Bear

Red Nights [a.k.a. long-ass French title] - Thanks to Bear for mentioning this gem a while back, only now had time to properly watch it. Even though it turned out that the subtitles were a bit fucked up (weird grammar and lots of stuff missing in the middle to last portion), it was a highly entertaining experience. Excellent visuals and atmosphere (giallo influences showing from a mile away!), and the characters were cool too - gotta luv Carrie Ng, she was so perfect as the evil sadistic lady~

Mourning Noise (Misfits)
This band started a few years after Misfits, but were from the same area and knew some of the members of Misfits and focused on horror-related themes for most part as well. One of the members would later play in other Danzing-related bands. You won't find a better Misfits clone/copycat than this.
 
The copycat
The original
 
Kinstrife & Blood (Summoning)
Epic/atmospheric black metal in the vein of Summoning. Everything about the music here, from the sound, to the way the drums are programmed, to the songwriting just screams Summoning.
 
The copycat
The original
 
Caladan Brood (Summoning)
While a lot more original than Kinstrife & Blood, there's still so much Summoning over the sound here that it's impossible to view them as anything but a Summoning copycat band.
 
The copycat
The original

I thought about posting this in the global music section since most of the bands I know of are non-Japanese and metal, but decided to put it here anyway. Mods feel free to move it if you think that's best.
 
This is a thead without any originality whatsoever. Llet me just start off by explaining what this thread is about. This isn't a band that went in the same direction as band X, that stole a few riffs or perhaps a whole song or just covered a song or ten. This is about bands that does everything in their power to sound exactly like their heroes, and most importantly, don't try to hide it one bit, while making original music. So no, Sadie, 12012 and all those doesn't belong in this thread. Anyone got any bands like this?
 
It would be much appreciated if you could include the names of the copycats and originals, write a little something about what's so similar
 
I'll start off with a few:
 
Warrhammer (Hellhammer)
This is basically a fanatic Hellhammer tribute band that writes their own songs. They have one rule, and one rule only: to sound as much like Hellhammer as possible. In interviews they often talked about how they spent years to gather the proper equipment to resemble the production (guitar tone, bass tone, drum sound etc.) as perfectly as possible, and - despite the albums' popularity - they often disown their earlier material for not sounding similar enough to Hellhammer.
 
The sound is very similar both song- and production-wise, and their coverarts, logo, and album titles refrence those of Hellhammer
 
The copycat
The original
 
 
Apokalyptic Raids (Hellhammer/Celtic Frost)
Same as above, just not as fanatic. But the sound is similar, and their coverarts, logo, and album titles refrence those of Hellhammer and Celtic Frost (the continuation of Hellhammer). These guys have a bit more of their own sound than Warhammer, though, but still to be considered copycats. Very much so.
 
The copycat
The Original
 
 
Hellfire (Bathoy)
Bathory copycat to the core. The album sounds like a lost Bathory album from 84/85, especially the first 3/4th of the album.
 
The copycat
The original
 
Insane (Slayer)
These guys can't get enough of "Show No Mercy" and decided to make something that sounded like it was written by Slayer in 82, but not considered good enough by Slayer.
 
The copycat
The original
 
 
I'll come back with more.

I can vouch for this. Not as close to the original as some of the other bands mentioned here, but the whole album reeks of Mercyful Fate/King Diamond anno 82-86. Great band, and they've got a new album comming. New song was fabolous, and much closer to their debut then their second one. Worth checking out for fans of King Diamond/Mercyful Fate.
 
 
Cast Iron (Running Wild)
They sound and look like Running Wild did before they got obsessed with pirates.
 
The copycat
The original
 
 
Disclose (Discharge)
Disclose is Discharge with more fuzz and distortion. A rawer sounding Discharge.
 
The copycat
The original
 
 
Incarnator (Bathory)
This old Norwegian band worshipped Bathory's second album, The Return. Not much is known about this band other than that it sounds like old Bathory and sounds amazing.
 
