fitear1590

“BUTTERFLY DREAMER” opens up with some galactic synths and Chisa doing a soft version of the song’s chorus before exploding into chuggy riffs that lead us into the first verse.  One of the things I particularly enjoy in this track are Chisa’s distant “ahhh” background vocals during the chorus; I can’t put my finger on why that adds to my enjoyment, but it just makes the chorus more epic.  Throughout the song, crackles, bleeps, and other electronic elements add to the song’s arrangement.  Towards the end of the song, the band has a cool little breakdown, before proceeding back to a bridge with blissful synths.   I think Shaneth mentioned at some point that BUTTERFLY DREAMER was solid, but that the band has already done this type of song before.  While that’s true, I think this song has much more interesting composition than, say, previous singles “ANSWER” or “夏の行方.”  DIV is steadily improving and I’m loving it.  My very small complaint with the song is Chisa’s weak harsh vocals.  His “acapella” growl at the end of the song consistently puts a slight cringe on my face, haha.
 
“rainy,rainy,smiles.” begins with some ambient electronics and “piano synth” (reminiscent of something UNiTE would use).  The whole song is generally quite dainty and pleasant, but the verses introduce the occasional heavy-ish part and even the synths become more “aggressive” to match these parts.  The main issue with this song is that it doesn’t really deviate from the twinkly, light sound enough to make much of an impression; the chorus kind of blends in with the rest of the song.  Now don’t get me wrong, I think b-sides are often underappreciated and I can definitely see myself still listening to this song months down the road, but “rainy,rainy,smiles.” is never going to be “the” song that gets people into DIV or that seasoned DIV fans pick as their favorite.

“you” is a good example of DIV’s more ballad-oriented pop-rock style.  It’s happy and lighthearted, but it also packs a punch, musically.  The chorus is very sweet and is also followed up by some impressive guitar riffs/ a mini-solo on Shogo’s part.  In the middle of the song, things calm down with some chilled out synths and a ~gentle~ version of the chorus.  The song is very much in the vein of “I swear” from the ZERO ONE album, which probably somewhat explains why I enjoy this one too.  One tiny thing I don’t really enjoy about the song are the repeated riffs which open and end the track; they just don’t seem to fit that well.  Interestingly enough, I preferred this when I first saw the PVs for “you” and “BUTTERFLY DREAMER,” but I’m starting to rethink that.  I mean no offense to “you,” because it’s a lovely track, but I think “BUTTERFLY DREAMER” has proven to be slightly more interesting with closer listening.
 
“Cinderella” features a funky beat that’s quite different from DIV’s usual style.  The closest thing would probably be “赤裸々ララ” from the album.  Bassist Chobi gets to shine a little bit on this track.  This is probably the kind of song that is super fun to hear live.  Unfortunately, similar to “rainy,rainy,smiles.” the song has kind of one note the whole time, besides a freakout guitar solo in the middle.   Plus, the chorus isn’t that good.  Weirdly enough, he’s singing about “Venus” (at least as far as I can hear) and he does this in “赤裸々ララ” as well.  Not my favorite song, but a cool addition to their discography I suppose.

Overall, we have two solid singles, with "BUTTERFLY DREAMER" arguably being the stronger one.  Aside from my minor gripes, there's nothing "bad" about any of the songs.  "Cinderella" and "rainy,rainy,smiles." might be forgettable in the long run, but they're still enjoyable nonetheless.  In fact, the only real tragedy is the absolutely awful and random cover art for "BUTTERFLY DREAMER" (the limited edition, at least).  The PV for the song is actually quite visually stunning and I can think of a ton of stills from that that would've been better for the cover.  ANYWAY, I think "BUTTERFLY DREAMER" and "you" (the songs) would have been more than fitting on the ZERO ONE album, which for me is the new bar the band has set for itself.  Here's hoping their next single will continue this trend.

Looks like their first major release will be "クライマクス&REMIXES", a Tower Records exclusive single.  It comes out on March 5th and is going for  ￥315.

1. クライマクス
2. クライマクス 池永正二（あらかじめ決められた恋人たちへ）REMIX
3. クライマクス Junet Kobayashi REMIX

 

Absolutely agree.
I was officially converted to a DIV-fan after their album and this single is just confirming that.  Really enjoyed both songs.  I like "you" a little more, but "Butterfly Dreamer" is also pretty solid (minus the cringe-worthy "acapella" growl at the end, but I've always said Chisa needs to work on his harsh vox).  Plus, the PV is visually stunning.
Keep it up, DIV!

Absolutely agree.
I was officially converted to a DIV-fan after their album and this single is just confirming that.  Really enjoyed both songs.  I like "you" a little more, but "Butterfly Dreamer" is also pretty solid (minus the cringe-worthy "acapella" growl at the end, but I've always said Chisa needs to work on his harsh vox).  Plus, the PV is visually stunning.
Keep it up, DIV!

It was by no means "the" definitive list. Just a few off the top of my head.
 
Plus, I've never really listened to Plastic Tree intensively (blasphemy!), so please feel free to post about them and enlighten me!

