ShanethVarosa

No singles on this one. Pretty cool, hopefully it'll have more than 2 songs that I enjoy!

Excellent! See I knew it would be two new ones. I'm so excited!!

1. Do you feel like you are entitled to free music? Not anymore. I did when I was younger because I had no money and shit was (and is) expensive and I literally had -no- way to pay for it. It's not that I didn't want to, but I've ben a VK fan since I've been about 10 and obviously I couldn't have a job at 10. Even when I got a job, it was to pay bills like insurance, gas, and phone. That was 7 years ago, I've been through college and only just now am I going into a high salary job. So from here on out if I really, really want something I can just buy it otherwise I'm going to get the free files because it's just fiscally responsible, ya know? But no, I don't feel entitled to it. 2. How do you feel about people refusing to share their music because they want to support the band? Well.... I can appreciate and empathize with it. Because like if we're being honest, big name artists don't necessarily get hurt as much by this because people WILL buy their music. People WILL go to their shows and their record labels WILL pay them huge amounts of money for their work. But with VK artists their incomes, I'm assuming, are not vast unless you're some sort of VK icon. I mean even at that... A band can be super popular because everyone downloads their albums because they're good but no one would go to their shows or actually physically buy their music and then they'll disband and people will be like "Why? They're so popular!" Okay yeah but if no one supports them by buying music then goodbye band! Which is why I ALWAYS bought Versailles's albums and will continue to buy Hora's/Kaya's solo albums and Schwarz Stein's albums because I need to support these bands who are my favorites so I can honestly say I'm not a part of the problem...... I have always shared Hora's albums because I know they're hard to get, but honestly I appreciate the mentality of those who won't share. 3. In relation to the second question, what do you think of people who tell others not to share something they themselves paid money for as they think its content is exclusively for those who paid for it? Those people are dumb. I'm sorry, but you can't tell other people what to do with content that they paid for. 4. Do you think entitlement to free music is worse in visual kei than in other communities? Yes, but honestly it's because of the price. I mean even when I was dirt broke I could still afford to support American/British artists I like because... Idk the Evanescence album I bought in 2011 was like 13$, but the Versailles album I bought the same year was 45$ and Hora albums are typically 40$ a piece. So if Evanescence's album doesn't get uploaded and I REALLY want it, I can just go to iTunes and buy it. It's a terrible supply and demand situation. 5. How do you feel about people who deliberately share releases in low bitrates to encourage you to buy the CD? Do you think that if someone does decide to share, you're entitled to the highest rip? Not the highest, but come on and make a fucking effort. It goes back to the financial aspect, a lot of people may not be able to afford this music so you're just screwing over fans who may WANT to purchase the music and support the band but it may be too costly for them. 6. Have you ever been approached by people, either on Monochrome Heaven or last.fm, who wanted you to share something? If you didn't want to share, how did they react? What did you think of their reaction? I get approached by people somewhat frequently about it, but if I have the time I just share it. Because I would want the same done for me. I don't have a lot of time recently so I don't always oblige but people are generally pretty cool about it because I'm willing to share.

