chemicalpictures

It's easy to make fun (which was my first thought, I'll admit), instead it would be nice if we could all make some constructive criticisms to help the gals, since they'll probably check the thread...
 
- I don't care about visuals, but people in general do, and you are all looking nice. Hair, clothing, makeup... maybe work on your poses, and improve the photoshop (the group photo is much worse than the individual ones, probably too much light on your faces)
 
- The main point: the recording of your song is PRETTY bad. I know youtube usually drags it down and you probably don't have that much of a budget, but you can DEFINITELY record a song or two in a proper studio with a couple hundred bucks. Yes it's an investment, but it makes the world of a difference. That chorus could be catchy if properly recorded and equalized, the drum lines specially. It's such a niche market that usually don't care about western bands, so you really have to go the distance to win this crowd.
 
- It's a matter of personal preference, but I find your logo way too confusing, really hard to identify the band's name. Branding is important, I would try to express that differently.
 
wish you girls luck!

It's easy to make fun (which was my first thought, I'll admit), instead it would be nice if we could all make some constructive criticisms to help the gals, since they'll probably check the thread...
 
- I don't care about visuals, but people in general do, and you are all looking nice. Hair, clothing, makeup... maybe work on your poses, and improve the photoshop (the group photo is much worse than the individual ones, probably too much light on your faces)
 
- The main point: the recording of your song is PRETTY bad. I know youtube usually drags it down and you probably don't have that much of a budget, but you can DEFINITELY record a song or two in a proper studio with a couple hundred bucks. Yes it's an investment, but it makes the world of a difference. That chorus could be catchy if properly recorded and equalized, the drum lines specially. It's such a niche market that usually don't care about western bands, so you really have to go the distance to win this crowd.
 
- It's a matter of personal preference, but I find your logo way too confusing, really hard to identify the band's name. Branding is important, I would try to express that differently.
 
wish you girls luck!

It's easy to make fun (which was my first thought, I'll admit), instead it would be nice if we could all make some constructive criticisms to help the gals, since they'll probably check the thread...
 
- I don't care about visuals, but people in general do, and you are all looking nice. Hair, clothing, makeup... maybe work on your poses, and improve the photoshop (the group photo is much worse than the individual ones, probably too much light on your faces)
 
- The main point: the recording of your song is PRETTY bad. I know youtube usually drags it down and you probably don't have that much of a budget, but you can DEFINITELY record a song or two in a proper studio with a couple hundred bucks. Yes it's an investment, but it makes the world of a difference. That chorus could be catchy if properly recorded and equalized, the drum lines specially. It's such a niche market that usually don't care about western bands, so you really have to go the distance to win this crowd.
 
- It's a matter of personal preference, but I find your logo way too confusing, really hard to identify the band's name. Branding is important, I would try to express that differently.
 
wish you girls luck!

It's easy to make fun (which was my first thought, I'll admit), instead it would be nice if we could all make some constructive criticisms to help the gals, since they'll probably check the thread...
 
- I don't care about visuals, but people in general do, and you are all looking nice. Hair, clothing, makeup... maybe work on your poses, and improve the photoshop (the group photo is much worse than the individual ones, probably too much light on your faces)
 
- The main point: the recording of your song is PRETTY bad. I know youtube usually drags it down and you probably don't have that much of a budget, but you can DEFINITELY record a song or two in a proper studio with a couple hundred bucks. Yes it's an investment, but it makes the world of a difference. That chorus could be catchy if properly recorded and equalized, the drum lines specially. It's such a niche market that usually don't care about western bands, so you really have to go the distance to win this crowd.
 
- It's a matter of personal preference, but I find your logo way too confusing, really hard to identify the band's name. Branding is important, I would try to express that differently.
 
wish you girls luck!

That track is not bad, but I really don't get what they are trying to express with those bridges/transitions. You get some nice buildup till 2:17, then comes that depressingly weird tempo crap that does not fit the song AT ALL. Then a nice chorus, then a weird verse all over again. That song structure simply does not make sense. I applaud innovation, but to me this is just poorly executed

a blessing in disguise, I'd argue. I found the song bland as bland can be.

Currently playing lots and lots of CS:GO (who would say such old timer game could hook me up so hard after so long...), Some Fallout 4, which I'm finding way too similar to F3, and to be honest, if it wasn't for the interesting world set up, I'd probably have already given up by now. The gameplay is too clunky to be satisfying. Wish the series would return to 1 and 2 roots...
 
Also, there's a nice little game on steam for all you Megaman X widows out there (summoning @YuyoDrift) called 20XX. It's a procedurally generated Megaman X, basically. Nice upgrades, great music and most importantly, TIGHT controls. Check kotaku's article out: http://kotaku.com/20xx-is-a-procedural-mega-man-x-and-it-feels-perfect-1797965399

Are we really getting hype over some cowbell?

yeah, it certainly is a beautiful song. i think the sparklers serve as a metaphor for a person's life span; short and fleeting. and seeing the fireworks every year reminds him of human's mortality, including his friend.

Again, thanks for fulfilling my request! This is my favorite song of theirs, and I'm glad the lyrics are as lovely as the song.
 
The parallel between the fleeting memories of their relationship with the duration of the sparklers, and how it reminded him of those moments is so beautiful.

Again, thanks for fulfilling my request! This is my favorite song of theirs, and I'm glad the lyrics are as lovely as the song.
 
The parallel between the fleeting memories of their relationship with the duration of the sparklers, and how it reminded him of those moments is so beautiful.

