chemicalpictures

Tinha também a J-rock/Visual Kei no orkut, composta 90% de weeaboos pagando de conhecedorzão pra amigo da patota ver... não sei nem porque eu entrava lá, hahahaha...
 
Tonberry, depois o TW e por fim o MH sempre foram as melhores comunidades de jrock pra se frequentar... o batsu tinha conteúdo legal, mas a comunidade, pelamor

Idk where to put this or how to title it... sorry mods! But I came across an old thread (Wtf is Ains), and thought I'd dump a short history of Yukika/Ains. Only it turned out to be way longer than I expected, and had some crossover with non-Ains labels. So... I thought I'd dump it in the general section. Maybe this can turn into a general discussion of vk labels? (Didn't see anything similar extant when I searched.) Anyway, here:
Yukika (雪花) is a dude who was vocalist of a band called ETCETERA (エトセトラ). They were on their own label, called ● drop cafe, which I think he owned. Later, they joined a bigger label called ● CLIMAX ENTERPRISE.
 
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Yayoi (弥生) is a dude who was in the bands Vice†risk and La'miss fairy, among many others. Back in the day, he owned a label called ● Eternal, which was in turn a sublabel of KISAKI's ● Matina label.
Eventually, ● Matina closed, and so did ● Eternal. Later―around the same time that KISAKI opened his new label ● UNDER CODE PRODUCTION―Yayoi opened a new label called ● CLIMAX ENTERPRISE.
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ETCETERA eventually disbands, and ● CLIMAX ENTERPRISE closes, whatever. Afterward, Yukika forms a band called Fils, but they operate without a label and disband pretty quickly. Yukika then forms the band CLUTCH (クラッチ) under his own record label, ● Culminate Screen.
 
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● Culminate Screen mostly had shitty bands, but there was this one group called CATHELINE (キャサリン)... They got a little popularity, jumped ship to Speed-disk, and became R-18, then R-15, then R Shitei (R指定).
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CLUTCH disbands, ● Culminate Screen closes, whatever. Yukika keeps at it, forms a new band called Buddy, and starts a new label, ● A heretic sound music.. Here's where it starts getting interesting:
Yukika gets lucky, and signs this band called ALSDEAD to his label. Somehow, they get a little popular, and he's probably making money from his label for the first time ever. Meanwhile, this little band called Valluna (ヴァルナ) starts hanging out around label (without actually joining), so that's pretty cool.
Cut to late 2009. Remember that Yayoi guy, the president of the label that Yukika's band ETCETERA used to be on? Yeah, that guy suddenly has a new label called ● FIREBALL―which has no artists, btw―and Yukika slides ● A heretic sound music. right in there as a sublabel of ● FIREBALL. That's definitely some tax evasion shit, right?
Like 3 minutes later, ALSDEAD mysteriously announces that they're “graduating” from ● A heretic sound music.. The next month, Yukika's like, “Hey guys, ● A heretic sound music. is closing.” (Haq;ch. and Navir, the two unsuccessful bands on the label, are just left to fend for themselves.) But don't worry! Yukika has formed a new label: ● Galaxy, which is also a sublabel of ● FIREBALL. (Yukika even co-sponsors one-day revivals of ● Eternal and ● CLIMAX ENTERPRISE with Yayoi, 'cause they're totes great friends now.)
 
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Btw, did you catch that? He transforms his label into a sublabel, then immediately closes it and forms a new sublabel under the same company. He keeps the one band who was somewhat successful, and drops off the other two in some barren desert somewhere. That's definitely some tax wizardry, right? Or maybe just a cute way to end those other bands' contracts?
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So ● Galaxy is here, and they've got the somewhat successful ALSDEAD band. Then, surprise surprise, Valluna (ヴァルナ) joins ● Galaxy.
 
