-timecapsule-

I think they probably put 群青 as the final track, because they wanted to end the album on a positive note. The lyrics of that song carry a lot of meaning. It's about staying hopeful through bad times, and even though it was written 2.5 years ago, it definitely applies to Merry right now as well. Tetsu made a comeback to play one song in their Jan 2nd live and that was the song they decided to play. So I think it's exactly where it should be on the album, because it's essentially a positive song unlike all the others.

As for the album, I love it. It's not perfect, but that's kind of what I love about Merry. They're best when they don't try too hard and just do what they want without any pressure. They've never been about making some fine art, since they're a punk band at heart. They just make catchy songs with original melodies that are fun to perform live and that you can listen to 1000 times without getting bored. Even though I enjoyed Beautiful Freaks as well (this is my favourite band for a reason) it did feel a bit "airbrushed" and muddled with too much distortion. It was missing that edge that really makes it interesting and now it's back! And even though I love Yuu, BF was almost all him and I was really missing songs by the other members. This time it's 4.5 tracks by Yuu, 4 by Nero, 2.5 by Tetsu, 1 by Kenichi and 2 by Merry as a whole. And that adds so much to the variety of styles!

Favourite songs:

暗闇にピンク - I can't tell you how much I've missed listening to Kenichi play his own cool melodies in my left ear, so I was positively ecstatic hearing this song. Truth be told, if I had to pick my 10 favourite Merry songs ever, then most of them would probably be by Kenichi and this might even make the list. One of their best songs in while. The vocals are great too.

Unreachable Voice - This song doesn't really sound like Merry, but I mean that in a good way. It shows their versatility. It's very calming, yet not boring at all. It's all in the details. Just sounds classy and really highlights how beautiful Gara's voice is.

Zombie Paradise ～地獄の舞踏曲～ - Listening to the previews I thought I was gonna hate this song, but it turned out to be one of my favourites. It's just super cool somehow and sounds so very Tetsu.

Hide-and-seek - Can't say no to surf rock Merry! I mean 哀しみブルートレイン is the song that got me hooked on this band in the first place, so yes, I love it.

千代田線デモクラシー - It's punky, it's retro and it's silly. Just like Merry. I always approve of the accordion.

Carnival - Might have been higher on the list if I hadn't already listened to it a thousand times when it first came out. One of their best songs recently. Nero's been quite prolific lately and I like it.

NOnsenSe MARkeT - Not my favourite on the album, but a good song nonetheless. I like the lyrics and the PV is amazing. And yes, you are supposed to read NO SMART in the title and NO ART in the intro track title, in case anyone's wondering.  

I don't do stars, but all in all I really enjoy this album and feel it was worth the wait. Feels like we got what one might call the old Merry back. I also like the album art, which is flowers made out of dead mice and rats (snake food from the pet shop that is). It goes together with the whole zombie theme of Merry coming back from the dead.

I also love the bonus CD, because I love acoustic Merry and have been hoping to have some on a CD since forever. I think acoustic arrangements really highlight how good Merry's songwriting is. It's not reliant on special effects. The melodies can stand on their own, which is something that is sorely lacking in modern rock music IMHO. The fluttering guitars on Kanaria are just genius. I also thought all the live tracks sound great and I prefer the one of 群青 to the one on the album. Screams of the Dark is also a nice bonus. What a fun song!   


Oh and I've read the comparison to 9mm Parabellum Bullet in several threads now and I don't get where it's come from all of a sudden. The only thing these bands have in common is that they both derive from old retro styles and combine that with modern punkrock (which is actually why I used to be a fan of 9mm too). However, Merry had already branded "retrock" before 9mm even existed and still manage to churn out original songs 13 years later, whereas 9mm has been making the same song over and over again since about their second album. I actually own Termination, but have lost interest in them a long time ago now, since they keep repeating themselves and that's my pet peeve when it comes to bands. Not that this matters anyway, since I never thought these bands sound alike. Just had to get that off my chest.

awesome shit.
 

