numetal

- 己龍 - 己龍 東名阪単独巡業「遠塵離邂垢」〜2018年9月7日新木場STUDIO COAST〜 【DVD】
- 摩天楼オペラ - Human Dignity 【Limited edition CD+DVD+sticker】
- ムック - 壊れたピアノとリビングデッド
 

I'm in FUCKING LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title of their new maxi single is finalized as "卍(manji)" (3 TYPE).

全身全霊豪華盤 (5,940yen) will include CD+DVD (including scene of "2016年最後の全国ワンマンツアー！ダウト自作自演。特攻猛暑ツアー2016。「音楽は爆発だ!!」" at Shinjuku ReNY on 2016/08/31), limited edition (1,944yen) will include CD+DVD (including "卍(manji)" PV & making), and regular edition (1,296yen) will include CD only.

[CD track list]
01.卍(manji)
02.私を奪って…(watashi wo ubatte...)

ユナイト(UNiTE.) new maxi single "A Little Picture" will be released on 2017/01/18.
 

 

ARCHEMI. new single "感謝 (Kansha)" will be released at 2016/11/9 (2 type)
 
Type A will include 2 tracks+DVD (including "感謝 (Kansha)" MV)  and Type B will include 3 tracks.
 
[track list]
1.感謝 (Kansha)
2.煩悩 (Bonnou)
3.瞑想 (Meisou)

DaizyStripper new album "HOME" will be released at 2017/1/11 (4 TYPE)
 
TYPE A will include CD+DVD (including "明日がくるなら" (Ashita ga Kurunara), "MY WAY", "ARREST", "アマカラ (Amakara)" MVs and  "明日がくるなら" (Ashita ga Kurunara) and "MY WAY" MV slips and making), TYPE B will include 2 CDs (including live CD), TYPE C will include 2 CDs (including live CD), and TYPE D will be CD only.
 
[track list]
1.Welcome Back
2.VICTORIA～氷の女王～ (Koori no Joou)
3.ARREST -HOME ver.-
4.NAKAYUBI
5.MY WAY
6.Flying New World
7.アマカラ (Amakara)
8.in Daylight
9.自由がお帰り (Jiyuu ga Okaeri)
10.GOD SPEED
11.KoppaMiJiN
12.The End of Music
13.明日が来るなら (Ashita ga Kurunara)
14.HOME
15.キボウノカケラ～Shiny Days～ (Kibou no Kakera)

Recommended Tracks: August
 
Hello again Monochromians! ORz are back with a new freshly baked batch of tunes for you to snack on. Summer may be nearing its end, but that's no reason for the party to stop! Special thanks to guest reviewer @Ada Suilen for joining us again this month! 
Please, leave a comment below with songs you loved this month and let us know what you thought!
 
@fitear1590's picks
 
"お願いUFO (onegai UFO)" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen)

Koochewsen is officially on a roll. Their latest video game-tastic PV (the THIRD from this mini, btw) "インドのタクシー (indo no taxi)" was just edged out by this slice of musical heaven, which shows that the band still gets their prog juices flowing now and again. Slow, creeping verses build into mighty choruses that split the sky wide open just long enough for a UFO to zip down to our stratosphere and abduct us. And lawd,  is it glorious. I could go on and on about how much I love Riyo's unique vocals, but why don't  I just let the song speak for itself? As a cooldown, the track graces us with a killer organ breakdown and a face-melting guitar solo.
 
@togz' picks

"THE STORY ( ACOUSTIC )" by coldrain

"THE STORY ( ACOUSTIC )" is off of coldrain's newest single VENA II  which was released on the 17th of August. The single provided us with two acoustic versions from their last full-length VENA. Both prove to be great remakes and show another side of coldrain I haven't heard before. However, there's something special about the depth of "THE STORY". While the original wasn't one of my favorites from their album, the acoustic version may have changed my mind. Masato already has a very melodic vocal style but it surely shines in this track and he tends to elongate his words so they resonate in a different light. While the guitar work is beautiful on its own, the bass and drums are the real MVP of this song and offers some smooth jazz elements. I'm not even going to spoil the guitar solo for you. If you haven't heard it yet, you're missing out. I recommend this track for days. 
 
@emmny's picks

"月光" (Gekkou) by DIAURA

Some tracks warrant a short story's worth of an explanation as to why they're so good, and others just escape words. "Gekkou" is the latter for this month; it's not so brilliant to leave me utterly gobsmacked, but so eerily beautiful in its simplicity that it just...clicks. Yo-ka's vocals are dazzling as he glides over the delicate, acoustic guitar-driven ballad, the emotional buildup leading to a fabulously Uruha-style restrained-yet-virtuoso guitar solo from Kei. If you're not a ballad fan, this isn't the track to convert you; but to those who enjoy them, you'd find the polite ebb and flow of "Gekkou" to be rewarding.

"「洗脳」" (Sennou) by 黒百合と影 (Kuroyuri to kage)

Spoiler alert: Kuroyuri have flown straight out of indie purgatory after losing two members and (possibly?) being dropped by Ains, coming to bash us all across the head. If "Gekkou" put you to sleep, "Sennou" will wake you the fuck up, as expected, given Kuroyuri's signature oldie alt-metal barrage. The song opens with some surprising djent-style breakdown riffage before leading into a standard old MUCC-style crawl. Note how the bass work from K is turned up to 11, compared to prior releases. It has a fabulously ploppy and dirty clack to it. Mei, as usual, is giving the freaky-kei stans all that they could possibly ever want, going from whispers to growls with the occasional whimper singing here and there. Rinse, repeat, cue a fabulously sugary chorus and a dubstep breakdown. Wait...did I actually just--oh my god. YES, Kuroyuri against all odds throw the most pathetic wub-wub during a breakdown midway; which is so charmingly ratchet and clangy that it works brilliantly in their favour. Kuroyuri to kage stay true to their sound but throw in a few details here and there to keep everyone on their feet. Is it enough to keep their sound fresh? It's your call to make, but I'd like to think this is a good sign of things to come.
 
"Merciless core" by メディーナ (Mediena)

Ah yes, Mediena. In case you've missed them before, they're a fairly young Indies band with a heavy mid-2000's influence...think a lot of Phantasmagoria+UCP and Vidoll: super melodic, very synthy with a fabulously operatic and nasal vocalist.  They're also (allegedly) signed onto godly revival-kei label Ains. It's not a coincidence that every band featured by me this month is somehow linked to Ains, they're constantly killin' it. That said, Mediena is hitting the can soon, which is entirely exciting considering a similarly hyped old-school loving young indies band (I wonder who it is!) is also calling it quits this year. If some Ains super-band forms out of the ashes of Mediena, we only have @Peace Heavy mk II to blame. Conspiracy theories aside, Mediena are leaving us on a pretty good note with "Merciless core": intense string synths, gratuitous vibrato, kote screams, god-awful production, some headbang worthy riffage and great melodies. If this doesn't sound like an amazing time, you're in the wrong place.
 
@Original Saku's picks

"Alche(mist)" by the equal lights

My first pick this month is from a newer band that I just discovered, the equal lights. "Alche(mist)" from their first mini album LaLaLa-prima brings a blend of pop-rock and indie sounds that are a delight upon listening. Vocalist and guitarist Mishima Tetsuo does an excellent job of carrying the song forward with his soft vocal melodies that sound pleasant to the ear. Check these guys out sooner rather than later.
 
"よいよいまほろば (Yoi Yoi ma Horoba)" by 中山うり (Uri Nakayama)

Next we're taking a change of pace with the singer-songwriter Uri Nakayama and the song "Yoi Yoi ma Horoba" from her last album Mahoroba. Here we have a slow folk-y jazz number that starts off beautifully with Nakayama's warm 'miraculous' voice that she is known for and a variety of instruments make appearances throughout the song, including trumpet, accordion, and saxophone, among others. This is truly a track that gives you a soothing feeling and peace of mind. My recommendation doesn't do this song justice let alone the album, so if you love what you hear, please check out the full album if you so desire.
 
"EGO" by ARTIFACT OF INSTANT 

Once again we are gonna flip the tables and switch to something a bit different from the previous recommendation. "EGO" is a catchy alternative rock song from newly discovered act ARTIFACT OF INSTANT and their 3rd mini album Recoil. What makes this track interesting is the great energy that it gives off. From start to finish, it's one wild ride that hardly lets up. The band employs bumping bass lines, vigorous guitar riffs and drumming to achieve a very aggressive sound that pleases greatly. There is also a use of dual male female vocals that adds a nice touch to some of the chorus. Overall, a great track for the more heavy inclined this month.
 
"Lux Fugio" by ノイズ (nowisee) 

For a lot of people nowisee's (pronounced "noise") long awaited album Tenohira no Senso was the highlight of August, myself included. With the female-fronted group being largely shrouded in mystery and the monthly music video drops, the hype for this album has just been building and building all year. Although the album itself is made up of songs that most fans have heard by now through the youtube channel or app, I can tell you right now that the abridged versions don't do the full songs justice and to say that this album has no surprises for current fans would be the furthest from the truth. That brings us to one of the new songs that we have not heard before. "Lux Fugio" is a piano pop ballad that begins somber and then slowly builds into a masterpiece of a song that plateaus into a flurry of piano and vocal prowess a little half way through the track. Then, it begins to slowly cool off, and slips back into the darkness. This is the album of the month for me and has great potential for AOTY. The anticipation for this release was ridiculous and despite already having a good sample of the songs beforehand, the full versions were spectacular nonetheless.
 