I was waiting for someone to start this topic! Remember how I said in Kamijo's Heart thread that it would be hard for a visual artist to top Heart unless Diru pulled something half decent out of their asses? Yeah I think this EP may have done it for me. Hard to say since this EP is only 5 songs long and I don't want to say that these 5 songs are better than Kamijo's 12 (ish..?) but still, I was super impressed with this EP. I've been a big fan of 12012 for a very, very long time. I'd have to say my favorite albums are likely Seven and Diamond (and possibly Mar Maroon). The point I'm trying to drive home with this is that their self-titled didn't rank because it was too heavy. I don't -usually- care for 12012 when they get too heavy because it feels pointless and forced when I personally believe (and this is obviously just my own opinion) that they do their more pop/rock songs better than heavy songs. So that's why when 12012 was released I was like "Okay, my fandom of this band can be dead now", but they totally got me back for Deicida of Silence which, yes, it WAS heavy, but it sounded like it had purpose. All this time later I'm still trying to sort out my opinions of The Swan, but I remember I thought it was pretty decent. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that since the release of Seven, I faded in and out of genuinely really loving a release by this band. And now there's XII and I honestly feel like a kid again because to me the whole vibe recalls what I refer to as the glory days of VK from about 2002-2007 (ish) when I was younger and more care-free. Anyway, to talk about the individual songs I'll start with my least fav and work my way up: Story of a Different Dimension: I do like the song, but to me this one is the least memorable. It's a little generic and the energy of the song feels slightly disjointed. That being said, it's the only negative thing I have to say about the EP. Vicious of Absolution: This song is beautiful, it flows extremely well and is composed excellently. Wataru sounds fantastic. They all sound fantastic. I just love this song. It's just that it isn't -quite- as memorable as the next three, but this is one of my favorite 12012 songs ever. Alone: Again, the atmosphere is really prominent here. It's depressing without being tear-jerking. It's chorus is catchy enough that it puts it ahead of Vicious of Absolution, but otherwise I would have to put these two on a similar level. The Red: Now I would have to agree with nagaram in that it's a twinge too long, after a while you're kind of like "mmmm okay this can end any time now" but other than that, this is a song that felt like it had purpose for being heavier. It wasn't pointless pig squealing for 6 minutes it had a purpose, atmosphere, and vibe to it that made it a super fun song to listen to. Aqua: One of my favorite songs this year. When I first saw the length I thought "Oh fuck no" to myself because, to me, if you're not Kamijo, Versailles, or Jupiter I don't want anything to do with your 7+ minute songs. However, they managed to keep me really intrigued throughout the whole thing. No, there aren't a lot of lyrics and the composition may not be as enthralling and ever-changing as a Versailles number, but they stay true to the flow the whole time and Wataru sounds beyond fantastic. The song really shines towards the end where it goes from being this down-tempo song to being a power ballad in the blink of an eye. I love the lyrics, atmosphere, overall sound of this song. In short, the EP to me is in the 4.5 to 5 out of 5 star range. Totally in love with it.

So excited, their last single was totally flawless and so was the one before that. I'm hoping the album then will come out before the end of the year!

Aqua is up on JPopAsia: Romaji: Aishite kudasai, kanishii nukumori Itsuka no anata ni modotte kudasai Dakishimeta sono ai wa misemono no ai nano ka Usure yuku shikai kara kiete yuku, munashisa yo Aishite kurenai, yashii itsuwari Aishite kurenai, tsumetai hohoemi Kowaresou sono ai wa misemono no ai nano ka Togire yuku ishiki kara anata e no okuri mono Aishite kudai, kanashii nukumori Itsuka no anata ni modotte kudasai Kanji: 愛してください　悲しいぬくもり いつかの貴方に戻ってください 抱きしめたその哀は見世物の哀なのか 薄れゆく視界から消えてゆく　虚しさよ 愛してくれない　優しい偽り 愛してくれない　冷たい微笑み 壊れそうなその哀は見世物の哀なのか 途切れゆく意識から貴方への贈り物 愛してください　悲しいぬくもり いつかの貴方に戻ってください English Translation: Please love me, and let the warmth of sadness Come back to you someday That sorrow that I embraced, was that sorrow just for show It vanished from my fading field of vision, emptiness Won't you love me, with your gentle lie Won't you love me, with your cold smile That breaking sorrow, was that sorrow just for show A gift to you, from my interrupted consciousness Please love me, and let the warmth of sadness Come back to you someday

They didn't talk about a track list, but from what I understand both songs are totally new. And if they aren't then one will be Sleeping Madness and the other will be a re-recording but I honestly think they're both new.

Schwarz Stein new single "Sleeping Madness" will be out on November 5. According to Hora, the song is darker and heavier featuring Hora on vocals as well as Kaya.

I completely agree with Vitne Eveille, the look is just like Hakuro and the song to me is just like Returner. It's nothing new at all. White Lovers is my favorite as well.

