CAT5

@PsychoΔelica- if you have an issue with @nekkichi- talk that shit out via PMs or something, but don't derail the topic for this childish nonsense.

@helcchi- really solid picks! I can dig JILUKA especially. @fitear1590- BRUH. So glad to see that Mondo Grosso track, it's one of my favs from this year! The entire album was super solid too.

Greetings, MH! The ORZ team are back with our latest batch of recommended tracks! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @fitear1590's Picks "リビルド" by a crowd of rebellion "rebuild" by a crowd of rebellion @doombox got me on the acor train a few years back and I haven't looked back since! While the band is known to produce some freakout tracks here and there, their new digital single "rebuild" falls on the more emotional end of their sound spectrum. Having said that, the music is still pretty high-octane with speedy riffs implemented throughout. What also sticks out to me in this arrangement are the subtle, pulsing synths. Another hit for a crowd in rebellion! "F.A.T.E." by Rides In ReVellion From the first time I heard Rides In ReVellion, I could appreciate their appeal, despite not being able to call myself a fan yet. Well, "F.A.T.E." might finally be the single to tip the scales for me. With a solid power metal-inspired approach, they are writing more solid material than a band like Jupiter, who supposedly embodies this style. With the great vocals and instrumentation in "F.A.T.E.", I'm really looking forward to seeing where RiR goes from here! @tetsu_sama69's Picks "不機嫌" by chanty "Fukigen" by chanty If there's a band out there doing anything right then it's definitely chanty, no doubt about it (except for their guitarist Shia, but let's hope for the best). The band may not have a massive library of releases in their repertoire but everything they've delivered has been pure artwork. "Fukigen" is an invigorating banger of a song, from it's supercharged start to its burst of an ending. There's not a dull moment with it's hyped frantic pacing and infectious melody. chanty is a band oozing with insane musical goodness that no one should be skipping especially since "Fukigen" is only just a preview for their upcoming new single 今年も春が希望という名の嘘をつく(Kotoshi mo Haru ga Kibou to Iu na no Usowotsuku). "Adam" by A9 Stop what you are doing right now and go listen to A9's Ideal. Wait, actually not right now, immediately after you read this paragraph I want you to get your hands on this album and be amazed. Believe me when I say, do not miss this album. Ever since their return, A9 has risen from the ashes and has become a phoenix of musical empowerment. Even though the video is a mostly trippy mess of bad green screen, the song is an example of how much this band has grown since going in their own direction. It takes me back to when I really enjoyed them near the start of their career, when they made much heavier servings with a dash of dulcet spices thrown in. Granted, the entire album has a plethora of fantastic tracks, but "Adam" is the standout definition of their current style. Even though I wasn't a fan of the small, oversynthed dubstep bit thrown in, the rest of "Adam" is a delicacy for the ears. @emmny's Pick "アハレワタ" by DIMLIM "Aharewata" by DIMLIM DIMLIM, the hot new deathcore hunties of the scene, featuring ex-D.I.D. drummer and roadie guitarist + Deviloof's runaway ex-guitarist, come serving you an old D.I.D. style spin on Nokubura's style (or is it the other way around?). They seem to be turning a lot of heads; the comment section is unusually full of Japanese people either remarking that they bought views (duh) or are the next continuation of v-metal. Foreigners are getting their life too, as noted by the warm reception from you old, bitter people ;). Ultimately, the track is as good as you want it to be: the composition is fairly rigid but a little messy, drum track sounds like arse, the guitarwork is a little flat considering the members' experience and Sho's vox are inconsistent. On the flipside, the chorus gives you all the GazettE-isms you could have ever wanted, Sho's quasi-operatic range is dazzling, the acoustic+solo section is pretty awesome and the last 30 seconds of the track literally shit on anything v-metal released this year. What you chose to ignore and chose to ~love~ is up to you, but at the very least, DIMLIM show potential in their attention to detail, even if the kinks are yet to be smoothed out. @CAT5's Picks "pulse" by cinema staff I've said it before, and I'll say it again - cinema staff have been on fire lately! They're already gearing up for the release of their 6th full album netsugen next month, and they've dropped the PV for "pulse" in anticipation. The song follows in the same the vein as the material on their previously released Vektor E.P., showcasing the band's harder-edged rock sound that they seldom fail to impress with. The video actually serves as the sequel to 2013's "great escape" (the tunnel should be a dead giveaway!), both of which share the same director. If "pulse" is anything to go by, netsugen is going to kick ass. "liquid rainbow" by SuiseiNoboAz These guys went from being one of the coolest up-and-coming indie bands of the 10's only to unceremoniously land themselves in major label mediocrity by their 3rd album. Displeased with the band's shift towards the mainstream, the original bassist and drummer jumped ship, leaving the trio as a solo act. I thought that they were done for at this point, so you can imagine my shock when they resurfaced with this PV, and as a quartet no less! "liquid rainbow" sees the band return to full form, as they revisit their groovy indie-roots with all of the blatant NUMBER GIRL worship that made us fall in love with them in the first place. Welcome back, SuiseiNoboAz! "Sabre Dance" by Tomy Wealth Chances are you probably haven't heard of drummer/beatmaker Tomy Wealth unless you're some kind of Japanese beat connoisseur. He's not incredibly well-known, but with two albums and a few EPs under his belt, he's still worthy of note. His music combines his very own live drumming with melodic piano samples and orchestral strings for a decidedly cinematic sound that's more organic than my description entails (sometime's it closer to post-rock than straight-up hip hop beats). His new song "Sabre Dance", which will be featured on his next album, is what I imagine fox capture plan would sound like if they only had the conviction and the unassailable coolness of mouse on the keys. Guest Recommendations: @Ada Suilen's Picks "Missing" by NoGod It was time that NoGod didn't release something in an official manner, despite their successful work done in these years as metal band. With this new single, they go back to the style which got me to them, in a powerful and energetic metal ballad, featuring virtuous touches and vibrant vocals (reminiscent of great hits like "Atria"), confirming and improving NoGod's status in the visual kei scene and renovating my love for them! "ぼくらのアブノーマル" by R指定 "Bokura no abnormal" by R-Shitei R指定 When I listened to this band, in particular to "Seishun wa wrist cut", I had mixed feelings, since I thought that their sound was quite generic for me. But in the latest releases, starting from Suicide Memories, they developed a solid and better sound, which appeals me more. And in the mini-album Nihon Kyoukai Abnormal they tried and experimented with different styles, each one for each song and it brought up to an energetic release, where this song is surely the best one, with aggressive riffs and versatile vocals dominating all over it. Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! And another big thanks to our guest contributor @Ada Suilen! If you have any thoughts on our list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below!