The occasional "indie rock" influence in VK...

It's pretty obvious that most bands in the current VK scene aren't influenced by "indie rock" stuff in the least.  Still, there are a few bands (mostly ones that dabble in pop-rock) that have pulled from those styles from time to time.  Here's the chance to discuss those groups/ songs:
 
ゾロ (ZORO) - 閃光 [2009]
It's mostly the solo that made me include this track, but I suppose if the song had less obviously VK vox, this could easily be from some indie band.  I do remember hearing this track back in the day and being completely taken aback that ZORO could produce this kind of stuff.



(later) 愛狂います。(Aicle) [2010/2011]
Crazy-ass Aicle may have turned to mostly ho-hum, watered down pop-rock before they disbanded, but they still had some tunes I enjoyed like these.  There's a definite indie rock influence in the music (even a math rock one in the first track).



Yeti [2013]
Yeti is more than the sum of their parts.  Despite having members from 4 different VK bands, they sound like no one else in the scene.  Rather than just the occasional song (or part of one song), the band on the whole seems to be channeling influences from bands like RADWIMPS and androp, with Satoshi's unique vocals on top.



Chanty [2014]
The vocals are still kind of a giveaway of its VK origins, but musically, I can definitely see this being right at home in the indie scene.



Compared to ZORO and Aicle, who have only one or a few songs with this influence, Yeti and Chanty seem to be pretty committed to the style, incorporating it into their general sound.  Are they the start of a new trend?  Do you think indie/ math rock influences could eventually become a mainstay in the VK scene (much like pseudo metalcore is nowadays) or will it just remain a niche influence for a few groups?  Are any other groups using this sound?

Discuss!

MALICE MIZER tribute album

Some of these are pure fantasy since this isn't going to happen anyway, but a few are pretty plausible cover candidates I think!  The order of the tracks is also a bit random, but I think it's practically a requirement that "Bois de merveilles" be the closing track.  Enjoy!

1. au revoir - Moran
Moran really screwed up their chance to cover "Illuminati" unfortunately, but I don't think that song was really right for them in the first place.  Anyway, I'm prepared to give Moran a second chance and because they really shine on their light, dreamy ballad-type songs, I think "au revoir" is a great fit.
2. Le ciel - DIMMDIVISION.
Le ciel is already a pretty dreamy song, so I can imagine DIMMDIVISION. adding their shoegazey flair and producing magic for my ears.  Their song ".ReyarP" comes to mind as proof that they could pull this off.
3. Gardenia - 네미시스 (Nemesis)
I think it's pretty obvious when listening to Nemesis that despite not being visually inspired, the band must be closet fans of light, frilly VK like this.  Their orchestral arrangements are always beautiful and their guitarist is also a lovely piano player, so they could definitely do some justice to this song.
4. N・p・s N・g・s - 己龍 (Kiryu)
I can really imagine Kiryu putting their unique, crazy spin on this track.  The creepy talking parts and the "DIE GAME" parts are begging to be Mahiro-fied.
5. Syunikiss ～二度目の哀悼～ - Vior gloire
I really struggled with finding a good band to cover "Syunikiss" until I remembered Vior gloire.  Their songs occasionally had a grandiose/cinematic quality.  That combined with Shall's special vocals make Vior gloire a strong candidate for this song.
6. 記憶と空 - Megaromania
Neoclassical guitar riffs and questionable vocals? Sounds like a job for Megaromania!
7. エーゲ ～過ぎ去りし風と共に～ - DOPPEL
Thinking back to DOPPEL's songs like "Eggknock" and "Moonlight xxxx," I think they could produce a neat, twinkly update of this classic MM track.
8. 麗しき仮面の招待状 - Kaya
The VK queen of goth/electronic.  While "Illuminati" seems like an obvious choice, I'd rather hear Kaya's take on the Gackt-era's first single.  This song already has a slight dancey beat, so I can easily see Kaya going all out and doing a full-blown gothy/electronic rendition.
9. 白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞 - Lacroix Despheres
The self-labeled "Symphonic Gothic Rock Opera" group has some definitely influence from MALICE MIZER's Klaha era (the Bara no Seidou album), so they seem like a great fit for this track.  Not to mention, Sho's vocals actually do resemble Klaha's somewhat.  I can see them adding their signature, whimsical oboe/flute (and maybe even Saya's vocals for a duet?) making it totally their own.  It worked on "Le sortilege" and "天啓の瞳" so they could definitely work their magic again.
10. 幻想楽園 - Nocturnal Bloodlust
Why not have MALICE MIZER's by far heaviest song get covered by the most br00tal VK band around.  It'd be interesting to hear them deathcore-ify this track, haha.
11. ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ - Jupiter
Songs like "Bel Air" show that even though Malice Mizer was mostly known for their diverse influences and theatrics, they also had quite interesting guitar parts.  I think "VK metal" guitarists like Hizaki/Teru could give this song a nice modern update, while still retaining the unique atmosphere of the original.  Plus, I think ZIN could do a great job on vocals.
12. Beast of Blood - 関西耽美系～Lily Project～
Harpsichord, heavy repetitive riffs, and a dramatic chorus?  Only Lily project!  I'm sure Seira would do his unique German growls at some point in the song too, haha.
13. 死の舞踏 - Sito Magus
With songs like "necromance," I'm sure Sito Magus could produce a beautiful cover of this old MM favorite.  They would probably slow it down and add even more elements of classy gothic atmosphere.
14. Bois de merveilles - KAMIJO
While solo KAMIJO has a small repertoire so far, he's already shown on "Grazioso" that he's capable of waltzy, soundtrack-worthy arrangements like "Bois de merveilles."  Plus, KAMIJO idolizes vocalist Gackt, so...

