Ro plz

That song is one of the reasons why I cannot stand 2NE1. The production on almost all their songs are very unappealing.....Id much rather INSIDE BEAST.
 
As for BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY, I still feel the same way about it when it dropped. Also the live finale was really amazing. It really helps when you lower your expectations for an "overhyped" album. It was easy for me to do that because I was already on bad terms with the band after TOXIC and DIVISION.
 
Its still one of the best albums that dropped last year and the bands best work in a long time. 

Haha, so we're pretty much vise versa. And i agree completely,late this year was my come back year into K-Pop and these last few months have really REALLY been impressive. My iphone is filled with more K-pop than usual.
 
 
I can respect that. To me, their music resonates with me and they kind of remind me of Shinhwa in their earlier days. 
Yes, please do. I have a feeling they're gonna go very far as a group.
 
BTW:
 
I copped the AOA come back album last night. This was my first time really listening to them and I must say, next to T-ARA's And and End, this is one of the best releases this year. 

Haha, so we're pretty much vise versa. And i agree completely,late this year was my come back year into K-Pop and these last few months have really REALLY been impressive. My iphone is filled with more K-pop than usual.
 
 
I can respect that. To me, their music resonates with me and they kind of remind me of Shinhwa in their earlier days. 
Yes, please do. I have a feeling they're gonna go very far as a group.
 
BTW:
 
I copped the AOA come back album last night. This was my first time really listening to them and I must say, next to T-ARA's And and End, this is one of the best releases this year. 

I've had multiple encounters in the chat with Sai who comes off as really chill and nice. As for the others, I'm sure they could also be cool and such but I just haven't had much interaction with them/its hard to keep track lol. 
 
So Sai. 
 

MUSIC will easily win in this debate imo.  It flowed flawlessly together with the previous releases I listened to. To me, its the most musically diverse the band has ever been. Its a nice and well done combo of both metal and rap. Also the placing of the tracks made it seem as if they were telling some kind of story. Also next to UROBOROS and a handful of other albums, I rarely change songs when listening.  MONSTER was also a great album because to me it was the bands comeback but with that said...there is a lot of songs that album could've done without. I can't get past the end chunk of the album without cringing and skipping. Felt like they threw in GO left overs there just to fill up space.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEzptrtPr8Rb777ExOvp3qND1MSj21hLF put this on shuffle, then come back with what you like, and i can set you up.

Hey guys! This is my cover of DIR's 「欲巣にDREAMBOX」あるいは成熟の理念と冷たい雨 ! This is my first ever "real" cover. I added some special effects to the video as well haha. I'm also using an ESP VIPER 330 (6 string), its a model that's similar to Kaoru's actual one(s).
I learned this entire song by ear and the performance i'm playing along with is from their AGE QUOD AGIS [uS and Japan] tour leg.
Please, Id love some feed back on this! I do want to get better with these videos and such as time progresses. Thanks a bunch and also, enjoy!

These demo's are beast. Even if they are parody.

I love your Cage cover. You just got another subscriber!

^Lol. Same dude, I just now realized how many gems are in that release about a week or two ago.

I am not trolling when I say GANGSTA just might be one of SADIE's BEST releases.
I'm like 6 songs in and I love it. I already know from listening to SADIE for years now that they aren't consistent and their albums go all over the place. The fact that I can sense some actual originality and little to no DIR EN GREY jacking is whats getting me. This is deadass a cool album so far.
WILL EDIT with a full review when I'm done listening.

Thank you very much for your feed back and view! The suggestions are noted and the next vids will also be a major improvement.

Having not listened to 12012 since SEVEN, I felt that I should have caught up with the previous releases before listening to this last one.

But I couldn't resist.

XII

1. Vicious of Absolution
That guitar was introduced at such a precise time, kind of like it said "let me take you in and show you the last fruits of our labor, something great set forth for your mind/ears to grasp." That damn voice of Wataru drew me again in after a few years of absence. I don't remember Wataru sounding so great as he does now. I had to look at my iPod and make sure that this was 12012 haha. You can feel the raw talent that has not withered in all his years as he began to sing, like he he's letting us know that this is it. The overall song was nice and calm, the buildup to its highest point in the song was great, although when they hit the chorus, I felt he could've done so much more to make it a much more memorable first track. 2. Story of a Different Dimension
Fast-paced and the guitar play didn't overshadow the drums. Wataru's singing again is so well defined since I last heard him. Other J-Rock aficionados (friends) say that this track may have defined the album in a more positive direction had it been the first track. I feel the track was placed just right at #2.

