Ikna

In my opinion THAT is actually what i really love about the old looks. Surely, the outfits were sometimes really silly and exaggerated and the make up sloppy, but i prefer it that way dozen times. Why? Because I feel the old styling looked more raw, dynamic and interesting. It wasn't the complete über-perfection which it is now, some guys looked like Drags, others like punks, the others like a bad version of Sayako from Ju-On. I really dislike how most vk make-up nowadys looks so polished, everything has to be precise and perfect from teint, complexion to eyes and the boring hairstyles.
It makes sense though - new VK guys rather look like Hosts (who are supposed to look like ultimate perfect bishonen straight from your wet manga fantasies) than frilly New Wave boys with Boy George make-up (or oh so spooky goths in drag).
I guess that's where everyone's opinion differs, depending on their taste and aesthetic preferences. I personally adore a well done old school make up (and I tell you - it's very very difficult. I've tried it a few times and it still looks rather "meh". You can fail pretty hard at a late 90s Matina/Soleil style make-up if you aren't really good with the tools. Also: see all early 00s cosplays. All the people who wanted to look like Mana or oldschool Kyo and failed epically...). Especially the white faces are my faves, because they can be expressive (almost Harlekin like), yet it doesn't really matter how beautiful the person is who wears it - they don't need to be super beautiful bishonen and the focus lies more on their style and make up.
Of course I can see and understand people who like new VK make up better. It's more polished, clean and it can be worn outside the stage in mundane life as well- so it is more versatile. Old VK styling is rather extreme and especially the outfits aren't supposed to be worn daily.
 
But I still miss this style though and I am happy a few groups now are still dressing that way.

I find quite entertaining that Jin gets all this hate, but fuckin 90% of VK vocalist sucks major balls and it does not seem to bother people that much...

I don't really think "old vkei" should really be lumped into just one cohesive category that spans 20 years since that implies a high degree of sameness in both halves of the equation. The music and style of dress was different from 1998~2002 than it was from 1994~1997, and the scene from 2002~2006 was nothing like it is today. Hell, even from 2007~2010 is almost a completely different game from what it is today. Is D'espairsRay's last album still considered "new visual-kei?" Rentrer en Soi's "ゆりかご" was released in 2004, yet that is probably considered to be "old school." 
 
And what about the blatantly ignored white-kei era? Wyse and IZAM are crying rn
 
If we're going so far as the mid-80s to '91~'92, I don't know if it would be correct to really consider those bands in the same realm as what's being discussed here. Bands like Red Tailed Cat, Jolly Pickles, Zi:Kill, Color, D'erlanger, Banana Fish, and the other various Free-Will entourage have always kind of been "proto visual" to me since visually, musically, and the general attitude of the scene (or lack thereof in this case) is not the same is it would become shortly after. Granted you could very well dislike them just as much as random Key Party bands, but that doesn't mean they're the same kind of asian men in dresses

In my opinion THAT is actually what i really love about the old looks. Surely, the outfits were sometimes really silly and exaggerated and the make up sloppy, but i prefer it that way dozen times. Why? Because I feel the old styling looked more raw, dynamic and interesting. It wasn't the complete über-perfection which it is now, some guys looked like Drags, others like punks, the others like a bad version of Sayako from Ju-On. I really dislike how most vk make-up nowadys looks so polished, everything has to be precise and perfect from teint, complexion to eyes and the boring hairstyles.
It makes sense though - new VK guys rather look like Hosts (who are supposed to look like ultimate perfect bishonen straight from your wet manga fantasies) than frilly New Wave boys with Boy George make-up (or oh so spooky goths in drag).
I guess that's where everyone's opinion differs, depending on their taste and aesthetic preferences. I personally adore a well done old school make up (and I tell you - it's very very difficult. I've tried it a few times and it still looks rather "meh". You can fail pretty hard at a late 90s Matina/Soleil style make-up if you aren't really good with the tools. Also: see all early 00s cosplays. All the people who wanted to look like Mana or oldschool Kyo and failed epically...). Especially the white faces are my faves, because they can be expressive (almost Harlekin like), yet it doesn't really matter how beautiful the person is who wears it - they don't need to be super beautiful bishonen and the focus lies more on their style and make up.
Of course I can see and understand people who like new VK make up better. It's more polished, clean and it can be worn outside the stage in mundane life as well- so it is more versatile. Old VK styling is rather extreme and especially the outfits aren't supposed to be worn daily.
 
