Ito

Thanks for the kind words!
 
The Gibkiy album is excellent - I think I would have been pushing for it hard int he ChristMHas list, but I didn't get a a chance to listen to it until after we did the voting.
 
Kodama may be the prettiest album I'be heard in a long time - like seriously, every time I spin it I am just floored.
 
Glad I am not the only one who find Rheia to be that way. I really want to make it to an Oathbreaker show now, I just have to imagine they are insane live.
 
And yeah, some of the runner ups were SO close to making it - but I really did want to limit it just a top ten. I think narrowing it down to just 10 took me a lot longer than writing and formatting this whole post lol.

Woah, I had no idea gibkiyx3 had an album out! I listened to their debut single quite a few times and loved it. Have to check it out soon.
 
Anyway, great list, dude! I still have both Alcest and Oathbreaker's albums in heavy rotation and they haven't gotten old yet. Kodama is just damn gorgeous ("Eclosion" was probably one of my favorite songs from last year) and Rheia is exactly like you described it - I have to be in a very particular mood to listen to it because it just leaves me emotionally drained; it's indeed quite a ride.
 
Some real gems amongst the runner-ups as well, namely TAMTAM, JYOCHO and siraph.

I wanted to keep things really straight forward this year - only 10 albums and keep my blurbs short. I know this is a bit on the late side, but I hope that some people can find some new music they enjoy out of it!
 
10) gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy - Fujouri Shugeki

 
Those of you who know me should already know that I am a sucker for nagoya kei. The formula for this band is a no brainer - vocalist from Merry Go Round, guitarist and bassist from the god and death stars, and the (original) drummer from L’Arc~en~Ciel all bring a long pedigree of talent. A brooding atmosphere that permeates through the album, leaving the album feeling bleak in the best way possible. Though different styles, gibkiy brings that same “unhinged” feeling that I enjoy so much in DEZERT’s work. The 14 minute closer is an avant garde piece constantly uncomfortable and on your toes, with long unusual pauses and strange guttural growls, wraps the album on a truly memorable note.
 
 
 
9) girugamesh - chimera

 
I’d be lying if I said that this being Girugamesh’s final album didn’t push this up a bit on my list. But I’ll be damned if Giru hasn’t been on of the most important band in my Jrock journey, and them hanging it up still feels like a huge deal to me. I’m just so happy that I can say that they exited on a high note, with chimera being a fasted paced and hard hitting album that does a great job of blending their electronic style from the and their energy from their earlier musical day into a more modern metalcore/djent package. It’s just sad that we don’t get any more out of this band as they were trending majorly upwards over their last few releases.
 
 
 
8 ) downy - dai roku sakuhinshū 『mudai』

 
I flat out did not like this album the first time around. Something about it just felt off and it took me a couple tries to completely make it through the album. Perhaps my brain just couldn’t comprehend the complexity of these tracks on the first time around. While there are still some parts that feel a bit off, and I find the nasally tone of the vocalist to be slightly off putting, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this albums odd blend of atmosphere and rhythms.
 
 
 
7) GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object

 
GoGo Penguin feels like it might be a sister band to Mouse on the Keys, with their exceedingly beautiful fusion of downbeat classical and jazz. The piano, bass, and drums seems to flutter across the album, landing gently and quickly at times just to quickly fly away again. It all just feels so light and airy...and just damn pretty.
 
 
 
6) Emma Ruth Rundle - Marked for Death

 
I find it hard to label the music on Marked for Death. It is like some amalgamation of post and gothic rock, with a hint of southern added for flavor. What I do know is that Emma has crafted a powerful album of mourning that managed to feel both sad and uplifting at the same time. Its been a long while since I felt like an album has served up a complete story that was worth telling, but Emma’s presentation of a doomed relationship feels relatable and heavy. Her voice brings nuances to the story, whether she is letting the words just lightly escaping from between her lips or soaring above. The wonderful production does the final piece in wrapping a bow around this solo album.
 
