Tetora

Look there is a lot of lists to go threw so I'm making this short, so here it goes Life fiber override: kamui FuckingSecondTypedUpList!

Albums

1. Lycaon - Camera Obscura




It’s takes major talent to make something simple and make it into all masterpieces. Yuuki with his one of a kind voice at the front with his bandmates backing him up took this year.

2. The Juliet Massacre - Human Abuse




This is just an amazing mix of deathmetal, deathcore, and I think black metal and everything comes together with the right amount of brutalness makes for an interesting great album.

3. Hyuna - A+




Hyuna takes kpop and gives it the middle finger and tells it, I’m going to do me mixing pop, hip-hop, and r&b/ballads!

4. Samira Said - Ayza Aeesh

 


The Mother of Arabic-pop is back and she is son-ing and daughter-ing all of k-pop with upbeat songs and slow jams.

5. Bangtan Boys - the most beautiful moment in life pt. 2




I felt nothing but happiness when I heard this, it was everything I could have hoped for and more!

6. Jang Hyunseung – My




Not surprised that he took this year too, since he is Hyuna’s partner in a sub group.

7. Bangtan Boys - the most beautiful moment in life pt. 1

This is the more fun version of the album of today.

8. INGESTED - The Architect Of Extinction

This chaotic, crazy, fast death metal is a must.

9. Black Tongue - The Unconquerable Dark

Need a smack down, BT gots you

10. Thirteen Bled Promises - The Black Legend

Great brutal death/deathcore album.

11. SHINee - Married To The Music (Odd REPACKAGE)

Never herd them but hell yeah I’m glad I did. They gave me goodness and something different too.

12. Wonder Girls – Reboot

Never got the deal of the 80’s but dam this revamp killed.

13. Miss A – COLORS

Never herd them either, but this is a cool jam.

14. F(x) - 4 Walls

They took what they had and made it better

15. Basterd – INTRO

Turn up, this is my shit!

16. JUN HYOSUNG – FANTASIA

Man she killed this solo smooth comeback.

17. HISTORY - Beyond The History

This was mix of goodness.

18. DAY6 - The Day

Great debut to a band pop group, full of sweets.

19. Jay Park – Park worldwide

That shit!

20. Grimes - Art Angels

Really groovy album.

21. Justin Bieber – Purpose

Ignoring the rappers, and some shitty lyrics, it's good album.

Singles

1. Lycaon – Last Dance

Great way to say bye to their slaves.

2. Lycaon – Gypsy

Better version of a previous song and a great headbanger!

3. DEAN - Pour up

That wet deep shit!

4. DEAN - I Love It

That wet sex shit!

5. Brooke Candy - Rubber Band Stacks

The old school trash jam!

6. Saad Lamjarred - LM3ALLEM

Awesome Arabic traditional song mixed with western influences.

7. Jooyoung –WET

Great singing and wet sexy beat

8. Yezi - Crazy dog

Great flow and sick beat

9. JIMIN N J.DON – GOD

Unique jimin teams up with a rookie to make a cool track

10. I Drink My Coffee Alone - Laborratte

The album wasn't all that but this single from it was (me and my loopholes).

11. Grieva – Fuminshou

My EX bitch Grieva going to work.

Best songs

CHEETAH - Star Wars; HARA - How About Me?; Anda - Touch; 4MINUTE - Tickle Tickle Tickle; GAIN - Paradise Lost; Red Velvet - Ice Cream Cake, Automatic, Dumb Dumb; Hello Venus - I'm ill (Club Remix); AOA – Heart Attack; T-ARA - So Crazy; Ben - Looby Loo; HWANG TAE JI – OMG; UNIQ – EOEO; MINO & ZICO - Okey Dokey; IU & Park Myung Soo – Leon; ZICO - Yes Or No; hyorin – money; Ariana Grande – Focus; Kitti B - RRF Ronda Rousey Flow; GOT7 – IF YOU DO; Brown Eyed Girls - Warm Hole; Monsta X – HERO; David Guetta - Hey Mama; Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop (RIOT Twerkout); Cecile - Door Step, CAKED UP - TAKIN IT BACK; ChoA - Flame; Stephanie – Higher; BTS JHOPE - 1 VERSE (mixtape); DISREIGN - 枯れ蓮, Nancy Ajram - Maakoul El Gharam; Tamer hosny - kol Haga Bena, Ha2olk Klema;Nakka - День Бульдозериста

TV

Best new shows: Sense8 & Scream queens

Best returning show: Vikings, Salem & How to get away with Murder

Best new animation: Moonbeam City

Best returning animation: Archer

Hottest

Male: Jung Koosung

Female: Hyuna

Different: Hyojin Choi

Thick: Parris Goebel

 

There's my goodie box, don't knock it until you try it!

