wesjrocker

I have to agree about the over saturation. But I also agree that it has to do with taste. I don't think Visual Kei is going anywhere any time soon because it's an ever recycling scene. Certain looks get brought back and the new sound is noticeably inspired by and older sound. Which in turn I feel like the people who "grow out of it" are replaced with younger fans just discovering it.
Me personally I got sick of investing my time in to bands that just disband a year later. Like I get it that VK has a band for everyone and saying all the bands sound the same is a little incorrect. But I literally have like two bands that are still active that somewhat interest me. But I guess I have gotten lazy. I've already heard all the bands that have been around a while but o don't check out new ones because they'll probably disband after 2-3 releases.
My actual music interest has changed as well. I'm not just straying away from VK but I'm gradually branching out of the Japanese area. There are still bands I enjoy, but the point is that VK doesn't do it for me anymore. New bands I do check out sound like they played guitar for a year found a great hairstylist and knew a friend who did at home recording. But it's ok to sound mediocre if you look great in VK. It's VK so I can't complain much about looks vs actual music... But I do feel like a lot of bands have gotten lazy with being original and just sort of make something up like "this sounds VK enough" because the figure their image will sell.
That's probably going to upset people, but don't take it personal. VK is still a fun scene and it does have some talent... You just have to ween through the lack of talent to find the good stuff.
There's a lot more I want to say but won't because my fingers are actually getting sore from typing on a phone at a weird angle....

There are only a few Visual Kei groups that can still interest me. However, those bands consist mostly of musicians who have been active in the scene since the early or late nineties. I honestly cannot be bothered with all those feud and borderline metalcore formations who are incapable of creativity and only beckon so-called fans with their looks and so-called 'br00tality'. For me, the scene is over. A miracle must occur first before anything in it might grasp my attention again.

it is announced at DuelJewel last one-man live at Zepp Tokyo at 2016/02/23 that scene of that last live (5 hours) will be included in their LAST LIVE DVD, although details have not yet been announced
 

DuelJewel Ba.Natsuki will be absent at their live at TSUTAYA O-East at 2016/02/13 due to his influenza

I usually don't say much but I also agree that they were very underrated.
I've discovered these guys in 2006 and since then I've been following them, buying their stuff and listening to their music.
It's difficult to explain but this band brought many good people together from many different countries and we're still in touch even today.
DuelJewel was influenced by Luna Sea, Hide, Siam Shade. Artists that don't need to be introduced.
They were the first Jrock/Visual band to play overseas; In 2002 these guys toured USA and made an US official fanclub called RAG.
In my opinion their whole discography is marvelous, since their demo tapes, but of course that nothing is perfect, there are songs that I usually don't listen or don't like much, just like in every other band, it's very difficult to compose a good song, sometimes it can be an impossible task.
It may sound strange for some people but I started listen to "visual-kei bands" because of its sound and not because of its image, when I started listening to MUCC and Despairs Ray, I didn't know they had a strong image back then, I didn't had a clue about what was vk until I've watched Fool's Fest '03.
Sugizo once said that he can't feel the soul in many vk bands nowadays because everyone is doing just to be equal like each other or to be stylish and not to be different. I totally agree with him, even though there are exceptions.
I'm sure you can feel this soul he's talking about in DuelJewel's music if you care about music in the first place and not only about visual style.
These guys will surely be missed but as long as we keep listening to their songs, their music will never die.

I usually don't say much but I also agree that they were very underrated.
I've discovered these guys in 2006 and since then I've been following them, buying their stuff and listening to their music.
It's difficult to explain but this band brought many good people together from many different countries and we're still in touch even today.
DuelJewel was influenced by Luna Sea, Hide, Siam Shade. Artists that don't need to be introduced.
They were the first Jrock/Visual band to play overseas; In 2002 these guys toured USA and made an US official fanclub called RAG.
In my opinion their whole discography is marvelous, since their demo tapes, but of course that nothing is perfect, there are songs that I usually don't listen or don't like much, just like in every other band, it's very difficult to compose a good song, sometimes it can be an impossible task.
It may sound strange for some people but I started listen to "visual-kei bands" because of its sound and not because of its image, when I started listening to MUCC and Despairs Ray, I didn't know they had a strong image back then, I didn't had a clue about what was vk until I've watched Fool's Fest '03.
Sugizo once said that he can't feel the soul in many vk bands nowadays because everyone is doing just to be equal like each other or to be stylish and not to be different. I totally agree with him, even though there are exceptions.
I'm sure you can feel this soul he's talking about in DuelJewel's music if you care about music in the first place and not only about visual style.
These guys will surely be missed but as long as we keep listening to their songs, their music will never die.