The GazettE - DIM I've been enamored with too many albums to name during my time on MH, but strictly speaking in terms of VK, I'd say "DIM" had the greatest impact on me. I joined MH in 2008, so by that time, most of my favorite VK albums were behind me (D'espa's "coll:Set", and Renter en soi's "sphire croid"), and I was beginning to delve much deeper into J-indies. I hadn't listened to The GazettE since the "filth in the beauty" single and completely skipped over SR, so I curiously checked up on Ruki & co. via the "LEECH" single and was completely sold. Pretty much all of the singles leading up to the album grabbed my attention in a major way. I loved what the band was doing both musically and aesthetically (the PVs were gorgeous for their time), and when the album finally dropped I was blown away! I think that may have been the last time that I was so incredibly hyped over a VK album, and to have it fully deliver too! Good times~

These guys are on fire.

spatula guy single-handedly united the warring states of MH! He's an ancient, forum icon!

Long live spatula guy!

Oh man, the Chi told me they were dropping an EP, but i'm just now hearing the new song thanks to you and it's fucking fantastic. 2017 is really starting to bring the heat!

New SuiseiNoboAz is dope. Looking forward to the album!

They should team up with BFN's Ice and call themselves DEADLIFT GOTHIC LOLITA

They had a split with Boris!

ENDON will release their new album "THROUGH THE MIRROR" on March 8th, 2017! The album is mixed by Kurt Ballou of Converge! Through The Mirror 2016.03.08 (vinyl on Hydra Head and cassette on Sige will follow in May 2017) 01.Nerve Rain 02.Your Ghost Is Dead 03.Born In Limbo 04.Pensum 05.Postsex 06.Perversion ‘Till Death 07.Through The Mirror 08.Torch Your House http://endon.figity.com/ https://twitter.com/TOKYODIONYSOS https://www.facebook.com/tokyodionysos @Zeus, @bonsaijodelfisch, @The Reverend, @plastic_rainbow, @Lestat, @Tokage

