC has absolutely nothing on their previous releases so is hardly showing their strength to continue being as good as they once were. But as one of my former favourite VK bands (everything before MISC basically) I mean I would love to see them announce two new members, pull it all together and start producing killer stuff again. Just seems unlikely at this point. I mean it's good that they've been put forward for this show in the UK but based on how things have been going for them I'm not optimistic it would even happen. Despite living in the UK I'm in two minds if I would even go to this show, as they basically only play MISC stuff now right? And as I'm a fan of all their stuff before am not sure I'd want to go to a show to see them play stuff I don't really dig all that much. Only time will tell I guess.

5 hours ago, Total Saikou said:

Barely putting put new stuff... Quitting after a few months... Just like a modern VK band!

This should be monochrome's comment of the year 2020. 😛

8 hours ago, shinganmousou said:

I would also be happy with Retsu leaving and them continuing as a two-piece band just to keep it wacky and interesting.

Hahaha if only this happened that'd be amazing. Tbh it would probably do the band a favour if Retsu left, he seems to be getting all gassed up on "sadboi" music atm and seems to change what he likes all the time. Like I remember a live stream with him and Ryuya on instagram where he was blasting like Gojira in the background all the way through. Then later on insta questions said he "doesn't listen to that type of music anymore", then MISC happened and due to lack of activity it makes me wonder if he's losing interest in the rock/metal stuff completely. So who knows wtf is going to happen from here. Announcing a disbandment would probably make most sense, before DIMLIM turns into a sadboi rap trio. Though that could be lels....

2 hours ago, Devilish_Eye said:

Definitely! It's gonna be a mix of headbang until you're dead songs, more ballad-y songs, bass slaps, interesting guitar riffs, nice solid rock songs... so it's really gonna be a best album that shows the band from all kind of sides!

Cheers! Sounds like a nice bit of variety so will get a copy of the cd when it's out.

Always been kinda curious about these guys but never been to get fully into their singles so the question is, will this be good for someone looking to discover them??

On 11/2/2020 at 5:33 AM, Tanishi said:

Is this band dead?

This band died when they lost half the band for the second time. Haha. Has been a downward spiral ever since.

25 minutes ago, StriderSubzero said:

Immortalis maybe? I thought Vitium was really boring personally, but this band has never really clicked with me tbh

A lot of people seem to hate Immortalis but personally that's by far my favourite work by the band so far. So much variation and so many amazing, beautiful and all out weird tracks. So thatd be my recommendation as well. 

Wow, I love this thread! hehe! Seeing everyones collections is super interesting, being the music junky I am I do kinda wish I could dive into some of them! 😛

As for my personal collection, according to discogs I currently have 1437 items logged. Mostly CDs, but there are some DVDs and stuff in there as well. About 200 are VK/Japanese metal. My collection is pretty varied in terms of genre but extreme metal (black, death, grind etc...) makes about 50% of the collection. Other 50% is other genres, such as jpop, western pop, rap, jazz, industrial etc...

I can kind of understand why people lose interest in VK pretty fast. Personally I've been interested in it for a handful of years now but don't have the same love for it I once did. It's a very visually arty scene (duh!) which is attractive and there is decent music to be found alongside it. However, look at the scene, check the news thread here there are countless "new bands" popping up who never amount to anything, most bands who do last do nothing out the ordinary - have some nice visuals but generic music we've all heard MANY times before. Though you do get the odd band who are great and do really appeal and they end up completely changing style or disbanding as well. So basically, the average longevity of VK bands is pretty short and the new bands sound like dull versions of the bands you do like. Seems rare you get mind blowing VK bands nowadays. I still always support the bands I've always been into by buying their stuff and seeing them when in Japan if I can but the majority of bands I liked have either disbanded or changed style (to one I don't get much out of anymore) and most of the new bands are boring (in my opinion) so can see how people give up on the scene. But hell, there's always good music to be found (in any scene) and you can always enjoy the bands who do survive and still listen to the bands who you supported during their active time.

I dont really find much value in re-recordings, very rarely do they really make any considerable difference or even come out better than the originals so personally I wouldn't tread that territory. Only if the song has drastically evolved or is on a really old recording with crap quality and needs a remake does it make any sense to me.

16 hours ago, seys said:

I mean, I checked mercari yesterday and most of the listings were sold. More like 10k-20k yen.

I checked mercari yesterday and yeah there were a few sold for around those prices but there are way more listings for 20,000 - 30,000 yen, a lot of which are not yet sold, weirdly enough.... But as much as I love Dir, there's no way I'm paying that for a single and a dvd. haha. Due to it being so exclusive, 10,000 is my max but no doubt these people will find people willing to spend, 20/30,000 on it.