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ALSDEAD was, like, doing pretty good. But right after their first release through ● Galaxy, they jumped ship to their own label, ● CTA Works ('cause they're assholes?). ● Danger Crue scooped them up after, which is a pretty big deal, 'cause, like... ● Danger Crue isn't major, but it's as close as most visual bands will ever get, and it has major distribution through ● SONY. It seems like they really fell off after that, but maybe that's just in the overseas community.
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That Valluna (ヴァルナ) band is doing well, like really well. Which, in the VK world, means it's time for a disbandment. So, Valluna (ヴァルナ) disbands, and the important members immediately come back as DIAURA.
DIAURA is doing super well; so much so that their album is distributed by the major label ● CROWN, which is rare for a tiny label like ● Galaxy. So Yukika and Yayaoi must be dragging home small bags of money every day, which is great. But eventually, Yukika gets smart, and is like “fuck this, I want all the bags of money”; so in early 2012, mentions of something called ● Ains start springing up. ● Galaxy is still publishing releases and sponsoring lives, but this ● Ains thing is being mentioned too.
Smash cut to March of 2012, and ● Galaxy has, like, lowkey disappeared, and all of DIAURA's activities are going through ● Ains now. Considering ● FIREBALL seemed to only ever be a shell company for ● Galaxy, I guess it closed too.
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I wanna talk about Yayoi some more.
Way back in 1979 (supposedly), some dude founded an entertainment company called EXCEL. That dude turns out to be Yayoi's father! In the 90s, ● EXCEL RECORDS released some omnibus CDs featuring Yayoi's then-current band, ANGEL DUST. (KISAKI's band, MIRAGE, was also on those CDs, so I guess that's how KISAKI and Yayoi hooked up, which lead to KISAKI giving Yayoi the ● Eternal sublabel of ● Matina.)
Anyway, around the time when Yukika closed ● Galaxy and formed ● Ains, EXCEL was reorganized into ● EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT, with Yayoi as the new president. The new ● EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT has had several clients―including KISAKI and some people from bands belonging to ● Eternal/● CLIMAX ENTERPRISE―but the company doesn't actually do anything, as far as I can tell. I guess it acts as a talent agency, but all of its clients are already being managed by record labels, so what's the point?
More recently, Yayoi formed the new record label ROCKSTAR RECORDS. (And, of course, all of that label's artists are simultaneously signed with ● EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT.)
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Ok, ok, it's 2012, ● Ains exists as its own entity, and DIAURA is helping Yukika drag home bags of money, which he gets to keep to himself this time. Now that he's making Trump Checks™, Yukika can afford to sign a new act, so he snipes people from the band RELOAD (リロード) to form Grieva (グリーヴァ). Just for shits and giggles, they're on their own ● Ains sublabel called ● MadWink.. (I truly assumed that ● MadWink. was created just for aesthetic reasons, but maybe it's some weird tax evasion thing too, idk.)
Grieva (グリーヴァ) is literally (literally, kids) a Dir en grey cover band (with other influences thrown in there, but it's mostly Deg), but they're like, killin' it. So Yukika tries to strike lightning twice, and creates a GAZETTE (ガゼット) cover band, Gossip (ゴシップ), also under the ● MadWink. sublabel. At the same time, KUROYURI TO KAGE (黒百合と影) forms under a different ● Ains sublabel called ● yamikakumei (闇革命). (Again, I assume the sublabel is for aesthetic purposes.)
Soon after, Grieva, Gossip, and KUROYURI TO KAGE release a coupling CD which is published by ● UNIVERSAL MUSIC. (This doesn't mean they're major, or that they left ● Ains. I'd assume it's probably some sort of test for ● UNIVERSAL MUSIC to see if they want to deal with ● Ains more in the future.)
Now, here's the most recent weirdness:
Some new band MEDIENA (メディーナ) appears, and they give off major “● Ains vibes”―in the sense that their graphic design is clearly done by the ● Ains graphic designer, and their release schedule is put together in a way that's similar to ● Ains bands. They're also always playing at ● Ains lives, but they clearly state that they're on a label called ● V-eyes RECORDS, which has nothing to do with ● Ains. ...Or does it? When their release was put up on iTunes, the publisher was listed as ● Ains; so I guess that explains that, lol. I personally consider ● V-eyes RECORDS to be a “secret sublabel” of ● Ains, though I have no official statement to back that up, and can't give a reason why they'd do that (tax stuff?).
There's also a new band called MALISEND, whom some people assumed to belong to ● Ains. I actually think that's wrong, at least when they formed.
Early on, MALISEND was clearly not using the ● Ains graphic designer, and their first releases were not announced in the same way that ● Ains releases are (ie. not using the same marketing staff). Also, tbh, their first look was not up to ● Ains quality. And finally, I want to mention that their first releases were completely independent (independent UPC & no label listed). However, their most recent release was through a new label called ● Culminate―and was published by ● Ains, according to Brand X. So, in my opinion, MALISEND did not form under ● Ains (like MEDIENA probably did), but is now signed to another “secret sublabel” of ● Ains. (Might the name ● Culminate be a tribute to Yukika's early label, ● Culminate Screen?)
And here we are
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To recap...
Yukika forms drop cafe
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Yukika's band joins CLIMAX ENTERPRISE
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Yukika forms Culminate Screen
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Yukika forms A heretic sound music.
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Yukika meets up with Yayoi, the former president of CLIMAX ENTERPRISE
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Yayoi forms FIREBALL, and Yukika transforms A heretic sound music. to a sublabel of FIREBALL
↓
Yukika closes A heretic sound music. and makes a new FIREBALL sublabel called Galaxy
↓
Yukika forms a new, standalone label called Ains
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Yukika transfers DIAURA to Ains and closes A heretic sound music., and Yayoi goes to EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT
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Yukika makes an Ains sublabel, MadWink., for Grieva
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Gossip joins the sublabel MadWink.
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KUROYURI TO KAGE joins the new Ains sublabel, yamikakumei
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Grieva, Gossip, and KUROYURI TO KAGE release a coupling CD which is published/distributed by UNIVERSAL (but they're not major)
↓
MEDIENA forms under an unofficial/secret Ains sublabel, V-eyes RECORDS
↓
MALISEND forms independently, but joins what might be another unofficial/secret Ains sublabel, Culminate
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Idk, I hope that was enlightening or entertaining to someone! Please let me know if you have any comments or corrections!
I've always found the world of VK record labels to be really fascinating. KISAKI's label history is deliciously convoluted, but I think Yukika actually beats him out, lol.

