Lestat

Coming from a world where Glam Rock was (or still is, if you think about it — seeing as Visual Kei is simply a derivative of Glam Rock) my main entertainment source, I grew immune to what these guys looked like and it wasn't the appearance that would draw me in. Or rather, their appearance is secondary against their music, because no matter how beautiful some bands look, a lot of times their music is something I cannot stand. I've worked my way upwards from bands such as X Japan, Luna Sea and Loudness where the appeal wasn't yet so severely drawn to their image, so you can probably see where I'm coming from. Of course Visual Kei wouldn't be the same without its image, and the term 'Visual Kei' would not make a lot of sense if they would dress like in the regular. A lot of these bands wouldn't have gained the attention they have now if it wasn't for their extravagance either. In my case, 'Glam Rock' suffices well enough when it comes down to certain bands.

Can't land a job because I have no education. Can't get an education because of severe depression, anxiety and Aspergers. Can't learn to shed my depression and anxiety because no doctor or psychologist has ever taken me seriously. Resulting in almost complete social isolation. This cycle is deadly.

I shall only be present in spirit form.

full albums, 10 — 1 10. "EPIC DAY" by B'z After being assigned the title of 'best-selling artist in Japanese history', the long-serving duo in 'B'z' laughs in the face of retirement, and instead continues to pack arenas to the brim where it serves up great portions of quality Rock 'N' Roll on a silver platter. Do we still hunger for more? Oh yes, we most certainly do. 01. Las Vegas 02. 有頂天 03. Exit To The Sun 04. NO EXCUSE 05. アマリニモ 06. EPIC DAY 07. Classmate 08. Black Coffee 09. 君を気にしない日など 10. Man Of The Match 09. "Royale" by GOTCHAROCKA As a fanatic of both Jui's and Jun's previous participation in VIDOLL and Phantasmagoria, I can not help but stay involved with their choices of movement — and there I believe myself to be one of the few individuals who remains eclectic about this extremely fun and clever assemblage of musicians, whose chemistry continues to reflect on my everlasting love for UNDER CODE PRODUCTION records. 01. 撃愛 02. S or M 03. 恐想ロワイヤル 04. TAROT 05. Director’s cut 06. SNAKE CHANNEL 07. 赤い駅 08. Shortcake 09. Alarm 10. Starry eyes 11. Emotion 12. Happy 08. "BRILLIANT WORLD" by defspiral After quite actually dismissing this group earlier in the year, defspiral are now another new contestant that made their way into my list of favourites simply by this astonishing collection of faultless Hard-Rock, most cherished when played with the volume turned up high. Vocalist Taka just about has that rough edge to his chords that make this unbelievably enjoyable, no matter the occasion. 01. NEW DAYLIGHT 02. SILVER ARROW 03. DREAM OF YOU 04. IN FLAMES 05. THANATOS 06. SERENADE 07. カナリア 08. FAR AWAY 09. ESTRELLA 10. BRILLIANT 11. CARNAVAL 07. "裏現" by COHOL Every annual calendar deserves to encompass an absolute powerhouse, and 2015 has been a proficient year for the upcoming Post-Black horde going by the name of 'COHOL'. While haunting the less intensely freezing forests of Tokyo, we are still reminiscent of many brothers and sisters in the cold lands of Scandinavia. 01. 冷たい石 02. 下部構造 03. 暗君 04. 地に堕ちる 05. 葬送行進 06. 絶えぬ火 07. 病の元型 08. 