it is announced at their one-man live "recollection" at Ikebukuro CHOP at 2014/12/12 that their new album "窓の外は、カァニバル。(mado no soto wa carnival)" will be released at 2015/09/21, although details have not yet been announced
 
 
btw they will hold their one-man live "雨は薔薇のように(ame wa bara no you ni)" at Meguro Rock May Kan at 2015/05/16
 
 
SET-LIST at 2014/12/12:
 
01.recollection
02.birth～煌き破裂～
03.Gray Note Freak Show
04.絵空事の色彩
05.リバティ
06.lovers
07.silence
08.未来永劫雁字搦め
09.from hell to hell
10.葬列とxxx
11.butterfly
12.呼吸
13.story in heaven
14.ジザスカ
15.angel's watercolor
16.アンティーク
17.ROSES～骨と薔薇と闇と光～
18.楽園
 
EN1
01.弔
02.頽廃ロォマンス
03.ラブレター
 
EN2
01.Christmas Eveに生まれた古時計

サリィ。(sally) new maxi single "愛言葉(aikotoba)" will be released at 2014/12/27 (1,000yen)
 
[track list]
01.愛言葉(aikotoba)
02.真青な太陽(masao na taiyou)

Antikythera best album "ECHOUDION" will be released through their official web-shop and Closet Child at 2015/03/07 (2,500yen), for which all songs will be remix ver. and certain songs will be re-recording ver., and that best album will include their new song and songs remixed by 古川とも(furukawa tomo)(Guniw tools)
 
[track list]
01.霧の中の展翅
02.Estampie
03.指先の筵
04.Easy eery words
05.Infantile corpse
06.Narrow step
07.DDP(Dear Doctor Pepper)
08.百年の標本
09.体温の無い歌姫
10.優しい針
11.厭世のエンドロール
12.Ghost of romantic echo machine
13.Puncture in the glitter line(oldriver mix)

it is announced at LIPHLICH one-man live "(F)OUR OWN" at LIQUIDROOM ebisu at 2014/12/10 that their acoustic full album "萬の夜に鳴くしゃれこうべ(yorozu no yo ni nakusharekoube)" will be released at 2015/03/25 (3,240yen), and their new maxi single "SKAM LIFE" will be released in 2015/06, although details have not yet been announced
 
 
btw they will hold their 2 conceptual one-man live "Use My illusion" at Senju THEATRE 1010 at 2015/05/10 and at Shinjuku BLAZE at 2015/05/24

Cosmo-Shiki live-limited single "UNTITLED MUSIC" will be released at their live since Nagoya HUCK FIN at 2014/12/10 (1,000yen)
 
[track list]
01.THETA IN THE SKY
02.U/M
03.FRACTAL-ADAPTER RMX-

Their 1st full-length album "情緒 (Joucho)" will be released on 2015/02/18, with the following tracks:
 
01. 壊れそうだよ (Kowaresou da yo) 02. ペパーミント・ラヴ (Peppermint Love) 03. [D]elu[X]e 04. 情緒 (Joucho) 05. Baby Conscious[Album ver.] 06. FRESH FLESH 07. ピンクチケット (Pink Ticket) 08. 恋が止まらない (Koi ga tomaranai) 09. ワンスアポンなERA (Once Upon na ERA)   #yaaaaaaaaaaas

There have already been small Twitter mentions and photos about Kozi's band ZIZ recording their 2nd album but only recently did they update their official Twitter and Facebook, with the following message:
 
https://twitter.com/ZIZofficial/status/541971913778556929
 
...so let's hope it's soon indeed!
 
Latest info: "NEIGHBORING CHAOSMOS" will be released quite soon, on 2014/12/27.

Found the download link to "Future Days" 
 
All cred to Aaron from (ex-)Rawgothinsurrection & Ghosts in the House blog (RIP) for ripping.
 
I need to find myself a goddamn copy of this shit ASAP!