BEST THREAD EVER.
 
Loved your in-depth post, hiroki! I got zero japanese skills, but just the PV of 25億秒の使い方。 is gut-wrenchy enough...  Made me really curious about vistlip's lyrics aswell!
 
And omg dat 'Tetris' lyrics. Makes me love this song even more!
 
I'm really thinking on studying japanese just for fun purposes, I can't help but wonder if some of my favorite emotional pieces have equally great lyrics... (oh, what are the best places to find translated lyrics around the web? for romaji I usually go to peffy's excellent hiphopvomit or jpopasia, but translations are so hard to find...)
 
I love xTRiPx's 10+1 lyrics, mostly because they acknowledge that it's okay to fail, It's okay to not be as sucessfull as you expected (in any area of your life) as long as you do the best you can with what as given to you, that's what matters in the end.
 
 
Pay Money to my Pain has some great straightforward lyrics too. 'Innocent in a Silent Room' and 'This Life' are good examples...

this is probably the appropriate thread for this.

yeah i know JIN's vocals can be annoying to a lot of ppl, but all pet owners / dog lovers need to listen to this song:





basically it's a song from the p.o.v. of a dog and its unconditional love for its owner. the perspective switches to the owner for the second verse and vacillates between them for the closing sections of the song; anyway, the final wish of the dog is just for him (the owner) to be by its side when it finally dies :'(

i'm sorry but i really can't do this song justice. as you might know lyrics are very impt to me. this song's lyrics are profoundly moving and i'll translate the first verse (dog's point of view) here to show you what i mean..



*note: the title of the song ("how to spend 2.5 billion seconds") is a reference to the lifespan of a dog.

I hate lyric threads because I always spend more time than I should on them. Ok not really, I love them.
 
What I look for in lyrics: subtlety, complexity, porosity, a signature style that cannot be forged.
 
I hate cheesy/repulsive lines like those you find in Johnnys music (e.g. “I love you and I want to meet you”, “I want to spread my wings and fly to a new tomorrow”). I also detest outmoded tropes, motifs, iconography that have been recycled to death.  
 
I can think of 4 lyricists off my head now (might come back and edit this post a little later..) Random sampling of said lyrics + long ramblings in spoiler tags. You have been warned.
 
HERO – Jin
 
DIV – Chisa
 
SID – Mao
Lol I think Mao’s lyrics speak for themselves. Some of the most idiosyncratic lyrics in the Japanese language. I wanna know what he's smoking when writing lyrics. ‘Nuff said.
 