The copycat
The original

Doing better than absolute garbage isn't hard.

The Hands of Orlac - Wonderful silent thriller/horror again with the fantastic Conrad Veidt - what's more, directed by Robert Wiene (hello, Dr. Caligari!). This has to be one of my fave old, i.e. '20s or '30s horror flicks so far (bear in mind that I haven't seen that many), especially because of the simplistic, stark imagery coupled with the melodramatic gestures and the incredibly haunting and depressing music (also one of the best soundtracks for me). A really cool experience.

Watched some super-oldies recently..
 
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages - Pretty nice silent film about witches and devils and whatnot. I felt that it took a while for it to get to the point (beginning almost had me falling asleep xD), but after a while it was pretty nice and atmospheric. I liked how it was almost a kind of made-up documentary. Cool imagery too!
 
The Man Who Laughs - Interesting "freak romance" flick, with Conrad Veidt playing brilliantly in the leading role (never actually noticed before that he was the somnambulist in the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari). I really liked the characters, even though the story was predictable as hell. Still, some touching and cool moments.
 
Also, you gotta love dat smile.
 

I don't mind cheese when it's not taken seriously but when a movie tries to tell a legit story, then that's where I have a problem. This plot scenario feels like I've seen so many other movies just like it. So much of Need for Speed's dialogue made me cringe cuz it was corny and felt so forced. I really hate it when my common sense is being insulted like when you question some parts of the movie, you ask yourself "why didn't he/she do this or that?" The racing here isn't thrilling because of the utterly predictable plot which takes away any form of suspense. As for as the acting goes, Aaron Paul still continues as Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad minus the meth. This overall movie feels like a scrapped first draft script of Fast & Furious that was picked up by some college film student who wanted to make a good looking film inserting all these cliches and tropes without any sort of substance behind it. I wanted to see Need for Speed for a nice little entertaining popcorn flick, but even from that standpoint I was double face palmed. I say a better recent racing film is Rush. The racing cinematography on that movie is great and so is the character development.
 
I can't even put Need for Speed on the "so bad it's good" level. G.I.Joe is a perfect example of that category, at least to me.

It's not often I say these words I am gonna say now on this part of the forum, but I am really looking forward to this album. Judging by the bands' last three singles they seem to have stumbled into a weird pattern in "recent" years:
 
Withering to Death. = great 8/10
The Marrow of a Bone = awful 1/10
Uroboros = amazing! 9/10
Dum Spiro Spero = bad 4/10
 
But I really, really like Rinkaku, The Unraveling and Sustain the Untruth (in that order, and I am only talking about the original songs, not the shitty remakes and live recordings and whatfuckingnot), and that makes me really excited for this album. I've got some serious expecations.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERSFOR THELASTEPISODE OF SEASON 3
 
 
 
 
 
God damn, that was a great episode. So the sudden change in mood wasn't so much of a change after all. It just felt like it. You know what I'm saying? Great episode, and it had plenty of surprises. You just gotta love that!

I've seen The Brotherhood of War twice and it's a good film, but it wasn't as good on the second viewing as on the first. It's a bit too sentimental to be honest. But it only went from 8/10 to 7/10, which is still a good score for a good film.
 
You could also check out Assembly and Welcome to Dongmakgol which are two other South Korean war films. Not actually seen them myself, but they are on the endless watchlist that grows bigger by every day. But I've been recommended those to films several times, and people seem to enjoy these two a lot more than The Brotherhood of War. Fucking South Korean cinema, man. Quality!

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War - Its a movie drama based on a story from the Korean War. Generally speaking its similar along the lines of 'saving private ryan' or 'band of brothers' (if B.O,B was made into a movie) but packs a load of more feels. You could get attached to the characters out of B.O.B but not as you would do for the main characters in this movie. This is a story about a true bond between brothers, and how the eldest tries to look out for his younger brother and throws himself in harms way just to earn favours from the top so he can send his brother home.
 
