This list cracked me up. Nice work, there are definitely looks that deserve to be discussed. Maybe some of these bands should have had discussions about them beforehand.
As for the poll, I put kinda. I will listen to a band with crappy looks if I like the music, and likewise, I don't care how nice their look is, if the music is shit, I'm out. Too many bands put way too much effort into their image to make up for the fact they can't play their instruments, and I hate that the scene has pretty much become a catch-all for subpar musicians like that.
This list cracked me up. Nice work, there are definitely looks that deserve to be discussed. Maybe some of these bands should have had discussions about them beforehand.
As for the poll, I put kinda. I will listen to a band with crappy looks if I like the music, and likewise, I don't care how nice their look is, if the music is shit, I'm out. Too many bands put way too much effort into their image to make up for the fact they can't play their instruments, and I hate that the scene has pretty much become a catch-all for subpar musicians like that.
This list cracked me up. Nice work, there are definitely looks that deserve to be discussed. Maybe some of these bands should have had discussions about them beforehand.
As for the poll, I put kinda. I will listen to a band with crappy looks if I like the music, and likewise, I don't care how nice their look is, if the music is shit, I'm out. Too many bands put way too much effort into their image to make up for the fact they can't play their instruments, and I hate that the scene has pretty much become a catch-all for subpar musicians like that.
I thought it would be interesting to see what gifts people received or what they may have purchased for themselves? Even if it is not related to Christmas, I would love to see what people are proud of buying or things they received as gifts at any point in the year!
To start, here is mine and my fiance's Christmas haul from the in-laws, and the Instax Mini 9 that my fiance gave me,
The album Peels Off will come in 2 versions: regular CD album available nationwide January 24th, and a limited edition LP+T-shirt bundle through Tower Records on January 17th.
Tracklist
1. 30 Steps
2. in the mountain
3. encore
4. Rhaphidophoridae
5. Night Cafe
6. Wings of Black
7. Sleeping Bug
8. Manhunt
9. White Painted Johnny
10. A fool born in April
The album Peels Off will come in 2 versions: regular CD album available nationwide January 24th, and a limited edition LP+T-shirt bundle through Tower Records on January 17th.
Tracklist
1. 30 Steps
2. in the mountain
3. encore
4. Rhaphidophoridae
5. Night Cafe
6. Wings of Black
7. Sleeping Bug
8. Manhunt
9. White Painted Johnny
10. A fool born in April
The album Peels Off will come in 2 versions: regular CD album available nationwide January 24th, and a limited edition LP+T-shirt bundle through Tower Records on January 17th.
Tracklist
1. 30 Steps
2. in the mountain
3. encore
4. Rhaphidophoridae
5. Night Cafe
6. Wings of Black
7. Sleeping Bug
8. Manhunt
9. White Painted Johnny
10. A fool born in April
The album Peels Off will come in 2 versions: regular CD album available nationwide January 24th, and a limited edition LP+T-shirt bundle through Tower Records on January 17th.
Tracklist
1. 30 Steps
2. in the mountain
3. encore
4. Rhaphidophoridae
5. Night Cafe
6. Wings of Black
7. Sleeping Bug
8. Manhunt
9. White Painted Johnny
10. A fool born in April
I saw the news first thing when I woke up this morning, it's early evening for me now and it still hasn't really sunk in. He always seemed like the kind of person who was able to conquer whatever mountain he decided to climb. It's so sad to see he was hurting for so long. I hope he's at peace now, I'm gonna miss him.
I saw the news first thing when I woke up this morning, it's early evening for me now and it still hasn't really sunk in. He always seemed like the kind of person who was able to conquer whatever mountain he decided to climb. It's so sad to see he was hurting for so long. I hope he's at peace now, I'm gonna miss him.
shinee was very important in my years growing up as they were one of the first kpop groups i was able to follow since their very start. their songs brought me a lot of happiness back then. jonghyun was an extremely talented and inspiring person. he fought for lgbt rights, against misogyny and discussed topics like mental illnesses without treating them like taboos. you'll be missed.