Vistlip - Tomo

the topic of lyrics has been discussed a lot on here, whether they're important or not etc its all subjective lalala.
for those of us that take them heavily into consideration/find them important, who are your favourite lyricists?
a lot of my honmei bands are distinguished by brilliant lyrics, thats the way i can latch onto a band. if the vocal is expressing themselves in a way that i can relate, their music and words take on a new, more sentimental value. of course, the lyricists mentioned wouldn't have resonated without a decent western following who translated lyrics, interviews, other material; so im sure there are a few artists who are equally brilliant but not mentioned similarly in the western fandom as there simply aren't resources to understand what they're saying.
none of these translations are mine
 
mako (ex. deadman, kein)
 
temari (ex. amber gris, ruvie)
 
hitomi (ex. moran, fatima)
 
daisuke (ex. kagerou, the studs)
 
tsuzuku (mejibray)
 
ryo (keel)
theres a bunch more great lyricists (nigu, kazuma, yuuki, ruki, kyo etc), but these are my favs tell me yours!
i swear im not that big of a sap

No particular order:
 
xTRiPx - Any verse
bis - believe in style
blink 182 - Take off your Pants and Jacket
Pay money to my Pain - Remember the name
baroque - Sug Life
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
The Strokes - Room on Fire
J - Unstoppable Drive
miyavi - miyaviuta

Yeah... It has such a defining pop flavor, without losing the edge. The kind of song that blurry the lines between Vk and Mainstream. Also, Kou is a BEAST there,

Wtf, weakness my blood is one of the best vk songs in years...

I'm quite shocked to be honest.
I wasn't their biggest fan, but their most recent MV and track record pointed the band seemingly toward greater things.
With how saturated VK is, even some of the "best" sounding bands can fall short with audiences : /. (xTRiPx *gentle sob*)
 
To Zeus' point, I too would also like to see sales figures, although I don't know what sites keep up with that. 
 
(also as I type this 2 of their venue limited ABSOLUTE WORLD CDs are up on ClosetChild; seems like they got wind of the news)

Eternal〜渇望の空〜 Will be translated and avalible shortly.
When time permits, I will also slowly try to provide translated lyrics of other songs.

It really really bothers me when a singer can't really reproduce the record and sometimes don't even tries to...  This happens all the time with like every fucking VK band around, SPECIALLY in songs with screams or shouts.
 
It's time for us to admit that most VK vocalists simply are studio-only and sucks ass live?
 
What do you guys think about this?

"Yo-shiT with SPEED DISK All Time Stars" SET-LIST at 2016/01/29:
 
01.RETRIBUTION (xTRiPx)
02.Astrovibes (xTRiPx)
03.Any verse (xTRiPx)
04.the Creation (xTRiPx)
05.Against (xTRiPx)
 
 
"SPEED DISK All Time Stars 2nd" SET-LIST at 2016/01/29:
 
01.双界録(soukairoku) (Wizard)
02.ゴシックパーティースピードセッション(gothic party speed session) (アヤビエ(ayabie))
03.モノクロニクル(monochronicle) (GLAM GRAMM@R)
04.Murder freaks (D'espairsRay)
05.Public eyes (Fatima)

Only veekay bands? and only ten bands?

1 - bis
2 - xTRiPx
3 - kannivalism
4 - baroque
5 - Chemical Pictures
6 - Panic Channel
7 - Megamasso
8 - nil delete heads
9 - Plastic Tree
10 - Deluhi
 
Other notables: Lolita 23q (Soshi 'era'), aicle., Canzel, SRASH NOTES GARDEN, ayabie, Goshujinsama Senyou Kisai Gakudan -Virgil-, The GazettE, NoGoD, amber gris.

ex-FACT members 2 new bands "Joy Opposites" "SHADOWS" have formed, and SHADOWS new LIVE EP "Extrance" will be released at 2016/03/30 (1,620yen)
 
"Joy Opposites" members:
Vo.&Gt.Adam (ex-FACT)
Vo.&Gt.Imran (ex-The Amity Affliction)
Ba.Tomohiro (ex-FACT)
Dr.Eiji (ex-FACT)
 
 
"SHADOWS" members:
Vo.Hiro (ex-FACT)
Gt.Kazuki (ex-FACT)
Gt.Takahiro (ex-FACT)
 
https://twitter.com/joy_opposites
https://twitter.com/SHADOWS_JAPAN
 
 
FACT DVD "002" will be released in 2016 spring
 
[contents]
Music Video
01.FOSS
02.pink rolex
03.polyrhythm winter
04.ape(Lyric Video)
05.drag(Lyric Video)
06.miles away
07.disclosure
08.the way down
09.wait
10.look away
11.choices(Lyric Video)
12.ALL THIS WONDER / co3
13.ALL THIS WONDER(80KIDZ North Field Mix) / co3
14.LET'S GET OUTTA HERE feat.AZKILLZ / co3
Live Video
・ROCK-O-RAMA 2015
・FACT "WITNESS" JAPAN TOUR 2014 ENCORE PART
・FACT "KTHEAT" JAPAN TOUR 2015 ENCORE PART

I'll start playing Hotline Miami again as soon as I get home. It have to be dark and it have to be loud. It'll put me into a trance. One of the best games ever.
Will play Hotline Miami 2 after that. If it's half as good as the first game I'll be more than happy.

