YuyoDrift

Is there no thread for them yet? Shame on you Monochrome. haha.
 
Vocals - Oni
Guitarist - Sagara
Bassist - Ebi
Drummer - Vivi
 
Old Members:
Bassist - Yui
 
HP:
http://ganglion-net.com/
 
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GanglionxBand
 
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/xGANGLIONx?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
 
It's always nice to see an all female band to stir the pot.
 
Personally, I think think their vocalist Oni is gorgeous. Makes sense since she's also a fashion model.
 
The girls aren't afraid to admit they are huge fangirls haha. They're very cool.
 
INFINITY was a great album and I'd recommend it to anyone.
 
Anyways, here's their latest PV. Looks like they've adopted a heavier sound.
 

 
Here are a few other PV's of theirs for your hearing pleasure.
 

Alright I am going to get this over with. It's been long enough. This is more of a review for myself, as I am conflicted, so to speak and I need to get this off my mind.   Before any hint of the release date, I had only listened to OMINOUS beforehand as a teaser and thought that if the overall album were to sound exactly like this, then they've come back to that gifted sound, which seperates them from the rest of the scene.   Expecting something new and true to them, I drove around listening to the album once it released.   The minute I heard NIHIL and DOGMA, I had some questions already starting to arise, but settled down remembering that DIM started somewhat similarly with 13-STAIRS. When I got to RAGE, I skipped the track about a minute in, no big deal. I'm not gonna like every track right off the bat. It wasn't until I skipped the next 5 tracks that I realized something was wrong here. DEUX had something that made me somewhat enjoy it, but going on from there it was nothing but skipping of the tracks until I arrived at OMNINOUS, the track that gave everyone hope that the GazettE finally stopped with all this experimentation and is finally composing what acquired them this acclaimed status in the VK scene. No doubt a track that should have defined them by now.   After hearing that and to my utter surprise, that was the last track on the album, and it was over.   I can't tell you how many times I uttered the words "what the fuck? What the fuck was that? That's it?!?!?   I played the album over a couple more times and disliking the tracks even more the second and third time. At first, the tracks felt so generic, monotonous, and lacked any feeling or emotion. Something you'd hear from the mainstream hard rock bands here in the States. Something was missing and I was not in the right mindset to assess and determine what it was. I decided to push this album on the backburner for a couple weeks, as I was highly disappointed and did not feel this album deserved a review.   After that time passed, I played it once more, determined to figure out what it lacked. Kai and Reita were very on point, carrying the entire burden of playing with such versatility and precision that I was blown away, it was overwhelming if anything. Ruki matches them with more aggressive vocalization (growls and screams), but could tone it down a bit with his english singing and stick with japanese.   It was OMINOUS that laid out the fault in the rest of the tracks. Where is the awesome Aoi/Uruha collaboration? Where are the passionate solos that this band is known for? I can barely make out some of Aoi's signature guitar play, and Uruha's guitar melodies are almost non-existent. What gives?!? The album sounds completely thrown off-balance. Usually it's Reita and Kai following the guitar riffs, but its apparent who dominated this album.   The approach with this entirely hard sound it seems, has taken many by surprise. Some are for it, and others aren't. I leaned towards being against it, but after listening to the album over and over, listening to every aspect and detail as to why the GazettE chose this direction for the album, it makes sense. It's for the purpose of showing us this conflict (perhaps theirs).   You can hear it in GRUDGE, DEUX and especially in OMINOUS. Its a taste of what you know to be, their capabilities as of right now. Yet, they struggle with this newer sound, that they have yet to work out themselves. Ruki's vocals are falling behind or not meeting their requirements (or at least, I'm beginning to notice) and Aoi and Uruha may be having sync issues, but it's beautifully masked within the album with harder basslines and drumming.   The GazettE really gave us something to think about with DOGMA, as it wasn't as apparent with BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY.     Now overall, the album itself is a great comeback after 2 years of teasers, with something to give the average Gazerock fan to feed on until the next release, but as far as those who wanted an album with OMINOUS all over it (including myself), we were left with disappointment (I was left with confusion, if anything).   So my review of it is as simple as this: The album did very well to please the masses, and overshadow any faults with harder Basslines/Drumming, but the faults are still there to be noticed.

and what would an "unbiased review" look like? one that mechanically intersperses every line praising the album with another that points out some defect in it? or one that's written in passive voice and as academically expressed as possible? the first is a stylistic preference and the second is just an annoying attempt to make an opinion look like The Truth; neither of which is any more or less biased than blackdoll's review.
also if you're already adamant that it'll be a waste of your time to listen to this album even before you've listened to it, then i don't think you should. not sure what else is there to "accurately evaluate" lol. sakura seven alr said that everyone has their biases... well that's yours. #just-saying

Ear hump away scrubs.
 