But I still miss this style though and I am happy a few groups now are still dressing that way.

In my opinion THAT is actually what i really love about the old looks. Surely, the outfits were sometimes really silly and exaggerated and the make up sloppy, but i prefer it that way dozen times. Why? Because I feel the old styling looked more raw, dynamic and interesting. It wasn't the complete über-perfection which it is now, some guys looked like Drags, others like punks, the others like a bad version of Sayako from Ju-On. I really dislike how most vk make-up nowadys looks so polished, everything has to be precise and perfect from teint, complexion to eyes and the boring hairstyles.
It makes sense though - new VK guys rather look like Hosts (who are supposed to look like ultimate perfect bishonen straight from your wet manga fantasies) than frilly New Wave boys with Boy George make-up (or oh so spooky goths in drag).
I guess that's where everyone's opinion differs, depending on their taste and aesthetic preferences. I personally adore a well done old school make up (and I tell you - it's very very difficult. I've tried it a few times and it still looks rather "meh". You can fail pretty hard at a late 90s Matina/Soleil style make-up if you aren't really good with the tools. Also: see all early 00s cosplays. All the people who wanted to look like Mana or oldschool Kyo and failed epically...). Especially the white faces are my faves, because they can be expressive (almost Harlekin like), yet it doesn't really matter how beautiful the person is who wears it - they don't need to be super beautiful bishonen and the focus lies more on their style and make up.
Of course I can see and understand people who like new VK make up better. It's more polished, clean and it can be worn outside the stage in mundane life as well- so it is more versatile. Old VK styling is rather extreme and especially the outfits aren't supposed to be worn daily.
 
But I still miss this style though and I am happy a few groups now are still dressing that way.

In my opinion THAT is actually what i really love about the old looks. Surely, the outfits were sometimes really silly and exaggerated and the make up sloppy, but i prefer it that way dozen times. Why? Because I feel the old styling looked more raw, dynamic and interesting. It wasn't the complete über-perfection which it is now, some guys looked like Drags, others like punks, the others like a bad version of Sayako from Ju-On. I really dislike how most vk make-up nowadys looks so polished, everything has to be precise and perfect from teint, complexion to eyes and the boring hairstyles.
It makes sense though - new VK guys rather look like Hosts (who are supposed to look like ultimate perfect bishonen straight from your wet manga fantasies) than frilly New Wave boys with Boy George make-up (or oh so spooky goths in drag).
I guess that's where everyone's opinion differs, depending on their taste and aesthetic preferences. I personally adore a well done old school make up (and I tell you - it's very very difficult. I've tried it a few times and it still looks rather "meh". You can fail pretty hard at a late 90s Matina/Soleil style make-up if you aren't really good with the tools. Also: see all early 00s cosplays. All the people who wanted to look like Mana or oldschool Kyo and failed epically...). Especially the white faces are my faves, because they can be expressive (almost Harlekin like), yet it doesn't really matter how beautiful the person is who wears it - they don't need to be super beautiful bishonen and the focus lies more on their style and make up.
Of course I can see and understand people who like new VK make up better. It's more polished, clean and it can be worn outside the stage in mundane life as well- so it is more versatile. Old VK styling is rather extreme and especially the outfits aren't supposed to be worn daily.
 
But I still miss this style though and I am happy a few groups now are still dressing that way.

Me too! XD
 
But yes, that's an interesting point. I guess it's true that sometimes it's just the nostalgia that lets us continue to enjoy some songs that we probably wouldn't take notice of if they were released today.
 
 
 
 
That's true. But I'm mostly baffled by the abruptness with which some people seem to exchange the things they love. My listening habits have changed a lot over the years as well, but I have to go back really far to get to some "lol, wth was I thinking?"-moment. And my answer would usually be "Well, I was 12 years old."
 