"UNWISH" lyrics:

Fuck
I can't vanish it from my memory
Feel the deep-seated hatred
I wanna cut your ugly face off
(Wipe out all of you, my reason for living)
This is a spell for you
Dig the fuck up

You have no worth
地の底這いずりのさばる
腐り果てた狡猾な害虫
Get out of my face
幾度となく拒絶しても
毒のように蝕み狂わされる

Crud you
その鼻をへし折り潰そう
Fuck off
二度と尻尾は振らない
死ぬまで許す気も毛頭無い

You always stand by idly
What do you think of the view?
I'll give you a bit of advice
"You're in the bottomless swamp"
Anytime I can trample you down

Scumbags eating shit gladly
Lowlifes making trash proudly
Whole damn world, I'm not able to understand you
What should I do in this place?
Awful scenes, you aren't awake to the insanity
Maggots crowding round corpses
Get real
I'm not insane, you’re insane extraordinarily

In the rotten culture
My voice might not reach anyone
But I continue screaming and struggle to prove myself
Even if you send me to the ends of the earth
That has nothing to do with it
I never fail to damn you

I'm sick of your fucking smile
How long will the suffering last? The fallen
There's no hope under the sun
Every wish is reduced to ashes
Drop my gaze to torches in front of me
My pain grows acute
Ringleader
If only you're not around
That makes me disgusted just to see you
Burn up you together all the fucking world

骨の髄まで纏わりつく
恥辱に歯が立たず嘆き狂い叫び
張り裂ける憎悪に震え闇を彷徨った
"Tell me" 生地獄の中
"Take away" 手にした答えは
"Way out" 何処まででも追い回し

Go with the urge to destroy

Get up
This is a spell for you
Dig the fuck up

The vulgarity in my sight
You take all of me by force, make them your own
Contentedly you're laughing
Why don't you have the pride?
You should think about it all by yourself
Where are you bound for?
You look in shabby clothes
Trust in you will disappear by each step
Every time you breathe, I become ill-fated

I'm so sick of your fucking smile
I wonder if the suffering will last forever (※Repeat)

Lots of things I detest
My figure is filled with the abomination
Everything except me is too dazzling
So I scatter venom about
With desire for revenge

Unwish you

Pray for the death
Die for me

It has been really fun to read all you guys reviews, so I thought, why not?
 
I'll stick to individual songs instead of full releases, in no special order, so let's go!
 

xTRiPx - good trip.
 
Such a heartfelt song, a thank you for all those years. It so on point that really makes me question why disbanding when they were clearly on their best shape. Ena is a BEAST here, I'm afraid D=OUT won't do justice to him. A powerful, bittersweet end note for my favorite band. Let's meet again for sure.
 
 

develop one's faculties - insert memory.
 
This song gives me fucking hope in the future. DOF never ceases to amaze me with their guitarwork, and yuya's voice and quirks really works. And then comes that chorus. Thats utter brilliance in everyone's face, guys! The voice layering on each other, makes a funky, banger song turn into an emotional rollercoaster that you really should not miss. DON'T YOU DARE TO MISS THE OTHER SONGS ON REINCARNATION, THO. 'it is what it is.', 'for', 'Frasco wo Furu to Tenbin Yureta', 'Negative baby', 'hope', 'Shunkanteki Shoudou no Hate ni Ushinatta Shunkan' are all absolutely amazing, enough to make this the album of the year for me.
 

SuG - Kagerou (LOL, thx Tetora)
 
I had to choose one song from their 'BLACK' album, and this is the one. This is SuG in what they do best. Since MISSING, their style has changed for the better, and even if you have any kind of prejudice with them, should totally give 'BLACK' a listen, one of my top contenders of 2015. Which was a fucking shitty year for me, and this song quite helped me going through, love the lyrics here. Other high notes on the album: 'Ichirentakushou', 'MISSING', 'overflow', 'CRY OUT', 'time after time', 'BLACK'.
 

