Aeolus

@Aeolus I'm also going to agree with Poweramp for all the reasons you said. I use it on the Walkman NX1 because I'm a weeb who imports all of his audio devices from Japan and I have no complaints with it. I don't often pay for Android apps because the free stuff is good enough to get by but when it comes to music players they all suck. It's worth the $3 for Poweramp. Music comes in crystal clear and there's plenty of settings for equalizers for those who like them. It plays back literally any format you can throw at it, doesn't drain the battery too badly, can display all types of embedded artwork, handles Japanese nicely. It even auto pauses if your audio jack disconnects while you play. I have no complaints with it at all except that it could handle Unicode file paths better when you auto import a playlist but that's so minor I can live with fixing them up.

+1 for Poweramp paid version.
 
better UI and features than samsung music and google play (i don't need internet radio though). I chose it over the free foobar2000 and Onkyo apps since they seemed to have trouble with 24bit 96khz audio.
 
foobar2000 mobile doesn't like playlists apparently.
 
I don't enjoy using any apps eq adjustments on my phone since it has a shitty amp module and for some reason when I adjust one frequency  it lowers the volume and distorts most of my music.
 
honestly I got tired of using my phone especially since I got a 200gb card in it causing it to over heat. I just ordered a sony walkman A series and got some sol republic shadows which both have aptX bluetooth codec.
 
I feel that it's just better to get a dedicated DAP with decent DAC and amp module. I would stick with my ipod classic if it had bluetooth. damn battery would last a week until I started plugging it in to my mazda 3's usb port to listen to it. Now after 9 years I'm lucky if it lasts me for a day. Just gonna wait until the 1tb ssds get a major price drop then i'll just use my ipod for my car.
 
Edit: I'm acually using Poweramp paid ver3 beta since that can handle 24bit 96khz audio and playlists.

I'm using:
AIMP - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aimp.player
Poweramp - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxmpz.audioplayer (Paid Ver.)
 
I think this is the best choice for Android.

Consider it a sister thread to the oshare kei one. I think this is a delightful dualism to make, and I am all about that vkei history anyway so I'll take any excuse to make another one of these. 
 
The adoption of the nu metal riff and attitude into visual kei's musical framework happened just when the scene changed forever with the implosion of the old labels and bands. In the usual visual kei fashion we were late to the party just about a good five years too. It snuck itself in slowly, making cursory appearances at such places as MUCC's Antique from 1999, Kagerou's Biological Slicer from 2000, Aliene Mariage's farewell album 21st Century from 2001 and probably in retrospect most importantly, Dir en grey's Six Ugly from 2002. By the year 2006 ( which saw the release of both eight's ILLATIONAL and Girugamesh' 13's Reborn ) the nu metal riff had fundamentally transformed the landscape of visual kei. Below are some examples of the development that took place.
 
Before I get to that though, I have to say that there's not many scenes that can even begin to rival the longevity that visual kei bands, venues and its marketplace have enjoyed throughout its history. Still living both in the underground and occasionally even willing to take the L of performing at a half empty Budoukan, it ceases to amaze the spectators that stumble upon it; all the while all the goths of the bat caves, punks of 77' and dadrockers of the whatever, live out their legacies either through grandfathers or hack retro acts that suck by default. Granted it doesn't look the same, but indeed the willingness of its adherents to assimilate new currents have kept the hangman at bay and those nails off its coffin at least for now, which has allowed visual kei to remain a relatively recognisable brand for just about a few years short of three decades. 
 
This thread while also about the seminal bands that managed to break through, is just like its oshare counterpart moreso dedicated to honor and celebrate those little bands that everyone other than south american blogspots from 2007 forgot. If you were that angry young man in your mid teens back in 2008 you ought to know this stuff by heart
 
 
If anyone can name an earlier instance of a just straight up nu metal riff I'd appreciate it greatly. Early Mucc is of course classic vkei and Tatsurou puts in just a canonical performance as the narrator of desperate hearts. Their nu metal sound would get thicker and thicker up until 2004, when they went literally out the deep end, supposedly almost disbanding by the sheer weight of the recording process. My preference however remains the very earliest releases up to 2002.
 
 
From the band that made one of the best visual kei albums of all time comes a ripoff  of "Eyeless" by Slipknot - that's the sound of Aliene imploding into disbandment. While I think it's undeniably shit especially considering merits of their career up to that point, they lowkey took part in pioneering the nu metal sound in visual kei. Keep in mind that at the time of this recording Slipknot's s/t wasn't that old, and it is a sound that vk bands would keep on ripping off for almost a decade afterwards. Another thing of note was that the vocalist Kyoka also ditched the frilly dresses and adopted the nu metal fashion! While his sins are numerous, this has to be his worst offense. Either way an important document for visual kei's metamorphosis.
 