@doombox's picks

"Fool's Gold" by Survive Said The Prophet

It's been a little touch-and-go for the five-piece outfit from Tokyo but in the last year the band has really gotten their feet under them. They even seemed to keep momentum whilst dealing with a recent member change, surprisingly. "Fool's Gold" is the first sample we get to hear from their upcoming full album FIXED. The song shows a more prominent post-hardcore side to the normally melodic, emo-tinged composition style the band has displayed in the past. Bassist Yudai's screams have been pushed even further to the forefront while Yosh's clean vocals hold down the catchy hooks (and perfect English lyrics). It's hard to tell if the change in musical pace for the band is due to new addition Tatsuya (ex. FAKE FACE) on guitar or was a natural evolution for the band, but either way, it's a step in the right direction.
 
"Savior" by NOTHING TO DECLARE

Surprise, surprise. I'm back again recommending another band you would never know were Japanese by only listening to them, this time with NOTHING TO DECLARE. "Savior" is a song that could easily fit in on major rock radio which leaves the band to be massively underrated in my humble opinion. This track has everything to dig its hooks deep into you. Chant-along gang vocals? Check. Big anthemic chorus? Check. Emotional, borderlining on spiritual outro? Check! I know these things are nothing original that haven't been done before but the band does a great job of keeping a fresh and genuine feeling about it that you don't find very often.
 
"ともに(tomoni)" by WANIMA

WANIMA keep the hits coming, and this summer is no different. "Tomoni" is that perfect, feel-good, summer jam that you can turn up loud and have zero regrets. Even though WANIMA's style does not change much from song to song, their message never seems to get old. The positivity and cheer this band spreads is infectious and has proved to have real staying power in the Japanese melodic punk scene. I mean, just attempt to watch their music videos without smiling. I dare you! 
 
"Nothing" by FAKE FACE

Diving into a band who likes to get a little darker with their themes and music videos, FAKE FACE have been around for a few years but have yet to really hit their stride as far as a regular release schedule goes. However, they do manage to pump out a mini album or so every other year. Their latest single, Nothing, has paired them up with Tower Records for its release, which looks like things may be starting to happen for the group. I definitely think they're worth checking out for fans of post-hardcore and alternative rock bands like ONE OK ROCK and coldrain. 
 
"パニックパニック！(Panic Panic!)" by Purple Stone

I've recommended Purple Stone previously for their song "Aoi Yami" not all that long ago. And just when I thought they couldn't improve on their already wonderful sound, the guys have really taken their music (and music videos) to the next level with "Panic Panic!". Electronic rock may be a bit of an overused trend for visual bands, but there's still something to be said for bands that know how to do it well, and Purple Stone are doing just that with synths, guitar riffs, and samples that are just as catchy as any of the vocals. It's the perfect storm to make this track an ear-creeper that will burrow its way into your brain and not let go. 
 
@tetsu_sama69's picks

"The Baptist" by Insanity Injection

I was really hoping that when I saw the cover art for this single that it was more focused on Chaos and I was not let down a single bit by this release. "The Baptist" takes a walk down a different path and is more on the melodic side of things from their previous releases. The opening is a messy storm of bass and wonderful chugging guitar that seems like it's going to be nothing special until the vocals kick in with a cacophony of awesome.  The spoken parts show up again much like "Sense of Ash" but this time they erupt into what can only be explained as a psychotic rampage of a guitar solo that melt back into a smooth verse before a twister of screams carries the song to the end. Chaos and Kyouka's voices mingle so well together it's a treat, especially when the operatic vocals are backed up with insane demonic screams that just hit the right spot for me and anyone else who appreciates the music that this band creates.
 
"真昼間は別の顔 (Mappiruma wa Betsu no Kao)"  by ペンタゴン (Pentagon) 

Typically I'm not extremely blown away by what Pentagon has brought to the table but they do make some pretty nice tunes from time to time that I have a hard time getting out of my head. Zekkyou was a pretty alright release until I ran into "Mappiruma wa Bestu no Kao" and the song got stuck on repeat for a while by means I cannot explain entirely. The song definitely stands out from their typical styling with a strange tinkering fast-paced piano bit that comes up throughout the track. The energetic jazzy pace of track overall is extremely addicting and done so well instrumentally and vocally it's almost as if I found a box of my favorite candy on my desk after coming home from work. If Pentagon can explore and do more songs with as much energy as this song then they'll definitely earn a higher placing on my list of current enjoyable visual bands.
 
"セーラー服と夏休み (Sailor Fuku to Natsuyasumi)" by スタア区。(Starku) 

Starku are definitely not playing around as they bring another amazing and solid release to the forefront with "Sailor Fuku to Natsuyasumi". After a few listens the lyrics were already ingrained in my mind and I could not stop hearing those beautiful guitar riffs that had me dancing right away. The pace changes that occur in this song are downright insane and it almost feels like a roller coaster ride of awesome for your ears from beginning to end. It's full of that wonderful super-positive charged punk rock style that Starku do so well and I definitely cannot get enough of. I find it nearly impossible to listen to their music and not find myself full of life whether it's from Reno's unique vocals or the bands overall downright talent. Starku are really coming into their own with every release and I hope the next song they put together is even better than this. 
 
"Dystopia～断罪の聖堂～ (Dystopia～Danzai no Seidou～)" by forCroiX 

If you are missing that late '00's visual style music with a lovely punch of 'gothic' synths and power metal then you have hit the jackpot. forCroiX's first and hopefully not only release Grimoire is something that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys visual kei. "Dystopia～Danzai no Seidou～" isn't a very long song but in that 3 minute and 12 second window there's a lot brought to the table for your enjoyment. The opening piano track bursts into a heavy mix of chugging instrumentals and powerful vocals that just don't seem to have any idea where the brakes are. The guitar solo is so maddeningly paced that I can't even think of a better way to describe than insanely good. I really hope that forCroiX gets a bit more attention for their first album and they return quickly from their hiatus and not disappear into the ether like many other visual bands.
 
Guest picks
 
@Ada Suilen's picks
 
"Presto" by Hizaki

One of the most prolific Japanese musicians of visual kei scene brings up a wonderful instrumental album, where there's something for everyone's taste; I enjoy the most virtuous works of the guitarist, this track suited me more than what I could expect: an incredibly fast rhythm, with Hizaki ready to bring glory and potency in a single hit (the homage to Vivaldi's "Summer" is simply gorgeous!), accompanied by a beautiful violin; a track that is pretty hard to forget.
 
"正義のヒーロー (Seigi no hero)" by R指定 (R-Shitei)

I have to admit that I don't dig this band so much (apart from few songs such as "Suicide Memories"), but with their 23rd single they caught my attention a little more, not much for the title song, but for the b-side; a real plot twist for me, where an unknown energy is unleashed in a piercing and adrenalinic rock sound. Mamo's interpretation is incredibly awesome even for himself, helped by good bass lines. If you aren't accustomed with energetic R-Shitei, this is your time!
 
That's all for this month!
Thanks for listening and if you would like to submit a guest blurb for next month please contact @doombox!

アンフィル (Anfiel)
 
Active: 2014.11.20 ~ present
 
Vo. 翔梧 (shogo) [twitter]
Gt. 未月 (mizuki) [twitter]
Gt. yukito [twitter]
Ba. 棗(natsume) [twitter]
Dr. ハル (hal) [twitter]
 
|| Official Homepage || Band Discography ||
 
HOW IS IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A THREAD FOR THEM YET??
 
Any other anfiel fans out there?
 
 

interesting that Lilith is recording my favorite AS song for the B-side lol. i'm curious to see how this would turn out~

Lilith 6th EP "Rebirth-歸來-" will be released at 2016/09/28.
 
[tracklist]
01. Arcadia（Japanese ver.）
02. In the Dawn
03. Arcadia（Instrumental）
04. In the Dawn（Instrumental）
 
Their 7th EP "盤龍舞鳳-Dragon Heir-" will be released at 2016/12/21 (2160 yens)
 
[tracklist]
[CD]
01. -召-
02. 盘龙舞凤
03. 天上宫阙
[DVD]
01. 盘龙舞凤 MV + -Making of Music Clip-
 
They will hold their 17th oneman live [Rebirth-歸來-] at 2016/09/28. Their 18th oneman live "魔都制圧-Hidden Ability-" at 2016/10/06. Their Special Halloween live "LIN MING PRODUCTION 「ROCK AGE Case.004」 「MAD Halloween in魔都」" with AKIRA and the SOUND BEE HD at 2016/10/29. Their Special Xmas "魔都制圧-Holy Night-" at 2016/12/25. And their 20th oneman live "魔都制圧-AS Night -" at 2016/12/26.

Recommended Tracks: July
 
Your friends on the Official Reviewer team are back with another month of tunes we have hand picked for you to jam to.
We hope you enjoy and let us know what you think!
 
 
@beni's picks
 
"CALL" by スカート (Skirt)

Simplicity can sometimes make a gem, and what do we have right here? One hell of a shiny one! The track may be painfully short, but it's one I never fail in returning back to now and then. With vocals that can be described as laid-back on almost the same scale as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION'S Gotch, with a touch of melancholy especially due to the overall sound, this is one you can categorize as 'great indie goodness'. You'll easily recognize this track amongst any other, due to its opener of a single riff. The sprinkles of piano elsewhere, including a build up in its bridges makes this one a necessary repeater of a tune. Underrated is an understatement for this band!
 
"秘密 (Himitsu)" by SUPER BEAVER

Now this is just getting ridiculous, lads! You'll be appearing in our Recommended Tracks each month if you don't slow down any time soon! As I continuously MUST point out how SUPER BEAVER are getting better and better with each release, their singles and PVs continue to impress me as soon as I hit 'play'. Using a similar formula each time of quick but melodic vocal work against an instantly recognizable and complimentary beat, "Himitsu" is just as tastefully addictive as all their recent pieces. Fast paced, but exquisitely tuneful for exactly four minutes, it's a catchy and memorable ride, which seems to end all too soon! If you have yet to check them out, you must give them a try at least this once! And just for the record, the album that track appears on entitled 27 really deserves your attention too! These guys will not be halting their winning spree any time soon.
 