Greetings, MH! The ORZ staff are back with our latest batch of recommended tracks! Feb. was a pretty delectable month, so let's waste no time and dig right in! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @emmny's Picks "アイラク偽心" by 游彩 "Airaku Gishin" by Yusai ex-Zin members' (minus ex-vocalist Riku) new band Yusai offers more or less of the same thing Zin were known for: a japonesque sound that was decent but not quite Kiryu. That's not as bad of a thing as it sounds, Kiryu's ADHD sound is a bit much at times. Yusai keep the angular guitarwork, sharp melody, funky rhythm and traditional instrumentation accents while keeping it concise and catchy. Amane (once on guitars as Luy) has a husky yet nasal voice which adds an interesting contrast to the instrumental track. This shouldn't be too much of a surprise given Zin's uncanny strength in composition. Keep 'em on your radar, ladies and gentlemen! "幽囚谷のバッタ" by ラッコ "Yuushuudani no Batter" by LACK-CO. Vk troublemakers LACK-CO. are back with another wacky song (and even wackier accompanying music video) which I happened to enjoy more than their prior output. As now typical of their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style, the song has thrashy verses, a breakdown, swing sections and delicate jazzy, clean passages reminiscent of Moran and Chemical Pictures. I can't even tell what's going on half the time, but this jazz-kei bastard child has enough going on between the complex guitar work, lovely yet forceful vox and wild rhythm section to keep me amused for its brief three minute run. "失明" by グリーヴァ "Shitsumei" by Grieva Grieva is dead. The vintage DEG and Madeth gray'll kote-kei satan spawn is no longer. What have we done to deserve such a fate? The end was near with the release of Konton no hako and the nail in the coffin was hammered in by "Liar..." and its alt-metal-isms. It was probably Grieva's roughest era, being all over the place stylistically. Now we have the next phase, a splice of their old sound and....*gasp* TMOAB-era DEG. I'm proud to report that it is the best thing the band have done in a while. "Shitsumei" removes the worn 90's riffs and fills them in with mid-00's metalcore riffing, all while keeping the 90's charm and incredible ear for melody intact. Grieva sound entirely re-energized and ready to plagiarize some more, thank god! @Zeus's Pick "Lineage" by Versailles Versailles is a band that takes pompous as a compliment, and from music to visuals they've built their brand on being larger than life. Lineage is both the release and the song that restores luster to a band that had lost their way. I extolled the virtues of "La Musique" in my full-length review of Lineage〜薔薇の末裔〜, but this is the track that defines the mini-album. I'm loving how the violin and keys direct the melody without overpowering the metal. The progressive elements come in at the right moments and introduce enough variance to prevent stagnation. KAMIJO's charisma is still as infectious as ever and the instrumental portions of songs feel much more theatrical and less like a showcase for HIZAKI and TERU's skills. Versailles does not often release namesake tracks on singles - in fact I believe this is the first - so not only is this a pleasant surprise, but it speaks to the confidence of KAMIJO in his band and this song when he penned it. This is a track I can play all day. @fitear1590's Picks "フラブジャスナハト" by グリモア "Frabjous Nacht" by GRIMOIRE Since 2015, GRIMOIRE has risen to become one of my favorites among indies neo VK. They've consistently delivered atmospheric, haunted house tunes mediated through high-concept visuals and surprisingly glossy PVs. While I can understand their main criticism--that they can be a bit too 'samey'--"Frabjous Nacht" looks to break the spell. On top of being their most standout title (lol, I still can't get over the word 'frabjous'), it's one of their most unique compositions. Verses have a slow, hypnotic quality and the track sports some of their most technical guitarwork so far. They're now apparently on Timely Records (home to the likes of other all-caps bands like XAA-XAA and DADAROMA), so I hope more people will take note of GRIMOIRE in all their 'frabjous' glory. "偽物の宴" by 眩暈SIREN "nisemono no utage" by memai SIREN Somewhere down the line, memai SIREN was recommended to me