10-1
 
Releases
 
10. 印象派 - AQ
I still prefer Nietzsche, but this was easily great too.





 
5. Lament. - The Unvarnished Truth
these guys can release as few releases as they want. at least its always high quality


 
3. Plastic Tree - 剥製
one of my alltime favourite , i can never listen to their releases too much, but that doesnt change the fact that they are amazing.
pls another eu tour.

 
2. 김예림 - Simple Mind
easily the best kpop release this year.
took a while for her to release something new, but at least it was worth the wait.
ppl tend to say that it reminds them a bit of bands like CHVRCHES or Purity Ring? idk.




 
8. STEREO.C.K - in secret
another mini pls? great song.

 
7. 己龍, Royz & コドモドラゴン - 繚乱レゾナンス
this song is so much fun, i hope they do something like that again in the future.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfxmwcAlNTQ' title="External link">PV

20-11
 
Releases
 
20. GAMEOVER-ガメオベラ- - START


Song
 
18. ルリイロ - 1st demo


Preview
 
16. それでも尚、未来に媚びる - E.P.逃影








 
18. ZON - Heads up!



PV
 
15. DIA - 제자리

Song
 
14.  Proxyon - 続・ルル

 
13. MALISEND - Reincarnation



 

some of my favourites this year.
 
 
seperated into top 30 releases (including singles) and top 30 songs.
 
30-21
 
 Releases
 
(Honorable Mentions to FINLANDS and 眩暈SIREN, probably my two AOTY, but i sadly didnt get my copies yet...)
  30. LONE - 核命灯

 









 
PV
 
28. 시아준수 - 꽃 (Feat. 타블로 Of 에픽하이)



 
25. R指定 - 焔-homura-


 
23. 레드벨벳 - Ice Cream Cake



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKE1UMWIwfM' title="External link">Spot
 

Since im passion stalker of every new band you should not suprise that you dont know this or that band... And since im not a good reviewer just my little comments
 
This is  my Top-10 releases which made my year
 
10) Didius - Addict [29.11.2015]
 
 

This synth music with really good vocal and nice melody makes my ears dissolve because of pleasent ...
 


 
 
9) IV - ミーティア [21.11.2015]
 
 

 
Maybe these songs are really standart for visual-kei and not-so-original, but they will rise your mood up to 100% .. My favourite song is tot et moi ..
 
8 ) LOG-ログ - Adore you~キミヲ想フ声~ [25.03.2015]
 
 

 
When i first watched their PV i said myself "I NEED THIS CD"!!!!!!! So I have a physical of this CD .. and still listen to them very often ... My favourite is .自信ない僕、強気な僕。
 


 
7) The♡Valentine - 処女の照れくさい気持ち [02.11.2015]
 
 

 
There were my two favourite band Fi`Ance and TRUST.. after both disbandments vocalist from Fi`Ance and Trust members formed this group .. It is very different from origin ... Oshare-kei sound, pretty look .. What I need else?
 


 
6) Blaive - イグサレーション [16.09.2015]
 
 

 
I think this is the most harmonic look of my list.. This blue color is really attractive .. and the look of the memebers is also smart) The MV represent my favourite song from them
 


 
5) VEXENT - オメガ [02.11.2015]
 
 

 
ITS TIME TO REAL ROCK! Very powerful songs from this single make my head doing like this :headbang:My favourite is Dystopia .. but here there is MV of Omega 
 


 
4) WEED - AK-47 [28.07.2015]
 
 

 
This is another my favourite hard release with a lot of screaming and growl ... I JUST WANNA SCREAM WITH THEM!
 