On 10/31/2020 at 10:29 AM, Seelentau said:

The boxes were shipped yesterday and of course, they're on mercari already for... nice prices

I hope I can get one for less than that ><

I take it nobody here has gotten theirs yet, right?

No. And probably wont for those prices, 20,000 - 30,000 yen? Gotta be having a laugh right? I mean I get they are a really exclusive product but seriously, that's ridiculous.

Well I look forward to some proper samples from the EP but Cazqui had a really unique style of writing/riffing and although Unleash was decent (though nothing incredible) it just didn't sound like Nocturnal Bloodlust for me anymore and just had a more generic sound about it but now they have these new guitarists maybe that will breath some fresh life back into the band and we're about to get something amazing. Who knows? But the same as some other guys here, am feeling a bit apprehensive about this. haha.

Sounds all good to me so far, can always rely on RAZOR to deliver. Single ordered so just gotta wait now. *excited*

12 hours ago, GreatNorthernVK said:

Other Japanese acts do this as well, but it’s always genres where the image of the artists is very important (ex. Idol groups). 
 

From a foreign lens, yes, it seems counter productive. The only reason why some bands don’t allow pictures overseas is because they don’t want word getting back to Japanese fans that they allowed it.

 

Kiwamu and Dada have explained that the reason for the ban is due to anxiety that it will detract from cheki/photoset/DVD sales. To them, it’s worth it to lose the outside exposure because it encourages the most dedicated portion of the fanbase to empty their wallets on their favourite band.

I get it, but that all still seems a bit silly though. haha. A few phone pics/videos are never going to be as good as professionally shot photos/gigs so I really don't think it would be THAT detrimental to sales. People who are big fans will still buy the stuff anyway. Personally I'm not a big fan of phones out at gigs generally so it is kind of good that not everyone is there with phones out, but if one person wants to take a pic or two as a memory or whatever then making a fuss over that is really lame. It would be a problem if you had a line of obsessed bangya on the front row constantly ramming their phones in your face the entire show so tbh feel just getting a balance right would be a more realistic approach.

On 10/16/2020 at 9:32 PM, Wakarimashita said:

 

That's Menace you are looking for. I was so surprised they graced us with some dirty shredding again. It's a great, great track. But ye, I tend to agree, although this album feels much more "old JILUKA" if you get my point.

Yeah it definitely has a vibe from their earlier works which is awesome and yeah it's consistently good stuff, wasn't a single song I hated (just think ignite is a bit bland) or anything, but just doesn't have any real memorable moments or unexpected/nice twists and turns that they've had before. It's still a good release, just nothing exceptional for me.

On 10/13/2020 at 3:45 PM, Goshiro12 said:

Uhm guys and gilrs, what happened to Deviloof? They Changed their Facebook from "Deviloof Official" to "Deviloof UO", their Website is down and some of their Youtube Music Videos are set to private. Are there any news I missed?

Is down for me aswell it seems, things have been a little quiet with them recently so does make you wonder what's up. Either something really awesome is happening, or something that's going to be very bad news. Time will tell!

On 10/14/2020 at 9:09 PM, Nowhere Girl said:

Anyone know what this CD is? Are these songs just cut from the DVDs or are they exclusive to this release?

 

https://www.discogs.com/DIR-EN-GREY-Tour16-17-From-Depression-To-________-Mode-Of-鬼葬/release/10175693

 

 

Yep, EvilHippy is right, I have the majority of those releases. They came as pre-order extra with the DVDs/Blurays of the same show and basically contained exclusive SE's used during those shows. There is no tracklist/titles on the releases themselves and yep are exclusive to those discs alone (so far).

+ That video of 絶彩...... Holy crap, I've listened to that song so many times and thought how amazing it'd be live and certainly isn't disappointing!! Cheers for posting!!!

Well it certainly is better than the standards set with "Ignite" alone, but nothing really mind blowing in my opinion. Just Jiluka being Jiluka minus those great moments that will pull you back in for repeat listens over and over.

On 10/3/2020 at 1:24 AM, darkindastad said:

They are part of the same show.....the very last three tracks actually.  And the last new acoustic song is just LIME and Reiki siting and playing to each other in front of the audience. 

Cheers! Wow, that's a bit of a bummer they cut a few songs from the set for the regular version. I may have gone for the special edition had I have known that beforehand. I just guessed that they would be actual "bonus" videos not cut from the main feature.

Looking forward to getting my copy but damn, that 20min trailer.... lol. I'm happy to wait to listen to the whole album(s) rather than listen to 20mins of odds n sods.