on YouTube. "Nisemono no utage" has a lot of interesting crossover appeal. It's part anime OP song, part Paramore-style power pop, part uplifting VK number (that guitar melody at :14 is something classic I could see MegaMasso doing). On top of that, the video is pretty striking, combining the pseudo-silhouettes of the band members over projected imagery that oscillates between organic and geometric designs. "夕闇に鳴動する衝動と幸福の在処" by Soanプロジェクトwith手鞠 "yuuyami ni meidou suru shoudou to koufuku no arika" by Soan Project with Temari Last month, Soan (ex-Moran) showed us a darker/heavier side in his surprising collaboration with Akuta (Chanty, ex-Administrator). This month, the art kei dial got turned up to 11 by enlisting the help of Temari (ex-Amber gris). It's a complete 180 from the previous release, nixing percussion and rock instrumentation in favor of a more sublime, orchestral sound. From the crisp piano that could adorn any Ghibli feature to the heart-wrenching, dramatic strings, Soan and Temari have crafted something divine. Soan Project is clearly a multi-faceted venture, so even if the first mini didn't tickle your fancy, you still owe it to yourself to check this one out. @CAT5's Picks "Change your mind" by 雨のパレード "Change your mind" by ame no parade I've long been critical of ame no parade (amepare for short) and not out of some unrooted distaste for their music, but because I am genuinely fond of them and would like to see the band succeed. Kohei's pristine and soulful croon has made him one of my favorite male voices of today, and the band is competent in both playing and invoking atmosphere. They're cooking with some amazingly potent ingredients, though they've yet to serve anything truly fulfilling. Instead they've been using the same boring recipe of recycled vocal melodies, bland, minimalistic verses, and big-for-nothing choruses. In promotion of their upcoming second album, the ironically titled Change your pops, amepare has dropped the MV for "Change your mind", which is a surprisingly welcome 'change' of pace for the band. Their standard formula is still in play, but the drab minimalism of the past has been enhanced with groovy synths and danceable drums that actually manage to engage you. From the very start of the song, it's evident that they're playing with renewed conviction, and it gives me hope that amepare might actually 'change THEIR pops'! @Original Saku's Picks "New York City" by Tempalay Tempalay has surprised me so much this month with music that I just typically don't listen to much. I discovered them earlier this month by chance while I was browsing JPS. They weave this weird blend of psychedelic and chillout rock that is just so addicting. It was love at first listen and I haven't looked back since. The weirdly named "New York City" serves as the opener of 5曲 (5 Kyoku) which instantly becomes less bizarre once you watch the PV. Most interesting is the concept of the album. I highly recommend you check out the whole thing if you like what you hear. "ノクチルカの夜" by まじ娘 "Noctiluca Night" by majiko majiko made her major debut this month with her mini album Cloud 7. We all know about the 'major curse' that plagues indie groups and artists once they go major. I was more than a little worried at the prospect that the same curse could afflict majiko, thankfully those worries were for naught. In fact I can only see an improvement in this record. "ノクチルカの夜" showcases a clear departure from her mellow pop-oriented utaite roots, and we can see a shift to a more mature, darker sound with much more depth and production quality. The new musical shift does wonders for her beautiful voice and meshes really well with her haunting singing style. It really brings a certain level of intensity to her music. "一休さん" by 水曜日のカンパネラ "Ikkyu-san" by Suiyoubi no Campanella After a mini album that most would call 'stale' or 'more of the same' last year, people were already counting Suiyoubi no Campanella as a one trick pony. This notion was immediately disproved this month with their new album SUPERMAN which does more than enough to validate their musical prowess and innovation. "Ikkyu-san" showcases what makes this group so awesome and addicting, with an infectious beat and a stunning vocal performance from KOMUAI, accompanied by eccentric electronica sounds aplenty. I