Its loosely based on a true story, the film depicts the many violent acts committed by both north and south korea - the massacre of innocent civilians, killing of prisoners & so much more.
 
truely a sad story.  

Gravity (2013)
Great sets, nice visuals, but why the ugly lightning in so many scenes? Many shots look more like a videogame or tv-series in the lightning aspect. Plotwise, how did Sandra Bullock's character get into space in the first place? Does the NASA hand over jobs to hysteric housewives now? No matter the sophisticated background they created for her, it doesn't fit her childlike dialogue, lack of knowledge and her annoying behaviour in general. For a film that depends so much on visuals and little on plot progression, one would expect that it must lean on its underlying themes... but they were rather dull too. This film isn't interesting or fun on any level. 3/10
 
Kagemusha (or Shadow Warrior) (1980)
Not quite up there with several other films of Kurosawa. When a warlord dies, his highest ranking army generals decide it would be a good idea to pretend he's still alive by having a nearly identical man (looks-wise) take his place. Of course this leads to several difficulties. The world is believable, the sets and costumes are great, the plot progresses slowly but surely and takes a few interesting turns. There are many good things here, but it lacks the power to impress the viewer like Kurosawa did with, for example, Seven Samurai. Enjoyable, but not very memorable. 6/10
 
Babettes gæstebud (or Babette's Feast) (1987)
Despite a few disturbing images of animals ready to be killed for the feast, this was a great film. (by the way, I do realize the turtle was a fake turtle, but it was still a sad sight). This is one of those films where religion plays a big part, but the viewer doesn't necessarily have to be religious him/herself to enjoy it. There's much more to it. This film is atmospheric, intelligent, immersive... simply quite wonderful. 8/10
 
La dolce vita (1960)
It's hard to forgive director Fellini for having his actors dub their dialogue on a seperate audio recording, which results in unnatural lip movements. In some scenes it's more noticeable than in other scenes. Sometimes the timing is just a little off, which is not that big a deal. At other times however, it looks like somebody was saying something completely different on the film reel than what is actually heard! La dolce vita is so rich in fantastic scenes, that most viewers have apparently decided to forgive Fellini for his unusual ways. I tend to agree with them. La dolce vita is an unforgettable experience with images that will certainly stick with you for a few days, a few weeks... perhaps permanently. 9/10

Some stuff I've seen recently...
 
The Complex (a.k.a. Kuroyuri danchi) - Kinda nothing-special almost boring ghost horror from Hideo Nakata. Expected a bit more from the guy who directed such titles as Ring or Dark Water.
 
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Awesome, heartfelt, funny, dramatic, etc. brilliant coming-of-age movie! Gotta love Ezra Miller, and the music was pretty sweet too.
 
Zombie Women of Satan - I think you could guess the genre, lol. It was super low-budget but kinda fun. Tells you something that the guy who directed it stars in the main role as a character called "Pervo the clown."
 
Opera - Haven't seen this Dario Argento gem before, it sure delivered! Beautiful cinematography, some really clever moments and overall pretty cool tension (I just wish I could forget the cheesy heavy metal in some scenes, lmao).

9 Souls - From one of my favorite Asian directors, very well done mixture of comedy and drama about nine prisoners on the run. Fantastic soundtrack (as expected) and fantastic ending!

Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge - Written and Produced by Tuomas Holopainen
 
 


 

 
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-tuomas-holopainen-life-and-times-of-scrooge-solo-album-track-listing-revealed/
 
I like the picture. Looks like a little boy who finally gets to meet his boyhood hero. Lovely.
 
I don't expect too much from this. I expect it to be a bit too sugar coated, sweet and boring for my taste, but I am interested as fuck. The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is pure gold, and something inspired by that is certainly very interesting. Can't wait, despite not having too high expectations to the whole thing.
 
Brilliant covers, obviously illustrated by Don Rosa, though they're a bit to smooth looking.