Let's not forget that before Icchi went all "oshare" / pop-rock, he was in ErecSia and Alphonstein.


So I guess it's not TOTALLY random.

I'm intrigued by this concept, so I hope they'll really embrace the 90s theme and deliver something unique!

MALICE MIZER tribute album

Some of these are pure fantasy since this isn't going to happen anyway, but a few are pretty plausible cover candidates I think!  The order of the tracks is also a bit random, but I think it's practically a requirement that "Bois de merveilles" be the closing track.  Enjoy!

1. au revoir - Moran
Moran really screwed up their chance to cover "Illuminati" unfortunately, but I don't think that song was really right for them in the first place.  Anyway, I'm prepared to give Moran a second chance and because they really shine on their light, dreamy ballad-type songs, I think "au revoir" is a great fit.
2. Le ciel - DIMMDIVISION.
Le ciel is already a pretty dreamy song, so I can imagine DIMMDIVISION. adding their shoegazey flair and producing magic for my ears.  Their song ".ReyarP" comes to mind as proof that they could pull this off.
3. Gardenia - 네미시스 (Nemesis)
I think it's pretty obvious when listening to Nemesis that despite not being visually inspired, the band must be closet fans of light, frilly VK like this.  Their orchestral arrangements are always beautiful and their guitarist is also a lovely piano player, so they could definitely do some justice to this song.
4. N・p・s N・g・s - 己龍 (Kiryu)
I can really imagine Kiryu putting their unique, crazy spin on this track.  The creepy talking parts and the "DIE GAME" parts are begging to be Mahiro-fied.
5. Syunikiss ～二度目の哀悼～ - Vior gloire
I really struggled with finding a good band to cover "Syunikiss" until I remembered Vior gloire.  Their songs occasionally had a grandiose/cinematic quality.  That combined with Shall's special vocals make Vior gloire a strong candidate for this song.
6. 記憶と空 - Megaromania
Neoclassical guitar riffs and questionable vocals? Sounds like a job for Megaromania!
7. エーゲ ～過ぎ去りし風と共に～ - DOPPEL
Thinking back to DOPPEL's songs like "Eggknock" and "Moonlight xxxx," I think they could produce a neat, twinkly update of this classic MM track.
8. 麗しき仮面の招待状 - Kaya
The VK queen of goth/electronic.  While "Illuminati" seems like an obvious choice, I'd rather hear Kaya's take on the Gackt-era's first single.  This song already has a slight dancey beat, so I can easily see Kaya going all out and doing a full-blown gothy/electronic rendition.
9. 白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞 - Lacroix Despheres
The self-labeled "Symphonic Gothic Rock Opera" group has some definitely influence from MALICE MIZER's Klaha era (the Bara no Seidou album), so they seem like a great fit for this track.  Not to mention, Sho's vocals actually do resemble Klaha's somewhat.  I can see them adding their signature, whimsical oboe/flute (and maybe even Saya's vocals for a duet?) making it totally their own.  It worked on "Le sortilege" and "天啓の瞳" so they could definitely work their magic again.
10. 幻想楽園 - Nocturnal Bloodlust
Why not have MALICE MIZER's by far heaviest song get covered by the most br00tal VK band around.  It'd be interesting to hear them deathcore-ify this track, haha.
11. ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ - Jupiter
Songs like "Bel Air" show that even though Malice Mizer was mostly known for their diverse influences and theatrics, they also had quite interesting guitar parts.  I think "VK metal" guitarists like Hizaki/Teru could give this song a nice modern update, while still retaining the unique atmosphere of the original.  Plus, I think ZIN could do a great job on vocals.
12. Beast of Blood - 関西耽美系～Lily Project～
Harpsichord, heavy repetitive riffs, and a dramatic chorus?  Only Lily project!  I'm sure Seira would do his unique German growls at some point in the song too, haha.
13. 死の舞踏 - Sito Magus
With songs like "necromance," I'm sure Sito Magus could produce a beautiful cover of this old MM favorite.  They would probably slow it down and add even more elements of classy gothic atmosphere.
14. Bois de merveilles - KAMIJO
While solo KAMIJO has a small repertoire so far, he's already shown on "Grazioso" that he's capable of waltzy, soundtrack-worthy arrangements like "Bois de merveilles."  Plus, KAMIJO idolizes vocalist Gackt, so...