This just totally ruined my day. Trying to be positive by saying that it'll be good for them to take a break, but I am really gonna miss their music and I'm hoping to God they don't disband. This seems so sudden to me.

I listened to it really late at night last night and I was dead tired which may have effected some of my opinions ever so slightly, but There were some things that I just KNEW from listening to it the first time.... Like Mode of Gangsta was likely the worst intro to anything I've ever heard and I just think it's ironic that they couldn't even manage to throw together a good intro. It was annoying and repetitive and not in that way where I can like it ironically, I just think it's really bad. Shoot the Targets is along the same vein: repetitive and annoying with no redeemable value whatsoever. Welcome to the Underground was a song I was excited for because I thought it might be almost xTRiPx-ish in the heavy rap/rock cross over way, but it ended up being a jazz-inspired pile of nonsense that also had no redeemable value in and of the fact that there was, and I mean this, nothing that should have said to anyone at all "let's put this on our album and sell it to people for money." Other marginally negative things I have to say: Tokyo Gypsy was disappointing. It, too, was jazz-inspired and not done very well. I just found it boring really, not particularly embarrassingly bad just boring. Rize a Flag I don't -particularly- remember, other than I'm p sure I thought it was boring as well because I only rated it 3 stars as opposed to 1 or 5 which means I had some OPINIONS on it. Then there was Phrase of Life which I think would've been nice with vocals but otherwise it was kind of a waste of a track. Hate Me or Love Me? was one I rated 5 stars, but I think I was far too generous. I remember it being bad, but better than some of the other tracks by a mile so I think I ended up guilting myself into saying I liked it.... But didn't really like it. Now I do have to say I actually DID enjoy some other songs: Gesshoku wasn't too bad. I would say it's among the better ones, but not by a country mile. Dead End is in that same category as well. Bleach I liked this time (rather than on it's EP) because it stood out as better than most other tracks rather than blending in with mediocre tracks. Howling I remember being decently unique and it was sort of a breath of fresh air after the rest of the shite I had to endure up until this song. I actually did genuinely like Message From Here and The Never, but I give it like 5 plays before I get totally sick of it. Overall the album got rated an average of 4/5 but I think that is far, far too generous and after I give it a second listen it will likely go down...

Ah, so we're not missing out on anything with it not uploaded yet. But seriously... Welcome to the Underground was totally unlistenable. Dead End was basic. Hate Me or Love Me? was pretty good and so was The Never, but honestly nekkichi is so right by saying there's no repeat value. I really highly doubt I will listen to this album much.

I mentioned in the actual download topic that this is the first time that they've released anything since their VK days that I've enjoyed what they've done. This is the first time in recent memory I can say I'm a fan of what they've put out. There seems to be a lot of different rock genres mixed together on this EP that makes it interesting which is something that similar bands (*ahem* Crossfaith) really lack. Until now I wouldn't have considered Crossfaith a similar band and wouldn't have made the comparison, but having heard a couple of Crossfaith albums and thinking "Wow this is good, but I wish I could distinguish one song from the next" and that's what Girugamesh has done with Gravitation. I think another thing Giru has going for them is that I really really like Satoshi's voice so it doesn't just sound, to me, like generic metal core band #687. In summary, this was an excellent follow-up to Monster, my current favorite LP by the band and I'm sure they'll keep this momentum up for their next few releases.

They have concerts in Pyongyang?

I'd love to have the lyrics to this album and am a little surprised I can't find them on the internet considering Mejibray's Sadie's and Girugamesh's are already up on JPopAsia or here... Thanks in advance!

What I think is ironic about me and this band is that when the general consensus is that their release is good, I don't care for it and vice versa. I think this overall single is not only better than Raven, but I also think it's their best start-to-finish single in their career. Even Sabato, my previously favorite single, didn't compare because of that Ackercock atrocity. But in this single they've made 3 songs that I can really get behind and listen to over and over and like every time. Which is saying a lot. I want to love Mejibray, but they have more bad/boring songs than good. This single though is stand out to me and I would give it a 5 star rating, but of course that's just me.