急性期の終わり 06. "I AM MORTAL" by THE MORTAL Who would have imagined that in this age, it was possible to navigate backwards into the olden Romantic era of spooks, witchcraft and vampirism? Mastermind Atsushi Sakurai and his supergroup 'THE MORTAL' have arranged for us a genius of gothic-horror favourites, compact in the grandly, beautiful full album 'I AM MORTAL'. 01. 天使 02. DEAD CAN DANCE 03. Barbaric Man 04. 夢 -Deep Dream 05. Fantômas -展覧会の男 06. MOTHER 07. ギニョル 08. 月 09. PAIN DROP -It rains cats & dogs 10. グロテスク 11. Mortal 12. サヨナラワルツ 05. "少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-" by R指定 It is unquestionably rare for someone to enjoy every singular release that makes up one distinguished band's discography, but for me — so is the case with the young men of 'R指定'. Walking a lone desert of nonconformity, '少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-' is filled with originality and character, and makes up for all the legends we have seen coming and going. 01. 帝都に死す 02. 喪失-soushitsu- 03. サドマゾ 04. 終身旅行 05. 晩秋 06. 病ンデル彼女 07. 白いキャンバス、赤い絵の具 08. O.D 09. 八幡の薮知らず 10. 君はサブカルチャー 11. 殺したいくらい愛してる 12. THE廃人間 13. スーサイドメモリーズ 14. 焔-homura- 15. MELT DOWN 16. さらばビッチ 17. 誰かのメリークリスマス 18. LOVE is HAKATA 04. "Spectacular Nite -狂おしい夜について-" by D'ERLANGER After what is nearing the thirty year mark, 'D'ERLANGER' continue to provide us with proportionate and uncompromised Hard-Rock, this album mixed with a taste of just about every respectable sub-genre available to the veterans, and therefore it would do on just about anyone's shelf. A pity, how undervalued they still are. 01. SEX ON THE CARPET 02. 狂おしい夜について 03. Cherry 04. Dance with me 05. SWEET EMOTION 06. DARLIN’ -2015 07. BABY 08. LULLABY -2015- 09. Candy In The Shape Of You -2015- 10. Skeleton Queen 11. CRAZY4YOU 03. "別世界" by DER ZIBET The few spins that I have given this album have transported me back in time. The intelligence and craft with which this album has been composed is something I believed to no longer exist in our current era, but here comes 'DER ZIBET' in all its former and current glory; pummeling a melancholic and almost lugubrious proficiency at us, track after track. 01. 別世界への招待状 (ver.0) 02. METRO 03. Mr.Bad Trip 04. 時の亡命者 05. 月下美人 06. 黒い犬 07. トリックスターの憂鬱 08. MONDO MOVIE 09. 青空 10. 朝日を待ちながら 11. 傀儡使いの街 12. ドッペルゲンガー 13. 天使達のパ・ド・ドゥ 14. 別世界への招待状 02. "D.A.R.K -In the name of evil-" by lynch. Being rather late to the party, I discovered the brilliant musicians of lynch. in early 2015 (after an extensive period of unjustified avoidance). Correlative to its predecessor which was equally and continuously solid, 'D.A.R.K. -In the name of evil-' does everything musically and instrumentally correct, warring itself as a deafening rival to everyone who dares to walk in its way, or footsteps. 01. INTRODUCTION 02. D.A.R.K. 03. ANTARES 04. EVOKE 05. GHOST 06. ILLUMINATI 07. ETERNITY 08. FALLEN 09. BEAST 10. INVADER 11. COSMOS 12. MELANCHOLIC 13. MOON 01. "Royal Blood -Revival Best-" by KAMIJO Majestic, glorious, and famous for his immortal voice. This year was the one in which our nocturnal and aristocratic king took us back into his career spanning two whole decades, and our royalty did so splendidly by shining a new and bright light on well-known compositions, astride of a few new classics that will be heard by many an ear in the future to come. 01. Emblem 02. Imperial Concerto 03. 薔薇は美しく散る 04. Aristocrat’s Symphony 05. 蝶の花 06. Audrey 07. この世で一番美しい薔薇よ 08. 冬東京 09. HEEL 10. God Palace -Method Of Inheritance- 11. Royal Blood