MALICE MIZER tribute album

Some of these are pure fantasy since this isn't going to happen anyway, but a few are pretty plausible cover candidates I think!  The order of the tracks is also a bit random, but I think it's practically a requirement that "Bois de merveilles" be the closing track.  Enjoy!

1. au revoir - Moran
Moran really screwed up their chance to cover "Illuminati" unfortunately, but I don't think that song was really right for them in the first place.  Anyway, I'm prepared to give Moran a second chance and because they really shine on their light, dreamy ballad-type songs, I think "au revoir" is a great fit.
2. Le ciel - DIMMDIVISION.
Le ciel is already a pretty dreamy song, so I can imagine DIMMDIVISION. adding their shoegazey flair and producing magic for my ears.  Their song ".ReyarP" comes to mind as proof that they could pull this off.
3. Gardenia - 네미시스 (Nemesis)
I think it's pretty obvious when listening to Nemesis that despite not being visually inspired, the band must be closet fans of light, frilly VK like this.  Their orchestral arrangements are always beautiful and their guitarist is also a lovely piano player, so they could definitely do some justice to this song.
4. N・p・s N・g・s - 己龍 (Kiryu)
I can really imagine Kiryu putting their unique, crazy spin on this track.  The creepy talking parts and the "DIE GAME" parts are begging to be Mahiro-fied.
5. Syunikiss ～二度目の哀悼～ - Vior gloire
I really struggled with finding a good band to cover "Syunikiss" until I remembered Vior gloire.  Their songs occasionally had a grandiose/cinematic quality.  That combined with Shall's special vocals make Vior gloire a strong candidate for this song.
6. 記憶と空 - Megaromania
Neoclassical guitar riffs and questionable vocals? Sounds like a job for Megaromania!
7. エーゲ ～過ぎ去りし風と共に～ - DOPPEL
Thinking back to DOPPEL's songs like "Eggknock" and "Moonlight xxxx," I think they could produce a neat, twinkly update of this classic MM track.
8. 麗しき仮面の招待状 - Kaya
The VK queen of goth/electronic.  While "Illuminati" seems like an obvious choice, I'd rather hear Kaya's take on the Gackt-era's first single.  This song already has a slight dancey beat, so I can easily see Kaya going all out and doing a full-blown gothy/electronic rendition.
9. 白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞 - Lacroix Despheres
The self-labeled "Symphonic Gothic Rock Opera" group has some definitely influence from MALICE MIZER's Klaha era (the Bara no Seidou album), so they seem like a great fit for this track.  Not to mention, Sho's vocals actually do resemble Klaha's somewhat.  I can see them adding their signature, whimsical oboe/flute (and maybe even Saya's vocals for a duet?) making it totally their own.  It worked on "Le sortilege" and "天啓の瞳" so they could definitely work their magic again.
10. 幻想楽園 - Nocturnal Bloodlust
Why not have MALICE MIZER's by far heaviest song get covered by the most br00tal VK band around.  It'd be interesting to hear them deathcore-ify this track, haha.
11. ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ - Jupiter
Songs like "Bel Air" show that even though Malice Mizer was mostly known for their diverse influences and theatrics, they also had quite interesting guitar parts.  I think "VK metal" guitarists like Hizaki/Teru could give this song a nice modern update, while still retaining the unique atmosphere of the original.  Plus, I think ZIN could do a great job on vocals.
12. Beast of Blood - 関西耽美系～Lily Project～
Harpsichord, heavy repetitive riffs, and a dramatic chorus?  Only Lily project!  I'm sure Seira would do his unique German growls at some point in the song too, haha.
13. 死の舞踏 - Sito Magus
With songs like "necromance," I'm sure Sito Magus could produce a beautiful cover of this old MM favorite.  They would probably slow it down and add even more elements of classy gothic atmosphere.
14. Bois de merveilles - KAMIJO
While solo KAMIJO has a small repertoire so far, he's already shown on "Grazioso" that he's capable of waltzy, soundtrack-worthy arrangements like "Bois de merveilles."  Plus, KAMIJO idolizes vocalist Gackt, so...

Well, on the scale of obnoxious marketing tactics, It's right up there with 4-type singles all with slightly different tracklists. AKA, I think it's silly and unnecessary.

Then again, no band that I've ever paid attention to has resorted to it yet.  We'll see how I feel about it if any of the bands I follow ever do it, haha.

MALICE MIZER tribute album

Some of these are pure fantasy since this isn't going to happen anyway, but a few are pretty plausible cover candidates I think!  The order of the tracks is also a bit random, but I think it's practically a requirement that "Bois de merveilles" be the closing track.  Enjoy!

