Ito
-
Content Count
3645 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
13
Posts posted by Ito
-
-
I'm getting reeeaaaaal tired of these 1 like = 1 prayer posts on my social media feeds....
I liked your post. Now what? XD
-
ito has shit taste in art
Five years later and people still butthurt that I think that Glass Skin looks like someone accidentally spilled ink all of their terrible painting and try to pass it off as intentional XD
...Now if only we could get a Bob Ross painting cover.
-
Thread revival!
We need to have Sadie's Gangsta in here. It's nearly sacrilegious levels of terrible - Mucha must be turning over in his grave.
Deathtopi4 reacted to this -
Bit the bullet into the hype and have been playing Undertale. About an hour and a half in I am finding it pretty amusing.
colorful人生 reacted to this -
-
You better get your ass to New York with me lol
We can share a room.
Maybe if it were 2009 lmao
Honestly, my liking of Gazette is pretty low, at least for most of the stuff they have put out after 2010. I still can casually enjoy some of it though and certainly would have showed up for Chicago show. Honestly, I'm not sure if there are any bands I would be willing to fly to see at this point in my life though lol...it would need to be a whole line up of bands to really get me (a la Jrock Revolution).
-
Whelp, no Chicago so I'm out. Have fun peeps.
-
-
wtf is this necromancy!?!? XD
-
-
Very glad to see that the staff appreciated the KEEL albums. I feel like the way Ito reviewed it sums it up very well, it does bring you back to the early 2000s when you were really excited about all things visual kei and good bands were plentiful. To feel that just for a bit again, after being jaded from many years of mediocre musicians alienating you from the things you used to like, is the greatest musical gift this year, to me.
Glad I'm not the only one that felt that way. I worried that when I wrote this it sounded a bit ridiculous, but it was honestly accurate for me.
-
-
Day 25: KEEL - R'lyeh
Release Date: 2015-10-07
Label: ROCK GUILD Inc.
Genre: shoegaze, indie, rock, nagoya kei rootsImpressions from @Ito:
The setup is perfect - I loved Ryo in 9GBO and aie's huge catalog of work is pretty damn good as well. Add in some other solid musicians and we are set up for something amazing right? Unfortunately "too big to fail" seems to hold just as true for bands as it does for banks. I've been burned by "super bands" before and my skepticism was strong. Praise the gods of Nagoya Kei, for my prayers were answered by how wrong I was.
Perhaps R'lyeh isn't anything mindblowing, but that is just a by product of how high my expectations of this group is. The tracks all have that distinct Nagoya kei flavor you've come to expect from aie's work, but there is something here that elevates it. The vocals just add an extra sparkle and melody that sinks its hooks in to me. I honestly am not sure on some of Ryo's delivery at certain points, but I can't help but love it. The songs are incredibly catchy and memorable, but still wrapped in detailed layers of sound that give them real depth.
At the risk of being too hyperbolic, the real magic of this release is where it sends me. Half parts music, half parts time machine; this sends me back to the mid 2000's. A time when I wasn't as jaded and my love for music was much purer - when the world was more tainted and full of color. Finding these 6 tracks at the top feels just right.
Highlights: The whole damn thing
Highlights: The whole damn thingImpressions from @Zeus:
They are the Nagoya-kei super band that visual kei deserves, and also the band it needs right now. KEEL are also that band that we never knew we needed. "the god and death stars" are off trudging along in their corner, "HOLLOWGRAM" couldn't fill the void that 9GOATS left behind, and the inclusion of girugamesh's bassist Shuu was an interesting, but surprising choice that's paid dividends for them. However, nagoya kei hasn't been able to pull it together in some time and present a band with some real promise. So when they released Cthulhu and R'lyeh earlier this year we listened. I don't know about you, but between both albums I heard everything I was missing and more. The melancholic bass and wistful atmosphere are mainstays of the type of sound this band is going for, but more importantly than that there is a polish over all twelve songs, as if every member took lessons learned from their own bands and put their all towards this one. The result is nothing less than the top release(s) of the year. They are not just our heroes. They are our silent musicians, our watchful composers, our winners of 2015's top album of the year.
Be sure to check out Cthulhu - the companion mini album to this one released earlier in the year - as well! I basically see them as one album anyway...
Highlights: The whole damn thingSample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | Google Play Store -
Welcome to Lycaon Heaven!
-
-
Day 24: lynch. - D.A.R.K.-In the Name of Evil-
Release Date: 2015-10-07
Label: King Record Inc.
Genre: metalcore, pop, light visual kei influencesImpressions from @Ito:
lynch. has a knack for following up a bad release with something great. It's a bit of shame that they keep needing to bounce back and fourth, but at least DARK is on the rebound. Instead of their pretty much all metalcore approach of their last attempt, DARK feels far more well rounded, seemingly pulling influences from across their musical career. The songs tend to be at their best when lynch adds in a dash of pop sensibilities; creating songs that still manage to be intense, but don't do so at the expense of being fun or memorable. The production is also much improved from their last release - at least to my ears.
