Aya

Yeah, I found out about HAZZE and Gaku's father when I was searching for more information on Purple Stone (back in 2013). They were so new at the time, most of the information I could find was on HAZZE. And 95% was in Japanese, so I only part-way understood it LoL
 
Didn't HAZZE only release one mini-album when they first formed in 2010? If I remember right, I think it was limited to 100 or 500 copies. I bet that CD is more than impossible to find now .... Oh, and they were also on a Christmas compilation album.
 
Yep, I don't mind having fewer releases if they're quality ones... but it's always in the back of my mind that if a band hasn't released new music in awhile, they're in trouble/going to break-up.  It's hard to break that mentality when 98% of VK bands follow that pattern.  It's good to hear that CRIMZON bands might be in the minority that don't LoL
 
Hmmm.... favorite song. That's difficult to pick only one.... I'm always partial to the first song that really catches my attention - "Scar" in this case. But I'm also REALLY loving Hysteric Lady from their latest single. 

I'm in.... I LOVE Purple Stone.  They're definitely one of my favorite new bands. Although, I guess they're not really "new" anymore... has it really been almost 2 years since Purple Stone began?!   Time really flies.... plus, since all three of them were in another non-VK band (HAZZE) right before forming 'Purple Stone'.... it seems even longer LoL
 
And I second what paradoxal said - I can't wait for them to announce a new release. I need more new music!!!   I hope 2015 will be an amazing year for them since 2014 was such a troubled year (with keiya's throat problems).
 
Fun fact: GAK's father was the guitarist for an 80's Japanese band called MAKE-UP. Their most famous song was "Pegasus Fantasy", which was the original OP for the anime Saint Seiya.  Seems like music ability runs in the family and it's definitely in GAK's blood

I'm in.... I LOVE Purple Stone.  They're definitely one of my favorite new bands. Although, I guess they're not really "new" anymore... has it really been almost 2 years since Purple Stone began?!   Time really flies.... plus, since all three of them were in another non-VK band (HAZZE) right before forming 'Purple Stone'.... it seems even longer LoL
 
And I second what paradoxal said - I can't wait for them to announce a new release. I need more new music!!!   I hope 2015 will be an amazing year for them since 2014 was such a troubled year (with keiya's throat problems).
 
Fun fact: GAK's father was the guitarist for an 80's Japanese band called MAKE-UP. Their most famous song was "Pegasus Fantasy", which was the original OP for the anime Saint Seiya.  Seems like music ability runs in the family and it's definitely in GAK's blood

dying from excitement

rikuto please come back with a new band ;w;

my reaction:
 
but expected since it's purple stone

Purple Stone new maxi single "アオイヤミ(aoi yami)" will be released at 2015/07/01 (2 TYPE, 1,000yen each)
 
[track list]
01.アオイヤミ(aoi yami)
02.LIGHT BLUE (included in regular edition)
02.Break the World (included in live-limited edition)
 

i've been mentally prepping myself for this but guess no amount of preparation's ever enough.
 
i felt xepher's disbandment greatly affected luche., since the 2 bands always have lives together and their members are really close. both bands began activities 3 years ago and enjoyed amazing popularity for relatively young bands, and it's probably fitting that they disband within 2-3 months of each other. maybe, hopefully, their members will come together to form new bands.
 
for whatever it's worth, they will always be among the top kansai bands in my heart :'(

this band needs more love.

I'm in.... I LOVE Purple Stone.  They're definitely one of my favorite new bands. Although, I guess they're not really "new" anymore... has it really been almost 2 years since Purple Stone began?!   Time really flies.... plus, since all three of them were in another non-VK band (HAZZE) right before forming 'Purple Stone'.... it seems even longer LoL
 
And I second what paradoxal said - I can't wait for them to announce a new release. I need more new music!!!   I hope 2015 will be an amazing year for them since 2014 was such a troubled year (with keiya's throat problems).
 