"ACROSS" by 相川七瀬 (Aikawa Nanase)

I must admit right here and now that you're not the only one missing out on this brilliant madam. I've known her name for the longest time but have never given her a listen until this single of hers, and oh, how late I am to the party! With one hell of a strong, melodic voice for a mainstream/major singer, against music done by L'Arc~en~Ciel's Tetsuya (yes, that's right, have I caught your ears now?), "ACROSS" is a delicious blend of pop rock. Nanase's stunning voice stands out even more due to Tetsuya's welcome involvement with the sound, and that definitely helps this song attract attention. What's even more of an attraction is the PV, filmed in gorgeous 360 panorama motion shots, which makes it a pleasure even to the eyes!
 
"Fake" by GOMESS

GOMESS is one of my instant loves of this year, with "Fake" being the main culprit for this. As soon as I heard his music, what came to mind was a male rap version of Bonjour Suzuki, and early daoko. "Fake" is a tuneful lullaby track as you might have guessed with my artist examples. From just this one song, to the mini-album it appears on, GOMESS has skyrocketed up to being one of my favourite experimental rappers. As those who know me already, I'm not that much of a rap listener, yet I find GOMESS extremely special because I enjoy his music so much. This is not to be missed. This song, the mini-album, nor himself.
 
"BABY, BABY" by TWEEDEES

A very random but lovely find of this month is the jazz duo of TWEEDEES. If I had to be honest about me and jazz, I'd have to say I'm not the most favourable towards it save for certain groups (BLU-SWING and JiLL-Decoy Assocation), but when it's as cute and charming as this, who am I to ignore it!? Unfortunately unknown to the majority of us, TWEEDEES definitely deserve more fans who can kick back, appreciate and enjoy anything smooth, sweet and jazzy. It even has the approval from @CAT5!
 
 "カラーバリエーション(Color Variation)" by ケツメイシ (Ketsumeishi)
 
Talk about a match made in heaven (those clash of colours and awkward dance moves gets me every time)! Sounding exactly like how I'd think of Greeeen if they were an idol/dance boy group, this hip hop group of four (in fact) incorporates infectious rap and super pleasant singing in the chorus against the dancefloor (and even EDM) sound. This is definitely one of my guilty pleasure finds of this year (even that awfully cheesy music video is!), and I can't love it any more than I already do! If you're looking for something cheery now that we're coming to the chillier seasons, you better get up and moving to this! I know I can't stop myself!
 
 
@togz' picks
 
"この世界が嫌いな人へ (kono sekai ga kirai na hito e)" by Develop One's Faculties

Develop One's Faculties has always caught my attention with their unique sound in the VK scene. They never fail to incorporate quick and complex elements to at least one song per release. "この世界が嫌いな人へ (kono sekai ga kirai na hito e)" is a B-side off of their 4th single 斑 (mura). Though the song has a fast pace to it, Develop One's Faculties is able to accomplish layering smooth vocals over a funky slap bass line. My favorite part of this track is when the vocals and guitar work lift each other and reinforce this sort of staccato verse. It's a fun song that I would recommend to scratch the surface of this group.
 
"Water Lily" by illion

illion is the solo project of Yojiro Noda (Vocalist + Guitarist of RADWIMPS). It's been just over 3 years since the debut album Ubu. Originally, an untitled release was due out for illion on the 20th of July, but that got pushed back until fall.  The sad news was remedied by the announcement of a new RADWIMPS album to drop. Despite illion's release being delayed, this amazingly interactive teaser went live and "Water Lily" became available in the Japanese iTunes store on July 15th. This is a very ambient, upbeat, and space-y sounding track but offers a strong melodic vocal line. If you need some great thinking music or something to tide you over until the new RADWIMPS release hits the shelf then "Water Lily" is a must!
 
"黒い虹 (Kuroi Niji)" by THE NOVEMBERS

Even with their new album release right around the corner, THE NOVEMBERS surprise listeners with a sudden digital single release. This song will be on the new album Hallelujah which will be released on September 21st. "黒い虹 (Kuroi Niji)" represents many sides of THE NOVEMBERS as it sways from an aggressive grunge sound and floating chants to up-front chaos as everything mashes together. Given the unique layering of harmonizing vocals, the chants/singing during the song is clash-y but pleasing. If you're just checking out THE NOVEMBERS for the first time, this would be a great song to start with in preparations for their anticipated release come end of summer. On July 20th a link to purchase the song through iTunes was made available through various social media outlets. From the looks of it this song is just a limited time release exclusively for the Japanese audience. 
 
"Rx Overdrive" by Crossfaith 

After the band's most recent album Xeno, I felt a little let down. While I understood the direction the album went in and how it was beneficial to utilizing all their members equally, I do feel they lost a little bit of their punch. Xeno was still an album that translated well to a live setting, but it lacked the heaviness that drew people in from the beginning. Aside from the visually pleasing music video, "Rx Overdrive" replenished the heavier factors that people craved to hear again. This song has satisfactory synth usage that doesn't take from the importance and depth of the percussion area. Whether you're looking to give Crossfaith a second (or third) chance or are just checking them out, "Rx Overdrive" is a great place to sum up their journey to this point. 
 
 
@tetsu_sama69's picks
 
"SENSE OF ASH" by Insanity Injection

Hands down one of my favorite releases this year and a purchase I hardly regret every single time I hear this song. Granted, Insanity Injection has been met with mixed opinions, yet they always seem to strike it rich with me. "SENSE OF ASH" is a continuation of the chaotic hybrid that this band exists to be and does it so well. The haunting intro with light voiceover erupts into the unholy mess of screams from Kyouka and is spiced up with operatic vocals from Chaos. A cacophony of twisted guitars, heavy bass, noisy rhythm with an occult narration thrown in is a great treat if you're into dark and filthy sounding visual kei goodness.
 
"廻想ルナシエル (Mawarisou Luna Ciel)" by FerrisWheeL

You hopefully are listening to this treat of a song while you're reading this little blurb about its contents because I don't think I can completely explain how good this song is with words alone. FerrisWheeL is really underrated and should rightfully get more attention as their band continues on. They're also a pure example of the scene can still play "old-school" style visual kei and make it sound very unique in their own way. Maybe it's because the band is a wonderful collection of members from previous bands such as Crishuna, Cruicifixtion , and GRIST or that they're focusing more on making great music than just trying to sweep up fans by sticking to trends. "Mawarisou Luna Ciel "is a delightful listen and I do hope they continue with consistent music of this variety. This song is a a blast from the past and the opening guitar riff alone is enough to get almost anyone addicted to it.
 
"desperate" by chariots

The official return of chariots was definitely the hype train that I got on right away. I've always enjoyed the interesting evolution they've gone though since their start. Though, Kisai is a great release overall and is a refreshing continuation for the band since before they went on break to take progressive steps towards the style of heavier music. "Desperate" ended up being my favorite track from the single overall because I just couldn't resist putting the song on repeat. Perhaps it's the chugging guitars from KAZ, strong bass from Jin, perfect drumming from MIKAGE, and rough vocals from Riku that are an amazing mix that definitely comes together to make a stimulating hefty load of power metal. 
 
 
@emmny's picks
 
"period" by ギルガメッシュ (girugamesh)

And here ends Girugamesh's legacy... the band responsible for getting a fair chunk of this forum into the j-rock scene throughout the better part of the past decade or so is over. It's worth noting how much of an influence they've had on the current scene (in case you're new), with their current output being ripped-off by the new visualcore bands and their mid 2000's material serving as a large influence to revival kei groups. After my first few listens of "period", I was entirely gobsmacked at how well they managed to combine their current slick yet brutal metalcore sound with the moody alt-metal atmospherics of their indies days. It doesn't entirely sound like a Chimera left-over, but "period" definitely borrows from its predecessor's theme of mixing old and new, bringing the concept to a fever pitch. The end result is a driving metalcore/djenty banger with ominous chord progressions, the standard anthemic chorus and interesting use of orchestral programming--up until 4 minute mark. The outro begins as ambient synths and piano underscore satoshi's distorted crooning, then suddenly everything drops out and a hellfire of grinding guitars and furious drum fills close the track while they glitch into oblivion. The curtain falls, applause, goodbye.
 
"百鬼夜行" (hyakki yakou) by 己龍 (kiryu)

BPR's flagship band return with their fifth full-length album Hyakki yakou, featuring a title track so good your eyes will probably water, your neck might snap and you will 100% be reminded as to why you ever liked the shit-show known as visual kei in the first place. Hyperbole? Absolutely. Kiryu deserve every smidgen of praise they get given how consistent they've been for the past 9 years. Year after year, they've been serving their signature mix of all things dramatic and neo-japonesque with a healthy dose of ADHD oshare fun and a kote kei lean ALL topped with sharp progressive tendencies. "Hyakki yakou" is a manic mix of everything Kiryu have ever done, but it remains fresh because of how brilliantly the song flows. The track opens with a wild piano riff and matching insane shrieks from Mahiro, the guitars duel in that signature late 90's staccato riffage under a soaring flute-sounding riff as Junji goes off on his drum set, not missing a beat or accent. All that said, this is just the first 30 seconds or so; "Hyakki yakou" is wildly textured in its arrangement, as typical of a band who pays abnormally close attention to detail. To spare you all a 3 page long in depth explanation of all the reasons why this song utterly slays, shut me up and just give it a listen.
 