1. au revoir - Moran
Moran really screwed up their chance to cover "Illuminati" unfortunately, but I don't think that song was really right for them in the first place.  Anyway, I'm prepared to give Moran a second chance and because they really shine on their light, dreamy ballad-type songs, I think "au revoir" is a great fit.
2. Le ciel - DIMMDIVISION.
Le ciel is already a pretty dreamy song, so I can imagine DIMMDIVISION. adding their shoegazey flair and producing magic for my ears.  Their song ".ReyarP" comes to mind as proof that they could pull this off.
3. Gardenia - 네미시스 (Nemesis)
I think it's pretty obvious when listening to Nemesis that despite not being visually inspired, the band must be closet fans of light, frilly VK like this.  Their orchestral arrangements are always beautiful and their guitarist is also a lovely piano player, so they could definitely do some justice to this song.
4. N・p・s N・g・s - 己龍 (Kiryu)
I can really imagine Kiryu putting their unique, crazy spin on this track.  The creepy talking parts and the "DIE GAME" parts are begging to be Mahiro-fied.
5. Syunikiss ～二度目の哀悼～ - Vior gloire
I really struggled with finding a good band to cover "Syunikiss" until I remembered Vior gloire.  Their songs occasionally had a grandiose/cinematic quality.  That combined with Shall's special vocals make Vior gloire a strong candidate for this song.
6. 記憶と空 - Megaromania
Neoclassical guitar riffs and questionable vocals? Sounds like a job for Megaromania!
7. エーゲ ～過ぎ去りし風と共に～ - DOPPEL
Thinking back to DOPPEL's songs like "Eggknock" and "Moonlight xxxx," I think they could produce a neat, twinkly update of this classic MM track.
8. 麗しき仮面の招待状 - Kaya
The VK queen of goth/electronic.  While "Illuminati" seems like an obvious choice, I'd rather hear Kaya's take on the Gackt-era's first single.  This song already has a slight dancey beat, so I can easily see Kaya going all out and doing a full-blown gothy/electronic rendition.
9. 白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞 - Lacroix Despheres
The self-labeled "Symphonic Gothic Rock Opera" group has some definitely influence from MALICE MIZER's Klaha era (the Bara no Seidou album), so they seem like a great fit for this track.  Not to mention, Sho's vocals actually do resemble Klaha's somewhat.  I can see them adding their signature, whimsical oboe/flute (and maybe even Saya's vocals for a duet?) making it totally their own.  It worked on "Le sortilege" and "天啓の瞳" so they could definitely work their magic again.
10. 幻想楽園 - Nocturnal Bloodlust
Why not have MALICE MIZER's by far heaviest song get covered by the most br00tal VK band around.  It'd be interesting to hear them deathcore-ify this track, haha.
11. ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ - Jupiter
Songs like "Bel Air" show that even though Malice Mizer was mostly known for their diverse influences and theatrics, they also had quite interesting guitar parts.  I think "VK metal" guitarists like Hizaki/Teru could give this song a nice modern update, while still retaining the unique atmosphere of the original.  Plus, I think ZIN could do a great job on vocals.
12. Beast of Blood - 関西耽美系～Lily Project～
Harpsichord, heavy repetitive riffs, and a dramatic chorus?  Only Lily project!  I'm sure Seira would do his unique German growls at some point in the song too, haha.
13. 死の舞踏 - Sito Magus
With songs like "necromance," I'm sure Sito Magus could produce a beautiful cover of this old MM favorite.  They would probably slow it down and add even more elements of classy gothic atmosphere.
14. Bois de merveilles - KAMIJO
While solo KAMIJO has a small repertoire so far, he's already shown on "Grazioso" that he's capable of waltzy, soundtrack-worthy arrangements like "Bois de merveilles."  Plus, KAMIJO idolizes vocalist Gackt, so...

I went to the show in Köln last night!!!

I had to deal with some train detour fuckery in order to make it to the venue, but it wasn't a big deal.  There was a tiny line outside of "Die Werkstatt".  Once I made it inside, there were only about 40 people in there.  I stood on the right side (Hizaki side) in the equivalent of the 5ish row.  As far as I could see, there was no real barricade between the band and the audience, so from where I was, it felt like Hizaki was only 10-15 feet away.

Here was my approximate vantage point:


Unfortunately, they said we couldn't take pictures once the band came out (grrr!), but I suppose it was refreshing to be at a show without people filming/taking pics on their iPhones the whole time!  Anyway, the band started fairly promptly at 7:30.  Here's the setlist I managed to note down.

Introduction SE (band walked out dramatically)
Scarlet
Aria
Decadence
MC by ZIN
ALLEGORY CAVE
Bass solo/extended intro, RHYTHMOS
Nostalgie
Race Wish (from HIZAKI grace project)
MC by Yuki
Silent Knight (from Versailles)
MC by Hizaki
Heaven's Atlas
MC by ZIN
SHOUT YOUR DESIRE
LAST MOMENT (new single)
Symmetry Breaking, extended outro
Classical Element