Yes, I do. Not of many bands, but of the very few I care the most for. The bands I collect doesn't usually release 5 different versions of every album, even though a lot of them have had plenty represses over the years. I know Sigh's "Scorn Defeat" exist in at least 15 different versions. and my goal is to get all of those, as well as every other release of their other albums.
 
A few of these releases have gotte a new, fabolous vinyl release the last few years and they are all out in two different versions. One where the vinyl's regular black, and one where the vinyl's coloured. I will also haunt down the versions I do not own of these. If I own "Scorn Defeat" in black I'll buy the coloured version too. My ultimate goal is 100% complete discography.
 
But this is a curse, because it's bloody expensive. I want the other version of the Scorn Defeat 3LP that I already have, and the chepeast out there right now is 101USD. That's more than twice as much as I paid for it a couple of years back. And the regular price for the two demos I want from the same band are 140 and 120USD. That's a lot of money for 7 and 13 minutes of music, on cassette tape, released 20 years so, which means it won't sound thaaaat good now. So as I said, it's a curse. And this just goes on, considering there's so many releases I want from the band. It'll take years and massive amounts of money to get it all.
 
 
 
Nah, not really. I mean, I pick up picks and drum sticks and what not if they're thrown to me/close to me, but I don't collect or make a big deal out of it. I don't fight to get it or anything like that.
 
 
 
I don't know what ameoblo is, and I don't have a twitter. But I do read Sigh's twitter to check for news and all that. But that's it.
 
 
No.
 
 
 
The fuck? No. Jesus.
 
 
In what way? Clothing? No. Do I become influenced by the message in certain bands lyrics, such as satanism, racism, anti-christianity, politics and so on? No.
 
 
No. Or, I would love to visist Japan, holefully for several months straight, or half a year for that matter, but then again, that goes for a huge amount of countries in the world and is not related to music whatsoever. I'm not any more interested in Japan than in South-Korea, France or Germany.
 
 
Yes. Sometimes. But it's often on a more serious scale than just rumours and gossip. Like Blake Judd being an asshole junkie. Why does this matter to me you say? Because he's a rip off, and because of this I know never to do any business with him. That's the kind of shit I read about.
 
 
No.
 
 
Yes, because I am interested in music.

Visual Kei and Japanese pop/sub cultures in general seem to have many intense fans or fan communities that live and breath the art-form or artist in question.
 
I think it would be interesting to discuss just how heavily we follow our favorite bands, and what lengths we go to in our appreciation and / or worship.
 
As for me, I am a pretty big fan, I like to get all versions of singles / albums, and full discographies of  favorite bands, even Best albums... I follow on Ameblo, browse Twitters when I can`t sleep. Like to know which Kanji all band members use in their names, etc... As for picks (plectrum), Cheki, etc... For my favorite band I love these, but for other bands I couldn`t care less for plectrum, etc... I will just give them to people who seem to want them. Band-shirts I always long for. I guess my own style is influenced by VK too...
 
Here are some questions to get the ball rolling on the conversation, feel free to answer them and / or type a little about how much you follow VK bands!:
 
1: Do you buy multiple versions of releases, or buy at all? (Judgement-Free-Zone)
 
2: Do you collect cheki or other non-music related items from bands?
 
3: Follow them on Ameblo, Twitter?
 
4: Would you follow them on the street?
 
5: Dig through their trash? (Judgment-Free-Zone)
 
6: Does Visual Kei or other forms of your musical taste influence your style or personal life?
 
7: Desire to move or visit Japan influenced by music?
 
8: Do you read dirt-sheets of bands, like rumours, gossip, etc...?
 
9: Ever fantasize about being friends with band members? (JFZ)
 
10: Do you want to be in a Visual Kei band (or any other kind of band)?
 
 
Feel free to speak of other genres and your fandom as well if you please.

Lyrics aren't important at all to me. I sure do apprectiate goodlyrics, or just fitting lyrics for that matter, but it's not important at all. After all, 80% of all music I have ever heard has got shitty lyrics and that doesn't bother me at all.

You're so far off with those comments. The metal community really isn't close minded. Like not at all.
 