"右手のナイフ、左手のヒス" (Migite no knife, hidarite no hiss) by SAVAGE

So I thought I was stanning trash last month with the VEXENT feature... but y'all underestimate my ability to literally swim in the dumpster of visual kei trash to pull out some more crap. Here comes SAVAGE to the rescue, the new band of ex-Depain members who are more known for having girls hawking over them than releasing anything of substance. But, there's a catch to this: SAVAGE's trash is occasionally amazing. As per Depain's discography, there are some surprisingly great songs here and there; nothing original, but definitely well-done heavy kei. "Migite..." is the best song SAVAGE have put out since "Biran", and probably the best song they've ever done. If there's one thing they do well, its creating a menacing atmosphere that few current bands can replicate. "Migite..." slinks around with its dark mood, further punctuated by the use of space in the song and Ryuka's eerie tone deaf robot vocals. A creepy music box interlude half way leads to an especially amazing fast section, driven by Takeru's ghostly seven-string guitar riffage and some great old-school blast-beats. "Migite..." is a fabulous throwback to when the height of heaviness was bands like Dio, NEGA, UnsraW, Awoi and -OZ-, back when visualcore had a bit more dirt on the surface. Despite all the trash I've talked about SAVAGE, this is not only an amazing track but ultimately a necessary throwback considering how sanitized the current scene can be.
 
 
@fitear1590's picks

"ぼくのことすき (boku no koto suki)" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen) 

Koochewsen has sky-rocketed to become a new favorite of mine. It appears that they're slowly weaning us off their extra progressive sound, but trust me, they're not boarding the shuttle to Genericville by any means. The PV track for their upcoming mini 超能力セレナーデ (chounouryoku serenade)  is a noisy helping of synthy power pop. I always appreciate a band that can fuse talent and a good sense of humor--a combination that they are currently killing. I know you love retro astronauts delivering an anthemic chorus in zero gravity just as much as I do!
 
"秋明菊 (shuumeigiku)" by 神はサイコロを振らない (kami wa saikoro wo furanai)

Back in March, @saishuu introduced us to a very special band in the indie scene, kami wa saikoro wo furanai. Their polished math-rock riffs and warm, soulful vocals (pretty uncharacteristic for a scene dominated by high-pitched, shrill, and/or nasal singers) set them apart from the average newcomer, right from their first PV. For their aptly named debut mini-album, anfang (German: beginning), they've presented us with "shuumeigiku," which continues the gorgeous guitar work and soaring choruses. If you haven't checked out kamisai yet, now's the perfect time!
 
"Métamorphose (LA VIE EN ROSE KAMIJO -20th ANNIVERSARY BEST- Grand Finale)" by LAREINE

One-day revivals might be en vogue right now, but often they're just a last-ditch effort for old bands to make a quick buck. Rarely do musicians take this opportunity to go all out, but shortly before New Year's Eve of 2015, KAMIJO did just that. Playing a special 20th anniversary show, he brought all his past and current projects together into one mega-show. Of everything that went down that night, I think many of us were most excited to see LAREINE take the stage again.  While bassist Emiru has remained active (albeit, behind the scenes), we haven't seen or heard from guitarist Mayu or drummer Machi in around 10 or 15 years, respectively. To see the four of them so seamlessly pick up where they left off is just uncanny. They even played my favorite song, "Métamorphose"! Fortunately, the entire 'LA VIE EN ROSE KAMIJO -20th ANNIVERSARY BEST- Grand Finale' concert experience has been immortalized on DVD for all to see--an absolute must-see for KAMIJO fans of all eras.
 
"Migimimi" by Migimimi sleep tight

What happens when you blend 少年記 (shounenki) levels of melodrama with a cold hazy Instagram filter? Well, you get Migimimi sleep tight, a new project featuring Megamasso's Ryohei.  Anyone with some background in VK will probably agree that the band's visuals and sound are mind-boggling. Shouldn't you be dressed up like a revolutionary French aristocrat or in some kind of PVC outfit to be making those exaggerated hand gestures and reaching passionately toward the camera? Shouldn't your jovial extras waltzing through the forest be random melancholic white girls? Shouldn't that deserted cliffside beach be Lockheart Castle? In all seriousness though, the song is tight--it's just the incongruity of it all that makes it even more interesting.
 
"NECRO" by MORRIGAN

I haven't followed MORRIGAN, but they are my guilty pleasure for the month. This era of heavy 'neo VK' is generally not my bag, but every so often, a band hits all the cliches in just the right way and produces something totally solid. That describes "NECRO" to a tee. It starts off with a spooky carnival arrangement, which is easily a top 5 way to my heart. Then, it gets br00tal with some trashy harsh vocals. Following a by-the-numbers songwriting approach, there's even the obligatory sudden melodic chorus, but you know what? It's beautiful and I can't help but be drawn in by the gaudy drama of it all. #wiredforVK
 
"Alaska" by South Penguin

Following my disappointment with ミツメ's (mitsume) awkwardly funky A Long Day album, I had to look elsewhere for my sunny, laid-back guitar pop fix. Cue South Penguin's "Alaska," which is my official beach-kei recommendation of summer 2016. It's all here, from the jangly Mac Demarco-style riffs that are are gentle as the ocean breeze, to the vibrant bass licks that form the groovy backbone of the track. Subtle synths pulse in now and again to provide a touch of dreaminess, making this the ideal track for your summer strolls with your head carelessly in the clouds.
 
"ハイゼンベルク (heisenberg)" by ツヅリ・ヅクリ (TSUZURI.ZUKURI) 

Combo breaking the shit out of my sausage fest of a list (sorry about that, btw), we have TSUZURI.ZUKURI. Discovered purely through the art of clicking through YouTube, this duo immediately grabbed my attention. ”Heisenberg" is a lavish composition, featuring angelic piano, sweeping chimes, dramatic strings, and skilled percussive work which is both delicate and epic--you'll hear what I mean. The true star of the show, however, is vocalist Mumu, whose ethereal range is truly a beauty to behold. With a multitude of mini and full albums under their belt, it'll take a while to catch up, but I'm excited to delve more into TSUZURI.ZUKURI.
 
 
@CAT5's picks
 
"us" by Aimer

Alongside the likes of supercell and EGOIST, I consider Aimer to be one of the reigning queens of the modern anison world. It's an area of music as oversaturated as any other, but Aimer stands out easily with her towering vocals and her top-quality collaborations with some of the finest composers in the field - Yoko Kanno and Hiroyuki Sawano to name a few. On her latest, double a-side single insane dream/us, she adds Taka (from ONE OK ROCK), and TK (from ling tosite sigure) to her list of  musical consorts. "insane dream", which was penned by Taka and also features him on vocals, is an instant banger and it was honestly difficult for me NOT to write about that song. But the TK-produced "us" takes the cake! It's epic pop-rock at its best - somber, atmospheric, and cinematic with all of TK's signature touches and Aimer's dramatic crooning operating in perfect harmony. TK hasn't written a song this good for himself OR his band in years. These two make a killer pairing, and I'd love to hear them work together again!
 
"グルメ紀行(Gourmet kikou)" by 婦人倶楽部(fujin club)

Thank the universe for providing me with a keen musical network of friends. A pal of mine introduced me to this group recently, and since I haven't been exploring new music like I used to, and there's been almost no mention of this band through popular Western J-music channels, I would have completely missed out on FUJIN CLUB if not for his recommendation! I was specifically introduced to them through this song/video, and it was love at first listen. They have a very organic pop sound with bright melodies and crisp and colorful, classical instrumentation - somewhat similar to WUJA BIN BIN. "グルメ紀行" sounds like how watching a Ghibli movie feels. It's cozy, endearing, and pure, yet it evokes a sense of wonder and tugs at your imagination. Fantastic!
 
"Talisman" by Boris

You know a band has reached an unrivaled level of badassery when they can release a disc of bonus material that puts the actual albums of most other bands to shame. That's exactly what Boris has done. 10 years after the release of their classic, Pink, they've reissued the album as a deluxe version with a second disc titled Forbidden Songs. The bonus disc features nine previously unreleased tracks, and it fuckin' rocks. I mean, Boris practically piss quality music, so it's difficult as hell for me to single out one song above another. But since I have to pick, I'll go with "Talisman". It's an absolutely crushing stoner-doom number that harkens back to 2002's Heavy Rocks, yet is equally apt as an extension of Pink. If hard rock is your thing, then be sure to check out the deluxe edition in its entirety. If you're already a Boris fan, you won't want to miss any of the gems on Forbidden Songs either!
 
 
@Zeus' picks
 
"LEM" by KEEL

KEEL is why I don't cry about disbandments anymore. When 9GOATS imploded and girugamesh hung up their hats, I was distraught...until this band rose from the ashes to scratch an itch those two could never get. It's a fusion of turn of the century nagoya kei with modern heaviness and sensibilities visual kei hasn't seen since the legendary deadman. With four of the most seasoned musicians in the scene, there's a lot to love about KEEL. I cannot deny how straightforwardly emotional their music is on their single Ugly duckling, and is how B-side "LEM" won me over; rhythmic bass, pounding drums, and the constantly shifting guitars are easy to get lost in. It's heavy without being distracting and the melody slides into semi-amorphic nagoya kei melancholy and song structure so naturally it's a little scary. The bridge and the chorus in particular send shivers down my spine when Ryo alternates between his crooning vocals, his rasp, and his normal range, showcasing his deceptively wide range and those trademark KEEL croons. You never quite know what's coming next until the end. I look forward to the day when KEEL announces a proper full-length album.
 
"詩踏み(utafumi)" by DIR EN GREY

Dir en grey drops the nuanced groove and focus on atmosphere for pure aggression and it's absolutely amazing. Distilling all the best parts of their last three albums into a three minute songs is a herculean task, but Dir en grey do it right. "詩踏み"'s loose structure takes a few listens to digest, yet it still manages to create a claustrophobic, religious experience with the atmosphere that keeps my ears glued to my headphones. The completely mental music video and their accompanying look has quickly become my favorite one of year, perfectly capturing the aggression, energy, and confusion of the song. If this is a sign that they've embraced their visual kei roots once more, this is one hell of a return! As we approach their 20th anniversary, "詩踏み" is a bold statement that Dir en grey isn't done yet.
 
