Spectralion

is this @Tokage

Someone uploaded the DVD to youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dLZwmlSdGM

So I gathered the data out of this thread:
https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/topic/26485-your-top-10-favorite-visual-kei-bands/?page=1
and put it into excel, sorted from highest to lowest and have found the top 10 favorite visual kei bands according to the community. Most of this list will surprise no one but I thought there might be some interest.
 
Note: I didn't include 'honorable mentions' on this list just the poster's top 10. I also didn't include rank data in spreadsheet because it would be too much effort and some posters didn't rank their list.
 
1. Dir en grey (28 votes)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It comes as no surprise that dir en grey are number 1. Everyone on this forum knows who they are and they are probably the most influential VK band of the last 15 years. Next.
 
 
2. D'espairs Ray (22 votes)
 

 
 
An alternative metal band loved my many during their time and one of the most popular 2000s VK bands. Sadly their vocalist Hizumi caught a rare throat condition and the band was forced to disband for the sake of his health. Still many people have fond memories of these guys and their music was well liked in both Japan and overseas. Known for their energetic live shows.
 
 
3. The GazettE (19 votes)
 

 
 
Another extremely popular band from the 2000s. Many people love to hate them and many people hate to love them but whenever they release something, the VK community catches on fire. It comes as no surprise seeing these guys here.
 
 
4. Malice Mizer (17 votes)
 

 
One of the most influential VK bands of the 90s and one of the few 90s VK bands that overseas fans have actually heard of. Playing a distinctive style of visual kei, symphonic/gothic rock and neoclassical darkwave, they have a small but legendary discography and there still are many bands imitating their style to this day. They faced many challenges throughout their career that people on this site probably know already (lead singer quitting to become a celebrity, death of their drummer) and eventually disbanded (or "indefinite hiatas"). 
 
 
5. Lynch. (16 votes)
 

 
The most popular 'nagoya kei' band of the last decade or so. They have been churning out multiple releases a year since 2004 and while many people call them mediocre, they still have a lot of dedicated fans who follow their every release. Their concept is "uniting heavy music with beautiful melodies".
 
 
6/7. deadman / Girugämesh (14 votes)
 

 
Deadman were a nagoya kei band from the 2000s. A bit surprising to see them this high but it seems they have a strong cult following on this website. They're music has strong alternative rock influences and they're releases were very well received during their time. 
 
 

 
 
Girugämesh were a 2000s visual kei band who mostly sticked to nu metal and metalcore throughout their career. They were really popular in the international VK community while nu metal was dying in the west but became an internet meme after being featured on a Sakuracon anime convention advertisement. Their newer releases were poorly received but many people hold their early discography in high regard. They broke up in July of this year and it was the biggest VK break up of the year (so far...).
 
 
8. Renter en soi (13 votes)
 

 
 
An alternative metal band from the early-mid 2000s loved my many during their short time active. People praised Satsuki's voice, their atmospheric production, and the band's ability to write strong melodies in an alternative metal style. They broke up in 2008 before is was cool but they still hold an important place on many VK listener's ipods.
 
 
9/10. Buck Tick / DIV (12 votes)
 

 
Regardless whether you think Buck Tick qualifies as a visual kei band, you cannot deny their huge influence they have had on the looks and sound of visual kei as a whole. Forming in 1983, their music includes a wide range of influences including gothic rock, alternative rock, post punk, darkwave and electronic music. They are hugely successful in Japan and many of their releases are regarded as classics. If you like VK than these guys really are an essential listen.
 
 

 
The newest band on this list (formed in 2012) and the only band on this list leaning towards the pop side of visual kei. Honestly I didn't know these guys were this popular but it appears they have caused quite a stir in the community while I wasn't looking. Sadly they are disbanding in October so if you are in Japan this will likely be your last chance to see them live.
 
 
 
And for those interested, numbers 11-20:
- 9GOATS BLACK OUT (11 votes)
- MEJIBRAY (11)
- MUCC (11)
- LUNA SEA (10)
- Versailles (10)
- 12012 (8)
- AvelCain (8)
- Cali Gari (8)
- Kagrra (8)
- Plastic Tree (8)
 
 

I'll leave this here because honestly this is probably the most captivating read that MH ever delivered, bravo my kawaiiest dearest
https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/profile/9957-kawaii_minpha/?status=17925&type=status
 
in case anyone missed it, II-nd part is some pure david lynch live action roleplay

Live report of Kiryu's live at Nippon Budokan on 2016.08.29. The images and the live report can be seen/read here (Japanese) :
http://v-kei.jp/cover/kiryu/
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

10/10 AOTY
 
 

http://direngrey.co.jp/special/bestalbum/en/
 
best album page has been updated with a "Twitter Project."
fans are asked to pick up one song from 29 included in VULGAR or MOO and tweet the title with an episode that makes this song special.
poll closes October 3rd.

Soshi >>>>>>>>>>>
 
-HIKARI- is a bop

少女-ロリヰタ-23区(lolita23q) will resume their activities after the Oneman at ZEPP TOKYO in 2017/01/15 where they'll also distribute a CD with a new song.
Their official OHP will open on 09/23.
 