I usually don't say much but I also agree that they were very underrated.
I've discovered these guys in 2006 and since then I've been following them, buying their stuff and listening to their music.
It's difficult to explain but this band brought many good people together from many different countries and we're still in touch even today.
DuelJewel was influenced by Luna Sea, Hide, Siam Shade. Artists that don't need to be introduced.
They were the first Jrock/Visual band to play overseas; In 2002 these guys toured USA and made an US official fanclub called RAG.
In my opinion their whole discography is marvelous, since their demo tapes, but of course that nothing is perfect, there are songs that I usually don't listen or don't like much, just like in every other band, it's very difficult to compose a good song, sometimes it can be an impossible task.
It may sound strange for some people but I started listen to "visual-kei bands" because of its sound and not because of its image, when I started listening to MUCC and Despairs Ray, I didn't know they had a strong image back then, I didn't had a clue about what was vk until I've watched Fool's Fest '03.
Sugizo once said that he can't feel the soul in many vk bands nowadays because everyone is doing just to be equal like each other or to be stylish and not to be different. I totally agree with him, even though there are exceptions.
I'm sure you can feel this soul he's talking about in DuelJewel's music if you care about music in the first place and not only about visual style.
These guys will surely be missed but as long as we keep listening to their songs, their music will never die.

I usually don't say much but I also agree that they were very underrated.
I've discovered these guys in 2006 and since then I've been following them, buying their stuff and listening to their music.
It's difficult to explain but this band brought many good people together from many different countries and we're still in touch even today.
DuelJewel was influenced by Luna Sea, Hide, Siam Shade. Artists that don't need to be introduced.
They were the first Jrock/Visual band to play overseas; In 2002 these guys toured USA and made an US official fanclub called RAG.
In my opinion their whole discography is marvelous, since their demo tapes, but of course that nothing is perfect, there are songs that I usually don't listen or don't like much, just like in every other band, it's very difficult to compose a good song, sometimes it can be an impossible task.
It may sound strange for some people but I started listen to "visual-kei bands" because of its sound and not because of its image, when I started listening to MUCC and Despairs Ray, I didn't know they had a strong image back then, I didn't had a clue about what was vk until I've watched Fool's Fest '03.
Sugizo once said that he can't feel the soul in many vk bands nowadays because everyone is doing just to be equal like each other or to be stylish and not to be different. I totally agree with him, even though there are exceptions.
I'm sure you can feel this soul he's talking about in DuelJewel's music if you care about music in the first place and not only about visual style.
These guys will surely be missed but as long as we keep listening to their songs, their music will never die.

I usually don't say much but I also agree that they were very underrated.
I've discovered these guys in 2006 and since then I've been following them, buying their stuff and listening to their music.
It's difficult to explain but this band brought many good people together from many different countries and we're still in touch even today.
DuelJewel was influenced by Luna Sea, Hide, Siam Shade. Artists that don't need to be introduced.
They were the first Jrock/Visual band to play overseas; In 2002 these guys toured USA and made an US official fanclub called RAG.
In my opinion their whole discography is marvelous, since their demo tapes, but of course that nothing is perfect, there are songs that I usually don't listen or don't like much, just like in every other band, it's very difficult to compose a good song, sometimes it can be an impossible task.
It may sound strange for some people but I started listen to "visual-kei bands" because of its sound and not because of its image, when I started listening to MUCC and Despairs Ray, I didn't know they had a strong image back then, I didn't had a clue about what was vk until I've watched Fool's Fest '03.
Sugizo once said that he can't feel the soul in many vk bands nowadays because everyone is doing just to be equal like each other or to be stylish and not to be different. I totally agree with him, even though there are exceptions.
I'm sure you can feel this soul he's talking about in DuelJewel's music if you care about music in the first place and not only about visual style.
These guys will surely be missed but as long as we keep listening to their songs, their music will never die.

Damn, I'm really sad, actually. Y'all trully disrespectful. This is the end of an era. They've been around for almost 20 years. Biggest achievement of this band is that they were the first indie VK band to perform outside of Asia. Even tough they went major, it's too bad they never got the recognition they deserve. Maximum respect for these guys.

kinda sucks that they've been going almost 20 years and are still ~that band~

Lapidary is still my favorite after all these years. I probably discovered them in 2003/2004 in some random Brazilian websites and went on to get everything I could on slsk, but they were always under the radar in some way.
 
I'm pretty sure my first and also favorite song at the time was 永遠に夢を重ねて off that same album and it's still a big favorite. Classic stuff. Then I started to follow them more closely when the single The Birth came out in 2005, and then when VISIONS was released. I think these three are probably the ones I like the most in their disco. [REVIVE], their compilation with re-recorded songs, was also pretty great for obvious reasons.

hide holographic live "hide crystal project presents RADIOSITY -prologue-" will be held at Yokohama GRAND OPEN at 2015/09/11, at which "ピンク スパイダー(pink spider)" will be played
 
hide holographic live "hide crystal project presents RADIOSITY" will be held in 2015/10