Encore
forever with you
Blessing of the Future
Conclusion SE

This is only my third visual kei show, but I absolutely loved it.  ZIN is much better live, simple as that.  Someone on last.fm has already touched on this, but the certain "annoying" moments that he has on CD (exaggerated vibrato and stuff) sound a lot better live.  As in, songs like Scarlet and SHOUT YOUR DESIRE that aren't really my favorites, actually were extremely fun in person.  ZIN had everyone waving their towels during Scarlet.  He kept asking us "ARE YOU FUCKING READY?!" haha.  He also broke out the occasional German phrase.  At one point, after Heaven's Atlas I believe, he said "take your right hand, take your left hand, touch" and he bowed his head and said "Danke schön" haha.  As you can see from the setlist, they played all of their released songs (except for Atmosphere), plus some extras.  Yuki had a little MC where he said he was glad to be back in Germany and he asked us if we'd like to hear a "special song" (Silent Knight).  I was particularly stoked to hear Race Wish (the synthy orchestra intro sounded revamped from the old studio recording) and the upcoming single Last Moment.  The closest song I can compare it to is probably Heaven's Atlas, because it was fast-paced and chuggy, but still with an overall positive mood.  Looking forward to the CD release.  After ZIN left the stage during the instrumental tracks, Hizaki made us call him back, telling us to shout "On bokaaru... ZIN!" (I swear it sounded like he said "Jane" the first couple times though, haha. I were confused...)  After the luscious Classical Element, the band left the stage for maybe 5 minutes and came back in black Jupiter T-shirts for an encore.  The "laaaaa la la" outro of forever with you was surreal, haha.  Of course the band's final track was their first single.  At the end, all of the band members came right to the edge of the stage and I managed to touch Hizaki and Masashi's hands.  Before leaving, ZIN told us that he loved the fans and that the band would be back at some point.  He pinky promised, haha.

Other important observations:
-Hizaki (T-shirt version) isn't as gaunt/skinny as I was anticipating.
-ZIN does crazy eyes sometimes. He also has this great smirk.  He did this sassy finger wagging during the "nanimo nai" part of Heaven's Atlas.
-1 1/2 to 2 instances of Hizaki x ZIN fanservice.
-Yuki is a killer drummer, but I already knew that.
-There was a man, possibly in his 50s, cosplaying as an "aristocratic VK guy" aka probably Kamijo.
-Hizaki hugged a fan at the end and she cried.
-I would estimate a max of 120 people there, which although it made for a nice fairly intimate atmosphere, was also a bit strange, since I expected way more people.

In short, fucking awesome show.  If you are even kind of a fan of the band and you get the chance to see them, go for it.  I also got to meet Champ (first irl MH-er ever for me, haha), so this was a highly successful weekend.

I hope the French fans have fun tonight!

@stylelover: Thank you I actually have seen that before but from what I recall, if I'm not mistaken, you need to register as a member with a credit card (one time fee+monthly fee, I assume you can cancel your membership) at genka market which is why I haven't ordered from there. Also, I don't know if this is the case for them but a lot of Japanese stores only accept Japanese credit and I don't have a Japanese credit card. But thank you !

@fitear1590 here's the links to the live reports + in stores. A couple in stores were only getting photographs. I threw in when I met them distributing flyers too. Sorry if there are any typos. And of course these are all casual (and a bit fangirly at times) reports. Enjoy?!
2012.11.23 1st oneman live report. This was one of my first lives before I was a full fledged bangya etc. Generally it's rude to work up the lines like I did, but I think a lot of people were doing it at that live. 2013.3.28 vivi Birthday Special Live「気愛」...if I wrote something for this I can't find it. It would have been something like RUVISH was surprisingly amazing, Haruki has a wonderful smile; I still hate MoNoLith (sorry to any fans. They're not that bad but I don't particularly like them and somehow it's agonizing to me to sit through their sets...) and after they finished I started feeling terrible and blamed it on them until I realized I was actually sick. I got norovirus and had to leave in the middle of Souiumono, basically. I saw about half the set. It was a really bad and actually it was a pretty dangerous situation; I probably should have gone to the hospital. This live still haunts me. 2013.4.6 BRAND NEW WAVE Tour Final. 2013.06.22 littleHEARTS Presents MY little HEARTS. Tour Edition Vol. 2 (Okayama) 2013.07.14 殺人鬼の棲む街 IN STORE (pure sound) + littleHEARTS.Presents MY littleHEARTS.Tour Edition Vol.2 (Osaka) 2013.08.31: 3rd oneman live report. 2013.10.05: 大嫌いなこの星に生まれて IN STORE (fiveStars) + little HEARTS. 5th Anniversary 「MY little HEARTS. Special Edition Vol.5 」(Nagoya) 2013.10.12: 大嫌いなこの星に生まれて IN STORE (Brand X) also here's a pic of the cheki as it was being taken Yada + Kogoe + another Brand X staff were yelling the equivalent of "OMG" in Japanese but I don't think it was that crazy... I couldn't really see what was going on around me during it though 2013.12.7: タランチュラ IN STORE (Tower Records maru bldg. Umeda) Incidentally after he was told he was popular with foreign fans Nuppe had a few blog titles in English (the first one started off talking about it) 1, 2, 3 2013.12.15: while distributing flyers in odaiba after BugLug's live I'll be seeing them March 9th and March 30th as well And, if all works out, on the oneman on August 24th.
Hopefully I'll make it to an in store for the new album too~

I went to the show in Köln last night!!!