Line up: 
 
Vocal … 颯(Sou)
→ Various Ray → 少女-ロリヰタ-23区[5] → レミング 
Guitar … ユ≠キ(Yu≠ki)
→ キューブリック(ユーキ) → 少女-ロリヰタ-23区(ユ≠キ) → LOUD GRAPE 
Guitar … 龍兎(Ryuuto)
→ サルーイン(龍人)[7] → 少女-ロリヰタ-23区(龍兎)[8] → the LOTUS(Ryuto)
Bass … リョヲ丞(Ryo:suke)
→ アンヴレラ(りょうすけ) → 酔奴隷(リョヲ丞) → ジラーチ(サポート) → パヴロ、メイ(サポート) → 少女-ロリヰタ-23区 → WING WORKS
Drums … BAN
→ 酔奴隷(BAN) → (彩-PSYCHO-)(浦和 塙) → 少女-ロリヰタ-23区(BAN) → LOUD GRAPE 
 
(The best 2016 news definitely deserve a topic for it)
 

Last week I went to beach with my family and there literally no other people than me and my family... :")))))

I'm so happy these two lesbians in space decided to hook up and save Japan in 2016 <3

Another condom cover art 😂

you're too good for this shit Ivy  

| One of the finest rock albums of 2016. downy do it again!
 
downy's decision to return to making music after a very long lull in activity is one of the best things to ever happen to Japanese rock music. They've occupied the three way musical intersection between melancholic shoegaze, experimental post-rock, and musical perfection since their formation in 2000. Oft mentioned in the same breath as 八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88-Kasyo Junrei) or 凛として時雨 (Ling Tosite Sigure), there's a very good reason why all eyes are on downy whenever they announce a new release. 第六作品集『無題』  (dai roku sakuhin shuu 『mudai』) is the album I've been waiting all year to listen to and I didn't even know it. I can't remember the last time an album opener such as "凍る花 (Kooru Hana)" enamored me within seconds. Before I knew it I was four or five tracks in, completely lost in downy's world. Shuffle beats and 9/8 rhythms backed by spacious production give rise to a pulsating musical juggernaut which demands your attention, and it's hard to find a reason to press pause.
 
I'm impressed with the focus and clarity of downy's vision. Transitions between tracks as well as between different segments within tracks flow like water. They elude genre classification of even the loosest standards, breaking all sorts of rules about how rock is "supposed to sound" and opting instead for a hybrid audio/visual experience at live events. The second track "檸檬 (Jukujijun)" is a great example of this: fusing palettes of rock with a healthy does of electronic perturbation among mathy transitions, frantic guitar, and uncommon time signatures would crush lesser bands, but downy nails it without a second thought. What impresses me more is how well it stitches the first and the third tracks together; the former has an almost industrial post-rock vibe to it while the latter has a stronger focus on the rhythm with brass embellishments. 第六作品集『無題』 is so cohesive track names are almost a convenience, and a solid argument can be made that the album should be listened to as a whole.
 
There are a few constants which tie the album together; the cerebral rhythm section, band leader Aoki Robin's breathy vocals, a wall of layered sounds which fills any and all the empty space in the mix, and a tendency to suddenly change gears and throw something new at the listener. All roads point towards the climax in "乱反射 (Ranhansha)", but it's the journey rather than the destination which makes the trip worth it. In an interview with Yoshi from Brown Noise Unit, noted "We aimed to create original stuff, but we take a lot of care in how it is expressed, so if you found gentleness in the sound, I think that's just coming through from the love we have for music. We've always known we had to choose music, so maybe that's what you're feeling.". This is an incredibly bold and powerful statement for a musician to make, and yet when the album ends I immediately want more.
 
This is one of the best albums of 2016. Get on it.
 
 
 
Support the band!
 
CDJapan | iTunes (Japan)

Not sure if I like how they kinda change keys a bunch in the new version of the Revenant Choir, but that may be because it's the first song by them I ever heard and subsequently feel they'll never be able to touch the original (production mistakes and all).
 
New version of LFDO  (my actual favorite song by them) though:  yesssssss
 
Super excited for this. I'm looking forward to hearing new versions of their past work but all at the same recording, production, and instrumental quality. Kamijo's voice should also sound more uniform as well, since it is distinctly different in 2007 vs 2012.
 
New song samples sound great too. Chandelier sounds like RPG OST metal

https://vk.com/video-35600031_456239429
 
FULL MV!

Browsing.... Browsing... Browsing Purple Stone  Browsing... Browsing.... Browsing.... Brows....

Some song samples - it's almost what I expected, SO COOL.
 
 
Sounds kinda like the last album so far, only a bit darker / more melancholic (?). I'M HERE FOR THIS.

THE BACK HORN - mucc for breeders
 
Boris - when you decide to play every style of rock neglected by the rest of Japan.
 
lynch: 
 

 
KINGDOM☆AFROCKS - Japanese students in African Studies class decide to start a band.
 
 

Why do ZIN remind me of Britney Spears? 

Why do ZIN remind me of Britney Spears? 

黒百合と影(kuroyuri to kage) new maxi single "吐瀉物(toshabutsu)" will be released on 2016/11/02 (1,296yen).

[track list]
01. 吐瀉物(toshabutsu)
02. 「便所2」(benjo2)

psc kei is worse than oshare