MORRIGAN - Betrayal:Cocytus
 
MORRIGAN is probably my favorite new band of 2015. they shelled out so many songs, and most of them rocks my ass! Was difficult to choose just one, so I've just went with the one I think is the most their most emotional piece. Nice lyrics aswell! Please also check 'Everlasting', 'UNDER WORLD END 'XISS', 'SELFISH RUSSIAN', 'EUTHANASIA', 'UNDERWORLD'.
 
 

MY BACTERIA HEAT ISLAND - Mezameru nifun Mae
 
The whole MIMIC mini-album is AMAEZENG, as most of their disco, truth to be told. Again, had to chose the song that directly talked to me, and this was the one. If I had to choose one song to introduce Tenten to someone, this would be the one (Actually, Praparat 1st ver. but moving on). Now go give that mini a spin and terrorize your neighbours with Tenten bad english shouts on their skull!
 

DIAWOLF - Turbulence
 
DIAWOLF's Rebellion mini was not bad, but Turbulence is on another level. They really stepped up here, the whole mini is really really nice. It was a toss up between 'Turbulence' and 'Afterglow', but the title track gets the prize for its composition. Check the whole release, Shou's improved english, pronunciation and lyric-wise was a nice really touch!
 

PELICAN FANCLUB - Dali
 
This song revived my love for indie. The guitar work here totally reminds me of Two Door Cinema Club, which is a hell of a compliment for them. This song has EVERYTHING to be commercially viable on the west, for radio time, indie festivals and everything. Besides the vocalist. Not that he is bad, not at all, I quite like it, really. It's just not fit for western ears, unfortunately. Other high notes on the mini: 'Variety Mania Talent System', 'Police City'.
 

the GazettE - RAGE
 
Maybe DOGMA wasn't what everyone was expecting, but was good enough for me, much better than some of their previous recent efforts. Following a concept really worked for them, but they really should give up SOME of their formulaic styles of composition. I know, RAGE is not the best song on the album, and really is part of the rehashed formula I mentioned above, but LEAVE ME ALONE, OK? I like it. Other great tunes on the album: 'DOGMA', 'OMINOUS' (which  are both better than 'RAGE'), 'INCUBUS', 'DEUX'.
 
 

REALies - Ano Kage no Naka de
 
One word to describe it. Emotional. Rayka pours his everything in this one. They really saved their best for last. It's another thank-you, bittersweet goodbye note that shows the best REALies could do. Go listen to it, right now. As Rayka said, I hope this song reaches deeper in your chest aswell.
 

Shounenki - WEAKNESS_MY BLOOD
 
Shounenki DELIVERS. They just DELIVER. THEY WILL NAIL IT if not on the A-side, the B-sides come to rescue, as happened with 'BANG ME' (please don't hate me). This wasn't the case tho, WEAKNESS_MY BLOOD is absolutely great, and makes up for the weaker b-side. Kou's shouting, failing voice in the end of this song is so fantastic, make this song sound TRUE. And oh my god, it's CATCHY. You will be all LEEEET ME KNOW MY BLOOOOOD MY BLOOOOD all the way around.
 

amber gris - Absolute Being
 
to end the 'OH COME ON GUYS, WHY THE FUCK YOU ARE DISBANDING?' comes amber gris. Seriously, WHY? Absolute Being is their last effort that proves they still had so much steam to burn. Temari vocals are beautiful as usual, and while it may not be the best on their disco ('wishstar and sunlight and darkness' takes that prize) this song has a sense of grandeur that really gave closure to such an awesome band, that ones that gives you flashbacks of their best moments.
 

BAROQUE - SWALLOW THE NIGHT
 
BAROQUE'S PLANETARY SECRET was quite a disappointment for a lot of people, but not for me. It was what I expected from them, a step forward from the style kei and Ryo followed on the final years of kannivalism. 'SWALLOW THE NIGHT' embraces their new style, while paying respects for their past with kei's intense guitar work. Everything in this song just CLICKS. Don't be afraid to try it, to dive on the atmosphere they brought to you in this album. Other great songs: 'PLANETARY LIGHT', 'DREAMSCAPE', 'SILENT PICTURE'
 
 
Other High notes to make this post shorter: Misanthropist - Solace / xaa-xaa - Tsumetai / lynch - EVOKE / DIV - Ikenai Kiss / IX-NINE - HEAT HAZE / LAMP IN TERREN - Ryokusenkou / Kuroyuri to Kage - Kimi no Kusuriyubi wa Boku no Stew / DOPPEL - ZEPPET CiTY / Fake? - Addicted / ONE OK ROCK - Memories / Roub - Snatcher / TRA TRA TRA - Shosen Onnayadori, Shangri-La / Re;ply - Illumination / Sakanaction - Shin Takarajima / coldrain - Fire in the Sky / GOTCHAROCKA - Marry me, 'cause I hate U / WING WORKS - RAVVE OF MY TRINITY / KRA - Tsuyogari no You na Iroaseta Boku no Hitorigoto, Purple Stone - Aoi Yami / XENON - LIQUID, Hitoshizuku.