 
 
BUM-BUM-BUM
 
THIS IS TOP-3
 
3) Azlina - Gladius [28.10.2015]
 
 
 

 
Oh .. This tune just bite my soul.. A litlle bit melancholic song open my old memories ..
 


 
2) A≠ris - Fake romancer [18.01.2015]
 

 
 
 
Just solid realese.. especially song Mask .. electronic masterpiece
 


 
1) DiCE - 色彩 [20.05.2015]
 
 

 
I wanna listen and listen and listen to them!!!!!! My top.. my NUMBER-1
 

I'm sure that I will love SuG's VIRGIN! Only the teaser made me scream <3 And this mini album will be on my Top 2016, they never disappoint!FED is one of the best things that happened in 2015!
And yes, please, listen to the two Angelo's mini albums! They are super perfect! Try "SELF AWAKE"  and "AI (Artificial Intelligence)" <3

 
 
Please, Aki's new mini album is reallly great! Be sure to check!
Coldrain and DADAROMA
 
 
Please, check 【DERR:ZELD】! I remember being for a week listening just this song!

Already loved the list when I saw my boy`s in SuG, but you just kept listing things I also love.
 
Gonna go out on a limb and expect to see SuG`s VIRGIN on your favorite list next year, I am looking forward to that the most right now.
 
Like the category set-up and the .gif`s. Also good to see other people enjoying FAR EAST DIZAIN.
 
Angelo I haven`t been keeping up with enough, will look into.

Hello,
 
Here is my list of favorites for 2015, separated into format, then split into a new ranking system that expresses just how much I enjoyed the release. The releases are all listed in order descending down to my absolute favorites of the year. I hope that the list expresses my personal pleasure from the release, and does not seek to rate releases and artist`s against each other in a material way. Please note that I narrowed down the list, and that there are many other works which I enjoyed throughout the year as well.
 
SINGLES:
 
COOL!
 
Smileberry – NO MORE CRY

A new band filling in the drought of upbeat kawaii some have been feeling. They pull it off without sounding too derivative or forced.
 
LEZARD –かくれんぼ

It took a little while to take to this band, but they have been growing on me with a fun lighter approach that can get more serious when needed.
 
nue – サイレン

Definitely a band putting extra ingredients into their recipe. All sorts of sounds get mixed together from 90`s Visual, New Wave, etc… Pretty cool.
 
摩天楼オペラ – ether

Has one of their more rocking B-Sides in a with an old-school guitar lick that I love to put on replay. Distinct track mix that is very well done.
 
RUVISH – ATOMIC MIRROR

Catchy and melodic, they have changed a bit but still put out some nice tracks.
 
テキーラ東京– Kung-Fu Lady

 
A very original side project with a very different lead track, and the signature Kra huge potential that sadly doesn`t get as far as their skill would seem to deserve.
 
Neverland – HumaNOISE, Heart sleep


 
Another band that has changed quite a bit, but I enjoy their different sounds.
 
Milia∞ - innocence

 
Very nice, strong melodies, and a great atmosphere.
 
CRAZY!
 
R SHITEI –サドマゾ

 
Have been getting more and more into this band. Very popular despite being quite dark and heavy, although they do mix in softer moments unexpectedly, like in this single.
 
Moran –夜明けを前に

 
Another great release, perhaps their final one.
 
Blu-BiLLioN -  Refrain / 心灯-こころび-, Resonance-共鳴- / モノクロの花
 

 

This band has definitely been killing it and has gotten very popular. Not what I typically listen to but they definitely broke down that barrier and became one of my favorites with high-pitched songs containing vivid lyrics and storytelling.
 
UVERworld – I LOVE THE WORLD,  僕の言葉ではない これは僕達の言葉


 
Rocking singles that are a lot of fun to listen to. A slightly different sound than their previous work but they pull it off well.