 
If the disease had only previously been a cough, after Dir en grey got through with it the scene quickly became hospitalised by it. They would continue riding roughshod over the genre until 2008's Uroboros where they'd go on to do more of the scene's pioneering work. Say what you will about them, they've continued to stay relevant through all these years and I think it's only very recently that the scene has stopped riding their coattails as much as it has. 
 
I'll keep it at that, though rest assured there's certainly numerous other examples of the early usage of the nu metal riff from around 99 to 2002 of varying importance in the canon.
 
Early Girugamesh is what most people have their fondest memories of, and everything up to 13's Reborn is as good as gold as far nu kei is concerned. Their suit wearing while certainly not the first time it had happen in vkei, it was probably the context in which girugamesh presented it that made all the difference for the future: the blackclad angryman playing just nu metal influenced visual kei. Oddly enough I despised Girugamesh as a child EVEN THOUGH THEY SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME AS ALL THESE OTHER BANDS and it took me deep into adulthood that I finally warmed up to them at all. 
 
Unsraw was my Girugamesh in a sense that they were the filthiest band I knew in my seminal vk years. Hearing Unsraw sent me on a quest of finding the most rad nu metal vk band out there, and more often than not it just led me to the disappointments that contributed to the failure I am today. Yuuki's vocals made a huge impression on me and it was ever the more bitter pill to swallow that they got very boring very quick. Their Core the Child hits being contemporary with Girugamesh' early ouvre, they can also be considered of relative importance. 
 
This is what this thread is about. Look at those clothes, that breakdown from 2.10 that lasts for an eternity and Since1889 was in general just the quintessential nukei vk band. So bad it's good.
 
 
Despite this band having just about eek'd past the 2010 limit, they deserve mention being one of those final bands at the tail end of this fad. The look is still very much 00's and not the glitz of the 10's, and more or less free of the soon scene dominating metalcore riff. Glorious vocals as well.
 
There's a million of these bands, AND THEY'RE ALL GREAT. Post favs, early specimens in the scene, anything that fits within the parameters.

Yup! Need to check it out asap, the singles sounded promising and were really enjoyable.
Will probably post my thoughts about the new album on here.
 
Also listened to SAOR's new album and it's beautiful, need more spins though. 
+ the new Ravencult sounds really great!
 

I'm getting Sun too! I'm super hyped!

Getting Sun since my girl is getting Moon
 
Not hyped at all, sadly. I just like to collect events and reddit has ruined that.
most likely my last pokemon game i get untill crystal and emerald are released on the eshop.
only pokemon i'm interested in is Alolan raichu. though i am looking forward to nicknaming lycanroc Yuuki haha
 
would give out my FC but i'm still rocking ver 11.0 so i can inject wondercards, i can't get online.

has anyone uploaded this i would love to hear the lycaon Re:dis cover

In order to save text.
 
Let me go ahead and give a better explanation. Even then I will not word it right.
 
I didn't mean that they did all the work, or that they stand out the most in the album. Kai is still the most noticeable in terms of improvement though, and none can argue with me there.
What I'm referring to is the co-op they are making with the rest of the members (@The MAD Stallion explanation sounds better), the influence of their roles, in order to convey the theme to the album. A very noticeable change of pace than what they've been used to (before they'd play individually, with each of them having significance).
 
@Aeolus is pretty much explained some of what I noticed. The overall listening to the album gives the listener a sense of a cold, inhuman, or an angry feeling. This is why it sounds like Reita's bass/performance has been turned down (perhaps what @Saishu means), or as @Aeolus mentioned, the guitars are playing at very low levels, sounding like industrial rock/metal (something I've never thought they'd do as an entire album (more prominent than DIM era for sure)), but Reita's there laying the ground work for the other 2 to follow (though you guys mention it's the other way around). @emmnymentions the guitars having no personality, and this is what leads me to believe this. I'm pretty sure I also read in an interview with the band that this was a decision that they made because they were tired of the diversity, as perhaps they wanted to attempt (later confirmed in another interview that that's what they were trying to do) to be more in unison as @The MAD Stallionmentioned.
 