On the other hand, I have literally experienced people saying things like "Lol, I have just seen my last.fm charts from last year. I was such a weeaboo back then, totally embarrassing." Some people suggested that maybe they never loved the music to begin with, or loved it for the wrong reasons, but I think it may be the other way round, ie. they reject it now for the wrong reasons, like wanting to present a more "adult" taste, wanting to disassociate themselves from a fandom they grew to dislike etc.
 
 
I think music should be journey and you should keep exploring stuff, but a journey becomes kinda pointless if you vehemently try to forgot parts of your journey once you have moved on somewhere else. I do not listen to the same music I listened to 10 years ago, but I always try to bring the best bits and pieces of each stage of my musical journey as luggage into the next. Thus I can on rare occasions spin some old HIM or Marilyn Manson CDs, or some generic but fun vk song from 5 years ago, and be completely unashamed. XD

in b4 they become vk to attract their chilean fanbase

Despite the fact that I download a lot japanese music (other music not as much, because it's easier to get for me, except it's a discontinued release from 20 years ago that has never been re-released) I don't know so much about the laws and legal aspects of it. But I know that the copyright laws are very different. In the US the entertaiment industry tries any possible way to turn people into criminals so they can charge a shit load of money for having downloaded copyrighted material. I find it extremely exaggerated that even the FBI can arrest you and put into jail for downloading.
But then I am living in Austria, where, as far as I know, downloading music per se isn't forbidden, unless you intend to use the files for commercial purposes or you are plagiarizing it (which I too consider as the real act of "stealing music").
 
If I remember correctly I read a lot of articles about the whole "if people don't buy records, the music scene will die" argument. It's an argument brought up by the media industry since the triumphal march of the cassette, which as we all know made copying and sharing music and videos very easy. I guess anyone who is old enough to remember the time when taping and recording music or radio programs was popular may be familiar with these nice warning signs:
 

 
We all know that the music industry is still alive and very well and they survived the taping craze. Of course the internet is kind of a bigger dimension, because files aren't just shared with your best friends and their friends, the file can be accessed by billions of people. Popular music will spread quite fast. But I still don't believe the music industries condition is as worse as they claim to be. From what I can gather of articles in the net record sales declined already in 1999, so long before the whole file sharing thing dramatically exploded (which I think didn't happen until p2p and filesharing services became standard). And since one year the sales seem to rise again and (the interesting thing) partially due to people downloading from online shops like itunes.

I guess it just can't be said objectively how many damage or not downloading makes as the whole issue is a double edged sword: really popular artists like Lady Gaga don't really suffer from declining record sales, because there are still enough people who buy the music or there are enough people willing to pay 100$ or more for a concert ticket. Some may be even following their artist and visit several concerts. If Lady Gaga and her Label gain 20 billion or just 10 billion $ doesn't make such a difference- of course only for us, not so much for the profit lusting music industry.
But then you have to admit that those good earning superstars are an exception. The majority of bands and musicians are not rich and they don't earn that much money. So it makes a huge difference if the can get say 150.000 or only 50.000 $. (Vk groups of course make much less). Those numbers are just imaginary. I am not so familiar with the earnings of musicians, but you get the idea.
The problem however is, that the smaller the band, not only the less will the earn, but the more will they suffer from the money the label takes from them. So in most cases just buying more releases alone won't help. And if it's true what I have read a lot of labels even charge their bands for the stuff and merchandising they sell on tours. That's actually stealing, but what can you do? (or what choices do the bands have)?

