TheStoic

Artist: MUCC Album: T.R.E.N.D.Y. -Paradise from 1997- 1. 睡蓮 (Suiren) 2. D・f・D (Dreamer from Darkness) 3. B.L.U.E -Tell me KAFKA- 4. HATEЯ 5. レインボー (Rainbow) 6. Rendez-Vous 7. TONIGHT
Rating: | Something old, something new – finally something decent!
 
I love MUCC, I really do. That’s why I’ve been a bit pissed at them for not getting their act together ever since they dropped that monstrosity of an album Karma. Sure, they had some quality songs along the way, but not enough that I could bear listening to a whole album of theirs without cringing every few minutes. So, understandably, I approached their latest offering, T.R.E.N.D.Y. -Paradise from 1997- with extra caution… only to find that my fears were pretty much baseless. Let’s see how this giant of a 'mini' album goes, shall we?

First off, "Suiren" is a fitting opener with its faint background vocals and ominous guitar strumming that soon turns into an insistent synth riff, leading into chunky distorted guitars reminiscent of the band’s heyday of nu-metal stylings. Just from these beginning few minutes it’s evident how MUCC upped the game this time, mixing something old with something new. As promising a start as it is, I can’t help but feel that the track’s a tad too long for its own good (almost 8 minutes, seriously?). Next up is "D・f・D (Dreamer from Darkness)", delivering another riffalicious outburst followed by surprisingly laid-back verses. The guys soon pick up the level of aggressivity though, as well as the pace, with varying results. Some metalcore-wannabe riffage, that proverbial dead horse, also finds its way into the mix, but not in annoying amounts. A solid song, all in all.

Next up, we’re treated to something lighter as "B.L.U.E -Tell me KAFKA-" begins – or so we think! Miya whips out his heavy metal chops once again, reliably chugging along with a steady drumbeat. I have to give props for the wonderful chorus, guitar solo and sick breakdown as well. It’s a song that perfectly showcases MUCC’s gentle and powerful sides equally. As "B.L.U.E" winds down, we’re led into the next number, "HATEЯ", with a peculiar poppy beat (Tatsurou & co ain’t no hollaback girls!). Despite this initial light-hearted impression, "HATEЯ" turns out to be the obligatory zetsubou-ridden teenage angst anthem of the day. It’s not as lame as it sounds, thankfully, throwing in some well-needed tempo changes and a soaring, melancholic chorus with an exotic touch.
With that, it looks like we finally arrived at the calmer point of the release, as evidenced by Tatsurou’s gentle singing over some simple but touching guitars. "Rainbow" isn’t exactly what you’d call a standout track, but it proves to be a breath of fresh air after the intensity of the previous songs. With its subtle atmosphere, emotional (but not sappy!) melodies and steady mid-tempo beat, it would’ve even fit on an album like Gokusai. The follow-up, "Rendez-Vous", changes it up with an interesting electro-rock mixture yet again, complete with dubstep-inspired breakdown (that actually sound somewhat decent). Despite all its efforts to become memorable, it falls a bit flat though. Thankfully, we have "TONIGHT" to close this T.R.E.N.D.Y. mini album: a weird Frankenstein-monster of cheesy heavy metal clichés and gang-chorus punkiness, but it totally works! It’s never a bad thing to end your album on an energetic note.

All in all, I’m quite impressed with what MUCC cooked up in the studio this time around! I went in with no expectations whatsoever, but these guys proved that they still know how to craft catchy and memorable tunes, even if not quite at the same level as, say, in their glory days. All these past years I’ve been waiting and waiting for them to deliver something cool, and they finally came through. Moreover, the mini album (even if the songs themselves are pretty long) has an ideal length: it’s almost begging me to start over again and again. And that is what I shall do.