@The MAD Stallion I wouldn't say he's become lazy, for my reasoning above, but upon initial listening of the album, yeah, Reita is not noticeable or as @emmny put it, relevant (although I really think @emmnywas just trying to troll me). The guitars do indeed drown out Reita, and good thing Kai didn't go a big bass drum, or else why would they need Reita at all then? lol.
BTW VALUM is ONE BADASS TRACK. God I can't stop playing that entire single.
 
This tagging system is odd, but I'll get used to it I guess.

@emmnyI kinda agree. Reita seems to only stand out on Deracine Wasteland and Deux (at the beginning). that's what you can expect with a bass at standard tuning and two guitars at dropped B.
I wanted to say he stands out on Bizarre, but after the live turns out that's a backing track with Uruha tapping over it. However, I'm pretty sure Reita picks up the slack if they were to play Grudge live. 
 
@YuyoDrift I wouldn't say Kai carries the album. in all 3 releases however, i feel like my attention keeps getting drawn to Kai like as if the producer raised the level of his mix compared to everyone else. One of these days Kai's kicks are gonna blow out my car's bose system haha.
 
either way they should release the entire dogma sessions in 24-bit audio. maybe that will settle the debate haha.

@emmnyI kinda agree. Reita seems to only stand out on Deracine Wasteland and Deux (at the beginning). that's what you can expect with a bass at standard tuning and two guitars at dropped B.
I wanted to say he stands out on Bizarre, but after the live turns out that's a backing track with Uruha tapping over it. However, I'm pretty sure Reita picks up the slack if they were to play Grudge live. 
 
@YuyoDrift I wouldn't say Kai carries the album. in all 3 releases however, i feel like my attention keeps getting drawn to Kai like as if the producer raised the level of his mix compared to everyone else. One of these days Kai's kicks are gonna blow out my car's bose system haha.
 
either way they should release the entire dogma sessions in 24-bit audio. maybe that will settle the debate haha.

i cant name one song where reita's bass is even remotely relevant

@Aeolus Honestly I wanted the setlist to be a bit longer to because I feel like it took them forever to come in the first place so its only fair to give us a show worth remembering or thats at least what I would've did if I was in their shoes.. Not like anyone is going to love them less and I was just happy to go but I wanted so much more and I wanted Linda (not like anyone would do the moves in the right way but I really wanted to walk side to side dancing lol, I did it in Japan and it was amazing everyone was in sync and it was just fun)

@Dogprince21 Older songs? that set list is less than 25% pre Toxic. I was at least hoping for Nausea & Shudder, Invisible Wall, Guren and/or Remember the Urge. with the prices i feel a bit ripped off with only an hour long set.
 
yeah i felt like "you guys are fucking crazy" was a bit out of place. it's not like there was a mosh pit. To me it sounded like he was saying "jump the fuck up".
when i met Aoi that was pretty funny. i asked him if i could take a picture with him for my bday and he's all "yes yes, ok thank you" and waved goodbye. i was so confused if i should snap a selfie with him. when i reached for my phone security was already pushing me out. :/
 
@-NOVA- You know I was thinking that since none of the crew had identifying passes or stickers. but the only crew wearing the sweater was the GazettE's crew and not the venues. Being hispanic I obviously don't look like the band's crew to anyone working at the venue lol.
 
 
 

@Dogprince21English, I was thrown off by the band greeting me and speaking in english haha. Aoi was quiet and didn't really say anything to anyone. though it seemed like he had fun being behind the curtain making hand puppets while we waited in the pit haha.
 
It seemed like Toxic and onward were rushed, to me those 3 still feel new. If you look at the the length of the songs it's only 1hour 7min. I expected it to be a little bit longer maybe 3-4 more songs, but since they weren't following the itinerary they sent out i knew it was gonna be short. vip was supposed to be let in at 6 with the show starting at 8. we didn't get in till maybe 6:45 and i believe the show started late. with the original plan it seemed like the set would be at least 90min. I know playing a 2 hour show can be a bit much but not wanting to do a longer set is no excuse for failing to follow the schedule. I used to be a live audio & lighting tech, it really peeves me when a show schedule is not followed.

@Aeolus I was honestly thinking they played more older songs to give Ruki a rest on them harsh vocals but I could be wrong... Now if they played Dim Scene.... I would've cried<3!!! They did say they wanted to come back on twitter but you know how that goes.... I guess it's Japan for next time 
 
I did find it funny that I think Ruki wanted to say some more english words at some times like he was thinking of what to say but just ended up with "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"  and last but not least "YOU GUYS ARE FUCKING CRAZY!" but I found it hilarious are you " ready" "yeah" then come on" *screams* "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" lots of laughter like ok

@Aelous i didnt see crew or anyone else wearing you sweater and lols you should ave said yes and snuck back stage xD

I used to be afraid of getting fined or arrested for uploading Uroboros. 

