CELESTIAL CIEL

my life in one picture
 

We can be heroes just for one day （笑）

　
 

Soooo... I tried makeup for the first time in forever... I absolutely hate eye makeup lol I just can’t do it cause I suck and literally never wear makeup, so I took most of it off and just left some messy eyeshadow on and godawfully clumpy mascara lol
 

Ikebukuro, before MEIDARA's live! There was this little "shrine" that seemed like a good place to take few shots. Many stray cats were wandering around ❤️ 
 
 

...or wasn't born at all... yeah...
 

the band name is 割礼、if somebody will be interested^^ track is ゲーペーウー。
ugh i love kusumoto maki's manga so much. especially this treasure...
 
 

A Dramatic Retelling of the Time the Dude from Undeux Went Missing but then Ordered a Pizza With the Band's Line Account
 
by The Reverend
 
 
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
 
EXT. TOKYO ALLEYWAY, ENTRANCE TO IKEBUKURO BLACK HOLE -- EVENING
CUT TO:
 
INT. BACKSTAGE DRESSING ROOM
 
The vanity shelves are filled with various makeup and hair products. Members from various indies VK bands are milling about; applying makeup, styling hair, strumming vacantly on guitars. As we pan to the rear corner the members of Undeux are half in costume chatting while getting dressed.
 
(If writing is visible it is in Japanese. All speech is in English.)
 
AL (GUITAR)
Can you believe this asshole? He was supposed to be here like two hours ago? What if he doesn't show?
 
Luchat turns away from the mirror while affixing feathers to his wig.
 
LUCHAT (DRUMS)
Can any of you guys sing?
 
AL
Riku couldn't sing! Anyone willing to get up there and just kinda shriek occasionally while pointing into the audience and making up some furi?
 
Koji is sitting on the floor applying fake blood to his face.
 
KOJI (BASS)
No can do. You guys are already making me play bass; I've got enough to try and remember.
 
AL
Damnit.
 
Kai walks through the door in full stage makeup buttoning his bloody white shirt.
 
KAI (GUITAR)
Hey has anyone heard from...
 
AL
No.
 
KOJI
No.
 
LUCHAT
Nope.
 
KAI
Damnit.
 
AL
Alright we can't not go on stage now...
 
Al spots a couple of boxes (formerly containing hairspray bottles) near the corner of the room and raises his eyebrows furtively.
 
AL (CONT'D)
I've got an idea!
 
CROSSFADE from Al cutting one of the boxes with a pair of scissors to the band performing on stage with a 3-foot tall cutout of a person taped to a mic stand instead of a vocalist. The cutout has been splattered with fake blood.
 
FADE TO BLACK as the band performs.
 
 
ACT TWO
 
EXT. A NONDESCRIPT APARTMENT COMPLEX IN EDOGAWA. TWO DAYS LATER. -- NIGHT
CUT TO:
 
INT. A SMALL JAPANESE APARTMENT WITH LOTS OF BAND POSTERS ON THE WALL. SOME FLOWERS/CARTOON PLUSHES/PRODUCTS THAT INDICATE IT IS A WOMAN'S ROOM ARE VISIBLE. A 20-SOMETHING GIRL IS LOUNGING ON THE BED MESSING WITH HER CELL PHONE.
 
RIKU is sitting Indian-style on the floor with a laptop on his lap. There is some hard (but not offensively brutal) rock playing on his laptop speakers.
 
RIKU (VOCALS, UNDEUX)
You hungry babe?
 
GIRL on the bed does not look up or to check whether or not her response is heard.
 
GIRL
Hmm?
 
RIKU
Want to go out?
 
GIRL
Ehh.
 
RIKU
Well *I'm* hungry. Let's go grab some food.
 
GIRL
I don't get paid till Friday, I'm kinda broke.
 
RIKU has stood up and is rifling through the small cupboard and refrigerator.
 
RIKU
Damn, me too. I'm sick of instant noodles though, I'm gonna order some pizza. Whatchu want on your half?
 
GIRL
Where you ordering from?
 
RIKU
That Italian place downstairs. You can just hit 'em up on Line to order.
 
GIRL
Corn and mayo!
 
RIKU
Gross, fine.
 
RIKU grabs his laptop and starts typing.
 
SFX: PAN OUT THROUGH WINDOW TO WIDE SHOT OF APARTMENT BUILDING WITH GATHERING THUNDERSTORM IN THE BACKGROUND.
 
MUSIC: DRAMATIC ORCHESTRAL HITS.
 