CHiCO with HoneyWorks - 世界はiに満ちている (Sekai wa i ni Michiteiru)
 


  Controversial Spark - Angels of a Feather



  三浦大知 (Daichi Miura) - Fever



  Div - SECRET
  FLiP - BIRTH



 

FOLKS - SNOWTOWN

 

浮遊ｽﾙ猫 (Fuyusuruneko) - 浮遊ｽﾙ猫 (MuWoToku) 

 

グッドモーニングアメリカ (Good Morning America) - グッドモーニングアメリカ (GOOD MORNING AMERICA) 


 

Hauptharmonie - Hauptharmonie


 

ハジ→ (Hazzie) - ハジベスト。 (Hazzie best)

 

Really cool, I really love FALILV but didn`t get too listen to them too much this year, seems like I missed out.
 
I will be studying the second half of your list, don`t know too much there, and I have to admit I have taken a peek at your last.fm before and stolen some bands from you there that I really like.
 
Hopefully girugamesh will be killing it next year to make up for keeping us waiting again!

RIGHT? That ending takes the song to a whole other level. It meant so much to me last year, but it didn't work out in the end. Message is great and will stay, though! and BLACK was such a collection of good songs, I really think SuG outdone themselves there!
 
 
 
So, so good to see some xTRiPx love around here! Yeah, I understand what they meant by that. I followed them since 2007, when they probably had their biggest following that slowly faded away, but since the comeback from the hiatus things were really starting to look better for them, finally signing with a label, doing PVs back and forth, great production-wise... But I guess those several member changes and the small following in Japan made them call their quits. Fucking shame, really. 10+1 is a song EVERYONE should at least give a try. Those fucking lyrics, omg. Really hope to see Yoshito back in 2016!

Hello,
 
Here is my list of favorites for 2015, separated into format, then split into a new ranking system that expresses just how much I enjoyed the release. The releases are all listed in order descending down to my absolute favorites of the year. I hope that the list expresses my personal pleasure from the release, and does not seek to rate releases and artist`s against each other in a material way. Please note that I narrowed down the list, and that there are many other works which I enjoyed throughout the year as well.
 
SINGLES:
 
COOL!
 
Smileberry – NO MORE CRY

A new band filling in the drought of upbeat kawaii some have been feeling. They pull it off without sounding too derivative or forced.
 
LEZARD –かくれんぼ

It took a little while to take to this band, but they have been growing on me with a fun lighter approach that can get more serious when needed.
 
nue – サイレン

Definitely a band putting extra ingredients into their recipe. All sorts of sounds get mixed together from 90`s Visual, New Wave, etc… Pretty cool.
 
摩天楼オペラ – ether

Has one of their more rocking B-Sides in a with an old-school guitar lick that I love to put on replay. Distinct track mix that is very well done.
 
RUVISH – ATOMIC MIRROR

Catchy and melodic, they have changed a bit but still put out some nice tracks.
 
テキーラ東京– Kung-Fu Lady

 
A very original side project with a very different lead track, and the signature Kra huge potential that sadly doesn`t get as far as their skill would seem to deserve.
 
Neverland – HumaNOISE, Heart sleep


 
Another band that has changed quite a bit, but I enjoy their different sounds.
 
Milia∞ - innocence

 
Very nice, strong melodies, and a great atmosphere.
 
CRAZY!
 
R SHITEI –サドマゾ

 
Have been getting more and more into this band. Very popular despite being quite dark and heavy, although they do mix in softer moments unexpectedly, like in this single.
 
Moran –夜明けを前に

 
Another great release, perhaps their final one.
 
Blu-BiLLioN -  Refrain / 心灯-こころび-, Resonance-共鳴- / モノクロの花
 

 

This band has definitely been killing it and has gotten very popular. Not what I typically listen to but they definitely broke down that barrier and became one of my favorites with high-pitched songs containing vivid lyrics and storytelling.
 
UVERworld – I LOVE THE WORLD,  僕の言葉ではない これは僕達の言葉


 
Rocking singles that are a lot of fun to listen to. A slightly different sound than their previous work but they pull it off well.

Really like the list and thorough nature of it. Absolutely obliterates computer memory as well, hehe.
 
You really bring another side of VK to the table and represent it well. Lots of stuff that need more repping on this list.
 
Some random things I also really like are Inoran, and the X Japan song is still great, as well as other acts that have been around a while but are still making it work in 2015-2016, which is why I think in VK, anything is possible!