So ultimately... downloading can be damaging, but it mustn't, and sometimes it's better to at least buy concert tickets or support the band otherwise than doing nothing. I know that coming from me sounds foolish though XD

Regarding VK music: I agree with what most here said. Visual kei isn't really meant to be marketed for foreign fans. I'd say that this isn't even an "issue" concerning visual kei, basically anything from japan, except maybe video games and electronic devices, never surface outside the island, may be fashion, make up or any music (vk, as well as pop or rock music). I believe Japan doesn't really care for us mostly white weaboos as much as we do for their culture. Also notable is that japanese fans don't even want foreigners to drool over their Vk stuff. If you don't live in Japan and aren't able to go to the live yourself than that's your problem. Even if you ask nicely the japanese fans probably won't share the live distros with you. Of course that's also because they can't speak English so well, but I am sure they just don't give a fuck about us too.
Also I doubt japanese record sales are so heavily influenced by sharing the stuff. Yeah, some japanese people will download them as well, but some of the truly hardcore fans are still buying everything or they are still visiting the lives and buy lots of chekis, photosets and so on. (and Vk bands actually make more profit with those than with records)

Lastly... I have to thank the Vk filesharing community. The first Visual kei records I owned were bought myself, when Vk became "trendy" and cool here in europe and Gan-shin would distribute some artists here. But I didn't really get into the thing until I discovered the old school shit on blogs like Evil en Lucifer. There would have been no way at that time to find it otherwise, let alone buy it. I still don't have enough money to buy me everything i have on my wishlists and most of the stuff is hard to get. So blogs like these were really helpful. And I guess I will continue to share the old stuff I buy- in hope that people can get access of good rips instead of the 128 kps files floating around and because I think people need to check those groups out.
I am not so fond of new vk, but I guess the principle is similar. Many people just want to share so people who don't have the money to order the CDs can still get to hear the band. Japanese CDs are really expensive for us foreigners, especially if shipping options are stupid and you are unlucky and have to pay custom fees.

I wonder what it is about VK musicians that makes them think they can pull of harsh vox with 0 training prior. 

I've never heard harsh vocalists so underwhelming and half-assed ANYWHERE else. Even the castrated yelping vocals in your scene kid cousin's screamo band probably sound better than 99% of the shitty 'metal' vk bands floating around.

Don't even get me started on a certain melodramatic bald&bold ex-vk frontman who seems to think he can pass off mouth farting into his hand as a death growl.

The reason can only be that all vk bands go to the same suit rental service when they are out of money or the costumes designer takes too long.
(Also is it only me or did the grieva guys loose a big chunk of glamour without the colorful hair?)

DS is finally live! We're a bit exhausted at the moment as we've been finalizing a lot of things today in anticipation of the launch. So forgive me for not having much to say right now!
 
If you'd like to read more, we have a fairly detailed post of what's coming up next in development here: http://deadeyes-star.com/blog/2013/12/introduction-to-deadeyesstar-1
 
I'd also like to introduce our staff! Be sure to give them some love!
@Aion @AmeToMuchi @Biopanda @Champ213 @Friederike @Ito @karin-adele @Kaye @meat @Peace Heavy mk II

Or you can just count how many tickets you sell for your concerts and take the average. That would take you a few minutes and you'd have a more statistically relevant figure to work with. Enticing people to show up to one live with the threat of "disbandment" only gives you the maximum amount of fans that you have willing and able to show up on a particular date, which may or may not be the maximum amount of fans you have, and which you may or may not be able to guesstimate by counting how many CDs you've sold. Point is, there's no relevant information any band could get by making this kind of announcement. And if they're at the point where they're pulling this stunt, then they have a rough estimate for fan attendance and for whatever reason it isn't enough. This isn't a matter of wanting a band to disband or not. It's that TRUST made an ultimatum and then didn't follow through with it because they weren't ready to suffer the consequences. Clearly, less than 400 people in Japan came to see this band. TRUST said they would disband if not enough people came. Not enough people came and now they won't? Then clearly, the situation wasn't that serious in the first place!
 
