Ito

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list: Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man. Lynch. - The Avoided Sun I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.") D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed. Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time. Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here) The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though. Kagrra, - shizuku Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.

My wife and I started watching The Ancient Magus Bride and My Hero Academia. We're only 4 episodes in to Magus, and while I love the atmosphere, it might be a bit too slow, and I haven't been able to suspend my disbelief on the main characters comfort with the situation and how uncomfortable her and bone dude's relationship is. Hero on the other had is managing to take a stale formula and making it fresh, though I worry how long it can hold up. The biggest problem I have with shounens is that often get stretch out too long and outstay their charm.

I just picked up Horizon Zero Dawn to add to the ever growing backlog...

The only logical conclusion is DEG is starting a daytime children's show.

Looks like we are getting a new best of album: And some rerecorded stuff as well:

I'm going to say I got 4 out of 8, so half right ain't terrible.

I feel like a Dir en Grey tribute album should have happened around late 00's, during the peak Diru copy cat era.

What are you currently using that you aren't happy with? And if you headphones are backordered, I would cancel them and go with the HD6XX's. I'm bad at articulating how things sound - my daily drivers at work are the AKG k7xx's, they are great - clear, clear, and fairly flat. The HD6xx's are my home pair - they have more clarity that the AKGs imp and overall they just sound much more lively, I think partly because of the punchier mids. The thing is, the Senns require more power to sound great and the AKGs are more comfortable (I'm wearing them for like 6+ hours a day), thus the AKGs are my daily drivers at work.

Why not just go for the Massdrop HD 6XX's They are basically the 650s, and I would be hard pressed to want to spend another $300 for a mild improvement. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx

So this is a thing I did

Can't say I was digging the preview, but I am trying not to judge it too hard.

I wouldn't put them in them as the GOAT of the Nagoya Kei genre, I think that has to go to Deadman, but I do really enjoy Gibkiy. If anything, that award should just be given to aie.

Man, I am just happy that they are actually putting out an actual album. I have yet to listen to it, but here to hoping this is the first step in them actually being a most consistent group.

I've been playing a surprising amount of games lately. I bought a new TV as a wedding present to myself (lol), so it's been encouraging me to spend more time in front of it. The three games I have finished in the past month or so were NieR Automata, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and Doki Doki Literature Club....and man, that last one, if you guys haven't played it, you seriously need to stop what you are doing and pick it up. It's free on steam, and I don't want to say anything about it, as the less you know, the better it is.

well then

Girugamesh and Sel'm hit me hard. These were bands that were around and putting out great material when I was first getting in to VK, and they were some of the very few that were still remaining. They felt kind of like nails in the coffin.

Quick thoughts of a grumpy old man. Scale: Yeah Hmm Meh Ugh "天上天下" by ARCHEMI. It felt like the song had no meat to it. I normally appreciate a traditional Japanese flavor to my VK, but here is just felt like an attempt to sprinkle some flavor on top of something that was really bland. I guess that saved it from be a "ugh" on my scale though. "鮮やかな矛盾" by NoGoD I've been off of the NoGod train for a while now. After a bunch of mediocre releases, I had a hard time caring about following them. While I did enjoy this track, I kind of feel like it also feels a bit like more of the same. Does make me a bit curious to jump back in though. "昏睡" by SCAPEGOAT Some parts reminded me of mid 00's numetal inspired VK and the chorus felt reminiscent of Cocklobin, which are two things I would mark as positives. Production sounded shit, but I am hoping that there was just same major compression involved on the youtube upload. "青年ナイフ" by ニトロデイ Sounded like I was listening to it with cotton stuffed in to my ears. Also, there is something about the way the vocalist pronounces things that I just can't stand. "Sorry, I Am Not" by SHE TALKS SILENCE It felt like this song was trying to go somewhere but it never quite reached its destination. In a crude way of putting it, I feel like this song blue balled me. "雨” by 游彩 I feel like there is a lot of promise here that isn't realized. I feel like a bit more passion and dynamics in this song could have helped pushed it over the top. I think this song could be a lot of fun live as I think perhaps part of the problem is that it is over produced. "虚言癖" by DAMY Been a while since I've heard a song in this style from a band that I didn't know that was actually memorable. This is a song that gets its life from lots of small details - little vocal flairs or riff changes that I wasn't expecting. Going to be checking this band out more in the future. "⚪︎と×" by ザアザア I don't think I've ever quite liked Xaa-xaa as much as the rest of the community has, but this song is dope. The the vocals are incredibly emotive without playing things too far in to melodrama. It's also been a while since I've enjoyed a song with a guitar solo. "burst" by Zill Not sure if I can get behind the vocals - like, there is some points where I really enjoy them, but others where I feel like they are just too rough. Instrumentally the song is mostly solid, but like the vocals, also has some rough points (like the chorus imo). "Dystopia -Vanishing Point-" by Boris Ive always been a fan of Boris's drone/doom work, but even I feel like this track takes perhaps a bit too long to get to its main point. Even when the song hits full stride, I don't find it quite as enjoyable as some of their work in this genre in the past. I find it hard to put in to words, but this one really left me wanting more. Not to say that I dislike this track, which isn't the case....more that it was disappointing. Also, man, do I ever hate how this song ends. "声飛行" by Gutevolk This is one of those songs that I don't really enjoy all that much, but I totally see the appeal of even if it isn't for me. Wow, lot's of good VK tracks! What year is it? XD