FADE TO BLACK:
 
 
ACT THREE
 
EXT. SAME EDOGAWA APARTMENT COMPLEX. TWO HOURS LATER. -- NIGHT
 
INT. SAME APARTMENT. MOSTLY FINISHED PIZZA/BOX SIT ON THE TABLE. GIRL IS STILL MINDLESSLY PLAYING WITH PHONE BUT LAYING WITH HEAD ON FOOT OF BED.
 
RIKU is finishing a slice of pizza as he sits down at his computer again, looking very satisfied.
 
MUSIC: OMINOUS BUT FAINT
 
RIKU is reading intently on computer when his face drops and grows pale. He instinctively covers his mouth with his hand while continuing to scroll.
 
RIKU
Oh fuck.
 
GIRL
Huh?
 
RIKU
Oh fuck oh fuck.
 
GIRL looks up from phone at RIKU. She is still lying on the bed.
 
GIRL
What's up?
 
RIKU stands and begins pacing on the small apartment floor.
 
RIKU
Oh man this is not good... I was logged into the band's account when I ordered that pizza!
 
GIRL
Didn't you quit that band?
 
RIKU
I did! But I guess I hadn't logged out and into my own Line on my laptop. Shit! I didn't show up to our last show those guys are gonna be so pissed at me!
 
GIRL sits up.
 
GIRL
Why were they expecting you at their show?
 
RIKU
Well, I quit the band... but didn't really tell them it would be *immediately*. They've been texting me non-stop.
 
GIRL
Oh my god, you idiot.
 
RIKU
I was trying to let them down easy!
 
GIRL
Just pay them back.
 
RIKU
I'm not worried about the money!
 
GIRL
Is this really that big a deal?
 
RIKU
Oh my god yes, you don't fuck with Rame and get away with it. I need to call my lawyer.
 
GIRL
*Your* lawyer? Who do you think you are? You definitely don't have some lawyer on retainer.
 
RIKU
I... you know what I mean!
Seriously, I could be in some shit.
 
SFX: PAN OUT THROUGH WINDOW TO WIDE SHOT OF APARTMENT WHILE RIKU IS PACING AND DIALING A NUMBER ON HIS CELL PHONE. IT IS RAINING HARD AND A SINGLE CROW IS CAWING ON SOME POWER LINES BELOW THEIR APARTMENT WINDOW.
 
FADE TO BLACK:
 
 
ACT FOUR
 
EXT. AN UNIDENTIFIED AVERAGE TOKYO STREET. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS IN STORES ON THE STREETS -- DAY
 
INT. A LUXURIOUSLY APPOINTED OFFICE. THE FOUR NON-VOCALIST MEMBERS OF UNDEUX SIT ON ONE SIDE OF A LARGE WOODEN DESK. A LARGE BALD BODYGUARD-TYPE MAN STANDS NEAR THE DOOR WEARING A SUIT AND SUNGLASSES. THE BAND, IN CASUAL CLOTHES, ARE FACING THE BACK OF A STATELY LEATHER OFFICE CHAIR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK.
 
The chair slowly spins around to reveal RAME of the record label GLKingdom and former bassist of VK band Vidoll. RAME is wearing a charcoal suit and a black tie.
 
RAME
Thank you for meeting me. Let's discuss how we can resolve this unfortunate... 'incident'.
 
KAI
Well...
 
The members of Undeux look at each other nervously.
 
AL
Well, we want to keep going. We were hoping, you know, that maybe you knew a vocalist who would be interested...
 
RAME laughs softly.
 
AL (CONT'D)
...in joining the band.
 
RAME
Yes, yes. That can all be arranged. I was speaking more about what to do with Riku.
 
LUCHAT
Wha...?
 
KOJI
We still haven't heard from him.
 
AL
Well, other than the pizza thing.
 
LUCHAT
Yeah, what a dick.
 
RAME pulls a white envelope from a drawer.
 
RAME
First, he quits the band and no-shows despite promising me he'd keep performing till the summer.
 
RAME (CONT'D)
Then, he hides and doesn't return any of my calls or texts. And finally...
 
RAME opens the letter contained in the envelope.
 
RAME (CONT'D)
...I get a letter from a lawyer claiming that the record deal you all signed was invalid and Riku not showing up was not a breach of contract at all.
 
The members of Undeux are fidgeting in their seats but do not say anything.
 
RAME (CONT'D)
Our friend Riku needs a lesson in respect and honor.
 
KOJI
What do you...?
 
RAME nods at the large man standing by the door. The bodyguard nods back and exits the room.
 
RAME
Let's not worry about Riku any longer.
 
The members of Undeux look slightly afraid but don't move or speak.
 