03/31/2018 : KYOCERA DOME OSAKA
04/01/2018 : KYOCERA DOME OSAKA
04/04/2018 : TOKYO DOME
04/05/2018 : TOKYO DOME
04/14/2018 : NAGOYA DOME
04/15/2018 : NAGOYA DOME
04/21/2018 : FUKUOKA YAHUOKU!DOME
04/22/2018 : FUKUOKA YAHUOKU!DOME
I'm gonna be unpopular opinion and say I'm fucking here for that Daikirai cover, but I'm a big fan of TOC so I was expecting something weird. All the ones I was initially excited about, pretty much lived up to expectations so far. I'm sorry I doubted Merry in this, theirs and Junko Yano's covers also gave me life. Really looking forward to this.
It's the most wonderful time of the month! Let's give thanks to our favorite musicians and highlight some spicy cuts from this month. Check it out and fill out the list with yours below!
@tetsu_sama69's Picks
"Monster" by 戦国時代-The age of civil wars-
Granted there were most likely some very mixed reactions when 戦国時代-The age of civil wars- were announced because of the random make-up of band members but with a group full of well experienced musicians with a splash of ex.SIAM SHADE members how can one go entirely wrong. 戦国時代 may end up being a temporary group in the long run but their first mini-album 初陣－First battle－ (Uijin－First battle－) is surprisingly stuffed with energetic and catchy songs that shouldn't be missed. "Monster" is one of the heavy darker themed tracks on the mini-album and sticks out mostly for its fantastic musical composition. "Monster" is a song that infuses heavy metal with traditional Japanese instrumentals spiced with pop-rock that has a bass line that'll get stuck in your head for days. The instrumentals go from energetic to headbanging at the drop of a hat and the vocals go from screaming to melodic so smoothly. The previews do no justice to 戦国時代-The age of civil wars- making them sound as if they are just another generic traditional themed pop-rock group, but they'll surprise you if you give them a chance.
"春雪ノ頃" (Shunsetsu no Koro) by Schwartz:Mist
I was in no way prepared for how much I was going to enjoy this at all. But once I heard that explosive grindfest of an opener I knew I was in for a treat. "Shunsetsu no Koro" is an amazingly solid song brimming with energy and emotion. Especially the breakdowns at the start and end of the track can only be described as a headbanger's best friend. Vocalist 心 (Shin) (ex. LucieN) has a fantastic voice able to deliver harsh powerful screams and gritty clean vocals that hit me in all the right places. Surprisingly what really makes "春雪ノ頃" stand out for me is that there's no guitar solo but if you listen there are some spectacular riffs from Guitarist 環 (Tamaki). If you have a thirst for some more from Schwartz:Mist after hearing "春雪ノ頃", you should definitely check out their first mini-album "S.M" and enjoy this great band!
"Imitation" by DEXCORE
Visual kei refuses to be a letdown this year with powerhouse band DEXCORE. If you weren't already hooked on them from their past releases then "Imitation" is a perfect song to get you into this band. With the addition of guitarist haku since their previous single, the band has grown exponentially. There's a serious amount of depth to "Imitation" layered with shockingly vibrant vocals and explosive instrumentals. DEXCORE has set the bar for the current scene of 'br00tal kei' a bit higher by delivering a song that's anything but generic. There's nothing held back in this storm of drums and waves of breakdowns that burst forth with vocal shock waves. Drummer Naoki (ex. DEATHGAZE) seems to have gone out of his way to make sure that DEXCORE sounds a step above anything he was involved in previously and it's a blessing to anyone who listens. I'm seriously looking forward to full release of "Imitation" and anything else DEXCORE brings in the future.
@emmny's Picks
"LAW'S" by Kiyoharu
I'm kind of new to the cult of Kiyoharu, so I was shocked to find out this was an old song, re-composed and arranged for an upcoming "rhythmless" remake album, with other Kuroyume, Kiyoharu, and SADS tracks. The original "LAW'S" closely resembles newer SADS material, but Kiyoharu's recent work tends to overlap stylistically, regardless of the project the song falls under. If you're wondering how this eight minute remake of a five minute song manages to even remotely resemble the original--you're totally right, theres no comparison. Kiyoharu and co. turn the edgy punk-styled track into a floaty ballad, anchored by gripping and rough vocals from the legend himself. The progression of the track is amazing, with delicate acoustic guitars giving way to more fullbodied instrumentation, ending with a good few minutes of Kiyoharu just wailing on the track. The imagery of the video is slow and erotic (or is it just sad?); the kind of shit you'd see a cabaret musician playing, with their cigarette smoke trailing into the air after last call rush dies down--but in the best way. In visual kei we're used to seeing good talent go to waste with bad taste, but it's a privilege to constantly see a talented musician making such carefully calculated stylistic decisions, as evident in the uniquely sultry arrangement in "LAW'S".