3. The Red
Since I first started listening to 12012, I've never really gotten used to the growling. Seem so out of place for the style of rock that they play. Yet, they seem to have improved their growls too. Wataru shows us the limitless talent of his vocal abilities that just leaves you astounded. In my opinion, he rivals Kyo (Dir En Grey) at this point. You can't ignore the rest of the band members who help accentuate his vocals even more. 4. Alone
Haven't heard a good ballad from them in a while. Very addicting sound that feels (not sounds) better the more you play it. You are lying if you didn't sing this track to yourself. 5. Aqua

Oh my fucking god. This may be the BEST song of I've heard this year (maybe even a long time). Yes the lyrics are stuck on repeat, but if you had truly listened to it play, you'd know why.
This track tests the skill of all the band members in the very best way possible, a ballad. How much playing alongside each other for so many years has changed them. 9 minutes felt like an eternity. By which I mean a lifetime, like someone's entire life has gone by in those 9 minutes. Seasons have come and gone by the further you have listened into the song. Life cut short in 9 minutes. The song just pours out sorrow, you can feel it as they play and through Wataru's singing. A sense of regret and a sliver of hope. I was not ready for him to sing louder towards the end. As he sang, fuuuck man, you could truly feel the sharp wails, the cracking in his voice that pierced your heart as much as he intended it to. Every single ideal piece of instrument played in sync towards the end. The entire song draws you in so far in that the louder play just sets you back like "fuuuuuu why u do dis to me?" I felt goosebumps towards the end too, probably because the song was nearing its end and I didn't want it to. Again, another ending song based off instrumentals. Makes the entire thing complete. A big FUCK YOU to those who have the audacity to say this song was trash. Go kiss (band you wont stfu about)'s ass somewhere else.

This release proves that they are capable of pushing forward. To those saying it is a Dir en Grey Rip-off, you clearly haven't grasped the reality of J-rock music today. DEG and other groups of their time (early era for that matter) set the standard for most aspiring bands, just like those before who inspired them. There is no copying and no rip-offs, only influences or similarities. Learn the fucking difference. 12012 has incorporated DEG's style successfully into their own music. Fin.

The B-sides are redeeming and as much as I hate to admit it, I'll probably listen to them from time to time. SOS is the most appealing to me.  With that said, this is the new CROSSFAITH.....all hail.

Awesome work dude! To say you learned this by ear...wow.
 
If I had to criticise anything it would be the presentation of the video. I think you're too close to the camera; it would be great to see the whole guitar. Some of the visual effects could have been downplayed too (like the fuzziness during the heavier parts) as gets in the way of the parts we want to see you playing the most!
 
In regards to your playing though, it sounds brilliant. Really great job

I hope this full length isn't as disappointing as their last one. Grimore had at most 2-3 really great and heavy songs while the rest was just.....pop?
 
Regardless, Desperate was a boss song and I have moderately high hopes for this new album.

I am not trolling when I say GANGSTA just might be one of SADIE's BEST releases.
I'm like 6 songs in and I love it. I already know from listening to SADIE for years now that they aren't consistent and their albums go all over the place. The fact that I can sense some actual originality and little to no DIR EN GREY jacking is whats getting me. This is deadass a cool album so far.
WILL EDIT with a full review when I'm done listening.

Nailed it. 
 
Sad thing is that at this point expecting 'bang bang' from SADIE is a tad bit unreasonable. I think the 'harsh' reviews are a reflection of frustration because that expectation wasn't met. SADIE can do it, they just aren't. 

Certain users (whose names I won't need to mention) went out of their way to give ratings that correspond respective reviews ("0/10", really? Tell me more!).
That being said, some points:
 
Dead End, Gesshoku and Bleach are those good ol' Sadie bangers* in every post-Undead-Sadie record ever. People who feel really bad about mentioned numbers should get their game together once more, since they don't differ much from e.g.  singles in COLD BLOOD (that some of "certain users" seemed to enjoy, FYI). I cannot do much to advise omnipresent DEG fanboys to refrain from praising their idols in respective "worshiping acts'" threads though. *shrug*  
Tokyo Gypsy - upbeat out-of-place-ness here! Did they strike a deal with boys from Naitomea? J/k, j/k. The content does overshoot in its silly factor as some pointed it out, albeit sporting several elements worth admiring ("Scooby Doo-an" guitar licks,bassline). We might discuss the same about numbers like Howling or Shoot the Targets...: just how many songs are in these mashups? Not to mention those freaky ol' Yamaha synths in the BG.  
Props to the bassist and those who mastered the release for emphasizing bass licks in fitting parts. Let's not forget Mao for being as good as he usually was in clean vocals-section either - especially during semi-oomph-lacking end-of-the-record ballads.  
 