Fun fact: GAK's father was the guitarist for an 80's Japanese band called MAKE-UP. Their most famous song was "Pegasus Fantasy", which was the original OP for the anime Saint Seiya.  Seems like music ability runs in the family and it's definitely in GAK's blood

I'm in.... I LOVE Purple Stone.  They're definitely one of my favorite new bands. Although, I guess they're not really "new" anymore... has it really been almost 2 years since Purple Stone began?!   Time really flies.... plus, since all three of them were in another non-VK band (HAZZE) right before forming 'Purple Stone'.... it seems even longer LoL
 
And I second what paradoxal said - I can't wait for them to announce a new release. I need more new music!!!   I hope 2015 will be an amazing year for them since 2014 was such a troubled year (with keiya's throat problems).
 
Fun fact: GAK's father was the guitarist for an 80's Japanese band called MAKE-UP. Their most famous song was "Pegasus Fantasy", which was the original OP for the anime Saint Seiya.  Seems like music ability runs in the family and it's definitely in GAK's blood

Purple Stone

(2013 - present)

 

Vo. keiya (twitter)

Ba. 風麻 (FUMA) (twitter)

Gt.&Programming. GAK (twitter)

Support Dr. スピカ (Spica) (twitter)

 

Purple Stone began their activities on March 30th, 2013, and are based in Osaka. They're currently under the label CRIMZON, a subsidiary of GIZA studio.

 

The band's OHP is here, and their discography here.

 

==========================================

 

Ok. Now can we talk about how amazing they are?

 

are you not tired of this?

Do you guys know what Shit noodle means right? Its not good if you want to become a big band tho 

honestly Shou's singing was terrible in their first few releases, but he improved dramatically after that. 闇に散る桜 is probably the first A9 release that i liked, and while my interest cooled after 2011 i still find most of what they do these day better than average and easily listenable.
seems like most people loved 絶景色 most, and a handful GEMINI and "9". so am i the only one who's crazy over their VANDALIZE era? that album has tons of beautiful tracks with amazing guitarwork that i still play often today. singles from that 2008-9 period were just incredible, especially MIRROR BALL and 華【hæ・nǝ】 (dat oriental epicness *_*). and lets not forget 夢幻 -electric eden- from the CROSS GAME single, which is what i still hold as the band's single best track in their entire discography.

omg this so much.
 
if seeing a band you dislike disband actually makes you feel good, i'm afraid there's something seriously wrong with you. and if you simply don't care, why even bother to comment? leave their fans alone tyvm.

O-EAST holds about 1300 people, but this event is going to be held over three venues: O-EAST, O-WEST (~600 people), and O-CREST (~200 people). All these venues are in the same area... O-EAST & O-CREST are in the same complex and O-WEST is across the street. People who purchase a ticket are able to go freely between the venues.

pURPLE STONE (2013-)
 

 
Vocals Keiya
Guitar & programming GAK
Bass 風麻
 
Purple Stone is one of the most promising new visual kei bands. Sharing the same label as hyped 少年記, I think they deserve a lot more hype too. Their first mini-album NEXUS was released almost exactly one year ago, and now they’re finally back with their first single (not counting their first one-coin single Scar).
 
 
 
 
甘酸っぱいマンゴー (amazuppai mango) 
 

 
 
 
As much as I love NEXUS and Scar, I must say that 甘酸っぱいマンゴー (Amazuppai mango) is an amazing single. One of the strengths of Purple stone is undoubtedly vocalist Keiya’s amazingly powerful voice, combined with catchy melodies and well composed songs. Being a part of the new era of visual kei, they also utilize a significant amount of synths composed by their guitarist GAK in their songs. Add a dash of SINCREAesque metal parts, and that’s pretty much what the single Amazuppai mango consists of.
 
The A-side Amazuppai mango is a song, whose PV and song title make you giggle, because who the hell would make a song about mangos? I’m still 100% convinced this single was created because of “I dare you to make a song about mangos”, but nevertheless it doesn’t take away the fact that this song is one of my favorite singles this year (and yes I know, I declare this fact like 10 times a year…). The A-side combines beautiful riffing and carefully placed synths, and Keiya’s powerful vocals just take your breath away. The B-side Hysterical Lady is a harder song, and the chorus somehow reminds me of girugamesh, even though I’m not that familiar with their discography. This is undoubtedly a song that is super fun live, with lots of jumping and head banging.
 