 
 
5) the god and death stars - after the addle apple

 
In 2011 the god and death stars put out their first release, addle apple, and with that fully solidified in my mind that aie was a master of his craft. Fast forward 5 years and we have the band's attempt to 'remake' that wonderful mini-album. While the song names are the same, sonically this transformation like that of when a caterpillar builds a cocoon and comes out of it a whole different creature. When you listen closely, you can pick out some of the riffs, textures, and lyrical homages to the original work, but other than those small bits this mini is something completely new. There is an air of complexity to the band's flavor of Nagoya Kei that gives me that same feeling of freshness that addle apple originally brought. It's a bold claim to say that this is the band's best release, as I feel that the god and death stars haven't ever put out any weak material, but I think that it might just edge out its way to the top of their discography.
 
 
4) Oathbreaker - Rheia

 
I don’t know that last time a song by a band I had never heard before has left such a striking impression on me. The way the chilling opening of the album falls away into a pit of rage left me stunned. This hardcore/black metal group balances that line of beautiful and brutal much in the same way as Deafheaven, though perhaps in a way that makes the lighter bits feel more haunting than gorgeous. The album is a ride and I often find myself feeling a little bit emotionally exhausted at its conclusion.
 
 
 
3) Russian Circles - Guidance

 
I am convinced that Russian Circles can do no wrong. Guidance is probably one of their worst albums, but here it is sitting near the top of my list. The band are masters of the instrumental metal genre, managing to evoke feelings in their tracks in ways that bands with vocals can only hope to do. Emotion is weaved through, spanning from mourning tinged in anger to reserved hope. I can’t help but feel like this feels just right to have been released in 2016.
 
 
 
2) Obscure Sphinx - Epitaphs

 
The middle ground between too disparate sounds and moods, that wonderful juxtaposition, brings some of the greatest joys music has to offer. The atmosphere of Epitaphs is downright crushing with how heavy it is, but yet the album is full of such beauty. The female fronted mashup of doom and post metal that is Obscure Sphinx seemingly came out of nowhere just to punch me in the gut.
 
 
 
1) Alcest - Kodama

 
The ethereal sound that Alcest has honed is down right breathtaking. I’ve always been a fan of the band, but I have never been as blown away by their work as I was with Kodama. Their black metal and shoegaze style manages to take some of the best elements of both and create a sound that just feels heavenly. Somehow the songs manage to feel both sad and hopeful at the same time - perhaps it's this duality that aids to the otherworldly feel of the album. All I can say is that Kodama is downright gorgeous.
 
 
 
 
 
Runner Ups
This is the stuff that just missed the cut
 
TAMTAM - NEWPOESY
The band feels like it has landed on the perfect combination of its jpop and dub stylings.
 
DEZERT - Saikou no Shokutaku
A throwback to the numetal phase of visual kei which feels equal parts fresh as it does historic.
 
Silence - psycho:lens.
This album would have made it if gibkiy hadn’t edged it out on the emotional Nagoya Kei front.
 
Saor - Guardians
Beautiful Celtic infused black metal. The only downfall is that it feels a little “same-y” over its hour long run time.
 
kokomo - Monochrome Noise
Emotional instrumental post metal - great stuff but it’s damn hard when you are going up against the masters of this genre in Russian Circles
 
M-Koda - Workings
If it weren’t for a few outlying tracks that feel a bit out of place, this ambient electronic album would have likely made its way on to the list. Easily my favorite album of the year to chill out to.
 
Boris - Pink
Since half of this album is a re-release, it felt like cheating to give it a full spot. That said, this is still one of Boris’ finest releases, and the new material doesn’t feel lacking at all
 
XAA-XAA - chuudoku shoujou
This band is carrying the mantle for modern visual kei. The album feels like a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s easy to see the promise they hold.
 
Siraph - siraph
This band picks up where School Food Punishment left off. The vocalist is the only factor holding them back.
 