So then TRUST, wtf are you doing?

that's the last one, I swear.
 

after disbandment at 2000/12/22, Ruellia(ex-kc+loid Vo.イリア(iria) ex-band) will re-form and will hold their first live at Mito LIGHTHOUSE at 2014/05/03, and they will hold their one-man live "終わらない世界(owaranai sekai)" at Koshigaya MEMPHIS at 2014/05/24
 
Ruellia members:
Vo.イリア(iria)
Gt.糾(azana)
Ba.AZUMI
Dr.猟奇(ryouki)
Dr.&Gt.水琉夢(mirume)

why do they always have to copy the absolute worst "style" of vk ever
 
not even japanese ppl look good in it hosts are gross 

Day 8 - グリーヴァ (Grieva) - 鬼ト影

Release Date: 2013-02-13
Label: Ains
Genre: visual kei - metal
Champ213's take

Zess's take

Sample song:

Buy the album:
CD Japan | iTunes

Day 7 - the god and death stars - dawn of the god

Release Date: 2013-05-06
Label: zoisite
Genre: Nagoya Kei
Ito's take

Zess's take

Sample song:

Buy the album:
Zoisute

Maybe if people weren't being retards and instead of just listing things and y'know maybe explain why the bands they list are the ones they miss the most, this topic wouldn't suck so hard.
 
For me, it's a tough one because I love all my kawaii disbandments equally but I'd definitely have to choose Aliene Ma'riage though.
 
A lot of my favourites I think broke up before they turned into something awful, like I want to say Madeth gray'll but I bet if they continued they'd of just turned into some poppy group playing music that is nothing like the stuff that we all love em for. So perhaps their break up and many others is simply for the best. Ending before things got worse. (See: DELUHI and Vesailles)
 
As for Aliene, their album 21st Century was going cool fucking places. I wonder what they could have become if they stayed together. It was obvious they were moving away from their earlier concept and I bet if they stuck to their guns could have become a really cool and weird group.
 
....or it could have just ended up being Nega with Kyouka as vocalist instead of that shitty guy they had.

My palmtree-hair dried all wavy and visual after the rain. Worth a mirrorshot.

Not that many people will care, but the guitarist of the rather obscure Celestia le ciel was a girl. The twist was that she claimed to be a guy. A cross-dressing guy. So basically, she was a girl pretending to be a guy pretending to be a girl. She only whispered during interviews and let the vocalist "translate", so she wouldn't give away her gender by her voice.
 
I know that because I translated for the band at their Germany concert several years ago. It obviously was supposed to be a secret (and quite succesfully so - there was a homosexual guy at the concert that was badly stanning for "him" - which is pretty hilarious, if you think about it XD). But since the band is long disbanded and the members retired from music, there isn't really much harm in revealing it now. Plus, I think they even had less fans in Japan than in Europe. XD
Nice people though.
 
 
That does make we wonder though if there are more women in vk that hide their gender for one reason or another.

^ the idea is pretty awesome actually
 
Proud single over here too. I haven't find a single person yet i was interested into (neither sexually nor emotionally or mentally). And I like to be alone and having the whole day for myself. I guess that's also why I don't have many friends because too many people interferring in my daily plans would make me crazy. I also rather stay at home doing stuff than go to parties- except it's with one of my few but really good friends. But I'd hate to do things with a person who clinches me like a dog and where saying "I don't want to see you for the next 8 days" isn't so easy...
 
Or maybe I am just too egoistic, I don't know.

Hahaha... I actually don't think so.
I guess everyone's curious how I look though (maybe?) Was already thinking about showing a pic or not... but since my face already circulates around the web and some people here know who I am...
But behold: Super gawfic make-up and fail try at dark gloomy oldschool Visual kei. Also ruining your good and normal looking people rate.
 
I am sure i will regret this *lol*

Hahaha... I actually don't think so.
I guess everyone's curious how I look though (maybe?) Was already thinking about showing a pic or not... but since my face already circulates around the web and some people here know who I am...
But behold: Super gawfic make-up and fail try at dark gloomy oldschool Visual kei. Also ruining your good and normal looking people rate.
 
I am sure i will regret this *lol*

Seriously. Nobody here would openly mock a person for showing signs of age, being overweight  or simply not having been born good-looking- and think that behaviour is acceptable, right?
Then why should it suddenly change when the person in question is wearing nonconformist clothes?
 
Why do you have to be either young, beautiful or famous to wear certain things?
 
I'm not saying I never make fun of other people. Or other peoples clothing style, if they suck at it. It's just that I don't get why there should be something like an ~unwritten rule~