"夜想" (Yasou) by Virge
Virge, the project born out of the ashes of Mediena and Malisend continues to drop bop after bop, showing just how much Shin's (FKA Rino, ex-bassist for Malisend) compositional prowess has improved. The aforementioned bands piqued a lot of of interest on here, mostly because of their fairly strong early-00's revival sound. The trend continues with Virge, splicing equal bits of Phantasmagoria-style melodicism and the harsh guitars/bass of mid-era D'espairsRay to great effect, as seen with "Yasou". The band understand the importance of good, simple riffs and an even better chorus, using this ethos to frame their music. My only complaint before was that songs came across as a little 2D, or flat in their structures. They've read my mind (wwww) and addressed that with "Yasou", as it goes through a fair bit of shifts, showing off a more adventurous style, although the palette is the same as we've gotten to know the band for. The huge bass tone (almost sounds like slap but isn't, reminds me of Reita's best tones) clashes perfectly with Ryo's dazzling vocal delivery, and new drummer Aru's contributions are noted as well with great rhythm work. If you're not stanning--despite how much coverage we give them here--you are totally missing out.
"歪" (Ibitsu) by VRZEL
Believe it or not, for all the "INSIDE BEAST", Gazette-lite clones we've gotten over the past few years, we now have a "Taion" to balance it out. The opening is the heaviest section the band have ever done, alternating between grinding alt-metal riffs and eerie wailing clean guitars over whispers. This is the most obvious section recalling "Taion"; the rest is all VRZEL for better or worse (I'm purposely ignoring the gratuitous gazethot interlude). This goes on for a full minute before clean vocals even come in, building up a tense atmosphere. The rest of the track moves at a lurching pace, bordering on heavy-ballad territory, anchored by Cion's wailing vocals. VRZEL took a risk releasing such an intense, five-and-a-half minute track as the promotional lead for the album but it paid off. The brutal fiend in me wishes they went for an even darker concept, dropped the guitars to A# and MUCC'd it away, but VRZEL stayed true to their image while rendering a quasi-challenging track for their fans. I've always been in the corner cheering on Cion's compositional prowess, and I'm happy it has culminated to such a solid track--a merger of old and new.
@qotka's Pick
"十五" by キズ
Featured on the Kizu's 2nd single, Kawazu, "Juugo" is another display of power from one of the fastest growing, strongest newcomers on the scene this year. Ask anyone who's had to FIGHT for tickets to their one-man. While this b-side doesn't offer anything too different from the rest of the recorded material they've put out so far - if anything, it shows consistency and careful building of their sound and image as a band - it's here this month for simply being the fun track it is and for having those sweet, anthem-like qualities. If you're on the lookout for a dramatic, non-cynical power metal banger to indulge in, this is your new jam. From its restless, rapid verses to its uplifting, theatrical chorus, this zero bullshit 3-minute track hits the spot. Video bonus: showcases how frighteningly GORGEOUS their gya are.
@The Reverend's Pick
"哀絶綺譚 feat. 祈狂 of La'veil Mizeria" by 魅裟
I think I must have a thing for music box-y intros in VK. Dir en grey's "Cage" and Avelcain's "死化粧" are two of my favorite songs ever; and despite it's obvious flaws I'm really enjoying the newest from 魅裟 (missa) this month.
Missa and 祈狂 (Kikyo) from La'veil MizeriA team up for "哀絶綺譚" (Aizetsu kitan), the best of three simultaneously released digital singles from Missa on a vanity label with the most VK name ever; Malformed Maria Records. Certainly the most surprising thing about this single is that, despite combining members of Insanity Injection and La'veil MizeriA, it's a not-quite-ballad obviously attempting to be unironically *pretty*. That piano/vocal melody will absolutely get stuck in your head if you let it, and the guitar tone is a bit amateur but quite tasty.
The fake drums are a bit of a turnoff, and I maintain that a song really needs a reason to be over five minutes; but if Missa keeps releasing these digital singles with fun special guests during his other bands' downtime, he may be able to carve out a niche where many have failed in the realm of 'VK solo acts'.