I watched about as much as I could over the course of the week. I wanted to actually go this year since it is only 5 hours from where I live, but work and other obligations screwed with that. Super Panga World was nuts and super fun. Some of my other favorite runs that I watched were Super Monkey Ball and Kingdom Hearts II. I'm going to try and watch some of the ones that I missed over the next week or two.

That's enough internet for today...

Whelp this for sure tells me that I am not going to need to make an effort to watch this.

Quick thoughts of a grumpy old man. Scale: Yeah Hmm Meh Ugh "vainglory" by MEIDARA No major sins (other than that synth violin in the background, but it is pretty subtle), but feels utterly forgettable. "蜉蝣の夢" by FIXER Though this track had a little bit of "I've already heard this before" syndrome going on with it, it was still pretty solid. "Omelas" by JILUKA I liked the chorus, but otherwise this feels like "been there, done that" metalcore. "ドラマチックな恋心" by SAVAGE Those vocals are abysmal. "セクシーホモサピエンス" by クウチュウ戦 (Koochewsen) I feel like I should like this, but the vocals just came off as annoying. Which kind of sucks, as the instrumentals were solid. "ラビリンス" by MONDO GROSSO featuring 満島ひかり The beat felt a little stale, but overall I enjoyed the mood. "ガブリエル" by Yeti Vocalist fits this style well, still doesn't make this song interesting though. "See Inside" by PASSing truth DRIVE This song sounds like it is out of phase. Instant fail for the terrible production that makes my head feel like it is stuck in an echo chamber or something. "雨中遊泳" by Plastic Tree Blocked, too lazy to view via proxy lol "無重力" by Yeti The heavy parts are awesome. The transition nearly ruins this song. The production also kind of sucks. "最近じゃデパートのオリジナルソングにすら 幸せを感じるんだ" by The Mirraz This band has never clicked for me. This changes nothing there. "あましずくとマクガフィン" by グリモア (GRIMOIRE) Not bad by any means, actually pretty solid, but didn't really draw me in either. I should probably like this more than I do. "Bad Blood" by Acid Black Cherry This was not what I was expecting. Perhaps a bit too heavy on the bleep-bloops, but an interesting mashup of sounds. "Sans Toi Mamie" by Ataru Nakamura Sorry, what was that? I feel asleep.

Welcome to the forum! If you have any question feel free to reach out to a mod or an admin (anyone with a red or blue name).

Welcome to the forum! If you have any question feel free to reach out to a mod or an admin (anyone with a red or blue name).

Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy your time here! I kind of amazes me sometimes how early MH pops up when you search google for bands lol. If you have any questions, feel free to ask anyone with a red or blue name.