Support the band! T.R.E.N.D.Y. @ iTunes (US)
T.R.E.N.D.Y. @ CDJapan
T.R.E.N.D.Y. @ Yesasia

None of my picks were chosen 8D
I will look for some full releases from which and @beni's picks (the users that I have more compatible music taste), and @fitear1590's Kidori Kidori that I was already looking forward to listen xD
About Alexandros, I personally like the tone of what the vocalist can get when singing, in special that song you listed here.
Famous Day was a song a do really enjoy from the album with others like Adventure and Boo.
MUCC - 睡蓮It was pretty hard to choose one, the mini is full of beauty songs.
The intro is something really epic that brings a weird, but good sensation.
And then comes Tatsuro with his amazing voice, cool boots and an almost 8 min song of massive quality. Miya also were able to make a perfect work with the electro part... All fits perfectly well.
Serious, I'm out of words for this guys with this mini.
NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST - PROVIDENCE
This new song coming from Nokubura is a bit different from what they are used to do, the rap part is something new to me together with this guys.
I really enjoyed what they were able to do here and mixing things.
I hope they can keep their own heavy style and this new too.
the LOTUS - Clarity
After their last release, Providence of Jesus, I thought they were not able to make a good song in the level of Causality, but they did it with Providence of LUV \o/
Their newest mini is great, and in my opinion Clarity was their best, with a possible keyboard and a mix of rhythms that reminds a lot of selfless love and LUCIS.
This song is increasing in my list of best's Lotus songs.
D.I.D. - Fatal Error Race (Demo ver)
I know this is still a demo, but it's almost finish..., I can't describe how excited I was for this to come, after so much time of delay due to Akane's health just made wanting it more and more. I had lost all my hopes for those guys, but after Tekede always saying to me that they would back and this keep me up.
So finally, Akane still have the deathly vocal tone from before his personal problems, and Tohma taking the place from Satoshi just making his own guitar skills increasing more and more, and it's surreal how Tekede can overcome my expectations when talking about his powerful drums skills.

I can't wait to hear the deathcore version of Fukai Mori either

....Do As Infinity? 
Like, WAT

my favorite breakdown... of course every breakdown which lynch. has ever made xD but I would also mention Parkway Drive's Romance Is Dead: "so cry me a fncking river...
B!TCH!"
and also Architects' Gravedigger: "You are the reason we are
Bitter and then some
BLEH!!!"

it is announced at THE BLACK SWAN one-man live "WE ARE VERY FUCKIN' SHIT NOODLE, BUT..." at Takadanobaba AREA at 2015/06/12 that their new maxi single "赫音(kagune)" will be released at 2015/08/26 (1,620yen)
 
[track list]
01.赫音(kagune)-justitia-
02.赫音(kagune)-finis-
03.欠落の欠片(ketsuraku no kakera)
 
"赫音(kagune)-justitia-" PV has been shot by their members special look "THE WHITE SWAN"
 
 
they will hold THE BLACK SWAN / HOLLOWGRAM / Femme Fatale 3-man live "KILLER×KILLER CARNIVAL vol.4" at Ikebukuro EDGE at 2015/08/24 and THE BLACK SWAN / STEREO.C.K / DOAK 3-man live "KILLER×KILLER CARNIVAL vol.5" at Ikebukuro EDGE at 2015/10/11, at which their live-distributed goods will be released
 
btw they will hold their special one-man live "Judge the Value" at Takadanobaba AREA at 2016/01/05
 

fitear1590 - I really liked the 心像 [shinzou] Maxi-Single, however, their LP Ultima contains most of their A-Sides and is closer in content to the Liquid single. Both are really enjoyable in my opinion, and the guitar work really impressed me. I would start with Ultima if i were you.
 
The song -0- Story from the LP is a good example of channeling the DIV vocal sound and electronica, but with some heavy elements and technical guitar soloing.

There's not enough going on here to cover up Yuuki's weaknesses and he really sticks out

as you can see some people do, me included. Yeah they might have not released very much so far but the songs we already heared from them are great imo and I want to hear a lot more especially after MIMIC I'm curious to see how things will develope from here
 
I hope TenTen fully recovers soon and MBHI will be back asap

I love Akito as a vocalist (especially his work with Meth.), but notice that every band he seems to front disbands and never makes a formal album.