@@fitear1590 Thank you, I never expect so much people to join me and @Tetora on this craziness xD
I wish they can all get together soon and start a new Moran with the same feeling and love on their music.
Haha I really enjoy Tenten voice and his songs, so that's why all from 2015 were here

I was really surprised that you enjoy so many similar things, didn`t know that.
 
Great, great list, I gotta try more of the Pelican.
 
I really love that SuG track too, hehe, the ending really pushes it to greatness for me, always love listening and waiting for that part, and then the start up of BLACK, oh man. Then just letting the album loop again, etc etc... For me one thing that really adds pleasure to listening to a release is the order of songs, like sometimes you can not like a song so much on a single or in a PV, but on an album it either starts up after an epic song, and the mood is made, or the ending leads into an epic tune, so you always listen to both songs together and it grows on you.
 
Really liked Baroque`s video performances of those songs too.

^because of VIPER and DOGMA? Not really, depends if I'm attracted to the sound. I do have a soft spot for Rotting Christ tho, I personally think that they're doing a great combination between the melody and the raw sound. If we're talking about VK only well not really.

Some thoughts on a few releases from your list:

LEZARD - かくれんぼ

I'm still waiting for my copy but i really liked the preview. I was a huge fan of LEZARD's sound when they first started out (and when they were releasing annoying 150-copies live-limited CDs), but I admittedly couldn't really get into some of their more recent stuff. So it's refreshing to hear something that's reminiscent of their older sound which is what i enjoyed more from their repertoire


Neverland - HumaNOISE

Nice to see them in your list! Ryota's vocals are too sweet. Kinda similar to Blu-BiLLioN but still distinctly unique. And i love the heart-rending flavor of many of their songs!


Purple Stone -アオイヤミ

You dunno how happy i am to see them among your favorites! Looks like my shameless promotion of Purple Stone hasn't gone to waste hahah. Hopefully they can release an album soon~


From your list i also love LOG (R.I.P. ;_; ), Blu-BiLLioN (duh), DIV, ALSDEAD, and of course vistlip ユナイト's album left me with mixed feelings but i'll probably return to give them another listen in future. Haven't tried SuG (i've been procrastinating for only the last 7 years?) but i intend to.
 

Was defspiral the band that I forgot that I recommended you?
 
If so, I'm surprised - didn't actually think you would try them out! But I'm also glad you did. I was into TRANSTIC NERVE pretty big back in the day, but haven't kept up much with their subsequent releases. Will you be back-tracking through their career and various monikers?
 
I've enjoyed everything I've heard by VANIRU on dub/plug, but haven't actually tried any of their releases yet.
 
sukekiyo I remember being pretty nice. Foster Mother was an especially nice track!
 
seeing THE MORTAL on your list makes me happy. THE MORTAL makes me happy, period. Musicians from two bands that i'm into (downy and MY WAY MY LOVE) are members of the band, so it elates me knowing that they're involved in a project that might receive more attention from overseas fans. It also just shows that J-rock is a whole and not just divided into vk and non-vk. I love it. Plus Atsushi alone is more than worth it!
 
Fantastic list overall, even if I'm unfamiliar with a good bit of it. You obviously put a lot of work into it, so great work, and thanks for sharing!

Thanks for all the comments!
 
I also use that GiTS quote btw.
Also Gazette I still haven`t spun as much as their older stuff, but just the fact that they got back into my ears with this release was a good feeling.
 
I think MuCC swung a little bit back into doing what old-timers (hehe) can enjoy some-what with some tunes on their last album and this mini. Although I am a feverish fan of all their stuff from Karma on myself.
 
I listen to the same bands all the time but some new acts entered into my endless loop this year which is good.
 
Also something I forgot to say:
 
Thanks to everyone who shows me new music, or new ways to look at bands or even individual songs. A lot of people have inspired me, and added things into my life. I really appreciate it, and I am sure some people noticed bands that I stole from them, and things they showed me over the year.
 
Anyway, enough of that sappy moment, 2016 is upon us, let`s rock!

Really like the list and thorough nature of it. Absolutely obliterates computer memory as well, hehe.
 
You really bring another side of VK to the table and represent it well. Lots of stuff that need more repping on this list.
 