JYOCHO - inori de wa todokanai kyori
Jpop fused with math rock and it’s glorious. I was sad to see Uchuu Konbini go, but now I am not so sure that was a bad thing.

Awesome list!
 
I saw Emma Ruth Rundle a couple years ago and she blew me away, very powerful for just one person and her guitar.... can't wait to see her again next month with Deafheaven!!
 
And certainly no arguments with Alcest or Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy.

I wanted to keep things really straight forward this year - only 10 albums and keep my blurbs short. I know this is a bit on the late side, but I hope that some people can find some new music they enjoy out of it!
 
10) gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy - Fujouri Shugeki

 
Those of you who know me should already know that I am a sucker for nagoya kei. The formula for this band is a no brainer - vocalist from Merry Go Round, guitarist and bassist from the god and death stars, and the (original) drummer from L’Arc~en~Ciel all bring a long pedigree of talent. A brooding atmosphere that permeates through the album, leaving the album feeling bleak in the best way possible. Though different styles, gibkiy brings that same “unhinged” feeling that I enjoy so much in DEZERT’s work. The 14 minute closer is an avant garde piece constantly uncomfortable and on your toes, with long unusual pauses and strange guttural growls, wraps the album on a truly memorable note.
 
 
 
9) girugamesh - chimera

 
I’d be lying if I said that this being Girugamesh’s final album didn’t push this up a bit on my list. But I’ll be damned if Giru hasn’t been on of the most important band in my Jrock journey, and them hanging it up still feels like a huge deal to me. I’m just so happy that I can say that they exited on a high note, with chimera being a fasted paced and hard hitting album that does a great job of blending their electronic style from the and their energy from their earlier musical day into a more modern metalcore/djent package. It’s just sad that we don’t get any more out of this band as they were trending majorly upwards over their last few releases.
 
 
 
8 ) downy - dai roku sakuhinshū 『mudai』

 
I flat out did not like this album the first time around. Something about it just felt off and it took me a couple tries to completely make it through the album. Perhaps my brain just couldn’t comprehend the complexity of these tracks on the first time around. While there are still some parts that feel a bit off, and I find the nasally tone of the vocalist to be slightly off putting, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this albums odd blend of atmosphere and rhythms.
 
 
 
7) GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object

 
GoGo Penguin feels like it might be a sister band to Mouse on the Keys, with their exceedingly beautiful fusion of downbeat classical and jazz. The piano, bass, and drums seems to flutter across the album, landing gently and quickly at times just to quickly fly away again. It all just feels so light and airy...and just damn pretty.
 
 
 
6) Emma Ruth Rundle - Marked for Death

 
I find it hard to label the music on Marked for Death. It is like some amalgamation of post and gothic rock, with a hint of southern added for flavor. What I do know is that Emma has crafted a powerful album of mourning that managed to feel both sad and uplifting at the same time. Its been a long while since I felt like an album has served up a complete story that was worth telling, but Emma’s presentation of a doomed relationship feels relatable and heavy. Her voice brings nuances to the story, whether she is letting the words just lightly escaping from between her lips or soaring above. The wonderful production does the final piece in wrapping a bow around this solo album.
 
 
 
5) the god and death stars - after the addle apple

 
In 2011 the god and death stars put out their first release, addle apple, and with that fully solidified in my mind that aie was a master of his craft. Fast forward 5 years and we have the band's attempt to 'remake' that wonderful mini-album. While the song names are the same, sonically this transformation like that of when a caterpillar builds a cocoon and comes out of it a whole different creature. When you listen closely, you can pick out some of the riffs, textures, and lyrical homages to the original work, but other than those small bits this mini is something completely new. There is an air of complexity to the band's flavor of Nagoya Kei that gives me that same feeling of freshness that addle apple originally brought. It's a bold claim to say that this is the band's best release, as I feel that the god and death stars haven't ever put out any weak material, but I think that it might just edge out its way to the top of their discography.
 