 
I will say this though (and I've been saying this for years): Kai sure as hell mastered drums WAY past my expectations.

Having not listened to 12012 since SEVEN, I felt that I should have caught up with the previous releases before listening to this last one.

But I couldn't resist.

XII

1. Vicious of Absolution
That guitar was introduced at such a precise time, kind of like it said "let me take you in and show you the last fruits of our labor, something great set forth for your mind/ears to grasp." That damn voice of Wataru drew me again in after a few years of absence. I don't remember Wataru sounding so great as he does now. I had to look at my iPod and make sure that this was 12012 haha. You can feel the raw talent that has not withered in all his years as he began to sing, like he he's letting us know that this is it. The overall song was nice and calm, the buildup to its highest point in the song was great, although when they hit the chorus, I felt he could've done so much more to make it a much more memorable first track. 2. Story of a Different Dimension
Fast-paced and the guitar play didn't overshadow the drums. Wataru's singing again is so well defined since I last heard him. Other J-Rock aficionados (friends) say that this track may have defined the album in a more positive direction had it been the first track. I feel the track was placed just right at #2.

3. The Red
Since I first started listening to 12012, I've never really gotten used to the growling. Seem so out of place for the style of rock that they play. Yet, they seem to have improved their growls too. Wataru shows us the limitless talent of his vocal abilities that just leaves you astounded. In my opinion, he rivals Kyo (Dir En Grey) at this point. You can't ignore the rest of the band members who help accentuate his vocals even more. 4. Alone
Haven't heard a good ballad from them in a while. Very addicting sound that feels (not sounds) better the more you play it. You are lying if you didn't sing this track to yourself. 5. Aqua

Oh my fucking god. This may be the BEST song of I've heard this year (maybe even a long time). Yes the lyrics are stuck on repeat, but if you had truly listened to it play, you'd know why.
This track tests the skill of all the band members in the very best way possible, a ballad. How much playing alongside each other for so many years has changed them. 9 minutes felt like an eternity. By which I mean a lifetime, like someone's entire life has gone by in those 9 minutes. Seasons have come and gone by the further you have listened into the song. Life cut short in 9 minutes. The song just pours out sorrow, you can feel it as they play and through Wataru's singing. A sense of regret and a sliver of hope. I was not ready for him to sing louder towards the end. As he sang, fuuuck man, you could truly feel the sharp wails, the cracking in his voice that pierced your heart as much as he intended it to. Every single ideal piece of instrument played in sync towards the end. The entire song draws you in so far in that the louder play just sets you back like "fuuuuuu why u do dis to me?" I felt goosebumps towards the end too, probably because the song was nearing its end and I didn't want it to. Again, another ending song based off instrumentals. Makes the entire thing complete. A big FUCK YOU to those who have the audacity to say this song was trash. Go kiss (band you wont stfu about)'s ass somewhere else.

This release proves that they are capable of pushing forward. To those saying it is a Dir en Grey Rip-off, you clearly haven't grasped the reality of J-rock music today. DEG and other groups of their time (early era for that matter) set the standard for most aspiring bands, just like those before who inspired them. There is no copying and no rip-offs, only influences or similarities. Learn the fucking difference. 12012 has incorporated DEG's style successfully into their own music. Fin.

Having not listened to 12012 since SEVEN, I felt that I should have caught up with the previous releases before listening to this last one.

But I couldn't resist.

XII

1. Vicious of Absolution
That guitar was introduced at such a precise time, kind of like it said "let me take you in and show you the last fruits of our labor, something great set forth for your mind/ears to grasp." That damn voice of Wataru drew me again in after a few years of absence. I don't remember Wataru sounding so great as he does now. I had to look at my iPod and make sure that this was 12012 haha. You can feel the raw talent that has not withered in all his years as he began to sing, like he he's letting us know that this is it. The overall song was nice and calm, the buildup to its highest point in the song was great, although when they hit the chorus, I felt he could've done so much more to make it a much more memorable first track. 2. Story of a Different Dimension
Fast-paced and the guitar play didn't overshadow the drums. Wataru's singing again is so well defined since I last heard him. Other J-Rock aficionados (friends) say that this track may have defined the album in a more positive direction had it been the first track. I feel the track was placed just right at #2.