 
@doombox's picks
 
"One Last Time" by HONE YOUR SENSE 

Brutal metalcore? Deathcore? I'm not even sure anymore with all the labels these days, but I can tell you it's heavy and excellent. HONE YOUR SENSE never fail to impress with their releases and it sounds like upcoming mini album will pack quite a punch if "One Last Time" is any indicator, which I am positive it is. The song is fast and furious, yet clear enough for all of the technical guitarwork and lightning speed drum fills to have equal footing. It's the kind of thrill ride only HYS is capable of giving you and if you haven't checked them out yet, I highly encourage that you do so!
 
"忌際(kisai)" by chariots

When the return of chariots was announced I took my time getting around to catching up with them. I half expected more of their previous melodic style heavily laden with the usual visual kei tropes. Color me surprised when I checked out their latest release and was, quite frankly, blown away. I would have never expected a heavier, more orchestral turn towards power metal. But stepping outside of the box is exactly what the doctor ordered. And while Riku may have kept most of the spotlight for himself in the previous incarnation of chariots, taking a chance to let everyone else shine only brings up his own caliber of vocal delivery to meet them this time around.
 
"Nightcrawler" by OBLIVION DUST

Four years is much too long to go between OBLIVION DUST releases. VAMPS and FAKE? are just no substitution for the original, as fun as they may be. And the trio are back to their old tricks (and a couple of new ones) on the most recent release DIRT this month which had a surprisingly quiet release. The songs are more of what we have come to expect from OBLIVION DUST's electronically-charged industrial rock with Ken Lloyd's signature whine. "Nightcrawler" follows suit and serves as a great introduction for newcomers and a fun romp for die hard fans as well!
 
 
 
Guest Reviews
 
@chemicalpictures' picks
 
"100年前から、こんにちは。(hyakunen mae kara, konnichiwa.)" by Develop One's Faculties

If I had to choose one band to be the flagship of current VK, it would be Develop One's Faculties. They are all extremely gifted musicians who aren't afraid of experimenting and infusing their songs with new sounds, which makes Yuya's project is much more interesting than your average VK experience. In this song they get in touch with their indie rock influences, Yuya's clean riffs could be easily seen in bands like cinema staff or androp. Johannes is a beast as usual, DOF's 'let it loose' style let him shine so much more than his previous works. This kind of approach is very healthy for them as a band and for the scene, as VK could use more genre-bending bands, instead of the regular chugga-chugga we are used to. Overall, while this is definitely not their most creative or innovative effort, it is one of those songs to end the encore of a concert in such a high note you'll end up wanting more.
 
"人魚姫(ningyo hime)" by FoLLoW

FoLLoW is one of those acts that gets under people's radar for a reason I don't really know. Their sound is TIGHT. MASASHI's vocals are really on point, perfectly expressing his feelings and guiding the listener through the song. I also really like maki's drum lines; while basic, they help give an edge and nicely dictate the rhythm of the song. The 03:33 part into the last chorus is really powerful and emotional. All in all, this is by no means an epic song, but everything here matches so perfectly I can't help but have a smile on my face by the end.
 
 
@Ada Suilen's picks
 
"詩踏み(utafumi)" by DIR EN GREY

I have to admit that 'not visual' DEG were not one of my favourite bands until I heard "Rinkaku". And with "Utafumi", despite of its length, they enhanced their style at an incredible level. The technique is incredibly relevant in this dim and painful track, where Kyo's theatrical and creepy approach fits incredibly with the whole thing. Surely one of the best tracks of the year!
 
"斑(mura)" by Develop One's Faculties

One of the best rookies so far have probably reached the best of themselves. Their eccentric rock sound evolved a lot, arriving to touch more unpredictable and skillful features, where their latest song, "Mura", represents the apex of what was their project; with sublime funk bass lines and beating rhythms, this band literally caught my heart and my ears.
 
 

Thank you for hanging out with us another month! 
Special thanks to our guest reviewers! If anyone would like to be a guest reviewer in the future please contact @doombox for more info!
 
 
 
 

Ai Yiliang – Talk about Eve.
"Attitude" and "voice" the title of the album comes from Ai Yiliang: she uses very Infectious voice saying love, saying lonely, escape. She also uses the unique vocabulary saying Ai Yiliang’s attitude, observation and thinking. It’s the love from deep inside and also her ideas that spreading all over the album. Ai Yiliang said: "I think this is a very close chance to the audience with the album, we sit down and talk about love, those who listen to my life observation could share with each other."
 
FULL ALBUM：HERE
 
 

 
Li Jiawei —LOVE STORM
Because of her own as a singer of the ordinary conditions, Li Jiawei has been not confident enough, from running, Li Jiawei regains self-confidence. The album's title song "love storm" is Li Jiawei’s gift to those who are not loving themselves. She also hope that by the entire album she could encourage every person who is not optimistic, and hope that the audience shouldn’t care about other people's eyes, brave to do their own, brave to pursue their own life.
Make-up artist Chen Lingwei designed a unique storm makeup. Li Jiawei is also the first time on the album cover in the exposed face.
 
FULL ALBUM：here
 
 

 
NanQuan MAMA —All new attack
NANQUAN MAMA’s new album is not only a hope, but also want to become more touched, drip in the heart. After two years of elaboration, "ALL NEW ATTACK" sings the new force of Chinese music. The voice of the members features in the album by selecting solo songs. Three big boys collocate a sweet girl with varied styles and freshment. This release let you enjoy all kinds of music. When people embrace the ideals and the pursuit of a dream, it is inevitable that there will be setbacks. listening to the "ALL NEW ATTACK" album once again, you can feel each song is filling in for yourself. Maybe tomorrow is for the rising of the sun, perhaps, the dream is for our efforts and even more great.
 
 
FULL ALBUM：HERE

I hope its okay to post it here... I've run out of ideas
 

 
Hello there! ♡ 
I’ve started a oversea project for DOAKs last live.
If you want to join us, I’d be really really thankful and happy for your support! ♡ 
Already tried a lot of things to get more attention for this, but failed...

We’ve planned to organize one of those flower arrangements
(those thingies in front of the live halls at some concerts)
Since I’m not in Japan before the concert I’ve got the help of someone living in Tokyo who will organize everything for me (thanks a lot!)
If you’re interested please comment here or contact me on the facebook page
--> https://www.facebook.com/doaksupport/
--> https://www.facebook.com/events/1213172795374737/
 
The Project contains:
- taking part in the paying for the flowers (its about 27.000yen)
- writing letters to the members (I'll give them to the members)
 
It makes me kind of sad that there's nearly no interested in the things I post on my support site/the event.
I tried every kind of advertising that is possible for me, I've posted it on tumblr (also asked some vk-blogs to help me share the project,
but everyone ignored my messages )... on twitter... shared it several times on facebook...
I just can't reach enough people because I'm not "famous" enough in the vk-scene...

DOAK needs to know that there weren't fans in Japan only, they need to know that they're loved and that they will be missed.
I know that they weren't the best band out there, but they tried. They gave their best. On every song they performed...
 
Thank you for reading this.

Hey you all! Thanks to @numetal I have the lyrics of this splendid single! I romanized everything myself  
(this post will be edited with the other lyrics later  )
 
1. 人生ゲーム
 
嘘つきばかりの「人生ゲーム」
 
１度目の人生は売れてないダメホスト
たくさんの諭吉で気持ちを買ってみせるの
２度目の人生は一般人のリーマンで
いつの間にか私  物足りなくなっちゃうの
 
ああ…なんて滑稽なんだろう…
金で人を気持ちを買えるはずないのに…
 
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
お金と時間を引き換えに
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
いやいや体を売りました
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
お金と体を引き換えに
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
まだまだあなたを試します
 
３度目の人生はイケメン風なバーテンダー
付き合ってはいけない３Bに手を出しちゃうの
４度目の人生はちょっと売れてるバンドマン
私のこと歌詞に書いて歌ってくれるの
 
ああ…なんて滑稽なんだろう…
どうせいつかおまえ捨てられるのに…
 
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
お金と時間を引き換えに
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
いやいや体を売りました
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
お金と体を引き換えに
あなたと私の「人生ゲーム」
まだまだあなたを試します
 
「全ては神様の気まぐれ」
 
Romaji:
 
Usotsuki bakari no "jinsei GE-MU"
 
Ichidome no jinsei wa uretenai DAME HOSUTO
Takusan no yukichi de kimochi o katte miseru no
Nidome no jinsei wa ippanjin no RI-MAN de
Itsu no ma ni ka watashi mono tarinaku nacchau no
 
Aa...nante kokkei nan'darou...
Kane de hito o kimochi o kaeru hazu nai no ni...
 
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Okane to jikan o hikikae ni
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Iya iya karada o urimashita
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Okane to karada o hikikae ni
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Mada mada anata o tameshimasu
 
Sandome no jinsei wa IKEMEN fuu na BA-TENDA-
Tsukiatte wa ikenai 3B ni te o dashichau no
Yondome no jinsei wa chotto ureteru BANDOMAN
Watashi no koto kashi ni kaite utatte kureru no
 
Aa...nante kokkei nan'darou...
Douse itsuka omae suterareru no ni...
 
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Okane to jikan o hikikae ni
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Iya iya karada o urimashita
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Okane to karada o hikikae ni
Anata to watashi no "jinsei GE-MU"
Mada mada anata o tameshimasu
 
"Subete wa kamisama no kimagure"
 
Bonus: the choir you hear throughout the whole song is a part of the "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven so I'll write it under this.
 
"Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligthum!"
 