My thoughts in overall:
 
First of all: pardon for my off-topic-ish, brief intervention.
 
Yes, COLD BLOOD was their last release with majority of decent tunes. But seeing as "critics" are quite eager to give harsher ratings w/o constructive reviewing, newcomers' expectations always get overshadowed by overdramatized views of sophomores/some veterans (as I already questioned in my first sentence). Aren't we, as "listeners with experience", supposed to be the circle of adequate, open-minded critics rather than the gang of circlejerking, badmouthing elitists? Don't lower the bar below sites like Sputnikmusic and such ffs!
 
Sadie are clearly trying to find their comfort zone once again after giving up on resorting to heavy influences. Major inconsistency of GANGSTA is clearly an outcome of such experimenting, which is why I am being quite sympathetic towards Mao and co. here.  Perhaps the erratic hit-or-miss factors are a part of their charm? The Black Diamonds and Madrigal de Maria (previous releases) might prove it out.
 
Pros:
- Decent bangers*
- Certain instrumental highlights (e.g. bass)
- Mao is quite okay this time
 
Cons:
- Inconsistency
- "A few" mashups
- The second half needs more oomph
 
6/10 - don't expect "big bangs" from this band.

12012's supposed last release (before this "indefinite hiatus" that seems more like a marketing gimmick than anything) is here. How is it? How does it compare to their recent efforts of THE SWAN and other ventures into metal that can only be described as "Whatever Dir en grey's doing, let's attempt the same"? Well, for one thing, this sure as hell isn't Sadie. Good thing? Bad thing? Let's go through the tracklist and find out:
 
 
1. Vicious of Absolution - First, let me say that if this album were to be judged on its song titles, it would have gotten a 0/10 from the start. "Vicious of Absolution"? "Story of a Different Dimension?" and the cringe-worthy, yet aptly titled "Alone"? Really? Well...now that's out of my system: The mini-album starts with "Vicious of Absolution" which is mostly a ballad that, even in the face of variation of some of the music and instruments displayed, acts in true generic ballad form. The bridge and chorus are the selling points of this song, and they aren't ashamed to show this. Well, they should have been as that hinders anything else that the song had going for it in the first place. A poor opener; but a good way to lay the groundwork for what else is in store.
 
2. Story of a Different Dimension - Another terrible title with one of the best intros 12012 has ever done. Holy shit, wait...this might be one of the better things they've ever done in this truly spotty "heavy" phase they've been going in and out of for the past few years. This isn't just some shitty and stereotypical diminished scale run (though that comes later), and in that moment I was able to let out a deep breath -- this may start getting better than expected. Just when I thought I couldn't be more surprised, there's a measure that features a descending chromatic line to bridge sections -- did they really just do that? Ok, this is starting to turn out pre-- I started praising this a bit too quickly. After the formulaic catchy chorus, there is a variation in the guitar line of the verse (this song is actually going somewhere!); but suddenly the song ends exactly how it started. How did they fuck that up? How did 12012 take one of the best things they have ever done (better than that riff in Deadly Circus which was legit) and go NOWHERE with it? At the end the track feels like it went nowhere even with the amount of effort clearly put into the rest of the song. Well...things are starting to look like true 12012 form now.
 
3. The Red - Wow! Dimished scales! Chugging from the guitars! Ok, I'm being sarcastic. This, just like every poor attempt by Dir en grey, is 12012 trying really hard to sound as heavy as possible; but only drawing on things done 100x over by Dir en grey alone (and done throughout extreme metal conventions) to set themselves apart. There's even some half-step trills in the beginning that sound like they want to be badass SOOOO BADLY when it just comes off as a musical joke. Drawing on metal conventions and doing nothing with it has been the curse of Sadie, and even when 12012 are at their strongest there are hints of that inability to truly distinguish themselves in a given genre / style that has made Sadie the joke they are today. In the bridge there is a developmental section of the opening riff but it doesn't do a whole lot with it. Just slides down the scale a few steps and back up with tremolo picking as if that is some revelatory moment in the song that is supposed to surprise us. At this point, with tiny changes being shaped in the verses, I'm tired of these shitty choruses. I used to long for 12012 choruses; but in this song I am interested in everything BUT it -- why? One needs to go through their entire discography and listen to every chorus to find out why. Again, even when it's not a ballad, the Chorus is emphasized so much when that is the last musically interesting aspect of the song. Suddenly, the Verse stops changing and results in just being another throwaway section to close the song out.
 