You're welcome!!
I'm not very familiar with REALies and only heard the song through a split with Pentagon and Arlequin, but that puts the song into a lot of context. Thanks for the tidbit~ ^^

-for a request-
 
 
Lyrics: Chizuru
Music: Minpha
Kanji and romaji available at peffy's blog
 
English: Sparklers
I lost words at the all too sudden notice
My quivering voice over the receiver
The motionless time and the back of my craving eyes
Harboring this powerlessness, it was the end of summer

You'll go so far away, I won't be able to reach you with my hands
Look, the last flicker has fallen
No matter how much I yell in regret for the time we lost
Ahh, you are no longer here

These sparklers, flickering, along with the wind
The light of a too short life, disperses in the night sky dolefully
Since then, in the seasons that repeated many times over
I gave you these feelings, in the summer wind

On that day, you gazed at me as you left
What were you trying to tell me with those eyes?
I listened until the end, to your voice even now
I remember, with your thin voice

"Hey, aren't the fireworks beautiful?
I wish it would never end."
I was always searching for an answer
The fireworks that bloom this year, tightens my chest in pain
Look, are you watching even now?

As we grow older, our memories become distant
I'll think of you and light this fire
Short and fleeting, the last light disperses
Don't disappear, don't disappear, just a little longer

These sparklers, flickering, along with the wind
The light of a too short life, disperses in the night sky dolefully

These sparklers, this song I send to you
It'll be okay. Because it blooms inside of me beautifully
Since then, in the seasons that repeated many times over
You began to bloom, in the summer's sky
 
-----------------------------------
Translated by me.
Corrections and suggestions are much welcomed~
Enjoy! ^^

I really don't get why japanese bands feel like they need to disclosure every single break they have. Western bands often go radio silence for very long periods of time and nobody could care less... really, what's 3 months to a band so accomplished as MUCC?

WTFFFF
 
they were REALLY good. They do good choruses like few others on the business, always liked their crazy composition style, even tho it may actually harmed their popularity over the years. this sucks

It is most definitely a banger! I've been listening to it everyday and hot damn, what an album. It is one of those who are made for a full listening everytime. The pace is amazing, makes 40 and some minutes pass by like 5. I'm even more impressed with some lyrics, Airfield, Shinrin-Yoku, AOTLJP, Undercover Agents. And both The Sights and S-Y grew on me, are now on par with the others. Overall, I'm really impressed.
 
This heaviness thing, people are too much in love with TTTS (which is their worse, IMHO) and Common Dreads. As you said, both AFFOC and The Mindsweep had their fair share of soft/pop infusion, and are real killers.
 
Revolt of the Atoms is the only track I skip. As much as I try to like it (the end section is kinda nice, to be fair), it simply doesn't click, just like Supercharge or Ghandi Mate, Ghandi... I find it kinda out of place, between UA and AOTLJP

Yeah I guess I should, really enjoyed Anaesthetist back then but never really got around to listen to the whole thing!
 
Definitely, he always had his own thing going on, but he sounds better than ever now.
And yeah, he has some really clever things in his lyrics! I really like his approach to social and political topics, seems so down to earth and still conveys a good message (I mean basically it's just "have some empathy"), stuff like "I don't wanna take my country back, I wanna take my country forward" is great in its simplicity. 
 
Overall, I'm glad to see they are aging well! It's kind of a funny story how I got into them haha. My brother was super into Take To The Skies back then and I thought it was rather ridiculous, I had my "huh it's not metul" phase back then. Since I was working for a metal webzine back then, I got the promo CD for Common Dreads and decided to pick it up so my brother could take a listen, too. Somehow, I ended up loving the album and have been enjoying them ever since!

Wow, this is such a heartfelt goodbye letter to their fans.
 
I think this "Shadow" Rayka talks about is a reflection of himself - his insecurities, his fear of failure, his expectations and self-judgement.
 
This song is a hope that REALies won't simply fade away and be forgotten. Even though they were disbanding, and seemingly being overwhelmed by that Shadow, his "voice" would be a reminder, a message for anyone who believed and enjoyed their work, that REALies was there, and hopefully still is in their fans hearts.
 
thanks again for fulfilling my request!

Please DO check The Mindsweep when you have time! It's my favorite album of theirs, "The Appeal & the Mindsweep I" into "The One True Colour" is the best couple of intro+opener they ever done, by far! Hard as fuck, with really meaningful lyrics, just brilliant! There's also several highlights on that album, "The Last Garrison", "Anasthaetist", "Torn Apart", "Dear Future Historians...", what an album!
 
Yeah, Rou evolved so much for this album. Playing with falsettos here and there, a wider vocal range, real nice!
 
"We are the dust on the stained glass windows
Trying to comprehend the cathedral"
 
Gotta love his metaphors, lol

WTFFFF
 
they were REALLY good. They do good choruses like few others on the business, always liked their crazy composition style, even tho it may actually harmed their popularity over the years. this sucks

I missed out on Mindsweep but checked them out again with this album. Pretty good stuff, I absolutely loved the more emotional tracks, Rou really pulls them off well, Airfield and An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces are beautiful.  Some of the tracks have also grown a lot on me, for example The Sights, which is one of my favourites now.
 
Lyrics are also fantastic, the "prosecco-glazed lips" line is brilliant.
 
The whole album still absolutely sounds like Enter Shikari, so I honestly don't mind them trying out some new stuff, even though I'd prefer some more of that good old craziness on the next album.