That isn't to say that this album doesn't have some dogs. Some tracks I can appreciate for trying, but fall apart in their execution (Ghost), while others feel like just plain misses (Beast, Invader). Thankfully, there is way more greatness to be found that vastly outweighs the faults.
Highlights: D.A.R.K., Evoke, MelancholicImpressions from @ShanethVarosa:
I've always kept a low-key eye on this band. While they never made anything that impressed me or an album that had tracks that were indecipherable from one another, I knew they had the potential to and D.A.R.K. is exactly what I always wanted from them. Hazuki really can sing and scream and there are no better examples of this than the titular track and later song, Cosmos. Both show Hazuki's vocal ability and the band's ability to create songs that are heavy hitters, but can also have a melody and depth outside of just mindless screaming.
Highlights: D.A.R.K., MELANCHOLIC, ANTARESImpressions from @fictioninhope:
I love lynch. a whole lot. Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I haven’t 100% enjoyed anything they’ve released since “ambivalent ideal” and “I’m sick, b’cuz love you.” The band kind of fell in the deep pit of mediocre that it seems the vast majority of Nagoya kei acts have fallen into and I was beginning to worry they’d never claw their way out of it. lynch. managed to blast off at the speed of light with D.A.R.K. and leave me so thoroughly pleased with their fantastic return, all my worries about the doom pit were erased. D.A.R.K. mixes everything I loved about earlier lynch. with all the good pieces of new lynch. and creates an entirely different sound I never expected the guys to take. If this is the direction lynch. is headed, sign me the hell up. You should join the party too.
Highlights: GHOST, EVOKE, EternityImpressions from @Zeus:
I wasn't too fond of the direction lynch. took after I BELIEVE IN ME. As they became more insistent than ever at playing the most core of metal, the pop hooks and musical variety which formed the core of their sound started becoming more uncommon. GALLOWS was a complete departure from everything I liked about the band and I thought they lost their spark for good. Thankfully, D.A.R.K. -in the name of evil- marks the return of old lynch. with a roaring vengeance. They finally got a handle on the metalcore sound they've been flirting with for the last few years, and the pop hooks that formed the backbone of SHADOWS and I BELIEVE IN ME make a triumphant return. "EVOKE", "FALLEN", and "INVADER" show three distinct sides of lynch, which range from alternative metal headbangers to those touching ballads we all love. There are even the visceral bangers still exist such as "BEAST" and even the jazz-inspired "GHOST" offers up a side lynch. I haven't heard in years. This is the perfect fusion of old lynch. and new lynch. and it's not hard to fathom why it's one of the best albums released this year.
Highlights: D.A.R.K, FALLEN, INVADER, GHOSTImpressions from @Peace Heavy mk II:
This album kind of came out of no-where for me. I mean, I knew it was getting released based on the string of singles prior to it dropping, but I wasn’t actually expecting to like it. Lynch. have been on a weird trend for me lately in which I either don’t care for an entire release, or I only like 2, maybe 3, songs (and that’s really only a mild like) at most ever since I Believe In Me. The silly album name didn’t help their cause either—but much to my surprise, this album contains a lot of variety their last album blatantly lacked and even contained a single that got me hyped to like Lynch. again. “Evoke” is one of the best songs from them that I’ve heard in a long time and is definitely an all-time favorite of mine. Even if Lynch.’s hit-or-miss efforts of late have been having you feeling a little jaded, at least give D.A.R.K. -In the Name of Evil- a chance.
Highlights: Evoke, Beast, MoonImpressions from @Elazmus:
Following the EVOKE and ETERNITY singles, I was concerned if their strict, uniform sound which started with EXODUS would continue to disappoint me on D.A.R.K., but I was happily proven wrong. It seems that after falling short of many fans' expectations with GALLOWS, the band has repositioned themselves since their last studio album and dug deep into their roots. For a band like lynch., who at times seem far removed from visual kei, this is majorly important. D.A.R.K. is inspired by almost all phases of lynch.'s musical journey, and shows considerable efforts were put forth in to many different areas. I recommended it before and I I would certainly recommend D.A.R.K. again to any metal fans needing something agreeable, interesting and talented.
Highlights: FALLEN, GHOST, DARK, ILLUMINATISample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | iTunes -
-
Day 23: Chanty - Chantyの世界へようこそ
Release Date: 2015-04-29
Label: Fake Star Inc.