full albums, 20 — 11 20. "Beautiful Now" by INORAN Never having listened to INORAN's solo-project precedently to this album, I was pleasantly surprised by how mellow and thorough this release rolls with it. Almost reminding me of the latest poppier works of 'Bon Jovi' (a band that I have adored ever since I made my first steps), 'Beautiful Now' is a very natural journey of pleasant Pop-Rock. 01. Beautiful Now 02. Might Never See, Might Never Reach 03. Awaking In Myself 04. 2LIME S (feat. Minhyuk, Peniel & Ilhoon) 05. Fading Memory 06. Lullaby of Winds 07. Something About You 08. Hold On 09. ピンク スパイダー 10. All We Are 19. "Ray" by the Raid. the Raid. have woven together an album deserving of a great variety-award; with songs dallying between flattering and sweet ballads, to ample and abundant synth-driven growl-festivities that one wouldn't seek behind their gentle and meek appearances, the underestimated 'Ray' effortlessly earns its place in this tally. 01. innocent Blue 02. Ray 03. esora. 04. レゾン・デートル 05. www. 06. 言い訳DREAMER 07. Devilish Kitty 08. 依存の雨 09. Prisoner 10. REBELLION 11. ピリオド 12. PRECIOUS 13. M 18. "MASQUERADE OF COSMIC" by VANIRU This is a beautiful record, crepuscular and very dramatic in the sense that reminds us of sensational acts such as 'SOFT BALLET' or 'BUCK-TICK'. 'MASQUERADE OF COSMIC' captures the theatrical flair in an expressive electronic jacket, one that I have individually been missing from the Japanese music scene. 01. Who am I, Picture of Ghost... 02. コズミック・ナイト 03. L’Abime 04. Harlequin 05. 深海マリア 06. Stardust Waltz 07. Memory of Mayfly 08. Διόνυσος 09. 狂乱の夢 10. 柘榴 11. 月詠ミ 12. 千の夜～Pallidus～ 17. "GIGA BEST" by GIGAMOUS The crew of GIGAMOUS creates an up-to-date blend of what they preferably refer to as 'party-rock'. They are not wrong in their assessment, as from beginning to end, 'GIGA BEST' delivers an upbeat and positive collection of tracks that brings an invigorating freshness to the Visual Kei scene of today. 01. GIGASPEAKER 02. プラトニック 03. SCARY GODS SHOW 04. 電脳ビッグマウス 05. ギガキャットのテーマ 06. 「東京」 07. ノンフィクション 08. チックタックヘッジホッグ 09. GARON 10. Make Noise!! 11. 監獄ロックメン 16. "シャンバラ" by FEST VAINQUEUR While frankly not the most talented young band, 'FEST VAINQUEUR' certainly have taken onto the stage as being one of the most entertaining and amusing groups of today. This album is essentially about merry-making and banter, and I am glad that comedy can still be provided in an honest and genuine way, without it being staged. 01. シャンバラ〜Sambara〜 02. Stand By Always 03. ソレイユ 04. GONG!!! 05. NANIWAリスペクト ～Yah man！俺たちラガマフィン～ 06. 合掌 07. FANG 08. KNIFE-slander- 09. 共鳴 10. THANKS 11. Good By Again 12. レジューム〜Resume〜 15. "子供天國" by リライゾ None of the newcomers in 'リライゾ' are evidently newcomers, and it is hereby that I honorably declare them as supergroup. I believe it is commonly known that talent is quite a rare characteristic in our beloved Visual Kei scene, but in this case it has indisputably gathered together in an unconcealed pool of greatness. 01. 序章 02. マダラ蝶 03. フルセラナヨサ 04. メンヘラベイビー 05. 好き嫌い好き∞ 06. 無色の華 07. 七十億分の一 08. 芋虫 09. オカシイ娘 10. あなたに殺されたい。 11. 人形劇 12. 馬鹿 (通常版限定曲) 13. 別れ 14. "皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。" by 黒百合と影 Alike most lists, '皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。' has also been included on mine, as it is perchance the album I have spinned most out of all. Arisen and reincarnated from their very own ashes, this is perhaps the most successfully ambiguous and occult group the year has given us, and I except many great of things of them to follow after. 1. 「浴槽」～introduction 2. キミの薬指はボクのシチュー。 3. 蜥蜴-トカゲ- 4. チヒロちゃんの眼球舐め 5. -それは規則正しい不眠症- 6. ギチギチ 試聴する 7. ヨコハマメリー。 8. チャイルドマザー 9. ひとり桜。 10. 「月蝕」 11. 絵の具まみれ 12. へその緒 13. 「未遂」 14. 断崖地獄喉輪落とし 13. "「暫定的オカルト週刊誌①」" by DEZERT 'DEZERT' are expressly hysterical and distraught, but perhaps that is the most attractive and charming feature that they consist of. When a group can pull this off, it is quite easily that I am about to sell my very soul to them. I have mostly played this album while myself feeling uproarious or rampant, and I must say; it is quite an efficient stress-reliever. 01. 「秘密」 02. Sister 03. 包丁の正しい使い方-思想編- 04. 包丁の正しい使い方-実行編- 05. 包丁の正しい使い方-終息編- 06. 「誤解」 07. 大塚ヘッドロック 08. 「遭難」 09. ゴシック 12. "「reincarnation」" by Develop One's Faculties Quite obviously one of the most anticipated acts of the year, thus so does this participant earn a place on this catalogue. It is highly unusual to hear such clever musicianship in Visual Kei; instrumental compositions that actually flow well together, a capable vocalist, and noteworthy and uncommonly used patterns in these measures that leaves one desiring for what they can bring us in the future. 01. 「 」 02. insert memory 03. フラスコを振ると天秤揺れた 04. hope 05. REAL= 06. ettad 07. ネガティブベイビー 08. 瞬間的衝動の果てに失った瞬間 09. 残念な唄 10. it is what it is. 11. for 11. "VITIUM" by sukekiyo This is for me, also a very unsuspected and surprising addition to the list. I have never been an abundant supporter of Dir en grey, yet Kyo manages to capture me in his grasp with his side-project. 'VITIUM' is deliciously eerie and bizarre, there is something uncanny about it, something that almost invokes a certain feeling of unease. 01. leather field 02. dunes 03. dot 04. foster mother 05. 雨上がりの優詩 06. maniera 07. 白露 08. celeste 09. focus 10. 雨上がりの優詩 (Collaboration with Toshi) 11. focus (Collaboration with 三上博史) 12. elisabeth addict (Remixed by Renholder) 13. latour (Collaboration with Wes Borland)