I had to deal with some train detour fuckery in order to make it to the venue, but it wasn't a big deal.  There was a tiny line outside of "Die Werkstatt".  Once I made it inside, there were only about 40 people in there.  I stood on the right side (Hizaki side) in the equivalent of the 5ish row.  As far as I could see, there was no real barricade between the band and the audience, so from where I was, it felt like Hizaki was only 10-15 feet away.

Here was my approximate vantage point:


Unfortunately, they said we couldn't take pictures once the band came out (grrr!), but I suppose it was refreshing to be at a show without people filming/taking pics on their iPhones the whole time!  Anyway, the band started fairly promptly at 7:30.  Here's the setlist I managed to note down.

Introduction SE (band walked out dramatically)
Scarlet
Aria
Decadence
MC by ZIN
ALLEGORY CAVE
Bass solo/extended intro, RHYTHMOS
Nostalgie
Race Wish (from HIZAKI grace project)
MC by Yuki
Silent Knight (from Versailles)
MC by Hizaki
Heaven's Atlas
MC by ZIN
SHOUT YOUR DESIRE
LAST MOMENT (new single)
Symmetry Breaking, extended outro
Classical Element

Encore
forever with you
Blessing of the Future
Conclusion SE

This is only my third visual kei show, but I absolutely loved it.  ZIN is much better live, simple as that.  Someone on last.fm has already touched on this, but the certain "annoying" moments that he has on CD (exaggerated vibrato and stuff) sound a lot better live.  As in, songs like Scarlet and SHOUT YOUR DESIRE that aren't really my favorites, actually were extremely fun in person.  ZIN had everyone waving their towels during Scarlet.  He kept asking us "ARE YOU FUCKING READY?!" haha.  He also broke out the occasional German phrase.  At one point, after Heaven's Atlas I believe, he said "take your right hand, take your left hand, touch" and he bowed his head and said "Danke schön" haha.  As you can see from the setlist, they played all of their released songs (except for Atmosphere), plus some extras.  Yuki had a little MC where he said he was glad to be back in Germany and he asked us if we'd like to hear a "special song" (Silent Knight).  I was particularly stoked to hear Race Wish (the synthy orchestra intro sounded revamped from the old studio recording) and the upcoming single Last Moment.  The closest song I can compare it to is probably Heaven's Atlas, because it was fast-paced and chuggy, but still with an overall positive mood.  Looking forward to the CD release.  After ZIN left the stage during the instrumental tracks, Hizaki made us call him back, telling us to shout "On bokaaru... ZIN!" (I swear it sounded like he said "Jane" the first couple times though, haha. I were confused...)  After the luscious Classical Element, the band left the stage for maybe 5 minutes and came back in black Jupiter T-shirts for an encore.  The "laaaaa la la" outro of forever with you was surreal, haha.  Of course the band's final track was their first single.  At the end, all of the band members came right to the edge of the stage and I managed to touch Hizaki and Masashi's hands.  Before leaving, ZIN told us that he loved the fans and that the band would be back at some point.  He pinky promised, haha.

Other important observations:
-Hizaki (T-shirt version) isn't as gaunt/skinny as I was anticipating.
-ZIN does crazy eyes sometimes. He also has this great smirk.  He did this sassy finger wagging during the "nanimo nai" part of Heaven's Atlas.
-1 1/2 to 2 instances of Hizaki x ZIN fanservice.
-Yuki is a killer drummer, but I already knew that.
-There was a man, possibly in his 50s, cosplaying as an "aristocratic VK guy" aka probably Kamijo.
-Hizaki hugged a fan at the end and she cried.
-I would estimate a max of 120 people there, which although it made for a nice fairly intimate atmosphere, was also a bit strange, since I expected way more people.

In short, fucking awesome show.  If you are even kind of a fan of the band and you get the chance to see them, go for it.  I also got to meet Champ (first irl MH-er ever for me, haha), so this was a highly successful weekend.

I hope the French fans have fun tonight!

Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for, but these 2 come to mind:
 
伊集院幸希
 

 

 
 
and ズクナシ
 

 

For me, I mainly tend to share things that I'm very enthusiastic about myself.  I really enjoy doing little writeups to accompany my uploads.  If that actually helps to persuade someone to try something new, then that's awesome!
My favorite thing about uploading (it doesn't happen THAT often unfortunately, haha) is when people post a bit more than "thanks" and actually share their thoughts on a release.  It's always nice to hear what others think about a particular release; a few downloaders have left some really thoughtful comments/opinions in the past and I always enjoy reading them.

サウイフモノ (souiumono)



website
last.fm

Vocals: SACCI
Guitar: nono
Guitar: ヒロバッキー (hiro backy)
Bass: ぬっぺ (nuppe)
Drums: カムイ (kamui)

ex-guitarist: ドンキー (donkey)

サウイフモノ (souiumono) formed as a trio in 2011 with its vocalist and bassist being former members of the band ポワトリン (poitrine).  During this time, the band donned Smurf/Tellytubby-inspired blue skin and headgear.