2. はぁ…もう病む
 
Kanji:
 
午前10時ファミボお決まりです！
チケ発に捧ぐ週末の朝
でもね？私だけ10時じゃないの…
どこで見ていても目が合うの…
 
あ?!もうウザイよ！
1 「遅れて登場!私はオキニ!」
2 「ムダにオシャレしたあの子はだあれ?」
3 「上から下までジロジロ見んなよ!」
死 「私だけじゃないあの子は誰なの…」
 
「え?おまえに関係ない」
 
「はぁ…もう病む」口癖になる
あの子もこの子も大嫌い
「はぁ…もう病む」今日も生きます
繋がり数えて「1、2、3、死…」
「はぁ…もう病む」口癖になる
棒立ち逆最絶対ソレじゃん!
「はぁ…もう病む」今日も生きます
バンギャル万歳! 「1、2、3、死!」
 
午後16時OPEN始まりです!
女同士の裏格付け
でもね?私だけ参加しないの…
あなたたちと一緒にしないで?
 
あ?!もうウザイよ！
1 「大量購入!私チェキ廃!」
2 「この前のアイツまたギリギリかよ…」
3 「八万美人なあの子は繋がり?」
死 「私だけの彼近づかないでよ!」
 
「え?おまえそろそろ黙れよ?」
 
「はぁ…もう病む」口癖になる
あの子もこの子も大嫌い
「はぁ…もう病む」今日も生きます
繋がり数えて「1、2、3、死…」
「はぁ…もう病む」口癖になる
棒立ち逆最絶対ソレじゃん!
「はぁ…もう病む」今日も生きます
バンギャル万歳! 「1、2、3、死!」
 
Romaji:
 
Gozen 10ji FAMIBO okimari desu!
CHIKE hatsu ni sasagu shuumatsu no asa
Demo ne? Watashi dake 10ji janai no...
Doko de miteite mo me ga au no...
 
A?! Mou UZAI yo!
1 "Okurete toujou! Watashi wa OKINI!"
2 "MUDA ni OSHARE shita ano ko wa daare?"
3 "Ue kara shita made JIROJIRO min'na yo!"
Shi "Watashi dake janai ano ko wa dare na no..."
 
"E? Omae ni kankei nai!"
 
"Haa...mou yamu" kuchiguse ni naru
Ano ko mo kono ko mo daikirai
"Haa...mou yamu" kyou mo ikimasu
Tsunagari kazoete "1, 2, 3, shi..."
"Haa...mou yamu" kuchiguse ni naru
Boudachi gyakusai zettai SORE jan!
"Haa...mou yamu" kyou mo ikimasu
BANGYARU banzai! "1, 2, 3, shi!"
 
Gogo 16ji OPEN hajimari desu!
Jodoushi no ura kakuzuke
Demo ne? Watashi dake sanka shinai no...
Anata-tachi to issho ni shinai de?
 
A?! Mou UZAI yo!
1 "Tairyou kounyuu! Watashi wa CHEKI hai!"
2 "Kono mae no AITSU mata GIRIGIRI ka yo..."
3 "Hachiman bijin na ano ko wa tsunagari?"
Shi "Watashi dake no katachikazukanai de yo!"
 
"E? Omae sorosoro damare yo?"
 
"Haa...mou yamu" kuchiguse ni naru
Ano ko mo kono ko mo daikirai
"Haa...mou yamu" kyou mo ikimasu
Tsunagari kazoete "1, 2, 3, shi..."
"Haa...mou yamu" kuchiguse ni naru
Boudachi gyakusai zettai SORE jan!
"Haa...mou yamu" kyou mo ikimasu
BANGYARU banzai! "1, 2, 3, shi!"
 
3. 捨て猫
 
Kanji:
 
拾われた私  飼い慣らされてた
思い通り騙されていた…
「好き」という言葉簡単に言うけど
徐々に徐々に本気にしてた…
 
狂ったように 暴れ暴れ暴れ暴れ
気づいてはまた 泣いて泣いて泣いて泣いて
そんなあなたは ダメ男ダメ男ダメ男ダメ男
ハマる私は ダメ女ダメ女ダメ女ダメ女
 
「捨て猫みたい」だって馬鹿にしてまた笑うんでしょ?
「もっと堕として?」
「身」も「心」も「金」も捧げてもきっと意味ないんでしょ?
私は「捨て猫…」
 
”お前は俺の駒でしかない
もっと使える女になれよ
楽にしてやるから
早く堕ちるとこまで堕ちてしまえよ”
 
堕ちた私を見てあなたは今何思うの?
「簡単」でしょ?
そうやって女を何人も騙してきたんでしょ?
「出会わなければよかった…」
 
「捨て猫みたい」だって馬鹿にしてまた笑うんでしょ?
「もっと堕として?」
「身」も「心」も「金」も捧げてもきっと意味ないんでしょ?
私は「捨て猫…」
 
Romaji:
 
Hirowareta watashi kainarasareteta
Omoi-doori damasareteita...
"Suki" to iu kotoba kantan ni iu kedo
Jojo ni jojo ni honki ni shiteta...
 
Kurutta you ni abare abare abare abare
Kizuite wa mata naite naite naite naite
Sonna anata wa DAMEO DAMEO DAMEO DAMEO
Hamaru watashi wa DAMEJO DAMEJO DAMEJO DAMEJO
 
"Suteneko mitai" datte baka ni shite mata waraun'desho?
"Motto otoshite?"
"Karada" mo "kokoro" mo "kane" mo sasagete mo kitto imi nain'desho?
Watashi wa "suteneko..."
 
"Omae wa ore no koma de shikanai
Motto tsukaeru onna ni nare yo
Raku ni shite yaru kara
Hayaku ochiru toko made ochite shimae yo"
 
Ochita watashi o mite anata wa ima nani omou no?
"Kantan" desho?
Sou yatte onna o nan'nin mo damashitekitan'desho?
"Deawanakereba yokatta..."
 
"Suteneko mitai" datte baka ni shite mata waraun'desho?
Motto otoshite?
"Karada" mo "kokoro" mo "kane" mo sasagete mo kitto imi nain'desho?
Watashi wa "suteneko..."
 
4. ミレン (MIREN)
 
Kanji:
 
ありきたりでヘタクソな嘘を並べるだけ
意味などない情だと知りながら堕ちてく
 
あなたは今どこにいますか?
あなたは今誰といますか?
あなたは私を覚えていますか?
私は違う男の腕の中で
あなたを思っています…
 
ミレンタラタラ…
ナミダタラタラ…
 
流した涙は水たまりのよう
切なく溜まってく
降り注ぐ雨はやがて
終わりを告げる終止符
 
ミレンタラタラ…
ナミダタラタラ…
 
「アイシテル」の言葉の裏側見透かして
幸せだと思っていた日に「サヨナラ」を…
 
あなたは今幸せですか?
あなたは今笑い合えていますか?
あなたは私をまだ思っていますか?
私は違う男に捨てられ
また今日も泣いています…
 
ミレンタラタラ…
ナミダタラタラ…
 
強がることでしか保てなくて
満たされないまま
「あの人がよかった」なんて言えない
言えるはずもない…
 
ミレンタラタラ…
ナミダタラタラ…
 
Romaji:
 
Arikitari de HETAKUSO na uso o naraberu dake
Imi nado nai jou da to shirinagara ochiteku
 
Anata wa ima doko ni imasu ka?
Anata wa ima dare to imasu ka?
Anata wa watashi o oboeteimasu ka?
Watashi wa chigau otoko no ude no naka de
Anata o omotteimasu...
 
MIREN TARATARA...
NAMIDA TARATARA...
 
Nagashita namida wa mizutamari no you
Setsunaku tamatteiku
Furisosogu ame wa yagate
Owari o tsugeru shuushifu
 
MIREN TARATARA...
NAMIDA TARATARA...
 
"AISHITERU" no kotoba no uragawa misukashite
Shiawase da to omotteita hi ni "SAYONARA" o...
 
Anata wa ima shiawase desu ka?
Anata wa ima waraiaeteimasu ka?
Anata wa watashi o mada omotteimasu ka?
Watashi wa chigau otoko ni suterare
Mata kyou mo naiteimasu...
 
MIREN TARATARA...
NAMIDA TARATARA...
 
Tsuyogaru koto de shika tamotenakute
Mitasarenai mama
"Ano hito ga yokatta" nante ienai
Ieru hazu mo nai...
 
MIREN TARATARA...
NAMIDA TARATARA...
 
Enjoy!!  And feel free to do corrections, if you see some mistakes  
 
 

DADAROMA
「スタンチク」(Stanczyk)
 
01 オープニング (Opening)
02 「リズリーサーカス」 (Risley Circus)
03 「最終電車」 (saishuu densha)
04 トレンドアイデンティティ (Trend Identity)
05 融け込めないざらざらな芸術を君が殺してくれないか (tokekomenai zarazara na geijutsu wo kimi ga koroshitekurenai ka)
06 「雨のワルツ」 (ame no waltz)
07 ヘﾞルカとストレルカ (Velka & Strelka) (Re recording Ver.)
08 モルヒネ♯1 (Morphine 1)
09 モルヒネ♯2 (Morphine 2)
10 SEX!!
11 「溺れる魚」 (oboreru sakana)
12 MONEY
13 月のうた (tsuki no uta)
14 imitation hero.
15 「ルシッド•ドリーム」 (Lucid Dream)
<16 KURT (piano Ver.)>
 
 
Before we begin I’d like to note that I picked up both versions of this album at the band’s tour final last week, so it’s already had plenty of spins for me to base my opinion on. Now that the rest of you guys can hear it, I figured it's a good time to post my thoughts.
 