individual tracks, 10 — 1 10. "彼ノ夢、幻。" by -真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ (愛シ貴女狂怪性, 2015.09.14) 09. "拡聲ニ蝕ユ蠢" by 己龍 (FAMILY PARTY, 2015.11.25) http://i.imgur.com/X2d4hSY.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 08. "Absolute being" by amber gris (2015.04.15) 07. "ETERNITY" by lynch. (D.A.R.K. -In the name of evil-, 2015.10.07) 06. "METRO" by DER ZIBET (別世界, 2015.11.25) 05. "Stranger" by PENICILLIN (Stranger, 2015.10.14) http://tinyurl.com/jemsyc5px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 04. "残り香" by More (Morphe, 2015.10.07) http://i.imgur.com/fBAR3Ru.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 03. "God Palace -Method Of Inheritance-" by KAMIJO (Royal Blood -Revival Best-, 2015.07.15) 02. "青く透明なこの神秘の海へ" by 摩天楼オペラ (青く透明なこの神秘の海へ, 2015.07.20) http://i.imgur.com/kylGx5L.png?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 01. "Dedicate to Graveyard" by 凛 -the end of corruption world- (Dedicate to Graveyard, 2015.09.09) http://tinyurl.com/qdmwjlwpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

individual tracks, 20 — 11 20. "sensationalism" by マルコ (近代ブラック, 2015.08.19) http://tinyurl.com/hvs9g5rpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 19. "Secret mode" by DECAYS (Secret mode, 2015.07.23) 18. "甘い死臭" by Femme Fatale (鼓動, 2015.07.07) http://tinyurl.com/zy7hpyxpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 17. "回転木馬" by Purple Stone (回転木馬, 2015.12.09) 16. "終幕の芥" by 滅びの美学 或は、加虐偏愛者の調性の確立 (終幕の芥, 2015.06.07) 15. " 焔-homura-" by R指定 (少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-, 2015.10.28) 14. "月光の夜、常しえに闇" by Black Gene For The Next Scene (裏返り, 2015.04.22) http://i.imgur.com/c2qm4j4.png?2px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 13. "BORN TO BE FREE" by X JAPAN (BORN TO BE FREE, 2015.11.06) http://i.imgur.com/0U9ECZQ.jpg?2px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 12. "鳥籠トロイメライ" by My Fairytale (鳥籠トロイメライ, 2015.06.03] 11. "SLOW" by MASKED RIDER SYSTEM (SLOW, 2015.06.10)

individual tracks, 30 — 21 30. "Mortal" by THE MORTAL (I AM MORTAL, 2015.11.11) 29. "Art play" by グリーヴァ (妄想主義者ノ背徳。, 2015.07.01) 28. "-CHAIN-" by Rides In ReVellion (-CHAIN-, 2015.07.28) http://i.imgur.com/7zj8zTP.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" /> 27. "メンヘラベイビー" by リライゾ (子供天國, 2015.10.28) 26. "Neo Adam" by ライチ☆光クラブ (Jesus Christ Hyperstar, 2015.07.29) 25. "CRAZY4YOU" by D'ERLANGER (Spectacular Nite -狂おしい夜について-, 2015.04.22) 24. "INCUBUS" by ギャロ (INCUBUS, 2015.05.27) 23. "赫音-justitia-" by THE BLACK SWAN (赫音, 2015.08.26) 22. "Ella" by KEEL (R'lyeh, 2015.10.07) 21. "耳ゾゾ" by sukekiyo (耳ゾゾ, 2015.11.21) px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