With this lineup, they released their first single パッパパッパラッタ(pappapa palata) followed by a live-distributed single.  After the departure of guitarist Donkey in February 2012, the band filled the lineup with ex-DragonWAPPPPPPER guitarist nono, ex-フカモカ(fukamoka) guitarist hiro backy, and drummer kamui.  Since then, the band has dropped their "blue" look and worn primarily fantasy/RPG-inspired outfits.  They even released two RPG computer games to accompany their singles.  One of the things that definitely sets the band apart from their contemporaries is their sense of humor.  In March 2014, they will end the streak of singles, releasing their first full album.

Discography:
2011.03.03 パッパパッパラッタ [maxi-single]
2011.07.02 Cee-もう一人のwa.ta.shi- [live-distributed single]
2012.06.27 シスター村 [maxi-single]
2012.08.03 サンバリゾート [live-sold single]
2012.09.26 くびはねるつるぎ/毒メスシリンダー [maxi-single]
2012.12.12 まだ来ないANGEL [maxi-single]
2013.02.24 殺人鬼の棲む街 [maxi-single]
2013.10.02 V-ANIME ROCKS evolution [omnibus album; track 11, the WORLD (DEATH NOTE)]
2013.10.02 大嫌いなこの星に生まれて [maxi-single]
2013.12.04 タランチュラ [maxi-single]
2014.03.05 ラグナロク [album]

Videos:



Any fans of サウイフモノ?  They're not the most consistent band in the world, but I really like a few of their releases (the 殺人鬼の棲む街 & くびはねるつるぎ / 毒メスシリンダー singles, plus NANDAKANDA are my absolute favorites.)  Not to mention, I think SACCI has awesome vocals!  I'm really looking forward to their album to see what they can really do.  Hopefully they don't disappoint!  

Favorite member? Favorite song/release?
Discuss all things サウイフモノ here!

DIV - 夏の行方 (natsu no yukue)

 
Reason: Not sure what it means or if it's just random, but I simply love the composition.  Who knew goldfish and marbles (?) would be a winning combination?  Plus, the black background also makes the colors pop intensely.

 
戸川純 (Jun Togawa) - 玉姫様 (Tamahime sama)

 
Reason: It's mysterious and creepy in a subtle way.  I can easily imagine this being a still from an 80s horror movie, like The Fly - or in this case, The Dragonfly.

 
Ehpion - Re:union

 
Reason: Once again, simple, yet stark imagery.  It's gorgeous and reminds me of an old Dutch still life painting.

 
the god and death stars - addle apple

 
Reason: So simple, yet so iconic!  It definitely makes an impression. I'll never forget this album cover.


I think I've learned that I tend to like the following in my album art
a. simple
b. mysterious
c. black backgrounds with bursts of color
d. any combination of the above

Of the albums that were already posted, I'm also enjoying Boris' and FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT's.

NICE, congrats on having the (almost) complete Souiumono discography
I hope you're able to get Cee-もう一人のwa.ta.shi- as well, even if it is really expensive...

Unfortunately, I agree that the band might have dropped a little bit in quality since joining Timely Records.  Actually, まだ来ないANGEL is my least favorite release by them.  (But, I haven't heard タランチュラ yet, so maybe that one is worse??)  I know some people appreciate the fact that it's kind of like Poitrine, but I never really liked those electronic, poppy tracks; the b-sides were good, but nothing that spectacular.  But their releases on Timely Records aren't all bad, because like I mentioned above, 殺人鬼の棲む街 is one of my two favorite singles!  I really like it when they do the occasional dark/crazy tracks like 魔物大行進 from that single and 毒メスシリンダー.  SACCI's voice is really versatile.

But I'm withholding final judgment of their Timely Records era until their album comes out.  There's like 18 tracks or something ridiculous, so I think we'll have a pretty good idea of what they're capable of after this!  I'm excited for the tracklist to come out.  I wonder how many of those 18 will be new songs.
 
Just making sure you've listened to the version of NANDAKANDA on the シスター村 single.  That one is heavier and has better production, so RPG-souiumono has their moments too, haha.

Well, it's pretty simple for me.  UNiTE is one of my absolute favorite VK bands.  DIV is also a new favorite and Kameleo is pretty good.
I don't really follow the rest of the bands, but based solely on these 3 DC bands and the fact that I don't listen to or care about ANY of the PSC bands, I have to go with Danger Crue.

Plus, as Ricchu mentioned, DC a really active YouTube channel which I appreciate.  Kameleo's PVs are even translated into Korean, Chinese, English (and possibly other languages), so it's nice to see they have overseas fans' interests in mind!  I wish UNiTE's and DIV's videos were translated too,

Same.
(and +100 points for the Happy Endings gif)

I rarely use GIFs, but



my body is ready

Here's the full version!




Damn, those were some chuggy riffs!

Something was off-putting about the PV though.  The dark sky and the super windy scenes of the band playing made the PV seem a bit ominous, haha.

Anyway, looking forward to the full album!

Here's the full version!




Damn, those were some chuggy riffs!

Something was off-putting about the PV though.  The dark sky and the super windy scenes of the band playing made the PV seem a bit ominous, haha.

Anyway, looking forward to the full album!