RAME (CONT'D)
Now, about finding you guys a new vocalist... have you heard of the band QEDDESHET?
 
FADE TO BLACK:
 
 
ACT FIVE
 
EXT. A GRIMEY TOKYO ALLEYWAY. IT IS RAINING LIGHTLY -- EVENING
 
RIKU runs around a corner and places his hands on his knees to try to catch his breath. He is looking from side to side very nervously. RIKU starts walking quickly, while often looking over his shoulder, toward one end of the alley.
 
As RIKU approaches a large man in a dark suit appears at the end of the alley that RIKU is headed toward. RIKU,
panicked, turns and begins running in the opposite direction.
 
RIKU is sprinting and splashing through puddles of the alley. As he nears the corner he appeared from originally another man in a suit emerges holding a black handgun.
 
RIKU
No! Please...
 
The second suited man emotionlessly aims the gun at RIKU and pulls the trigger. The man wipes the gun with his pocket square and lays the gun down beside Riku's body. The suited men walk away quickly but confidently.
 
OVERHEAD SHOT:
Camera slowly pans upward as the blood from RIKU's gunshot mixes with the water his body is lying in. Camera pans upward until it is above the roofline and even the silhouette of RIKU's lifeless body has disappeared from view.
 
CUT TO:
 
INT. UNNAMED TOKYO LIVE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PERFORMANCE.
 
The band Undeux are walking out onstage to a pulsing techno track. A new, unidentified vocalist comes out last to lots of shouting from the crowd. The intro track ends and a drum fill signals the beginning of Undeux's first song. The new vocalist crouches over and unleashes an imperfect but earnest pig-squeal as the guitars kick in.
 
The camera finds RAME at the rear of the club watching dispassionately. The large suited man from his office approaches and whispers something into his ear that is unheard over the band's performance.
 
One corner of RAME's lips fold upward into a wry smile.
FADE TO BLACK:
TITLE CARD: fin.
 

For better or for worse, visual kei is something that's had an impact on my life.  I never thought groups of cross dressing Japanese men playing metal would be something that's stuck with me for so long, but throughout all the surprises, discoveries, disappointments, and developments I've stuck around in some capacity. I may not be as heavy into visual kei or Japanese music as I used to be, but there's a part of me that will always go back to the music I've enjoyed and another part of me that's always looking forward to new bands, activities, and trends. Here are five things I really enjoy about the scene which has kept me coming back again and again since 1999.
 

 

 
 

 
 


 
 
So those are all the things I like about visual kei. I'm sure I missed some. What do you like about visual kei?

Now that their (every other) monthly consecutive self-released CD-R thing is over, Aimai Chuudoku is releasing a compilation album called 黒盤 (kuro ban) with two new songs through Baby sitter, making it the third official Baby sitter release (after ザ・シンナーズ/The Thinners and THE NOSTRADAMNZ latest albums). 
The CD till be released at O-West on the 14th of august, and in stores on the 15th.

Tracklist (according to Puresound)
1. エートス≠パトス (Ethos ≠ Pathos)
2. はなまるぴっぴはよいこだけ (Hanamaru pippi wa yoi ko dake)
3. アダムスキイ中学生日記 (Adamsky chuugakusei nikki)
4. シェリィ=パトス (Sheri = Pathos)
5. 君のヴァニラ (Kimi no vanilla)
6. はかせのサメといぬ (Hakase no same to inu)
7. HEAVEN
8. DOWN BY LAW
9. 桃色吐息 (Momoiro toiki)
10. 修羅の花 (Shura no hana)

My second concert while in Tokyo! Starwave Records seem to have the most attractive bands for me, atleast atm. This was a Monday and pretty early. At first i didn't find the venue since the area has tons of sidealleys and it was such a rainy day, rushed with my umbrella like a maniac. I didn't have a pre-ticket so i went in normally with others and got one. Ruido K3 was a really nice venue in my eyes, really small but enough room cos it wasn't too crowded. There was a big DJ booth at the back and a bar, so i obviously went to use my drink ticket. I'm a beer guy, so glug lug.
 
 

 
Sooooo, let's start the talking.
 
