CAT5

Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @The Reverend's Pick "Lunar Regret" by BLESS THIS MESS At first blush "Lunar Regret" is just another VK song in a long history of mediocre tracks released by nobody visual kei bands. It's got all the hallmarks: the band playing in a nondescript basement, frilly black jackets, piano in the intro that isn't quite necessary, a drummer consigned to the shadows because he's not actually in the band, random stock footage of things that set a mood but don't really say anything. But then you start to notice the things that make this track a winner: a band with the patience and maturity to let the song breath and introduce elements gradually, the vocalist's unique timbre that makes you think you could actually identify him without the band's name on the screen, the chorus being catchy as hell, the guitarist Kevin Shields-ing a smart guitar solo that doesn't just ape the vocal melody, and the band interacting in natural ways in the video! (Don't get me started on this tangent... why do so many VK bands seem to only acknowledge they're sharing a stage with other people during the prescribed 'this-is-our-fanservice-minute' portion of a show?? I blame Dir en grey) I'm rooting for BLESS THIS MESS to have success and find a wider audience with the backing of their new label home Starwave. This video may have been released slightly too early to be a teaser for an album that doesn't drop until December, but if this is a taste of what's to come I'm excited for their future. Fingers crossed Yanagi stays healthy!! @emmny's Pick "症状4" by SCAPEGOAT "Shoujou (shi)" by SCAPEGOAT Back at it again, our consistency legends SCAPEGOAT are continuing to snatch the wigs firmly off our heads. They've been on a murderous streak for the past three years (*wink*), combining mid-era DIR EN GREY heaviness with Royz-core melodicism. The basis of their sound isn't new, but the band's execution is god-tier, resulting in some of the strongest songs to come out of the scene in the past few years. I had written them off for a while simply because they weren't a superlative band--they weren't 'br00tal', highly technical, virtuosic, challenging, über melodic or with shocking presence. They're a middle of the road band--but they're far from average. "Shoujou shi" is a perfect example of their trademark compositions. Haru's raspy vocals ratchet up the tension, but it never culminates in a screaming match--rather gang shouted, exclaiming 'despair" among his yells. Guitar and bass are simple, laying a firm rhythm while the band's trademark circus-y synth/guitar occupy the lead space. The structure follows like clockwork, from fist bumping riffs, blastbeats and key change to a dazzling chorus; rinse, repeat and topped off with a beautiful vocal solo toward the end. A track this good off another of SCAPE's concept mini-albums has me literally counting down for October when it drops...let's see what other medication the band have prescribed for us. @plastic_rainbow's Pick "Utopia" by Behind the Shadow Drops If you haven't heard yet, Takaakira 'Taka' Goto, the guitarist and composer of post-rock band MONO, released an album titled H a r m o n i c under a new solo project called Behind the Shadow Drops. Being less rock and metal oriented, the album breathes out an ambient and neoclassical soundscape full of melancholy with a tiny glimmer of hope, portraying much of the orchestral side of MONO. There were many remarkable tracks from the album; it was hard to pick just one track to recommend, but of the many standouts, "Utopia" presents a refreshing taste to MONO listeners. Contrary to its title, the track sounds nothing like bliss, rather expressing a desolate and haunting view of the world. The intro leads a trip-hop beat with a blaring noise in the background as an eerie drone seeps in. The guitars lament in a melody and the strings sway in a sad prayer. "Utopia" feels like you're losing your mind slowly when everything has become blurry and deafening, yet it is somehow quite soothing at the same time due to its subtlety. I'm very pleased with this new solo project of Taka and wonder if he will have anything else planned in the near future. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "puzzle" by アルルカン "puzzle" by Arlequin Overall, 2017 has been an extremely solid year for Arlequin and they seem to have no intention of slowing down or releasing anything but pure bangers. Not a trace of overwhelming bloops to be found or predictable br00tal breakdowns. "puzzle" is a sweet refined candy that you can't help but hit the replay button to get another wonderful taste. It's hard to pick out a favorite part of "puzzle" since the composition is so damn top notch and the vocals take the perfection up another level. I'm a major fan of when both guitarists play an amazing solo together, especially since Kuruto and Nao have no issues keeping up with each other to make it shine brilliantly. If you haven't already been charmed by Arlequin, then I highly recommend anything they've released this year since none of it has fallen short. @doombox's Pick's "グラスの底は、夜" by JYOCHO "Glass no soko wa, yoru" by JYOCHO Math rock isn't normally my gig, but every once in a blue moon a song gets a hold on me. "グラスの底は、夜 (Glass no soko wa, yoru)" happened to do it this month and I got sucked into the emotional ebb and flow of the track. There's a wonderful musical contrast JYOCHO has that takes their math-y, complex time signatures and put them across in a very restrained, almost minimal fashion. I can really dig their gentler approach. Maybe JYOCHO will finally be my foot in the door to dive into this genre properly, what about you? "Phoenix" by SEVER BLACK PARANOIA The boys are back with a new release and a new label, recently making the switch to Epictive Records. As one of the bands still carrying the electronicore torch they maintain a blend of metal with it that's become rare after most bands in the scene chased the popularity of more dance-able EDM or have disbanded over the years. "Phoenix" is a great showcase of all the elements that make this band great and only getting better. It's a good place to start if you've never heard of SEVER BLACK PARANOIA before, or something to hype you up even if you have. Guest Submissions: @Ada Suilen's Picks "Mademoiselle" by KAMIJO After the glorious return of his historical band Versailles, Yuuji Kamijou turns back to his solo project, where he continues to be majestic, starting from the sublime "Castrato" (where he shows a great improvement in his English). In this new track, after having tricked us with a goth industrial look, the Prince kicks out a ballad which goes back in time, recalling the nostalgic work of Lareine's best tunes and a bit of personal fascination, in a tender melody and sweet vocals, showing that Kamijo hasn't lost his 'tendresse'. "Sadistic Emotion (D'Erlanger cover)" by Kiyoharu With a thrilling line-up worth of guys like Hyde, Kiyoharu, Dir en Grey, Acid Android, Mucc and Merry among others, the D'Erlanger tribute album is a real attraction for true J-rock adepts, especially for the lineage that band has for the scene itself. All the interpretations were made different from each other, but Kiyoharu made something which no one expected: he Kuroyume-ized the famous hit "Sadistic Emotion," driving it with deep vocals and an engaging rhythm, with a sumptuous touch of nostalgia. In general, "Stairway to Heaven" is only for true J-rock lovers, so listen to it as soon as possible! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