 
4) Oathbreaker - Rheia

 
I don’t know that last time a song by a band I had never heard before has left such a striking impression on me. The way the chilling opening of the album falls away into a pit of rage left me stunned. This hardcore/black metal group balances that line of beautiful and brutal much in the same way as Deafheaven, though perhaps in a way that makes the lighter bits feel more haunting than gorgeous. The album is a ride and I often find myself feeling a little bit emotionally exhausted at its conclusion.
 
 
 
3) Russian Circles - Guidance

 
I am convinced that Russian Circles can do no wrong. Guidance is probably one of their worst albums, but here it is sitting near the top of my list. The band are masters of the instrumental metal genre, managing to evoke feelings in their tracks in ways that bands with vocals can only hope to do. Emotion is weaved through, spanning from mourning tinged in anger to reserved hope. I can’t help but feel like this feels just right to have been released in 2016.
 
 
 
2) Obscure Sphinx - Epitaphs

 
The middle ground between too disparate sounds and moods, that wonderful juxtaposition, brings some of the greatest joys music has to offer. The atmosphere of Epitaphs is downright crushing with how heavy it is, but yet the album is full of such beauty. The female fronted mashup of doom and post metal that is Obscure Sphinx seemingly came out of nowhere just to punch me in the gut.
 
 
 
1) Alcest - Kodama

 
The ethereal sound that Alcest has honed is down right breathtaking. I’ve always been a fan of the band, but I have never been as blown away by their work as I was with Kodama. Their black metal and shoegaze style manages to take some of the best elements of both and create a sound that just feels heavenly. Somehow the songs manage to feel both sad and hopeful at the same time - perhaps it's this duality that aids to the otherworldly feel of the album. All I can say is that Kodama is downright gorgeous.
 
 
 
 
 
Runner Ups
This is the stuff that just missed the cut
 
TAMTAM - NEWPOESY
The band feels like it has landed on the perfect combination of its jpop and dub stylings.
 
DEZERT - Saikou no Shokutaku
A throwback to the numetal phase of visual kei which feels equal parts fresh as it does historic.
 
Silence - psycho:lens.
This album would have made it if gibkiy hadn’t edged it out on the emotional Nagoya Kei front.
 
Saor - Guardians
Beautiful Celtic infused black metal. The only downfall is that it feels a little “same-y” over its hour long run time.
 
kokomo - Monochrome Noise
Emotional instrumental post metal - great stuff but it’s damn hard when you are going up against the masters of this genre in Russian Circles
 
M-Koda - Workings
If it weren’t for a few outlying tracks that feel a bit out of place, this ambient electronic album would have likely made its way on to the list. Easily my favorite album of the year to chill out to.
 
Boris - Pink
Since half of this album is a re-release, it felt like cheating to give it a full spot. That said, this is still one of Boris’ finest releases, and the new material doesn’t feel lacking at all
 
XAA-XAA - chuudoku shoujou
This band is carrying the mantle for modern visual kei. The album feels like a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s easy to see the promise they hold.
 
Siraph - siraph
This band picks up where School Food Punishment left off. The vocalist is the only factor holding them back.
 
JYOCHO - inori de wa todokanai kyori
Jpop fused with math rock and it’s glorious. I was sad to see Uchuu Konbini go, but now I am not so sure that was a bad thing.

That was some ASMR shit going on. I am so ready.

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask either an mod or an admin.

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask either an mod or an admin.

One thing I love about MH is that all topics regarding X Japan always ends up with us mocking Yoshiki.

I agree early era X is great and would love to hear proper studio versions but I actually wouldn't fault him for not releasing those. For starters, most were never recorded in a studio. A few of those (Right Now, Tuneup Baby, Only Way) were directly done by guitarist Jun / Hisashi Takai and once he left, none of those songs were really played again afterwards, IFAIK.

SBR, Feel Me Tonight and Lady in Tears had demos but nothing they could remaster by any means, even if those master tapes existed they would possible sound not great since they didn't have a budget to properly record, and you know Yoshiki and his recording habits now!, not to mention they all scream of 80's Iron Maiden influenced metal which the band has long moved past.