シンデレラキャッスル 
 
After a little waiting the show started. Cinderella Castle was the first band to perform, it was a trio, apparently? They had a drummer but he didn't look like a real member, more like regular drummer ossan. This band was totally unknown for me so i didn't know what to expect, the vocalist had a cute face and silver x purple hair and seemed utterly energetic.
The songs were your basic oshare-ish vk but alot of hopping from side to side, only a few girls participated. Both guitarists looks were a little traditional japanese inspired.
They played 4 songs in total, and at some point a big horsemask appeared and was put on the mic stand, hehe. Vocalist also shared some bread with the audience, how kind.
Their buppan didn't get a single buy/customer 😕 
 
ギルティア
 
Alright, Guiltia was a big chance compared to the first band, finally some ikemen with leather and straps! Don't know their songs either but they were pretty good and heavy.
The bassist had a birthday so we congratulated him, of course! He was really seducing the front row, haha. 
 
マーブル
 
Marble was apparently a one-man show and a project. He had a speaking booth in the middle of the stage and was wearing nice renaissance blazer with flowers and embellishments. The music was pretty electronic, even techno-like here and there. He also did some nazi salutes as furis, it was cool, lol.
 
 
ЯｅＶＥＬＬＩＯＮ　ＧЯＩＥＦ
 
Yosh, time for the next one. Revellion was good, i did like them! The vocalist wasn't very outstandingly gifted but it was alright. The pig screams were better than melodic singing. The bassist was crushed in a really tight dress, corset and a pink Hatsune Miku-wig. I don't think i would listen to their music that much in my free time but the live was good to watch! Heres a pic with the boys, i went to hangout near the table to wait for next band and talked a little with them, since "why not?"
 
 

 
ラヴェーゼ
 
Ooooooh myyy gooooood, i wasn't prepared for them to play next. I was chilling on the floor in the back, and got up like a phoenix and rushed to the front, since there was a free spot, thank you jesus. They were fucking amazing, definetely my favourite of the event selection. Well hmmm what can i tell, Serah was pointing at me and demanded me for more action since i think i froze for a second just jawdropped, lol. Went for it. Sadly very short list, so happy they played my favourite 未完ノ刻ト悲愴ノ渦! Can't wait for the new single.
 

 
ノクト & DaturA
 
Haven't listened to them at all before so i was like "meh", let's see. Memories of these bands are kind of minimal and faint, so idk what to tell. 
I guess they were alright. Noctos ETERNITY was def better live than the horrendous pv they made. I relate to the vocalist for liking Westwood & leopard print.
DaturA's vocalist was super sexual and was rubbing his crotch all the time, a little Lycaon's Yuuki, if i may say  I enjoyed them!
 
 
 

 
UNDER FALL JUSTICE
 
The utter minute they opened the curtains everyone went on their knees and hold their hands like prayer. Did the same. I've been getting into them more & more some months before this live. They were really good, 何も信じていない  was such a highlight of the set since i've been banging that shit like 24/7 on my phone. Hot nihilist boys, what can i say. 
Very dark and gorgeous.
 

 
 
Scarlet Valse 
 
At this point when waiting for them i was getting kinda hungry and tired, the event started at 15.00 and i didn't properly feed myself before. Almost considred of leaving without seeing them. Thank God i didn't. It seems like their band concept changes alot, or at least the appearance? I was like "wtf" when Kakeru came to the stage and had the good judy black feather hat on. I don't need glasses yet but i rubbed my eyes a little asking myself "Is that Kyouki?" Hi Grieva, please come back, bitches. Their set was really good and they had the most fans, as you can see from the pic above, waiting with the towels on the stage handles. Lunatic Mind was really cool. The final climaxed into a banger of all bands with gyakudai and rose throwing etc. Saya also jumped to the audience and came to pick me up into the dive ❤️ Boy, i'll come if called. Feed me a cracker before  Great live, great event, satisfied in every way.
 
 
 
 
I got myself this nice & soft parka (been wearing it quite much already) from La Baiser and 5 chekis, got some nice ones but no Saya 😢 Next time, then!
Ripped my leather joggers while jumping and everything but it was worth it! Bye!
 

Sooooo, this is the story. I was utterly happy to know that the bands had their second last tour final while in i'm Tokyo. A nice guy here called @Alucardiusgot me the "vip" package ticket and i promised to get him some merchandise, which i did  The concert day was a bit chaotic for me, since in the end i rushed with taxi to the incounting.
My look is damn boring but well kinda comfy, wearing Asos cap, Monki mesh-shirt, Hellcatpunks fannypack and some Nikes.
 

 
My ticket number was 14, which is fucking great. I was really surprised that when we went in and settled our bags, waterbottles and everything in the hall, i realised that the bands aren't very popular. I thought i would be crushed in a small concert hall with atleast 200 girls, since Rokumeikan only holds 250 capacity. It was maybe 50 people there, if i'm counting right so we had much "freedom" to pick our spots, of course respecting the policies. Well, atleast i see better, so shouldn't complain. Just wish the boys had more fans, haha.
 