FOXPILL CULT are releasing their new album 邪宗門 (Jashuumon) on January 7th, 2015 through STRANGEPOPS Records. The tracklist has been posted on their website (tried my best with the romanization):
 
1.鎖国した一寸法師 (Sakokushita Issunhoushi)
2.サイコキャンディー (PSYCHO CANDY)
3.米を与えど、子は聞かず (Kome wo Ataedo, Ko wa Kikazu)
4.ファウストと異邦人 (FAUST to Ihoujin)
5.蝉の血糊 (Semi no Chinori)
6.秋霖ヒソム▲神隠し (Shuurin HISOMU ▲ Kamikakushi)
7.僕は宗教 (Boku wa Shuukyou)
8.ファンキースペースリインカネーション (FUNKY SPACE REINCARNATION)
9.死んだファンキー三角世界 (Shinda FUNKY Sankaku Sekai)
10.NEU DANCE
11.啓蒙されぬ (Keimou Sarenu)
12.約束はいらないとは言えない (Yakusoku wa Iranai to wa Ienai)
13.鬼の手にザクロ (Oni no Te ni ZAKURO)
14.999枚の遺言 (999mai no Igen)
15.邪宗門 (Jashuumon)
 

 

 
 
 
This band is probably my favorite discovery of the year, so color me hyped.

ugh that is depressing
still cool that they've released one more cd with 2(!) songs. i was dying to hear that Lost_ song P: mm dat cover

覇叉羅-Vasalla- & WITH SEXY OHP has opened their OHP, in which mysterious countdown has been shown
 
http://vasalla-withsexy.com/

ALBUM PREVIEW!!!!

 
omfg I'm so excited omg ♥♥♥
so far, Unreachable Voice sounds like a possible fave...

miraaura (kamito another band) new mini album "ORSA" will be released through Closet Child in mid-2014/12
 

 
 
Antikythera has opened their new OHP
 
http://firstdownrecords.lv9.org/

greedy dead souls and under the skin will always remain my favorite lynch releases I guess (along with their collection album THE BURIED). They started in a dark but totally fun aggressive style with hints of Nagoya-kei melancholy and then they gradually transformed into "dime-a-dozen snoozecore-wannabe of the week" for I BELIEVE IN ME and INFERIORITY COMPLEX. They still kinda retained this style on this year's GALLOWS but they somehow gained back their spark imo. So yeah, GALLOWS is finally something I can listen to again without hitting 'skip' (but still far from their old greatness).

It seems that the Doguu album is almost out. Here's an announcement from today's munimuni mail magazine:
 
■2015/1/26(mon)　NEO TOKYO IKEBUKURO CHOP DOME
■[MUNIMUNI 「THE DOGUU ALBUM」発売祈願ワンマン公演　
-誰か、土偶を・・・。-]
 
It's a one man live to pray for release of the Doguu album.

紅蝉(benizemi) new album "解～すべてをほどくもの～(kai～subete wo hodokumono～)" will be released at 2015/02/11 (3,240yen)
 
[track list]
01.寡多過多(katakata)
02.赫イ嘘(akai uso)
03.椿色(tsubakiiro)
04.電氣神経(denkishinkei)
05.動脈蜥蜴-3rd-(doumyaku tokage-3rd-)
06.踏み絵-解-(fumie-kai-)
07.魔法使いの解き方(mahoutsukai no tokikata)
08.痼(shikori)
09.月光(gekkou)
10.心臓(shinzou)-album ver.-
11.ハイエナ(hyena)-album ver.-
12.ー#7
13.斜陽の糸(shayou no ito)

Behold~
 


 
yes. yeees. yeeesss.

KARMA=SHENJING will revive for limited period in 2015, and they will hold their first live at Osaka CLUB MERCURY at 2015/03/01
 
KARMA=SHENJING current line-up:
Vo.來鈴(rairin)
Gt.冬音(fuyune)(f.k.a. 幾都(ikuto)) (サムクロ(the Samurai Crows))
Gt.祠乃(shino)
Ba.咲華(sakika)
Dr.迦月(kazuki) (ex-ヱリザ(erisa)-->Buzz Merry-->燐華(rinka))

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss
 
I'm glad, love these guys. Hopefully it leads to something more/or members do something else, etc.

…。【サイレンス】(silence) new maxi single "やさしいせなか(yasashii senaka)" will be sold in advance at their presents live "沈黙の、宴。(chinmoku no utage)" at Ikebukuro CHOP at 2015/03/10 (1,620yen)