Install never made it far and it's probably for the best. It wouldn't have fit well with VV, I think. I doubt a proper studio version exists for the same usually no time / no budget  scenario most bands suffered through early in their careers.

I'm more annoyed that alot of those demos on Rose and Blood didn't get picked for Jealousy. 'Shadows' , 'Light Breeze' and 'Rose and Blood', while being somewhat typical of the time period and the latter being Xclamation 2.0, would've rounded out the album better. I don't hate many X / X Japan's songs but that album has two of my most hated, Desperate Angel and Joker (Celebration 2.0!) that I would've gladly traded out for the aforementioned demos. Those demos were clearly better songs and with proper recording polish would've sounded even better. But of course, we know the story, Yoshiki didn't like the demos, the band got annoyed the songs didn't get used and Taiji ultimately got kicked out.

I've always dreamed and hoped that the early Violet UK tracks would get released one day. The ones from 1996-2001 or so. It's a crime that they never did.  White poem I is a great example that escaped obscurity by being used as a X song, the rest were snippits used in the 7-11 commercials, the Sane movie, and in a few other odd promotional places. They had an old school trip hop feel or like Massive Attack which had broken big around the same time before the VUK project became mush-filled electronic songs like a protools sample project screaming about the infinite number of layers it could support which is what those songs in 2005 on myspace and Itunes felt like . I imagine there being no chance of those every being released now, if they were, they'd be reworked into dreck.

Here's one VUK early song which legend goes was played at a press event by Yoshiki.  Amazing to my ears!
 
 

Did the cloud hurt itself and decide to dissipate early?

I did a quick search and was shocked we didn't already have a thread like this?
 
List some of the songs where the vocalist so so incoherent with their mumbles that you have no idea that it is in English. For me the first song that comes to mind is The Gazette's Filth in the Beauty. I literally had no idea that the song was mostly in English until I looked up the lyrics.
 

Fucking this.

Yoshiki the drama queen.
 
 

I managed to sit through the whole thing, and it does not get better. It was very disappointing as the art style is wonderful, but the story (what story?) truly brings it down immensely. It has already reached cult-status however, due to its 'avant-garde pacing' and 'realistic nature' of a group of children unable to progress in strength.
 
For myself, I am currently taking on Onihei, Yowamushi Pedal: New Generation, ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka and Ao no Exorcist: Kyoto Fujouou-hen. The rest of this season goes entirely against my tastes as I do not believe I have seen anything else non-magical girl, school-settings or harems / ecchi.  Probably an all-time low, but the ones that I am watching are making up for it quite well. 

Yep. @beniand I decided to drop it right after that "enthralling" 10-minute conversation they had about boobs towards the end of the first episode.

Started watching two shows, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar and Onihei only one of which is currently airing. Watched the first three episodes of Grimgar and I think I will likely drop it - the art style is great but man the story is going nowhere and a fair amount of the humour is playing in to that low brow ecchi shit which I have long since grown tired of. Onihei I've watched the first two episodes, and while it hasn't done all that much, I am holding out hope for it.

Well whoop-de-doo Basil!
Ironic how the cover is just Yoshiki standing below the word "We" - must mean him and his ego.

Oh wow X JAPAN is releasing a new album!

Long story short: My GTX 780ti died on me couple weeks ago. Sent it in to EVGA since I still had 50 days left for warranty and got the GTX 980ti as a replacement.
 

That was some ASMR shit going on. I am so ready.

That was some ASMR shit going on. I am so ready.

CREATURE CREATURE new album, "Death is a Flower" (2 types), will be released on March 15, 2017; it will be sold in advance on January 28 (limited edition) and on March 4 (regular edition) at their live at Tokyo Kinema Club.
 
Limited edition:
 

 
Regular edition:
 

 
 
 

But HOW?!?!?!
 
-______-
 
@CAT5, you need to fix this ASAP