Being black in America.

新作EP「S」をリリースします 2017/10/25/(水)発売 qujaku 2nd EP『S』 1.rrr 2.KATSUKETSU 3.futAe 4.oSo 5.GYAKUSHI 6.MEI

There are a few that I enjoy, but I don't listen to them often enough to recall which. One that's always stuck with me, though, was "Crucify Sorrow" from the "Filth in the beauty-Auditory Impression-" single.

Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @doombox's Pick "Black owl" by Leetspeak monsters I'm a bit regretful I didn't hear about this band until they stepped up their monster-inspired theatrics and landed on the visual kei circuit this year. Especially as "Black Owl" isn't exactly a new song. It's been around for a few years now, but thankfully Leetspeak used it as the promotional track for their new mini album set to be released through GLK Music. And with how catchy the track is, it totally deserves a second spin for a new audience. Monster costumes and rap rock aren't the most original concept at this point, but it's been a while since a darkly-themed band came in not abiding by the hackneyed VK song structure. It was also a nice surprise to see an uncredited guest feature from Xavie (vocalist of revenge my LOST) even with his leftover fabric scrap cape (gold star for effort, I guess). If you're down for a bit of early Halloween fun, you should give this song a shot. @CAT5's Pick "ANGELNOIR" by 青葉市子 "ANGELNOIR" by Aoba Ichiko I might just be a hopeless Ichiko Aoba fanboy (and I am :P), but I don't think it would be farfetched to call her one of the most outstanding Japanese musicians active today. Wielding virtuosic, classical guitar skills and an angelic croon that could melt even the toughest of hearts, she's paved her very own lane in the industry with a folk sound that could only be described as otherworldly. Even when she ventures outside of her usual, acoustic dwellings, she still invokes that same magical quality - whether she's working with quirky, electro-guru Cornelius or Jazzy hip-hop instrumentalists Ovall. Such is also the case on her latest collaboration "ANGELNOIR", produced by little-known indie-pop outfit detune. for the supernatural anime 18if. Ichiko's warm, yet enchanting vocals lead us through a mysterious mirage of intricately layered electronics and orchestral flourishes, underpinned by a calculated rhythm section. The song culminates beautifully in the chorus, with the backing guitars employing an airy, shoegazy effect for good measure. It's yet another testament to not only Ichiko's choice of quality collaborators, but her ability to create viable music regardless of context. @qotka's Pick "わたしみ" by 大森靖子 "Watashimi" by Oomori Seiko Oomori is a tough one. She's been referred to as everything on the scale from 'nice/terrible meme' to 'the next Shiina Ringo' (still searching for clarifications on this last one). "わたしみ" was not what I was going to write about this month, but the magnitude of its punch when I first listened to it forced me to. This gust of raw energy is the coupling track for singer-songwriter's Seiko-chan's latest single, "draw (A) drow", a song composed by TK of Ling Tosite Sigure, and it's as astonishing as you'd expect a power combo of this caliber to be. But if you want to hear what Oomori Seiko really is all about, I'll recommend starting from the b-side "わたしみ", because while it's not readily digestible, it lets a certain raw, soul-baring essence, something that usually dies once a song is recorded, shine through. This simple and mellow acoustic pop ballad starts with Seiko sounding really tired, and just as it builds up to a point of crushing breakdown, she literally breaks down into a shrieking a capella mess that to some may sound painful but also full of emotion. This is perhaps one of the best translations of how her songs sound live into a studio recording. If you like your singers-songwriters messy and over the top, you've found the one. @Seimeisen's Picks "盲目であるが故の疎外感" by MUCC "Moumoku de aru ga Yue no Sogaikan" by MUCC The absolute banger of 新痛絶 (Shin-tsuuzetsu)! On the original 痛絶 (Tsuuzetsu), "盲目であるが故の疎外感" was the penultimate track; on the second pressing, entitled 痛絶〜印象違〜 (Tsuuzetsu - Inshouchigai), it was the post-intro opener and really didn't feel like an opener at all. On 新痛絶, MUCC managed to take a 'near the end of the album' type of song and make it an exciting opener bursting through the doors to the "New Absolute Pain" that's ahead. All it took was a different key, a new 40 second intro, and an incredible new atmosphere. You don't even need that static intro track on 新痛絶, not with this gem. "僕が本当の僕に耐えきれず造った本当の僕" by MUCC "Boku ga Hontou no Boku ni Taekirezu Tsukutta Hontou no Boku" by MUCC The greatest difference 新葬ラ謳 (Shin-homura Uta) has to offer. They really took this song and breathed life into it. I never really paid attention to the original on 葬ラ謳 (Homura Uta), it just never interested me, but this new one is absolutely outstanding! Another example of how playing a song in a different key can make quite a difference. Frankly, I never paid much attention to 葬ラ謳 in general, but the release of 新葬ラ謳, especially this new version of "僕が本当の僕に耐えきれず造った本当の僕 (Boku ga Hontou no Boku ni Taekirezu Tsukutta Hontou no Boku)," sparked a great interest in the album, both the original and the new, leading me to 'get to know' and grow to appreciate it. Some re-recordings may not live up to the originals, some might be just on par, but just a few, especially this track, blow the original out of the water. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "紅い意図" by CLØWD "Akai Ito" by CLØWD I'm writing judgement tickets for anyone who's been passing up the chance to listen to anything CLØWD has put out. At the start you think with the slow opener this is just going to be another boring visual ballad, but that peaceful set-up is thrown out the window once the guitars kick in. CLØWD definitely shows off their veteran badges with "Akai Ito" by composing a song overflowing with powerful emotions. You can feel the tension of a struggling relationship within the flow of fervent instrumentals and passionate vocals. I've been hooked on CLØWD since they first popped up on the scene in 2015, and since then they've grown exponentially with every release. If "Akai Ito" is anything to go by then there's little stopping CLØWD's momentum with future releases. @plastic_rainbow's Picks "夕轟" by マルコ "Yuu Todoroki" by Marco With two of the members leaving in September, Marco is living on the edge as they continue their way up. Thankfully, the remaining members have already stated that they will not disband just yet. If you are new to these guys, Marco are often compared with early Merry, mostly due to the strong similarities between the vocals, but I think listeners who enjoy VK from the 2000s, especially the mid-2000s, will enjoy Marco just as much. In fact, all of the members were previously in bands that were fairly well-known around the time, such as CindyKate, Order Made, JIVE, and SectMa. Marco sounds nothing like the aforementioned bands however, but the mid-2000s vibe is there. Before their lead guitarist and drummer officially leave the band, Marco drops in a phenomenal track one last time as a 5-piece band. "Yuu Todoroki" is less energetic than their previous works and instead brings out a soft retro rock sound. The impressive guitar work has always been a strong point of the band, and here they emit a luscious blues tone. Top it with Rei's alluring and rough vocals and you've got a feast for your ears. But let's not ignore all the splendid work done on the jazzy bass lines and guitar chords along with the soft drumming as well. It may be hard to imagine how Marco will manage from now on with their drummer and lead guitarist leaving, and a very talented guitarist at that, but I look forward to hearing more stuff from them again. "ワールドエンドサイレン" by lical "World End Siren" by lical If you haven't been checking up too closely on the Japanese indie scene like me you might have missed these guys. "World End Siren" comes from lical's new album titled Koto no Hanataba, Suisou to Kaisei that released not too long ago in June. It immediately opens with some mellow guitar chords and a distant train alarm, building a rush of energy. The jumping bass lines and light female vocals sound quite pleasing to the ears, but the blaring eccentric guitar riffs are the ones that take the cake. A few mathy influences can be heard as well and the distant train alarm from the beginning comes back again like a gentle warning. "World End Siren" for the most part may sound like a typical indie rock song, but the bouncy and hopeful depiction of a path full of risks makes it worth a listen and a fun track to jam out with. @fitear1590's Picks "螢の瞳" by アンフィル "hotaru no hitomi" by anfiel I'll try not to bore you with the nitty-gritty of my love-hate relationship with anfiel (please don't report me to hiroki). Essentially, they're a band I've always wanted to like, but after their first two singles, something just hasn't been clicking. Well, their latest single "hotaru no hitomi" might just break the spell. Stripping back the band's sound does wonders, especially because one of my biggest gripes with their past work has been the production of their electronic arrangements. With the setup in this track, the melancholy guitar riffs and robust basslines get to shine. The best compliment I can give this track is that it reminds me of UNiTE.'s similarly 'au naturel' single "ハートレス クラシックメモリー (Heartless Classic Memory)."If you're fed up with the hyper-screechy synth'd up VK of today, anfiel's newest single provides a breath of fresh air. "夏の客船" by ウワノソラ "natsu no kyakusen" by Uwanosora Uwanosora have been putting out music in various interconnected projects for a couple years now. My personal favorite is the side-project Uwanosora'67, which, if the number cued you, puts out tunes with a classic 60s girl-group flair. Now back in their original form, regular Uwanosora is gearing up for an album release later this year. To generate buzz for that, their first single from the album "natsu no kyakusen" is a beautiful, laid-back ballad and the PV's blue skies and ocean match the heartfelt soundscape perfectly. The entire experience is as calming as sitting on the coast and taking in the gentle breeze. I'm hoping the whole album will be on par with this! @emmny's Pick "愛という、変態" by gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy "Ai toiu, hentai" by gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy Love, a pervert. Another year, another mind-blowing release from experimental rock provocateurs gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy. "Ai to iu, hentai" is their first MV and a macabre look down into the rabbit hole (literally). Slick, sexual and more than a bit perverted, the song lives up to its namesake. The repetitive, skittery instrumentation reminiscent of merry go round spars with Sakura's challenging, rolling drum line while Kazuma's maddened crooning envelops the air. The song moves with a flow not unlike intercourse, coming to crashing climaxes and sudden halts before starting again and coming to another roaring blitz of noise. The first half of the song is foreplay, and the second half is whatever else you want it to be--an onslaught of sound and sensation. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