individual tracks, 40 — 31 40. "恋ができない" by ダウト (恋ができない, 2015.10.28) 39. "ピンク スパイダー" by INORAN (Beautiful Now, 2015.08.26) 38. "EPIC DAY" by B'z (EPIC DAY, 2015.03.04) 37. "Happy Life" by MERRY (Happy Life, 2015.08.05) 36. "「浴槽」～introduction" by 黒百合と影 (皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。, 2015.02.11) 35. "包丁の正しい使い方～実行編～" by DEZERT (「暫定的オカルト週刊誌①」, 2015.04.25) 34. "NEW DAYLIGHT" by defspiral (BRILLIANT WORLD, 2015.10.21) 33. "TAROT" by GOTCHAROCKA (Royale, 2015.06.17) 32. "FANG" by FEST VAINQUEUR (シャンバラ, 2015.04.06) 31. "RUIN" by DIAURA (RUIN, 2015.05.20)

individual tracks, 50 — 41 50. "L'Abime" by VANIRU (MASQUERADE OF COSMIC, 2015.01.28) 49. "LITTLE BELIEVER" by サウイフモノ (UN-DEADHOUSE, 2015.03.18) 48. "ピリオド" by the Raid. (Ray, 2015.01.28) 47. "ジレンマ" by アルルカン (ジレンマ, 2015.02.25) 46. "ジャパニーズサンダー" by GIGAMOUS (ジャパニーズサンダー, 2015.07.22) 45. "螺旋" by メディーナ (奈落ヘノ階段, 2015.04.29) 44. "Voyage" by Sadie (Voyage, 2015.05.27) 43. "下部構造" by COHOL (裏現, 2015.06.03) 42. "for" by Develop One's Faculties (「reincarnation」, 2015.10.28) 41. "不感症" by ザアザア (死にたい, 2015.09.01)

The time has also come for me to applaud the many releases that I have had the pleasure of listening to this year. I have configured this in such a manner that I have both individual lists for separate tracks, and albums. The individual tracks are all by unique artists and none are repeated — up until the top ten, all are organized randomly, and the albums include only full albums for which I have written small observations (— no singles, or mini-albums). Please enjoy this selection. (Warning, picture-heavy, best not to view on mobile devices)

This has pretty much been chariots' consistent live-and studio lineup since... 2012? I do not see why people are so surprised, aha.

That painful feeling you get when you see an old friend selling all her Visual Kei merchandise, including several gifts that you gave her.

^ Iori has an ongoing back hernia, and Matoi has issues with his foot (or both feet, perhaps). It's unlikely that we'll ever see them in a band again.

Can we make this a fresh start, and forget everything that was released before Triskaidekaphobia? (That including whatever it was that Riku thought was 'music'.) It's great to see he hasn't left the scene yet to become a full-time host, but I am not exactly convinced yet that chariots can work again.

Do bands even try anymore?

Nihit is more attractive than Mia.

It still baffles me that Der Zibet's new album has been out for over a month, and yet apparently no one knew of it (neither did I, until today), neither was it announced here. By any means, it is quite incredible.

I am no longer allowed an avatar.

I almost feel bad for disliking this because this band quite frankly does look amazing (especially their drummer). But again, an exact replica of every other 'br00tal' band that came out in 2015, eh.

So what you are saying is that once someone loses the image of 'perfection', they deserve to be treated like less than that? I suppose that is what is wrong with this world, it actually does not surprise me that Visual Kei followers (because I cannot call most of them fans) think they have the right to make attempts on someone's personal life. Of course they dress up to gain attention; that is what this whole scene is about. Dragqueens look the way they do because it is a business, circus artists look the way they do because it is a business. Does them removing their makeup or shedding their extreme attire so they can live their personal life after their job call out for an attack? No, it does not. The Visual Kei scene is revolting in where it thinks it needs to make the lives of musicians a living hell. I do not understand what goes on in the minds of Japanese girls (and some Western ones who participate in this nonsense), or what drives them to believe that uncovering every single negative truth about someone who they do not personally know and have no business with, is okay.

In the Visual Kei scene, musicians are already receiving the boot over the smallest of things (i.e. having sex, sharing pictures online, texting with fans, etc.) Those bangya are relentlessly cruel and vicious and are ready to strike down anyone who steps out of that 'dream-like' appearance that these guys must have. They aren't treated as human beings; they are being stalked and harassed and anyone who participates in this kind of obsessive behaviour needs a reality check. I have never been so shocked by a musician's behaviour that I found it necessary to shun them or made attempts to ruin their reputation or lives. They are people — people are faulty and no one is an exception.

This is the best thing I have heard all year, and it doesn't even belong in 2015. Please, let time pass by fast.

Proper photo. Excuse me while I have to be carried away.