 
And Grieva sounds pretty good. They sound like a band that made a shitload of songs in the late 90's, but then split ut, for so an reform 10 years later and record those songs. Old school sound in a modern production.

We Are What We Are - Piss fucking boring horrordrama that actually made me fell asleep a couple of times, something which have happened 2-3 during my life. That kinda says it all, doesn't it? It's a remake of a Mexican film, which from what I read has a shitload in comming with the awful The Hamiltons. But no, there was absolutely nothing throughout this film that caught my interest. Poor, poor film.
 
Psycho - Alfred Hitchcock was a genius and one of the biggest and best directors ever, and Psycho is his absolute best film. Need I say any more? No.

I answered this question a while ago. It's neither, although it leans closer to being a scene. It may have started out as a genre at one point but it's long since surpassed those boundaries. It cannot be a genre because not every visual kei band plays the same type of music. For any genre you name, someone else can find a band that considers themselves visual kei that don't play that genre. Visual kei is simply music with a focus on visuals (hence visual style). Visual kei can't be pigeonholed into a scene or a genre without losing some of the picture.
And in case you missed my answer from before:

The way this question is phrased is deceptive since you already assume visual kei is a genre. In the sense that it has elements of a genre, it's sometimes easy to tell that a band is visual by looking at them. Othertimes, it's so subtle that it shouldn't matter. I'll never know if I'll like them until I hear a preview, because visual bands can look like anything and play whatever they want.

Looks mean nothing to me and I happen to think most visual kei bands look terrible. Once again, I don't care as long as the band sounds great.
 

In the Visual Kei scene, no. Visual kei covers a lot of different genres, but the concentration seems to be around either pop or metalcore. It's not time effective to do so.

No, I just repost the answer to question one and wait for the inevitable lack of response.

See answer number one.

To me, visual kei is nothing but a scene or something like that. A genre is something that says something about a bands sound, and while a certain genre can be broad and have a lot of different sounds within it, it still says something about the sound the bands have. Visual kei says nothing about the sound itself as it range from electronica to thrash metal to pop and rock and so on. You can play death metal and be a visual kei band. You can play acoustic folk and still be considered visual kei. So no, not a genre to me.
 
 
One can often tell the genre, but one certainly can't say if one will like or dislike a band based on their look. A bands image says nothing about the quality on the music. You can look good and make shit music, just like you can look shitty and make good music.
 
 
No, it does not. I don't mind a interesting/good looking band, but it won't matter at all when it comes to music. A good image however can be the difference between checking the band out or not, just like a good or bad coverart can be the difference between checking something out and not.
 
 
Yeah, I do. It all depends on what I want. If I want some new ambient black metal I will search for ambient black metal. If I want some nu-metal that's what I search for. But I don't do this often as I don't tend to search for a certain type of music.
 
 
No.
 
 
No, they are not.

I see. I'll make a list of ten then.
 
1. Sigh
2. Sabbat
3. Framtid
4. Mono
5. Abigail
6. Disclose / Syphilitic Vaginas (not sure if these guys are Swedish or Japanese)
7. Boris
8. Flower Travellin' Band
9. S.O.B.
10. Coffins
 
If I made this list again in a week or two it'd be different. Then I'd probably find a place for either Gauze, Melt-Banana, Kriegshög, Gallhammer, Arkha Sva, Magnesium and so on, or several of them. And the week after it'd be different again and so on. But the two-three first ones would be the exact same every single week.

On my phone, so I won't respond to all that. But if one choose music as a job to earn money, but fail to do so, then they obviously suck at their job and disbandment are but positive. Good riddance and so on. One can't just start a band and expect to become rich over the night. Start it as a hobby and see how it goes. If it goes well, quit your job. If not, keep it as a hobby, unless it's something you don't really give a fuck about. Then just forget about it.
My point, which obviously didn't come through, is that if you actually care about what you're creating you won't give up after a year or two just because you didn't make money from it in that short time.