 
So here we are at last – a full album release from one of the fastest growing bands in recent memory, DADAROMA. Led by frontman Yoshiatsu, who also has the talent of knowing exactly how to market his band to maximise interest, these guys appeared on the scene last January with nothing but a music video for their first song, ‘oboreru sakana’. The heavy but dramatic introduction to this mysterious new band drew the interest of many both within and without the visual kei community. However, unluckily for even national fans, their first mini album was and remained limited to sales at lives: a strategy that undoubtedly helped the young group take off by tempting fans to head on over to their lives and pick up a copy, but equally alienated those who couldn’t attend, especially foreign fans with no way to acquire this rare debut release.
 
But of course, this is the age of the internet, and it wasn’t too long before ‘dadaism 1’ was available to all to hear free of charge, if not exactly legally. And this is my main cause of disappointment, not in ‘Stanczyk’ and DADAROMA’s decision to include that entire first release, which is itself commendable to please their ever-growing fanbase, but in the community which lessened the value of it, and by extension of this so-called ‘best album’ that is unfortunately fairly packed with tracks we’ve heard before.
 
 
The album opens with a short introduction that sets up lead track ‘Risley Circus’, named for 19th century performer Richard Risley Carlisle, who pioneered the act of juggling with feet rather than hands. Indeed, Yoshiatsu packs many intriguing cultural references into DADAROMA’s songs, with the album itself a nod to the possibly mythical Polish jester Stanczyk and a generally pierrot-inspired theme running through both the band’s visual stylings and the lyrics of several songs. Risley displays some experimentation with electronic sounds and vocal distortion which may divide fans, but it’s undeniable that the catchy chorus will stay with you even after the track ends.
 
Next comes single track ‘saishuu densha’ (Last Train), which is notorious for its highly erotic promotional video being removed from YouTube not once but twice, despite the band’s efforts to pixelate offensive material. DADAROMA have dabbled in jazz a fair amount, but this is in my opinion one of their best attempts (see also: the sensual ‘urei libido’ from the ‘ame no waltz’ single). Once again a catchy chorus and a steady pace held by the percussion parts make for a memorable track.
 
‘Trend Identity’ is the shortest track the band have produced to date. It recalls ‘kusatta mikan no houteishiki’ with the heavy riff matched with synth stylings, and was clearly made for live performance, but it sets itself apart a little with Yoshiatsu’s first attempt at something approaching a rap. Not particularly memorable itself, but it was fun at the tour final last week.
 
Next we have a ridiculously long title that I can’t be bothered to type out again, but which is important to the album as a whole because it relates to the theme of art (Yoshiatsu’s final screams ‘kore wa geijutsu/this is art’ adorn the album’s obi strip). The bell-like motif immediately creates an interesting atmosphere as Yoshiatsu whispers his way through the verses, and from there the song builds into a powerful chorus. While initially the verse portions didn’t do a great deal for me, I do really enjoy said chorus and this track has grown on me a lot with repeat listens.
 
Single number two, the red herring ‘ame no waltz’ that, quite unlike a waltz, breaks out of the soft music box and raindrop opening into a brutal chugging guitar riff, fits pretty well here after the raw scream that ended the last track. Somehow this song made its way onto a Japanese TV drama as the ending theme, which is somewhat of a mystery to me but I appreciate it nevertheless as the sole DADAROMA song that actually appears at karaoke. I have an ambivalent relationship with this track – it’s a good song, but sometimes I just want to skip it and get on to something else. YMMV but at any rate it's another song we've heard before.
 
At this point we enter the cluster of tracks that is just ‘dadaism 1’ in a different order. While I appreciate that now fans who couldn’t get hold of that first live limited release (ie most fans) can now hear all those songs they’ve been playing for 18 months, it’s a little disappointing that they didn’t try and blend them more into the tracklist rather than just dumping them all together. For this reason long-time fans such as myself may be tempted to skip through this portion of the album, at least to the songs they like the most. This unfortunate situation is compounded by the fact that in this day and age it’s impossible to keep that limited CD from appearing on the internet sooner or later, diminishing the novelty of finally hearing these songs for the first time for many.
 
DADAROMA have made some attempt to change things up a bit though. The most obvious of these is the re-recording of ‘Velka & Strelka’, one of my personal favourite songs the band has released so far. However, for me the original is still the superior as it takes more vocal talent to reach and hold those notes at the end than the re-recording, which is easier on Yoshiatsu’s highs (and fair enough; if you’ve seen him live, he can struggle with them on a rough night). This retake of the vocal track is just slightly lazier, and ultimately it seems as though little other than the clean vocals has actually been re-recorded.
 
There are subtle changes in the other ‘dadaism 1’ tracks though. All of them have seen some editing at the mixing desk that brings the production more in line with the new tracks – the guitar is slightly less crisp at times and more distorted in the style of ‘Risley Circus’, but on the other hand the bass is more prominent, including a couple of additional samples Tomo seems to have recorded for this album, especially the final note of ‘Morphine 1’ that was particularly conspicuous. As to which version of each track is better, YMMV; ‘oboreru sakana’ and ‘SEX!!’ benefit somewhat from the changes in mixing, but I personally like the cleaner guitar in ‘MONEY’ much better on ‘dadaism 1’.
 
We return to new material with one of my favourite tracks on ‘Stanczyk’, ‘tsuki no uta’. It’s an emotional ballad that retains its energy through the steady drum beats and powerful chords that support Yoshiatsu’s gorgeous vocals in the chorus. Despite lyrically presenting itself as a ballad, it’s a surprisingly short track that lends itself well to repeat listens. As an aside, I think this was the only new song the band didn’t play at their tour final; I look forward to the opportunity to hear it live some time in the future.
 
‘imitation hero.’ didn’t quite capture my attention in the same way as ‘tsuki no uta’, but it’s also an accomplished ballad in its own right. For me this is a rare case of the composition in the verse being far stronger and more enjoyable than the chorus. The always present piano is a welcome change to the common electronic elements in the rest of the album, and Yusuke’s confident drumming is one of the song’s strongest parts.
 
DADAROMA’s first full album draws to a close with the dramatic masterpiece that is ‘Lucid Dream’. Easily one of my favourite tracks from the young group, the balance of head banging downtuned guitar chugs and a powerful chorus makes this a stellar composition in my eyes. It also wonderfully displays Yoshiatsu’s vocal prowess in both cleans and screams, comprising a wide range in the former and a variety of styles of the latter. Despite the surprising lack of pretty much any kind of audience participation at the band’s recent one man, it was a truly amazing ending to the main set when the band left the stage in awed silence as the last of the fake snow drifted to the ground.
 
 
Of course, this review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the bonus track on the regular edition of the album. The piano verison of ‘KURT’ amplifies the emotion in Yoshiatsu’s clear voice, while retaining the best of the instrumental support in a beautiful piano arrangement. I would actually love to hear a purely instrumental piano solo of this track at some point. It’s a fitting, end-credits-style addition to round off DADAROMA’s ‘best’ album.
 
 
Ultimately I’m divided when it comes to giving this release some kind of score. On the one hand, there’s a lot of old material in here, but none of it is just there to pad out the run time, and in any case it’s all great material. As someone who has been a fan of DADAROMA since the very beginning, and also bought all of their releases and listened to them countless times over, it’s easy to act like we deserved more new material with ‘Stanczyk’. It wouldn’t even be unreasonable to be disappointed that live limited songs like ‘neji’ didn’t make the cut (although to be fair there’s still copies of that sitting on the goods stand at their concerts). However, if I were to imagine this album as my introduction to DADAROMA, this is easily a contender for album of the year.

Ai Yiliang – Talk about Eve.
"Attitude" and "voice" the title of the album comes from Ai Yiliang: she uses very Infectious voice saying love, saying lonely, escape. She also uses the unique vocabulary saying Ai Yiliang’s attitude, observation and thinking. It’s the love from deep inside and also her ideas that spreading all over the album. Ai Yiliang said: "I think this is a very close chance to the audience with the album, we sit down and talk about love, those who listen to my life observation could share with each other."
 
FULL ALBUM：HERE
 
 

 
Li Jiawei —LOVE STORM
Because of her own as a singer of the ordinary conditions, Li Jiawei has been not confident enough, from running, Li Jiawei regains self-confidence. The album's title song "love storm" is Li Jiawei’s gift to those who are not loving themselves. She also hope that by the entire album she could encourage every person who is not optimistic, and hope that the audience shouldn’t care about other people's eyes, brave to do their own, brave to pursue their own life.
Make-up artist Chen Lingwei designed a unique storm makeup. Li Jiawei is also the first time on the album cover in the exposed face.
 
FULL ALBUM：here
 
 

 
NanQuan MAMA —All new attack
NANQUAN MAMA’s new album is not only a hope, but also want to become more touched, drip in the heart. After two years of elaboration, "ALL NEW ATTACK" sings the new force of Chinese music. The voice of the members features in the album by selecting solo songs. Three big boys collocate a sweet girl with varied styles and freshment. This release let you enjoy all kinds of music. When people embrace the ideals and the pursuit of a dream, it is inevitable that there will be setbacks. listening to the "ALL NEW ATTACK" album once again, you can feel each song is filling in for yourself. Maybe tomorrow is for the rising of the sun, perhaps, the dream is for our efforts and even more great.
 
 
FULL ALBUM：HERE

This thread was created based on Lycaon's this one is for the BORN lovers or for the ones that liked the band during a certain period. No haters allowed!
Here you can actually post pictures from your BORN collection, your favorite looks, talk about your favorite songs, releases, videos and random scans and pictures.

BORN is my favorite, and always will be!

Awesome!! All type in my pocket!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCUpchxD-Uk

[CD track list]
01.[sILK] Rouge
02.Arcadia
03.Mr.Frxxk
04.Crimson Psyche
05.Stellar Secret-星之迷-
06.心痕
07.雪未央
08.Spring Snow
09.Red Wing-重生之火-
10.Fenice
11.X Sense
12.Sala
13.Nyx
14.Dawn of the Mutation
 
[DVD track list]
01.雪未央 (PV)
02.Making of Music Clip

Nice review Zeus! I loved it.
 