10-1
 
Releases
 
10. 印象派 - AQ
I still prefer Nietzsche, but this was easily great too.





 
5. Lament. - The Unvarnished Truth
these guys can release as few releases as they want. at least its always high quality


 
3. Plastic Tree - 剥製
one of my alltime favourite , i can never listen to their releases too much, but that doesnt change the fact that they are amazing.
pls another eu tour.

 
2. 김예림 - Simple Mind
easily the best kpop release this year.
took a while for her to release something new, but at least it was worth the wait.
ppl tend to say that it reminds them a bit of bands like CHVRCHES or Purity Ring? idk.




 
8. STEREO.C.K - in secret
another mini pls? great song.

 
7. 己龍, Royz & コドモドラゴン - 繚乱レゾナンス
this song is so much fun, i hope they do something like that again in the future.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfxmwcAlNTQ' title="External link">PV

RIGHT? That ending takes the song to a whole other level. It meant so much to me last year, but it didn't work out in the end. Message is great and will stay, though! and BLACK was such a collection of good songs, I really think SuG outdone themselves there!
 
 
 
So, so good to see some xTRiPx love around here! Yeah, I understand what they meant by that. I followed them since 2007, when they probably had their biggest following that slowly faded away, but since the comeback from the hiatus things were really starting to look better for them, finally signing with a label, doing PVs back and forth, great production-wise... But I guess those several member changes and the small following in Japan made them call their quits. Fucking shame, really. 10+1 is a song EVERYONE should at least give a try. Those fucking lyrics, omg. Really hope to see Yoshito back in 2016!

It has been really fun to read all you guys reviews, so I thought, why not?
 
I'll stick to individual songs instead of full releases, in no special order, so let's go!
 

xTRiPx - good trip.
 
Such a heartfelt song, a thank you for all those years. It so on point that really makes me question why disbanding when they were clearly on their best shape. Ena is a BEAST here, I'm afraid D=OUT won't do justice to him. A powerful, bittersweet end note for my favorite band. Let's meet again for sure.
 
 

develop one's faculties - insert memory.
 
This song gives me fucking hope in the future. DOF never ceases to amaze me with their guitarwork, and yuya's voice and quirks really works. And then comes that chorus. Thats utter brilliance in everyone's face, guys! The voice layering on each other, makes a funky, banger song turn into an emotional rollercoaster that you really should not miss. DON'T YOU DARE TO MISS THE OTHER SONGS ON REINCARNATION, THO. 'it is what it is.', 'for', 'Frasco wo Furu to Tenbin Yureta', 'Negative baby', 'hope', 'Shunkanteki Shoudou no Hate ni Ushinatta Shunkan' are all absolutely amazing, enough to make this the album of the year for me.
 

SuG - Kagerou (LOL, thx Tetora)
 
I had to choose one song from their 'BLACK' album, and this is the one. This is SuG in what they do best. Since MISSING, their style has changed for the better, and even if you have any kind of prejudice with them, should totally give 'BLACK' a listen, one of my top contenders of 2015. Which was a fucking shitty year for me, and this song quite helped me going through, love the lyrics here. Other high notes on the album: 'Ichirentakushou', 'MISSING', 'overflow', 'CRY OUT', 'time after time', 'BLACK'.
 

MORRIGAN - Betrayal:Cocytus
 
MORRIGAN is probably my favorite new band of 2015. they shelled out so many songs, and most of them rocks my ass! Was difficult to choose just one, so I've just went with the one I think is the most their most emotional piece. Nice lyrics aswell! Please also check 'Everlasting', 'UNDER WORLD END 'XISS', 'SELFISH RUSSIAN', 'EUTHANASIA', 'UNDERWORLD'.
 