4. Alone - Another ballad. There's not much to say aside from summing up my thoughts on the first track. Everything is there in the ballad that you'd expect.
 
5. Aqua -- Here it is, the big finish to (possibly) 12012's last release. And what a surprise that it's just over 9 minutes long....this, for everyone, should have been the first red flag. 12012 doing a song longer than 5 minutes? No thanks; but I kept my hopes up because for the most part, though largely mediocre, the leaps 12012 have made since The Swan have been pretty significant. Well...this will go down as one of the worst attempts by 12012 at a long track, one of the worst closers by 12012, and one of the worst songs on an album in recent memory.
 
"Isn't that a little harsh, though? One of the worst songs on an album in recent memory. Surely you can't be--"
 
No, it's as bad as I make it out to be. With a piano intro and a slow build, we are assaulted with not only a painfully formulaic ballad; but one that -- get this -- DOESN'T CHANGE KEYS FOR THE ENTIRE 9 MINUTES AND 17 SECONDS. WHAT. THE. HELL. In B major with only glimpses at the beginning of a change (in the first 10 seconds), this song goes literally nowhere for over 9 minutes. Repeated chorus over and over again, piano sections, and a painfully slow fade-out that reduces this mini-album to a whimper which is the essence of what's wrong with this release. Truly, this is the only track that is genuinely BAD. You have your typical moments where the band hits the iii and vi chords for that SUPER EMOTIONAL moment, the solo that sounds like it's ripped from a poor tablature of November Rain (not the good solo at the end, I would never expect 12012 to do anything like that), and a progression that sputters over and over worse than one of the worst performances of a Grateful Dead song (when Garcia was nodding off on Heroin stage left), this song is the epitome of what not to do when given the opportunity to write a 10 minute song. Where's the development? The recapitulation? Coda...? Where is ANYTHING that would make this an interesting composition? It's absent, and something that left such a bad taste in my mouth that I had to reassess my experience of the mini-album because of it.
 
 
Overall: The first few tracks though largely straight forward and typical 12012 (great ideas, poor execution), there are many moments where I was amazed. I was stunned at what 12012 was able to do given this is their last shot; but this was all for nothing when "Aqua" shows up at the end in all of its 9 minutes and 17 seconds of glory. Aqua is bad, it's horrendous, and sadly ruins the albums finish. This mini-album had SO MUCH going for it; but all hope was lost. At least this isn't Sadie who, given this material, probably would have said "hey, that chromatic line is a bit too harsh on my tender ears. Can we change that to a I-IV-V progression? What's that? We've already done that? Well...can we do it again? OK, let's do it".
 
Moments of genius and a level of growth they have been missing their entire careers; but ultimately bogged down with lazy writing at times, and one of the worst songs I've heard in a long time. At least this isn't Sadie. At least this isn't "GANGSTA"
 
 
5/10

12012's XII makes me sad. Sad in the way that this is going to be their last release for a long time. This album is near perfection. I can literally describe it as a well done trip down memory lane through their past and present era's. VICIOUS OF ABSOLUTION reminds me a lot of the SEVEN era. I love how even though drop B is the bands main tuning now, they can still make memorable tracks in standard or Drop D. Pretty much everyone of the members shine on this song and they all compliment each other. Oh and the piano just adds that spice to things. Beautiful. STORY OF A DIFFERENT DIMENSION reminds me a lot of something that would be on Play Dolls or Diamonds. The guitars are the highlights of this song, especially the main riff. My reaction face when hearing it : Another great track.
 
THE RED is probably my favorite song on the mini. I've been saying this since the Swan, 12012 seriously has something great going on with the heavier tracks. Its near death metal territory, super creative, and pulls no punches. Just in your face brutality. Id love to see a full album with more tracks like these. BOSS. ALONE didn't interest me at first when I first heard it but it quickly grew on me. If I were to place it in the bands timeline, Id also put it somewhere in their earlier albums. It puts you in the chill mood and I could def see myself waving my arms from left to right singing the chorus. I really enjoy this track and its a nice break from the intensity of the other 2 tracks.
 