@Dogprince21 Older songs? that set list is less than 25% pre Toxic. I was at least hoping for Nausea & Shudder, Invisible Wall, Guren and/or Remember the Urge. with the prices i feel a bit ripped off with only an hour long set.
 
yeah i felt like "you guys are fucking crazy" was a bit out of place. it's not like there was a mosh pit. To me it sounded like he was saying "jump the fuck up".
when i met Aoi that was pretty funny. i asked him if i could take a picture with him for my bday and he's all "yes yes, ok thank you" and waved goodbye. i was so confused if i should snap a selfie with him. when i reached for my phone security was already pushing me out. :/
 
@-NOVA- You know I was thinking that since none of the crew had identifying passes or stickers. but the only crew wearing the sweater was the GazettE's crew and not the venues. Being hispanic I obviously don't look like the band's crew to anyone working at the venue lol.
 
 
 

same happened here until towards the end some girl was recording and they tried taking her phone away but gave up haha.
i took like 2 pictures during the encore and 2 when they took their bow.
because this was a birthday present from my girlfriend she had me go into the pit while she stayed at the wall behind me. i don't know how to feel about her taking over 100 pictures.. i feel bad out of respect for the band but at the same time, when the hell am i gonna get to see the GazettE in my hometown again!?!?
you didn't miss much all you missed was maybe early access (an hour in advance for me) a shirt with their logo on the front and "Abyssus Abyssum Invocat" on the back. i like the other shirts on sale instead so i had to buy those. they weren't signing anything or taking photos with fans during the meet and greet. all they were doing was...
 
 
shaking hands...
 
the highlight for me was when an outburst of laughter came from Ruki after i told him i was listening to lamb of god. He asked me what i was listing to because i had my headphones on full blast around my neck. i'm not sure what he found funny though the fact that i was listening to another band and not them, the band itself or the fact that i was listening to lamb of god after they played so much of them before the show started lol.
 
oh and incase anyone is interested, the setlist
 
NIHIL
DOGMA
RAGE
Derangement
Venomous Spider's Web
Sludgy Cult
BIZARRE
Dripping Insanity
OMINOUS
The Suicide Circus
Vortex
UGLY
UNDYING
Filth in the Beauty
 
Encore:
Agony
Cockroach
Tomorrow Never Dies
 
yeah...
I love these songs, but i cant help feeling that we got the short end of the stick...

@-NOVA- was it just me or was it only crew wearing my sweater? when i was putting away my merch some woman came up to me and asked if i was crew (fucking wish i was still doing live audio). the only reason i can think was my sweater, i didn't see anyone else in line with it, at least on my side of the building haha.

same happened here until towards the end some girl was recording and they tried taking her phone away but gave up haha.
i took like 2 pictures during the encore and 2 when they took their bow.
because this was a birthday present from my girlfriend she had me go into the pit while she stayed at the wall behind me. i don't know how to feel about her taking over 100 pictures.. i feel bad out of respect for the band but at the same time, when the hell am i gonna get to see the GazettE in my hometown again!?!?
you didn't miss much all you missed was maybe early access (an hour in advance for me) a shirt with their logo on the front and "Abyssus Abyssum Invocat" on the back. i like the other shirts on sale instead so i had to buy those. they weren't signing anything or taking photos with fans during the meet and greet. all they were doing was...
 
 
shaking hands...
 
the highlight for me was when an outburst of laughter came from Ruki after i told him i was listening to lamb of god. He asked me what i was listing to because i had my headphones on full blast around my neck. i'm not sure what he found funny though the fact that i was listening to another band and not them, the band itself or the fact that i was listening to lamb of god after they played so much of them before the show started lol.
 
oh and incase anyone is interested, the setlist
 
NIHIL
DOGMA
RAGE
Derangement
Venomous Spider's Web
Sludgy Cult
BIZARRE
Dripping Insanity
OMINOUS
The Suicide Circus
Vortex
UGLY
UNDYING
Filth in the Beauty
 
Encore:
Agony
Cockroach
Tomorrow Never Dies
 
yeah...
I love these songs, but i cant help feeling that we got the short end of the stick...

Now I'm sad that I didn't get to go to the show in SF. Thanks, guys!