3. The Red
Since I first started listening to 12012, I've never really gotten used to the growling. Seem so out of place for the style of rock that they play. Yet, they seem to have improved their growls too. Wataru shows us the limitless talent of his vocal abilities that just leaves you astounded. In my opinion, he rivals Kyo (Dir En Grey) at this point. You can't ignore the rest of the band members who help accentuate his vocals even more. 4. Alone
Haven't heard a good ballad from them in a while. Very addicting sound that feels (not sounds) better the more you play it. You are lying if you didn't sing this track to yourself. 5. Aqua

Oh my fucking god. This may be the BEST song of I've heard this year (maybe even a long time). Yes the lyrics are stuck on repeat, but if you had truly listened to it play, you'd know why.
This track tests the skill of all the band members in the very best way possible, a ballad. How much playing alongside each other for so many years has changed them. 9 minutes felt like an eternity. By which I mean a lifetime, like someone's entire life has gone by in those 9 minutes. Seasons have come and gone by the further you have listened into the song. Life cut short in 9 minutes. The song just pours out sorrow, you can feel it as they play and through Wataru's singing. A sense of regret and a sliver of hope. I was not ready for him to sing louder towards the end. As he sang, fuuuck man, you could truly feel the sharp wails, the cracking in his voice that pierced your heart as much as he intended it to. Every single ideal piece of instrument played in sync towards the end. The entire song draws you in so far in that the louder play just sets you back like "fuuuuuu why u do dis to me?" I felt goosebumps towards the end too, probably because the song was nearing its end and I didn't want it to. Again, another ending song based off instrumentals. Makes the entire thing complete. A big FUCK YOU to those who have the audacity to say this song was trash. Go kiss (band you wont stfu about)'s ass somewhere else.

This release proves that they are capable of pushing forward. To those saying it is a Dir en Grey Rip-off, you clearly haven't grasped the reality of J-rock music today. DEG and other groups of their time (early era for that matter) set the standard for most aspiring bands, just like those before who inspired them. There is no copying and no rip-offs, only influences or similarities. Learn the fucking difference. 12012 has incorporated DEG's style successfully into their own music. Fin.

This album was well planned out. Kudos to Sadie.
 
1. Mode of Gangsta was badass. Sounded Gangster themed to me.
 
2. Dead End was Great. I like the incorporation of the Walkie-Talkie? sound that a lot of older J-rock groups had way back. 
    The Megaman reference made me lol. What in the fuck are you talking about?
 
3. Welcome to the underground was very old sounding (not old Sadie). I'm talking more like an old musical with gangsters in New York running amuck. Like     Scat music. Bass felt on pace with the guitars and Mao's singing has improved. 
 
4. Shoot the Targets, Hidden in your Mind - This is where they attempted the rapping. Albeit, not the best, it wasn't terrible. Everyone else is doing it, right?
 
5. Gesshoku had a very nice Sadie feel, true sounding to the band. Mao's singing again, vast improvement from the last album.
 
6. Tokyo Gypsy had this sound that I can't describe, like the bass from the Munsters song (yeah I watched that) and the guitar sound from that song from the first Scooby Doo movie (y'know, with the zombies). Anyway, the song suits the title.
 
7. Rize a Flag sounded like the average Sadie track so I can't really complain here. Right rock pace along with Mao's growls? make for a good combo definitely.
 
8. Howling was very pop-ish haha. Like nyappy (Antic Cafe)(Or is it An Cafe now? Idgaf). I can see a dance version in the works lol.
 
9. Hate Me or Love Me just makes me hate them. (Irony?) Makes you wonder why they continue to do english singing.
 
10. Bleach - I didn't know Tsurugi was in the band until now.He has an awesome guitar play from begining to end. Best thing of the entire song. Aside from the quirkyness this song has.
 
11. The Never - Like the average Sadie track, it has a good intro, Mao's growls? and singing, followed by the climax. 
 
12. Message from Here - Like every Sadie album before it, there is always that one song that is so calm and not like all the rest. Listening to this and all the other tracks like it make you wonder if the whole group could successfully move to a calmer sound/genre. 
 
13. Phrase of Life - I think this is honestly the BEST way to end any rock album. Instrumentals man.
 
Judging by the previous reviews, it sounds like a lot of you wanted "bang bang", and were less than satisfied when you got "pew pew." When for the most part, you wouldn't know what a "bang" sounds like.
 
I'm tired now so I'll stop. Oh and I'm not rating shit since I already said it was good.
 
I'm done being a dick for now. 

I'll meet them here in Chicago on the 16th Next month. If they don't play Mushi I'm going to be pissed.  
 
Link would be cooler.    Any idea what kind of tracklist they may play in this tour? I missed their las NA tour a few years back so I don't know what they already played.

There is not a single band worth listening to after you get older due to "new music" exposed to your ears.
 
Just part of getting older....