If you can overlook the title ‘sweet and sour mango’, I think this particular single deserves 5/5 and a golden star, even though it doesn’t add anything new to the world that is visual kei. Purple stone hasn’t done anything ground breaking, nor do they deserve a gold medallion for creating something totally new, because they by no means have done that. Not every band has to be always creating something new. As generic as this single is, it’s beautifully made and definitely deserves your attention.
 
TL;DR: If you don’t like new visual kei, don’t try this. If you like new visual kei, try this. It's awesome.
 
 
 

 
 
 

That's perfectly fine that VK no longer sustains your interests - just be wary of allowing your shift in opinion to digress into some kind of hypocritically jaded hatred for the scene and it's fans.
I say this because all too often people who experience these kinds of evolutionary moments in their musical journeys feel the need to criticize, belittle and demean their past phases in an attempt to validate their current interests. One needn't do that, because when it comes to music, your tastes are substantial regardless of what you listen to and regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Although I definitely understand the need to have your tastes validated...it's something that feeds the ego (which i think we're all hardwired to do). But once you realize how purely ego-driven it all is, then I think you'll realize how fruitless of an endeavor seeking such validation can be and that music taste (in this case your shift in music taste) isn't that big of a deal.
But hey, none of us are supreme enlightened beings (except for Bear - he's pretty perfect ^__~) and we're all guilty of seeking validation and just wanting to reaffirm ourselves in many ways. So to answer your question again - is it a bad thing that you've lost interest in VK? Absolutely not! Listen to whatever appeals to you - just remember that everything appeals to someone, so even if you've lost interest in it, at least try to maintain some level of respect for the scene and it's fans. ;3

Yes, and?    What substantial difference would it make to the music if all these things were suddenly gone? The musical heritage and traditions of visual kei would remain intact nonetheless, and most importantly what does it matter if they cater to fangirls? Is the implication here that if visual kei ditched the aesthetic and became "serious music" catering to males in their 20's and 30's the artists then would aspire to some never before seen heights of musical integrity? Oh if finally I could take Gazette to dinner parties and church fund raisers and impress all my buddies! While OP here was being more modest than usual the folk who go about the issue, this is basically what was being said here: "I am ashamed of listening to music with musicians who don't look acceptable and only if they could ditch the aesthetic and move on to make serious real music!". The real irony in this usually is that the people who do move on from visual kei usually go to no greener pastures and instead masturbate over some awful garbage like metal bands fresh from their show at Wacken.   What people seem to often disregard is that no musical movement is void of extra-musical bells and whistles and musicians of all of them tend to fit a certain image often ascribed to the people who play the sort of music that they do. As if everything from indie rock to punk and bloody witch house didn't have a carefully thought out image to fill, and the reason why this is, is that the artists prefer it that way. If it weren't all about the looks then why do all the bands of particular scenes look exactly same? It is the culture which has developed hand in hand with the music itself, and they are inseparable. 
 
I can only deduce that people who would prefer their visual kei in backwards caps and cargo shorts are tasteless ingrates insecure about their own image. 

You're not obligated to look at it, you can just love their music. it's the music who counts first, whatever the genre.

Nobody cares.

Which song? INCUBUS?    If so, the single was shared here: http://monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/31164-acid-black-cherry-incubus-20141022-itunes/     And I'm over a month late adding this, but 2012 was also a concept album (i.e., every album has been a concept album). In fact, ABC itself has an overlying theme, so you can say it's a concept too LoL      And I'm REALLY looking forward to this album, I can't wait for it to be released.    Although, I sorta agree with ishiki about the LE contents.  While I wouldn't say I'm disappointed... I just wish the Project "Shangri-La" footage would have been released by itself as a Live DVD set.  And the LE albums would have followed the same pattern as his previous albums - Type 1: PVs + Special Edit PVs + off shoot/interview and Type 2: concert footage and sometimes offshoot/special footage.   But Yasu seems to be breaking with tradition (a little bit, anyway). INCUBUS was the first single he's released that has included Live footage on the CD+DVD version.