Genre: pop, rock, visual keiImpressions from @CAT5:
Chanty is a pretty unassuming band. Visually, they stick to bright outfits, but their colors are usually muted - nothing overly flashy. Musically they take a similar approach, adhering to straightforward pop-rock sprinkled with a few "indie" stylings and never overstepping their bounds. Their seemingly unadventurous outlook is perhaps their greatest strength, though. Chantyの世界へようこそ may lack a certain bit of creativity, but it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel, as the album offers an incredibly solid selection that's brimming with self assurance. On top of that, it's an album that could very well appeal to a variety of fans, from VK, indie-rock, Jpop/rock, to even the anison crowd.
Highlights: ダイアリー, monorium, パセリImpressions from @beni:
As one of the very few VK groups I like to stay on top of, Chanty's first album was something I was really excited for. There's something everyone can appreciate in this album, despite being rather short for a VK band (ten tracks, are you kidding me!?) which can be my only nitpick. From the funky "パセリ" that gives off some neat yazzmad goodness, as well as "ひどいかお2" which I swear is a cover from Oshare group SERIAL NUMBER, Chanty don't steer away from what you'd typically expect. So while this means there's no surprises, it's still done exceptionally well. With plenty of catchy choruses (just give "monorium" a quick listen) including the ballad "とある星空の下", both showcase just how well they can pull of these signature sounds as well as Akuta's ability to change his register and tone fittingly when necessary depending on the track. And on the topic of his voice, isn't it a charmer? Chanty are proving they can be consistent, with plenty of songs with a similar enough sound to compliment one another while being done with enough differences to stand by themselves with individuality. When it comes to this release, the bottom line is, it's a winner in every way possible.
Highlights: 犬小屋より愛をこめて, パセリ, monorium, とある星空の下
Impressions from @fitear1590:
You might not realize it, but Chanty is a bit of an indies VK superband, comprised of the vocalist of Administrator and musicians of ジミニークリケット(Jiminy Cricket), タロット-Tarrot-, Chemical Pictures and more. I don't list these for name-dropping purposes--I enjoyed each of those bands back in the day and they're still delivering quality tunes now, even if in a completely different style. In their short two years, they have boomed in popularity, becoming the premier representative of this recent wave of indie rock-influenced VK. While it's difficult to pin Chanty's best release at this point--"m.o.b." and the whole ヤサシイコエ single were also solid this year--this album will at least be a good indication of what 'Chanty's World' is all about.
Highlights: monorium, ダイリー, フライト
Sample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | iTunes (JP) -
-
-
-
Day 22: the piqnic - ZyouK
Release Date: 2015-10-23
Label: So I Buried Records
Genre: dark shoegaze, post-rock, indieImpressions from @CAT5:
Impressions from @Zeus:
Being a Japanese post-rock band is hard. When you're not drawing comparisons to the instrumental giants like Mono or sgt., you have to deal with competition from other, well-established bands. Stray too close to the textures and moods conjured by, say, downy, and you're automatically marked for more critical inspection. It takes a good band to trace in another band's footsteps. It takes an amazing band to take an established sound and run with it. That's why it's a shame that such a great album was limited to 300 copies, because the piqnic did just this with ZyouK. They've only been a band for two years, but they play a very dark, brooding, hypnotic shoegaze that pulls in influences from many scenes. "hinata" and "si" are noteworthy for their minimalistic ambiance which helps to break up the more intense offerings such as noise-laden "ZyouK" , the energetic "krs", or the surprisingly bright and hopeful "O". Fans of shoegaze or post-rock that don't mind messy production will adore this.
Highlights: m-s, ZyouK, krsImpressions from @Ito:
For me, the piqnic is an example of coming so close, but some how missing the mark. The album is laden in throbbing bass and fuzzy guitars that build up a dark shoegaze/post rock atmosphere. The production might leave something to be desired, but often the soundscape is so lovely that it makes up for it. The huge wrench thrown in this success plan comes in the form of vocals. The singer's voice isn't bad, per say, but I don't think it is good either, but it is more how he uses it. Lots of monotone sounds, almost closer to talking than singing. It reminds me a lot of downy in that sense - as in the vocals ruin something I would probably love otherwise. I find it hard to explain when there are bands like Boris doing similar stuff, with arguably worse vocals, that I some how enjoy more. Nothing validates my feelings more than how much I enjoy parts of the tracks that I clear of singing.
tl;dr - if the vocalist shut up, I think this would have been one of my top albums of the year.
Highlights: krs
Sample song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rgYzwA6My4Buy the album:
So I Buried Records
NOTE: This album was limited to 300 copies. -
Wagakki Band always feels like someone is jamming a jackhammer into my ears with pieces of random traditional instruments glued on, while irritating Jpop is playing in the background in an abandoned interrogation chamber.
;(
Even though I don't agree, that gave me a good laugh.
-
MH FEATURED POLL #40: What are the things you HATE about Visual Kei?
in General
Posted
Inability to adapt to the 21st century
There are way too many bands that have yet to conform to the digital age. While things certainly have improved, there is still a shocking amount of music that isn't available for purchase digitally. Why? I have no idea. It's fucking stupid if you ask me.