 
One girl was cosplaying Miria as you can see a little in the left corner. My friend Jesse wanted to stay back to watch so i picked my spot pretty near the stage but went backforth to talk to him to pass the time before the start.
 

 
 
They really were on time and started pretty soon. For the mind of the set, i can't remember the setlist order since i was kinda living the best time of my life, lol. Crucifixion played much longer than Mizeria, or then it felt like it since the songs are longer in general. Crescent Moon was very emotional, we were all wawing, the bassist 輝翠 had a serious-guy vibe to him, more reserved, very concentrated on the playing. The basslines really are killers in my opinion. The vocalist 二人静 embodied the drama and insentity of "old vk".
Big beautiful velvet sleeves worked with every move and headbanging was fun as hell.
 
Futarishizuka called out Kikyo on the stage after a couple songs to do a らせん song. I think it might have been 憐姆 but i can't for the love of god remember.
They interacted so much and danced together. A sight for sore eyes. During XII i got so hot, i was wearing a leather cap since my hair is not long and suitable for the legit atama banging. Last song 哀玩人形 everyone started Gyakudai and older gentleman almost next to me was giving his all without heart attack.
 
The curtains closed and it was maybe 30-40 mins before Mizeria. Kikyo had the same chains as in 歪屍形 and was doing marionette moves and he licked his glittery lips alot, haha.
Nazuki's black braids were flying in the air like long centipedes. Dysflexia was epileptic, didn't get a seizure tho, haha. During the last song [deep] slay all the boys of both bands came to the stage and changed playing instruments, throwed stuff in the audience, glimbed each others backs and filmed also with phones. The reason of filming is unclear, possibly for Twitter or so. Kikyo strangled this 12 years old girl with his chains and also kicked her? Hmm, she was happy.
 

 
Setlist:
 
1998.5.5目黒鹿鳴館 磔ラレタ人形ノ螺旋葬劇〜死穢
 
(They really did write 1998 as the year, not 2018, hehe.)
 
1.死宴
2.寂滅饗筵
3.歪屍形
4.揺籃
5.眩暈
6.Suicide Labyrinth feat.二人静
7.ディスレクシア
8.泡沫
9.deep[SLAY]
 
Tbh i was a little mad they didn't play longer and i really wanted to hear the iconic 呪縛郷, since the furis are fun. I have never heard Suicide Labyrinth before and now i'm really craving for the cd...
 

 
The buppan! Sadly they didn't have the bloody bandages for sale but i'll get some later  I got the t-shirt obviously and a coffee mug and the new korabo cd.
If someone wants the scans of the 薄紅ノ葬 booklet, let me know! 
 

 
 
After the show we had to wait kind of long for the boys to settle their stuff, prepare buppan and take enough chekis. They ran out at one point, haha. 
My picture with Mizeria didn't turn out very good for some reason, it's like me + Miria and all others are faint shadows. It's a good memory tho. They did prepare a nice backdrop and everything but in the end we took the picture while sitting on the actual concert stage, i was a little confused, haha. I told Kikyo that i messaged him on Peing before anonymously about me coming from Finland, he remembered me and instantly hugged, we highfived everyone and i returned to the lobby to finish my beer. I hanged out for awhile and then grabbed my shit and left. Fresh air felt pretty amazing after that.
 

 
We went to get some good ramen afterwards and chat a little. Then it was time to go back to Shibuya!
Me after the concert tiredly traveling the streets. It was a wonderful experience that i won't forget, hope to see them soon again!
I also grabbed the new Velonika magazine with their interview, i will try to scan it and maybe someone is able to translate!
Hope you enjoyed my little ramble, i haven't ever done one of these so i'm not sure about what's interesting and whatnot. Thanks!
 

 
 

Ew.

This goes in my personal "top 5 worst sentences i've ever read in a music review"

We can be heroes just for one day （笑）

　
 

sick drunk playlist
 

Ew.

Ew.

Ew.

We can be heroes just for one day （笑）

　
 

We can be heroes just for one day （笑）

　
 

When talking about shirts, i wanna thank Elias for selling these amazing prints through his shop Necrosphere!
 

 

I saw a porn that started this way

Pretty sure brengun aka darkwater already made this thread not to mention they're really barely enough bands of this sort forming each year to warrant their own news section let alone an entire sub-forum.
 
If it happens it happens I guess I don't really care either way since I won't use it anyway but just seems like unessasary clutter when we already have an international music section. We may as well start a sub-forum for international music of every genre by that logic. Like I said pointless but I have no control over changes and additions to this forum, so I voted no.