@Zeus's Picks
"the whirl" by lynch.
No band in the visual kei scene nails re-recordings as consistently as lynch. does for me. A lot of this is because lynch. have never deviated too strongly from the sound that defines them, and their retake of 2007's "the whirl" is everything I never knew I wanted from the song. The heavier parts are grittier, the softer parts more delicate and emotional, and the transitions between them hit just as hard as I'm used to. While sonically everything has been pushed to the extremes, the rough production brings everything together like a caressing smack to the face. The improvement on the drums is worth the price of admission alone, and let's not even get into the improvements to Hazuki's voice. After a multitude of A-B-C comparisons, this is my favorite out of the three versions floating around; the original on underneath the skin has flat production and the version released on THE BURIED sounds too sterile for my tastes. Normally I'd say something snarky, but I don't even mind that the ten year old track is the prime attraction on lynch.'s newest!
"五月雨" (Samidare) by 左迅×弐×愁×Яyo
2017 has been kind to "五月雨", as this is the second successful reinterpretation of an early visual kei classic. "五月雨", released on TRIBUTE OF MUCC - 縁 [en] -, is a secret track credited to 左迅×弐×愁×Яyo, but it's pretty much girugamesh, and I will refer to them as such for the rest of the blurb. girugamesh will never steal "五月雨" from MUCC, but they can certainly add this to their live repertoire and I wouldn't be mad. They successfully made this their own song, preserving the original feel of the song while effortlessly adding their signature elements to it. I delayed posting this list just to add it. Listening to girugamesh's cover of "五月雨" gives me feels of them at their best with a tinge of angura I never knew they had in them. If I wasn't already pining for their return, this solidified it. Anyone who misses girugamesh needs to sample this song.
Charisma.com have announced that they will enter indefinite hiatus on January 27th after their one-man live at Zepp TOKYO, and at time DJ Gonchi will withdraw from band activities and retire from music. Her stated reason is to take over the family business.
They will release the best album "Charisma.BEST" on January 10th, and will hold a one-man live at Osaka · BIGCAT on January 12th and at Zepp Tokyo on January 27th. Tickets for both shows are now on sale.
Hey !
I've been a j-rock fan for almost 4 years. I've been a solid anime fan since I was a kid but never knew what the hell j-rock was except for anime songs XD. I stopped listening to j-rock for a while then got back into it because of a friend XD. I'm generally a MUCC fan and have gone to too many concerts for my budget while I was studying abroad in Japan but I am always open to new bands. For the past few weeks I've been really into Lynch. because Hazuki keeps popping on my twitter feed and I can't escape this boy and their music is nice XD. I always enjoy me some Sid, LM.C, BUCK-TICK, L'Arc en Ciel, Baroque and others XD.
It's been a while for me to join a forum, but this one looks old school and cozy so here I am :).
Nice to meet everyone ! : )
Yoyoyo, Hide's music is getting a vinyl release! All 3 albums on December 6th! They're 5,000Y a pop and appear to be 2xLP. I found listings on CDJapan but I'm sure you can find copies elsewhere.
Hide your face
Psyence
Ja, zoo
I'm definitely gettting a copy of Hide your face. I hope it's a gatefold.
doombox got a reaction from maryeon in 10 Noteworthy VK Looks - 2017 Edition
doombox got a reaction from Tatsusalt in 10 Noteworthy VK Looks - 2017 Edition
doombox got a reaction from The Reverend in 10 Noteworthy VK Looks - 2017 Edition
doombox got a reaction from ghost in Your last music-related buy!
doombox got a reaction from platy in PABLO & ZAX (Pay money To my Pain) new band POLPO to release album
doombox got a reaction from chemicalpictures in PABLO & ZAX (Pay money To my Pain) new band POLPO to release album
doombox got a reaction from DeithX252 in PABLO & ZAX (Pay money To my Pain) new band POLPO to release album
doombox got a reaction from Ada Suilen in SHINee’s Jonghyun Has Passed Away
doombox got a reaction from BrenGun in vkdb will be on a break.
doombox got a reaction from madygrain in 久喜 (hisaki) (ex cocklobin) new solo project "Muddy guy's graveyard"
doombox got a reaction from suji in MUCC new DVD and tribute album release !