Number Girl

I agree that preoccupying yourself is a good remedy. Find an activity that not only keeps you busy, but makes you happy too. Also, try to avoid things or places that remind you of that person if you can help it. It will take time, but you will eventually move on and your life will be all the better for it.

Eh, not good . . . :/

It depends on the individual - there are lots of people who have been obsessed with VK for a long time and really are truly passionate about it. I think for me it was a phase. I really only was into many of the bands because I thought it was unique and edgy and it was what everyone else was listening to at the time. Once my music tastes evolved and "matured," I gradually lost interest in it. Now I only enjoy a couple VK bands and don't consider myself a fan of VK as a whole.

This question keeps coming up across forums and blogs for as long as I've been into J-Rock (since 2007). In the end, it really and truly all depends on your perspective. For me, visual kei has been "dead" to me for quite a long time now. I believe the spirit of visual kei that brought forth some of my favorite bands has disappeared completely and I'm a bit surprised people are just now pondering this matter. However, a fan who is into the new wave of bands probably still thinks it is alive and well. Technically, there are still plenty of bands still on the scene and still forming (plus you have throw-back bands coming out of the wood work and making more music) so it isn't "dead" in that sense. I wouldn't get too disappointed or discouraged. It is always sad when our favorite bands disband or lose that spark due to falling into the new shitty trends, but we just have to accept that nothing lasts forever and in time new artists will come along and maybe change our minds.

R.I.P.

Didn't really discover any new artists, but I "rediscovered" Dir en grey in 2012 as well as The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash.

Zombies, just because vampires and werewolves were ruined by Twilight for me.

Books for school - pretty much highway robbery. A bunch of iTunes songs.

Love it.

First, my humble merch collection: I organized my CD's by "genre" since I'm weird like that: Metal Featured: Anthem, Boris, Blindman, Eizo Sakamoto, Sigh, DEG, Dead End, Grand Slam, Loudness, and Exclaim "Indies" Featured: andymori, cinema staff, caroline rocks, Number Girl, Onsa, Vola, Sunsgrind, Melt-Banana, Spiral Chord, Suiseinoboaz, Molice, and one Drum:kan CD. Visual Kei Featured: Color, D'espairsRay, Gackt, Luna Sea, Versailles, and Kuroyume Thank you, Gackt for having so many obnoxiously-shaped releases. "Other" Featured: B'z, BJC (the two thin packs at the top), and Yemon

Thanks

Onsa's debut "Mizuiro Sorairo" is one of my favorite albums. At this point they haven't signed onto RX-Records and spoiled their sound with pop-punk and still have that typical Japanese underground shoegazey/emo sound. (Although those other albums are good, just not nearly AS good). Color's "Gekitotsu!!" is ear porn for anyone who loves that punk-flavored old school visual kei sound (and Dynamite Tommy's beautiful angelic vocals!) I also love Anthem's debut - which is simply a classic, no doubt about that and Grand Slam's "Rhythmic Noise."

I enjoy the title track. I actually really enjoy Kyo's higher vocals - I'm not sure why. Sometimes those growls/screams can get a bit old after some time . . . I didn't bother listening to the second song. Haven't been impressed much by their self-covers so far and was pretty sure I'd feel the same about this one.

Got out of a year-long emotionally/physically abusive relationship this past month and been getting back in control of my life. My anxiety and depression has decreased a lot and my self-confidence has increased. Today I hung out with my best friend and listened to some new J-Rock that I love and I am really happy.

This year, I didn't have a whole ton of favorites, but the ones I did love are very special: Anthem - Burning Oath Andymori - Hikari Cinema Staff - Salvage You Luna Sea - End of the Dream/Rouge Blindman - Blazing Crisis

Horse, goat, and cow.

They get random after the Top 4.

when i grow up i want to be japanese and live in jaapan and watch amine and marry the love of my life Gackuto.

People do this kind of stuff everytime. It's just marketing. Countdowns make people excited, whatever the "surprise" is... it doesn't need to be anything THAT special. Luna Sea also did one thousand countdowns for releases, tours, and also countdowns announcing conferences that would announce shows/releases(that's almost a countdown announcing a countdown) on these past two years. LOL, true. I wish I could be more excited about this, but I have been the complete opposite of blown away by their releases as of late. . .

Cool beans.

Sad two-months-late news . . . I forgot to mention they disbanded. http://caroline-rocks.com/breakup/ However they did put up some free demo or something on their website for download if anyone cares. I don't know how long that's been there though. God, I am REALLY out of the loop.

I obviously have a bias for Versailles just because I've known them longer and I have an attachment for their members. I have tried to get into D before and to be perfectly honest, they are quite decent compared to some other VK bands. None of their songs ever quite "clicked" with me like Versailles' songs did, unfortunately. I also think they are a lot tackier/unattractive than Versailles as far as visuals go.

Not too bad.

i listened to the new songs and i fell in love with them, had sex with them, and then fell asleep with them in my arms. my boys are back!!!!