Many of my favorites are also listed on this months release list, but the biggest surprises for me were:
 
fitear1590 - I had never heard Xenon until today - and that entire single was amazing (A and B sides).  The DIV characterization was right on, and I rushed into sampling their other offerings throughout the day and really wondered why I never gave them a shot!  They are able to meld melody and heavy very well, and their guitarist(s) can solo much better than DIV ever has.
 
Also - I adore the Sokoninaru!  As a huge fan of bands like HaKU, Androp, and Ling Toshite Sigure, they are in the same vein and are great!
 
Thanks for this - the format and content are both spot on.

Many of my favorites are also listed on this months release list, but the biggest surprises for me were:
 
fitear1590 - I had never heard Xenon until today - and that entire single was amazing (A and B sides).  The DIV characterization was right on, and I rushed into sampling their other offerings throughout the day and really wondered why I never gave them a shot!  They are able to meld melody and heavy very well, and their guitarist(s) can solo much better than DIV ever has.
 
Also - I adore the Sokoninaru!  As a huge fan of bands like HaKU, Androp, and Ling Toshite Sigure, they are in the same vein and are great!
 
Thanks for this - the format and content are both spot on.

Many of my favorites are also listed on this months release list, but the biggest surprises for me were:
 
fitear1590 - I had never heard Xenon until today - and that entire single was amazing (A and B sides).  The DIV characterization was right on, and I rushed into sampling their other offerings throughout the day and really wondered why I never gave them a shot!  They are able to meld melody and heavy very well, and their guitarist(s) can solo much better than DIV ever has.
 
Also - I adore the Sokoninaru!  As a huge fan of bands like HaKU, Androp, and Ling Toshite Sigure, they are in the same vein and are great!
 
Thanks for this - the format and content are both spot on.

So, being the good Dad I am, I do all I can to ensure my 4 Year Old daughter is exposed to stellar music so that she doesn't grow up listening to the Abomination that is American Pop music. 
 
In my pursuit of this, I recently turned on 猫又 [Nekomata] by AvelCain, knowing that she would probably love the "Meow" sample in the song intro.  She loved it so much that she asks me to play it every time we go for a drive in the car, and she seriously shakes, moves, and head-bangs to the music as soon as that "Meow" sounds.
 
I shall continue this experiment to ensure that she not only learns to enjoy Rock music, but Japanese Rock music.

Since I am visiting more often, I have decided to put a face to the name.  This is me and my daughter ~ whom is a fan of AvelCain.
 

It's official: the new album will be released at the end of September, possibly on 25th.
 
All the instrumental parts have been recorded, only the vocals are left. The record should have 16 tracks, supposedly.
 
can't waittt~

I agree with all the previous comments as Black was a fresh sound and had some good music in my opinion. 
 
However - those song titles...

Cool! Glad they're doing a nation-wide release, now. DADAISM was really cool, despite being a bit scattered as @Elazmus mentions. I personally preferred the more straightforward metalcore sound from 溺れる魚.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acw322HeZXo

I think this is kind of good. GANGSTA is their only album that I don't like, and I think they could use to time off to sort of recharge their batteries so to speak, to create better music when they come back. At least they're not breaking up! So, let's hope that this hiatus is for the best.

RIP Miyavi
2002-2008

I'm looking forward to this release quite a lot. Honestly, they've never disappointed me with any of their sounds. This has a great melody to it, a promising song.

The cover version sounds like standard rhythm section chorus for The GazettE.  I like that type of music, but am hoping the melody is constructed well and the second guitar is differentiated and adds some dimension to the finalized track.
 
I have to admit that after watching the Standing Heresy DVD Live performances last night, I'm psyched to listen to GazeRock again.  They have gotten a lot of flack the last few years, but I still think they make solid music.

Since I am visiting more often, I have decided to put a face to the name.  This is me and my daughter ~ whom is a fan of AvelCain.