Yoooooo. Good to have you back man!

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome (back) to MH! Hope you enjoy it here! I wonder if you've ever run into @WhirlingBlack? at one of those DIR EN GREY lives, haha.

I've only been scrobbling on this account for about 2 years. my downy plays definitely spiked up rather dramatically, as I've been binging on them these past few months. XD @hiroki- holy shizzlekobabbles - I might be wrong, but...hear me out on this...I think there's a chance, just an inkling, that you really enjoy vistlip.

bleh, i'm good on this one bruh. Has it not occurred to TK that he uses that exact same bassline progression over and over AND OVER??? With that said, I'll probably end up liking this sometime down the line, echoing your exact sentiments "this isn't so bad".

Heya, welcome to MH! Is SiM the only J-rock band you've heard of so far? @doomboxmight be able to shoot you a few recommendations for similar bands! If you need any help or have any questions, feel free to let us know! Users with blue, red, and green names are staff btw!

Sakanaction??? Suchmos??? Susumu Hirasawa??? Hell yeah! We could always use more indie fans around here! Welcome to the forum and I hope you like it here! If you're ever in need of recommendations, we've got you covered!

Welcome to MH! Any other bands you're exploring outside of Dir en grey? Hope you enjoy the forum!

I always enjoyed having a visual representation of my music taste, and of course the stats are neat too. I much prefer the old library, though. And honestly, as much as last.fm has gone downhill, the site has become such an integral part of my online experience, that it would be next to impossible for me to unyoke myself from it. *sigh*

Here's a different link since it's blocked here in the U.S. Hoping the song turns out better than the chorus implies...

I don't mind harsh vocals in general, but in LIQUID VAIN, they sound pretty sloppy. I've never actually given BORN a proper listen, btw.

You're in for a real treat. That one's a classic.

The new Emerald is nice!

The world of J-indie is vast and infinite, so post your new discoveries here to share with the rest of us! If it's new to you, that's all that matters. You can also feel free to share new material from bands you already know. Share youtube links, bandcamps, soundclouds - whatever you have!