Here I go!
   
 
 
                                   
 
                                
                                                                                            
 
 
 
For me this album earns all stars, being the rabid Jin stan that I am I couldn't help but to be hyped for this album. Lately, or as long as they've been a formal band I've been obsessed with these guys. It seems all that hype was for a good reason, OUSIA-dispersed- brings a heavy melancholic sound to the table, truly showing THE BLACK SWAN for who they are. The sequel to NEGA. They have grown so much in the short time that they have been around it's absolutely astounding how their sound gets better with each release. With tracks such as BLIND DAYS, DEJECTED RAIN, and RUVISH; THE BLACK SWAN really displays their own sound. The title track, OUSIA, is the amazing progressive 11 minute godly track on this album. This track is easily the best one of all, being that it sounds just like something from NEGA'S,Haunted Jealousy / Grave Of The Sacrifice  period. This song really hits home with it's depressing feel, I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me cry. Yuu of ex-NEGA came through in this song aswell being the Pianist of NEGA, he came to play piano in this song. Yuu also played Piano in the demo version of TBS's Ushinai. If you listen to OUSIA's piano and compare the sound of the two you can tell they are the exact same. Tracks like THE WORLD IS MY ROOM, and TRIPPER felt out of place in this album, while I do love these tracks; THE WORLD IS MY ROOM is a beautiful train wreck. It feels like everyone isn't playing at the right moment..the begging riffs sound iffy but nonetheless it's a cool song; TRIPPER however was featured on their first live limited release,「黒聴」(Kurochou); while TRIPPER is fucking amazing it does not fit here, especially it's re-recorded version; which is not better than it's counterpart. There are lots of things they changed within the track that didn't need to be changed, don't get me wrong...it ain't bad; it would just be better on a album specifically made for re-recordings or a best album where some old tracks are re-recorded. If anything, they should've made another version of I SOLATION. But as a beggar I can't be a chooser. As to why they included the tracks like, THE HOPELESS, Kagune-Justitia-.Kagune-finis-, and Ushinai without re-recording or making any changes to them whatsoever is beyond me. HOPEfully they'll include it on the proper release......lol see what I did there...no..? Okay.
 
 
All in all I feel like they have a bright future and won't be going anywhere soon, I cannot wait for another set of material from them. I wouldn't be surprised if they released another album after OUSIA, i'd just be more hyped. I simply cannot wait for more, I love these guys.
 
                                                 
                                                                                        
                                                                               ✡✡✡✡✡ out of ✡✡✡✡✡

Tracklist:
1. OUSIA
2. THE WORLD IS MY ROOM
3. 赫音-finis- (guitar & bass re-recording & full remix)
4. 失い (guitar & bass re-recording & full remix)
5. TRIPPER (guitar & bass re-recording & full remix)
6. RUVISH
7. DEJECTED RAIN (new arrange)
8. 赫音-justitia- (guitar & bass re-recording & full remix)
9. BLIND DAYS
10. THE HOPELESS
 
| I came for OUSIA and found some other goodies worth staying for too!
 

For better or for worse, I've stayed away from following the activities of THE BLACK SWAN too closely. I've been under the impression for the longest that they are another one of those bands - gaudy outfits, heavy guitars, formulaic songs, and a step above awful but nothing exciting that catch my attention. My fears stemmed from how bad NEGA burned out near the end of their career. They excelled at this gothic creepiness during their Rebirth Under the Chaos  to approximately Grave of the Sacrifice era which was mostly lost when metalcore took the wheel. THE BLACK SWAN, in contrast, suffer from no such burnout. They succeed at recording genuine depression and pain. It feels much like NEGA during that time period mostly due to sharing a vocalist, but with OUSIA -dispersed- THE BLACK SWAN breaks away from the confines that NEGA never could. It's that rare album that despite its flaws did the near-impossible feat of taking a band I once thought was derivative and making them definitive (or at least demonstrating that these members are more talented and creative than I had given them credit for).
 
  "OUSIA" is eleven minutes of perfection. Opethian riffs are supported by progressive song structures that echo Dir en grey's "Macabre" and Nega's "虚しき「生」の寓意≒「死」の真意", but with enough flair and personality to be its own creation. The guest feature of 優(yuu)(ex-NEGA) on piano is impossible to miss, managing to work in an atmosphere this band usually doesn't go for. The great use of piano, acoustic, and electronic elements keeps the song entertaining for all eleven minutes and every member (even Jin) gets a moment to shine. Yuu's guest appearance makes this song, but the guitarists are the reason why I continue to revisit. They may be no Hizaki, but their virtuosity is something to behold as well; the amount of solos in this song alone are ridiculous. This is how you use influences!
 
  No matter how many solos they throw into the mix to spice things up, Jin will likely make or break the experience. For me, this is his best and most consistent performance in recent memory. He's found the best way to harmonize with the music without sounding out of place. The worst thing I can pin on him is hitting a few sour notes here and there. Late album banger "DEJECTED RAIN" is a wonderful example of this. Jin shows his versatility as a vocalist with his arsenal of mumbling, banshee shrieks, and harmonizing. It impresses me enough to look past his limited singing range, and backed by a wicked riff it's one of the best songs on the album.  
 
Before my hopes for a progressive visual kei band fully blossomed, reality came crashing through the window. There are more than a few flaws with OUSIA -dispersed-, one of them being that there seems to be little thought put into the track list beyond putting the best one first. "OUSIA" should be somewhere towards the middle to end of the album. The follow-up song "THE WORLD IN MY ROOM" is a discordant mess where the band never feels like they're on the same page. "TRIPPER" would be cool if it weren't for those awful eight measures both a minute in and after the solo that sound so lame compared to the rest of the song. "赫音-finis-" and "赫音-justitia-" have cool melodies but don't stick with me otherwise. Ending the album on a core note with "THE HOPELESS" was the last of many strange choices. Of all the styles they showcase on this album they end with the least impressive one.
 
  As far as things sound, I would be wrong to not mention that OUSIA -dispersed- is the latest victim of the loudness war. It is very loud and the music sounds constrained on everything but my most expensive pair of headphones. It hurts to listen to after a few tracks honestly and considering the length this is a problem. The biggest offender by far in the mix is the sound of that bass pedal. It should sound more like a hollow thud or distant rumble and less like a typewriter to be most effective. The typewriter's clack permeates every track and takes quite a bit of power away from the metal.  
 
Despite some missteps OUSIA -dispersed- is a very competent album with more than a few tracks worth revisiting. Among my immediate favorites are the title track, "失い", "DEJECTED RAIN", and "BLIND DAYS". It positively improved my opinion of this band by leaps and bounds. If this is an unfinished product, I can't wait to hear what the whole thing sounds like as intended.
 
 
 

Link back to review of older TBS songs for some context
2016 is here and I am not as patient anymore so this will be shorter and more casual. I also humbly apologize for not knowing enough things TBS might have ripped off as well. For all I know everything could be on Gazettes last album. Anyway

TBS have finally released something substantial and disbandment doesn't seem imminent! Even though this is about 50% already released material. Let's go

OUSIA
I get the impression that the only thing Jin -really- wants to be doing are those >10 minutes long ""prog"" clusterfucks. Obviously I'm thinking about Japanese title/odd symbol song from Vanitas. This time around things are more refined and not as dull. Basically this song has it all:

☑ KISAKI-worthy SE like you're being in a majestic forest or sth
☑ Yu (Nega) plays! (iirc) so if you liked cringey Nega piano you are allowed to cry now
☑ like four consecutive guitar solos. they are cheesy but its ok! really!!!!
☑ everything goes really fast sometimes
☑ acceptable chorus
☑ ~soothing~ acoustic guitar
☑ loads of bass
☑ "We are Dir en grey and we are playing MACABRE" type of Creepy build-up part
☑ tricky drumming
☑ guys its ELEVEN minutes
☑ fuuuuuuuuuuck
All in all I love it since things being -this- over the top is exactly what I want from TBS and I got it
 
 
THE WORLD IS MY ROOM
Not very bad
 
☑ they have maybe listened to someone who heard a meshuggah song once
 
 
FINIS
I didn't care about this when i listened through it on that single either
 
☑ is it a ballad or a heavy song idk
 
 
JAPANESE TITLE
idk did they change something? Again, this has redeeming qualities but feels empty
 
 
TRIPPER
the bass is a bit louder and the guitar is slightly different maybe the original was better but song still good.  I'm still in love with the dubstep-sounding breakdown
 
 
RUVISH
What the fuck is up with that rape-themed?? PV???? Drag is really gorgeous though. Song is fast and when it's not fast it reminds me of later instances of spooky Nega like that Baku song from Grave of the Sacrifice
 
☑ 22spooky orchestration
☑ if you liked jin whispers in nega your'e in for a ride
☑ delicious mess
 
 
DEJECTED RAIN
a bit lower tempo and bluesy its cool that they are doing this. souunds a bit like dir en grey but then again what doesn't, you know
 
☑ that fucking guitar whine thing
 
 
JUSTITIA
It's kinda cool. The chorus kills it a little bit for me but there are cool things to weigh that up.
 
☑ that fucking guitar whine thing
 
 
BLIND DAYS
 
Fuck this seriously. If you're going to do vk faux jazz (as I predicted(!!!) in the old post. VK awareness level: Nostradamus) at least do it properly. this is like that Goodbye human song from Vanitas and that was bad also
 
 
THE HOPELESS
☑ idk its still good
 
 
Verdict:
Faster, more polished, more sophisticated. not as amazing-funny-bad as Vanitas but it certainly works. Most of the time the choruses are actually not bad! Good variation. Basically TBS are Nega, but they know what they're doing and they do it much better. For the next release I want more self-distance like the shit noodle song. But this is still pretty crazy and fun  to listen to.