 

MY BACTERIA HEAT ISLAND - Mezameru nifun Mae
 
The whole MIMIC mini-album is AMAEZENG, as most of their disco, truth to be told. Again, had to chose the song that directly talked to me, and this was the one. If I had to choose one song to introduce Tenten to someone, this would be the one (Actually, Praparat 1st ver. but moving on). Now go give that mini a spin and terrorize your neighbours with Tenten bad english shouts on their skull!
 

DIAWOLF - Turbulence
 
DIAWOLF's Rebellion mini was not bad, but Turbulence is on another level. They really stepped up here, the whole mini is really really nice. It was a toss up between 'Turbulence' and 'Afterglow', but the title track gets the prize for its composition. Check the whole release, Shou's improved english, pronunciation and lyric-wise was a nice really touch!
 

PELICAN FANCLUB - Dali
 
This song revived my love for indie. The guitar work here totally reminds me of Two Door Cinema Club, which is a hell of a compliment for them. This song has EVERYTHING to be commercially viable on the west, for radio time, indie festivals and everything. Besides the vocalist. Not that he is bad, not at all, I quite like it, really. It's just not fit for western ears, unfortunately. Other high notes on the mini: 'Variety Mania Talent System', 'Police City'.
 

the GazettE - RAGE
 
Maybe DOGMA wasn't what everyone was expecting, but was good enough for me, much better than some of their previous recent efforts. Following a concept really worked for them, but they really should give up SOME of their formulaic styles of composition. I know, RAGE is not the best song on the album, and really is part of the rehashed formula I mentioned above, but LEAVE ME ALONE, OK? I like it. Other great tunes on the album: 'DOGMA', 'OMINOUS' (which  are both better than 'RAGE'), 'INCUBUS', 'DEUX'.
 
 

REALies - Ano Kage no Naka de
 
One word to describe it. Emotional. Rayka pours his everything in this one. They really saved their best for last. It's another thank-you, bittersweet goodbye note that shows the best REALies could do. Go listen to it, right now. As Rayka said, I hope this song reaches deeper in your chest aswell.
 

Shounenki - WEAKNESS_MY BLOOD
 
Shounenki DELIVERS. They just DELIVER. THEY WILL NAIL IT if not on the A-side, the B-sides come to rescue, as happened with 'BANG ME' (please don't hate me). This wasn't the case tho, WEAKNESS_MY BLOOD is absolutely great, and makes up for the weaker b-side. Kou's shouting, failing voice in the end of this song is so fantastic, make this song sound TRUE. And oh my god, it's CATCHY. You will be all LEEEET ME KNOW MY BLOOOOOD MY BLOOOOD all the way around.
 

amber gris - Absolute Being
 
to end the 'OH COME ON GUYS, WHY THE FUCK YOU ARE DISBANDING?' comes amber gris. Seriously, WHY? Absolute Being is their last effort that proves they still had so much steam to burn. Temari vocals are beautiful as usual, and while it may not be the best on their disco ('wishstar and sunlight and darkness' takes that prize) this song has a sense of grandeur that really gave closure to such an awesome band, that ones that gives you flashbacks of their best moments.
 

BAROQUE - SWALLOW THE NIGHT
 
BAROQUE'S PLANETARY SECRET was quite a disappointment for a lot of people, but not for me. It was what I expected from them, a step forward from the style kei and Ryo followed on the final years of kannivalism. 'SWALLOW THE NIGHT' embraces their new style, while paying respects for their past with kei's intense guitar work. Everything in this song just CLICKS. Don't be afraid to try it, to dive on the atmosphere they brought to you in this album. Other great songs: 'PLANETARY LIGHT', 'DREAMSCAPE', 'SILENT PICTURE'
 
 
Other High notes to make this post shorter: Misanthropist - Solace / xaa-xaa - Tsumetai / lynch - EVOKE / DIV - Ikenai Kiss / IX-NINE - HEAT HAZE / LAMP IN TERREN - Ryokusenkou / Kuroyuri to Kage - Kimi no Kusuriyubi wa Boku no Stew / DOPPEL - ZEPPET CiTY / Fake? - Addicted / ONE OK ROCK - Memories / Roub - Snatcher / TRA TRA TRA - Shosen Onnayadori, Shangri-La / Re;ply - Illumination / Sakanaction - Shin Takarajima / coldrain - Fire in the Sky / GOTCHAROCKA - Marry me, 'cause I hate U / WING WORKS - RAVVE OF MY TRINITY / KRA - Tsuyogari no You na Iroaseta Boku no Hitorigoto, Purple Stone - Aoi Yami / XENON - LIQUID, Hitoshizuku.