know this is a REC track thread but I really just want to say how cohesive this album is from start to finish and I couldn't recommend it more! It might even be better than their previous album Zipangu for me. "明日も" by SHISHAMO "Ashita mo" by SHISHAMO This is a group I've been infatuated with over the last few years. SHISHAMO brings forth my love of female fronted indie rock bands like no other. They have the 'it' factor in their music, that feeling of euphoria and mellowness that wraps around you and makes you just feel legit good. They're a part of the few all female rock bands that currently are keeping the dream alive in Japan. I enjoy and appreciate them so much! These girls have been spitting out material so fast that it hasn't even been a full year since we got their last album, but we already have SHISHAMO 4 to start 2017 off with a party. "明日も" Is a fun pop rock jam that asserts that these girls' instruments are not for show and that they can jam when it's time to. Like with all my other RECs, please check out the full album for the true experience. Do yourself a solid. Guest Recommendations: @TheStoic's Pick "METALIN" by そこに鳴る "METALIN" by Sokoninaru Breakdowns. Blast beats. Gang chants. Chaotic soloing. These are not typical elements that describe the music the rock trio そこに鳴る. Since releasing their debut EP in 2015, the group has gone under the radar on the pages of MH. It's a shame given their technical abilities and impressive songwriting in the indie rock scene. However, their latest single "METALIN" (featured on the album of the same name) is more than worthy of appropriating the metal moniker. The band effortlessly melds their upbeat melodic choruses and core indie sound with a fresh dash of tremolo thrash metal riffs, neckbreaking breakdowns, and a frenetic energy that is a blast to listen to. If you have not given them a proper listen, "METALIN" may be be your gateway drug, as this single shows that they have the hunger to give indie heavyweights like 凛として時雨 (Ling Tosite Sigure) a run for their money. @Ada Suilen's Picks "Lineage" by Versailles I think that the visual kei scene is living a sort of rebirth, with many shiny comebacks, giving the genre a new shape. Probably the most awaited one comes from the symphonic metal act Versailles, starting off with the compilation The Greatest Hits -2007/2016- last September, and now with their second mini-album Lineage -Bara no matsuei-. In general, the sound echoes the inheritance of this band, taking even some elements from the side projects of the single members where this track represents its peak. With an incredible, virtuous metal sound, powerful riffs and more mature vocals, "Lineage" will surely stick in your head. Welcome back Descendants! "Remember the Name" by アイオリン "Remember the Name" by Aiolin One of the newest products of the scene, formerly known as code name Px, debuted with their first album at the beginning of the month and the final result was pretty shocking. As you can see from the name, their music (especially in this lead-track) is filled by a melodious violin (provided by the singer) mixed with electronic elements, energetic sounds and harsh vocals: the ideal ingredients for a sure success. Probably one of the most promising acts of 2017 and I hope that they will continue down this path. - Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! And another big thanks to our guest contributors @TheStoic and @Ada Suilen! If you have any thoughts on our list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact @CAT5or @doombox.

Massdre are back! Song is ok, but it's just good to hear them back at it PENs+ also released an MV for the fantastic "North park"!

Alright guys. Thread closed.

That A-side was a beast. I think i'd be able to elevate myself from a semi-casual listener if these guys gravitated towards that sound a bit more, but I can understand why they'd probably want to have a somewhat...varied output.

@nekkichiand @Carmelzors- let's not derail the thread any longer with your lover's quarrel. ; )

First heard Rentrer en Soi's single for "Wither" in either late 2004 or early 2005, and fell in love. Funnily enough, I had no idea what Visual Kei was and hadn't even seen a picture of the band at the time. The title track is still one of my favorite VK songs ever.

@Avex