AQUA: I listened to this and forgot it was on because it was super subtle. Then I realized it was 9 minutes....why? 
 
This is one of the best releases of 2014. I am sad to see 12012 go after this. They finally capitalized on a sound and now they're going on hiatus. I hope they realize they have something great going and decide to resume activities. If they do disband (God forbid), I wouldn't be mad. This was a valiant effort put in by them
 
9.5/10

12012's XII makes me sad. Sad in the way that this is going to be their last release for a long time. This album is near perfection. I can literally describe it as a well done trip down memory lane through their past and present era's. VICIOUS OF ABSOLUTION reminds me a lot of the SEVEN era. I love how even though drop B is the bands main tuning now, they can still make memorable tracks in standard or Drop D. Pretty much everyone of the members shine on this song and they all compliment each other. Oh and the piano just adds that spice to things. Beautiful. STORY OF A DIFFERENT DIMENSION reminds me a lot of something that would be on Play Dolls or Diamonds. The guitars are the highlights of this song, especially the main riff. My reaction face when hearing it : Another great track.
 
THE RED is probably my favorite song on the mini. I've been saying this since the Swan, 12012 seriously has something great going on with the heavier tracks. Its near death metal territory, super creative, and pulls no punches. Just in your face brutality. Id love to see a full album with more tracks like these. BOSS. ALONE didn't interest me at first when I first heard it but it quickly grew on me. If I were to place it in the bands timeline, Id also put it somewhere in their earlier albums. It puts you in the chill mood and I could def see myself waving my arms from left to right singing the chorus. I really enjoy this track and its a nice break from the intensity of the other 2 tracks.
 
AQUA: I listened to this and forgot it was on because it was super subtle. Then I realized it was 9 minutes....why? 
 
This is one of the best releases of 2014. I am sad to see 12012 go after this. They finally capitalized on a sound and now they're going on hiatus. I hope they realize they have something great going and decide to resume activities. If they do disband (God forbid), I wouldn't be mad. This was a valiant effort put in by them
 
9.5/10

12012's XII makes me sad. Sad in the way that this is going to be their last release for a long time. This album is near perfection. I can literally describe it as a well done trip down memory lane through their past and present era's. VICIOUS OF ABSOLUTION reminds me a lot of the SEVEN era. I love how even though drop B is the bands main tuning now, they can still make memorable tracks in standard or Drop D. Pretty much everyone of the members shine on this song and they all compliment each other. Oh and the piano just adds that spice to things. Beautiful. STORY OF A DIFFERENT DIMENSION reminds me a lot of something that would be on Play Dolls or Diamonds. The guitars are the highlights of this song, especially the main riff. My reaction face when hearing it : Another great track.
 
THE RED is probably my favorite song on the mini. I've been saying this since the Swan, 12012 seriously has something great going on with the heavier tracks. Its near death metal territory, super creative, and pulls no punches. Just in your face brutality. Id love to see a full album with more tracks like these. BOSS. ALONE didn't interest me at first when I first heard it but it quickly grew on me. If I were to place it in the bands timeline, Id also put it somewhere in their earlier albums. It puts you in the chill mood and I could def see myself waving my arms from left to right singing the chorus. I really enjoy this track and its a nice break from the intensity of the other 2 tracks.
 
AQUA: I listened to this and forgot it was on because it was super subtle. Then I realized it was 9 minutes....why? 
 
This is one of the best releases of 2014. I am sad to see 12012 go after this. They finally capitalized on a sound and now they're going on hiatus. I hope they realize they have something great going and decide to resume activities. If they do disband (God forbid), I wouldn't be mad. This was a valiant effort put in by them
 
9.5/10

I enjoyed the hell out of 2PM's come back as well. Such a great song. However, the album didn't appeal much to me though :/
 
Did you listen to the EDM remix release that dropped??
4Minute has a few good songs but as a whole they haven't been able to keep my interest. SISTAR has my heart. They're one of the first groups that I listened to when I got back into the scene. ALONE is a fantastic mini. As far as T-ARA goes, I also love Number 9. Its my all time favorite song but Sugar Free....damn...that track goes so hard and I love that dark feel it has haha.
 
Feels good to talk K-Pop.

Hyomin is my DP atm, Sugar Free could've probably been edited better. I didn't like the slowdown in the middle otherwise it was so T-ARAish that it eased away my apprehension when I heard it was to be EDM based.