DuelJewel LIVE DVD "2015.02.01 Shibuya Koukaidou「TRUE STORY」" will be released at 2016/01/13 (5,400yen), which will include scene of their one-man live "TRUE STORY" at Shibuya Koukaidou at 2015/02/01
 
[track list]
01.It's just love
02.62
03.MASK
04.Chronos
05.Days
06.奇跡の花(kiseki no hana)
07.君の世界で(kimi no sekai de)
08.雪のアスタリスク(yuki no asterisk)
〜Drums solo〜
09.Will〜andante〜
10.maze
11.Sad/Mad
12.NIGHTWALKER
13.アビスライフ(abyss life)
14.SLIP FROM MY HANDS
15.Sunset Riot
〜ENCORE 1〜
16.暁(akatsuki)
17.Stay Strong
18.ASHTAROTH
19.Trust
〜ENCORE 2〜
20.Tales

Does anyone still use this program? I was thinking about starting up a room for MH so ppl could freely leech from my collection, (and hopefully share their own music as well), but is there any interest in this? If so, let me know!

For me it would have to be Lamiel, Blast, Deadman, and Sugar. If necromancy is allowed, then Kagrra. 

Definitely Kagrra

D'espairs Ray
Kagrra,
 
I'll also miss DuelJewel, they are going to disband in February(2016). I know they are underrated but I think they're a great band, they were the first visual kei band to play overseas, that was in 2002.
As long as we keep listening to these great bands, their music will never die.

Kaikan Phrase anime has too much romance? Bro! If you can't tolerate the anime version, then you'll loathe the manga to death because it shoves the music side of things like a side mission and focuses way too much on ridiculous shojo smut romance. The lackluster animation was my biggest gripe with Kaikan Phrase and it's really sad the show never even got a DVD release.
 
Detroit Metal City is the only other anime I can think of that's about a metal band but of course it focuses more on the comedy aspect than the musical side of things. Only 12 eps total but each episode is less than 15 min long. You can easily finish it in 2-3 hours.
 
Macross 7 is all about a rock band trying to save the world from aliens by piloting their mechs playing music. Definitely worth checking out if you love hearing Fire Bomber's music. There's both a TV series and OVA sequels that'll keep you entertained.
 
https://youtu.be/fbMLfwZcKHM

Most of the bands I miss were already mentioned in spades, such as D'espairsRay, Code Rebirth, Kagrra,, -Oz- and Deluhi.  The love for Janne da Arc right out of the gate made me smile - they were one of the first J-rock groups I listened to, so I was happy to hear that.
 
I'm glad meth. [メス] was mentioned.
 
Bands I don't recall seeing were Eat You Alive, Signal and the legendary Siam Shade.

Kagrra,
amber gris 
Zoro
Monolith,
Aicle 
Luzmelt
meth.

What I think of Visual Kei in its current state? 
 
Fairly little, as most people are aware of how my cognizant thoughts form on these ongoing circumstances.
 
Of course I am acquainted with the realization of how music scenes go through transformations and adjustments, but this never necessarily means that someone has to approve of it. It is true, I am fond of a number of newer acts, but I have made peace with how none of those will ever grow on me, and how slim their periods of existence are, and how quickly I forget they were ever functioning groups after their disappearances. There are but few risen bands in the past five years that last longer than half a decade, and with this they simply do not give their audience the chance to grow attached to them. This scene is unstable and a borderline helter-skelter of irresoluteness and indecisiveness. Musicians come together just because they are available and currently not in any project, therefore most members have no relationship with each other, other than being co-workers. Oftentimes there is no chemistry that pulls these musicians together, they are opposite poles and there is no magnetism that would really form a bond of musicianship, thus resulting in quick moves of disbandments and break-ups (hence the reason 'musical differences', for most splits).
 
I am no longer awaiting a revolution in this scene. Bands become younger, and legends grow older which causes them to be overlooked, or no longer listened to. It is disheartening to not see big names like Kamijo, Kaya (thus Femme Fatale), Kisaki (thus 凛 -the end of corruption world-), D, 摩天楼オペラ, cali≠gari, DIR EN GREY, Moi Dix Mois, Creature Creature and DEAD END, D'ERLANGER, KA.F.KA, Sugizo and LUNA SEA, Yoshiki and X JAPAN, BUCK-TICK or even GACKT in this thread. People only mention new names and forget about the foundations of this scene, foundations who are still very much active and alive, deep-rooted and fundamental sources who have given birth to this baby in the first place. 
 
With this rise of this newly founded interest in metalcore that —in my very honest and personal opinion— has no place in Visual Kei, I can assume for myself that in a year or two, I am done with Visual Kei. My favourites who still remain active to this day will have vanished as they are simply pushed out of existence because their form and sound are no longer welcomed and essential, and I'll merely be left with memories. 

Também sou brasileiro, de São Carlos-SP, meio ausente. （＾∇＾）

Saying VK is dead just because your favorite bands are not around anymore is like saying rock is dead because The Beatles disbanded.