I was actually going to ask if anyone knows if this one will be released in America just like the last 4. I'd love to get myself a hard copy of it to add to my Deg collection.

Yay! I'm really glad you liked it, Sai. That was a great review (and I really hope Zeus reviews it too!!) and now it's my turn! I made it clear in the review for Jupiter's Arcadia that I am extremely biased. I try extraordinarily hard to be objective when writing reviews for these musicians because Versailles was and is my favorite rock band of all time. However, what everyone is saying is totally true: Kamijo was the (sorry about the pun...) Heart of the band. While the other members were all extremely talented, Kamijo brought the charisma and character to Versailles that if any other singer lead Versailles, it wouldn't have been the same. That being said, I knew I was going to end up liking Kamijo's solo project more than Jupiter's work (although, like I said in my Arcadia review, I do see Jupiter progressing in a huge way... Still doesn't touch Kamijo). Again I will agree with Sai that Kamijo is a ridiculously amazing songwriter. While he wrote the lyrics to basically every song, the majority of Versailles's best songs were composed by Kamijo as well. This is where I'm going to start my review: With the best composed VK song that I have heard in recent years. It's easy to see why the album was called Heart. Either Kamijo wrote the big epic song and then named his album after it or he wrote this song because he wanted the album's name to be Heart. Either way, the 8.5 minute epic is brilliantly composed and executed. Dare I say it's better than most Versailles compositions? The thing that I love about it is that it's this hard rock song that literally does use an orchestral arrangement interwoven with bits and pieces of heavy metal guitar. It's such an interesting composition that even if it were instrumental I'd be into it, but this is also where Kamijo's voice stands out the most on the album. I'll continue on with the singles: Yamiyo no Lion was easily the best A-Side single released for Heart and I say this because it's the whole package and largely Versailles reminiscent. Again his voice stands out and the song has an excellent blend of serious composition and catchy chorus work. My second favorite single song on the album is Tsuioku no Mon Amour, given that Kamijo does sound excellent, but my favorite part of the song is the orchestral "breakdown" if you will about halfway through the song. However, I do wish that he had chosen a different B-side (Gensou Trianon, perhaps) to include on the final track list. While Louis and Moulin Rouge are both good songs, their place on this album is a little... Meh to me. Louis was released long enough ago that I've listened to it so many times that having it on an album is really not going to do much for me (plus I still cannot get over that terrible high note he hits at the end of the song. I was hoping he would change that for the album version, but alas. He did not). Additionally Moulin Rouge is the single least favorite song Kamijo released for his solo project so far. My standout favorite of the other songs on the album is Katate ni Yume wo Motsu Shojo. Everything about this screams that it should've been a single. And the cheesy outro is what I've come to love about Kamijo. Brief thoughts on other songs: Rose Croix, Death Parade, and Sanctuary are all pretty good rock songs that I think if they had been on a Versailles album they would've been a bit more polished, but otherwise these versions are pretty good. Catchy and big where they need to be. Vive le Roi was a great intro, but I do think there could've been just a smidge more done with this. Presto Acoustic was brilliant. I don't know why I had it in my head that it was going to be done with acoustic guitar, but I'm glad it was piano. Romantique and Dakishimerarenagara were probably two of my other favorite songs. I think Romantique was an excellent throwback to Lareine and Dakishimerarenagara gets stuck in my head easily. In fact, I didn't like it the first time I heard it, but had to add it to my phone because of how badly it gets stuck in my head. Overall, the album is easily 4.5-5/5 stars for me. In considering my list of the best albums of the year (that I publish on my tumblr between the last week of the year and the first week of the following year *shameless promotion* ShanethVarosa.Tumblr.com) last night, I found that thus far, Kamijo's releases together (SoV and Heart) make my second favorite rock releases of the year and my #1 favorite VK release so far. They probably won't be beat unless Dir en grey pulls a great album out of their ass for Arche.

I made the picture my wallpaper on my Mac

Don't have time to watch the video for it yet, but the song is amazing so I'm sure the video won't let me down.

I like it!! Can't wait for a full version!

That was really amazing!!