Some random things I also really like are Inoran, and the X Japan song is still great, as well as other acts that have been around a while but are still making it work in 2015-2016, which is why I think in VK, anything is possible!

Great look into the colorful (live-limited) mind of Hiroki.
 
Resistar mix was really awesome, still want them to do another big one like BPR. This one was easier to get even if it wasn`t a `big`release.
 
Also I am presuming you got all those signatures, lucky!
 
Without VK I may never have imagined listening to vocals like some of these bands, I might not think that anyone could pull it off, but thankfully, I have been shown the light, and love it (even if I have trouble singing along).
 
Blitz you got me more into, but you showed me so much that I still need to play catch up, ah well, let`s see where the future will bring us!

Hiz - 8インチの脅迫 (8 Inch no Kyouhaku)



 

Standout Track: SIREN

 

INORAN - Beautiful Now



 

Standout Track: Fading Memory

 

JILUKA - Brave Agonistic Letters Under Segregation



 

Standout Track: Crossing Fate

 

JILUKA - DESTRIEB



 

Standout Track: Twisted Pain

 

Jin-Machine - ゴリラ (Gorilla)



 

Standout Track: ゴリラ (Gorilla)

 

KAMIJO - Royal Blood ～Revival Best～



 

Standout Track(s): Imperial Concerto / HEEL / Royal Blood

 

KRAD - Beginning of Darkness



 

Standout Track: Beginning of Darkness

 

KRAD - Plantman



 

Standout Track: Plantman

 

KRAD - SepsiS



 

Standout Track: Sand&Blood

 

 

I've enjoyed the best of's I've seen so far this year from most of the members here and since I was really lame last year and completely spaced on it because of insane work schedules. This year I've spent a lot of time listening to and enjoying a lot of the releases I've heard this year. I spend a lot of time at work listening to music and I've got a big list of albums/singles that have stood out for me. They aren't in any particular order since I'm a bit all over the place with my tastes. Some might be surprises and some might not be. Enjoy~

 

I have uploaded the songs that stood out for me and linked them. Hopefully the songs work and I have only posted them for sampling purposes. If there is a PV/MV for the song I will link to that instead or if I can find a song uploaded elsewhere I will link to that as well.

 

NOW COMPLETE ENJOY AND TAKE THE RIDE ON THE MAGICAL MUSIC TRAIN~

 

 

∀NTI FEMINISM - MAD OF PAIN

 



 

Standout Track: Hell On Earth

 

Ⅸ -NINE- - VIDYA

 



 

Standout Track: Sky Burial

 

ACID BLACK CHERRY - L-エル-



 

Standout Track: エストエム (S to M)

 

ALSDEAD - INAZUMA

 



 

Standout Track: INAZUMA

 

amber gris - 小さな銀貨を左手に (Chisana Ginka o Hidarite ni)



 

Standout Track: Absolute being

 

AvelCain - おまじない (Omajinai)



 

Standout Track: 片想い (Kataomoi)

 

BAROQUE - PLANETARY SECRET



 

Standout Track: DREAMSCAPE

 

ＢＡＳＨ！- クサレゲドウ (Kusaregedou)



 

Standout Track: クサレゲドウ (Kusaregedou)

 

Black Gene For The Next Scene - 裏返り (Uragaeri)



 

Standout Track: 裏返り (Uragaeri)

 

BLESSCODE - white/Regret Love



 

Standout Track: Regret Love

 

BORN - GOD COLLAPSE



 

Standout Track: GOD COLLAPSE

 

BORN - オルタナティヴ・タランチュラ (Alternative Tarantula)



 

Standout Track: foxy foxy

 

BULL ZEICHEN 88 - WENDY



 

Standout Track: WENDY

 

Chanty - m.o.b.



 

Standout Track: m.o.b.

 

Crimson Shiva - Feather Pray



 

Standout Track: Mermaid Misery

@@Tetora
 
i haven't listened to the BPR single - i definitely need to! what i liked about the Resistar singles was how they shuffled the members around and produced music that's kinda different from their usual stuff (e.g. you don't really get the folk/kayokyoku sound in Blu-BiLLioN as you do in Mike with HMK2). i agree it'll be great if they can release their future CDs through shops instead of making it live limited (*_*)
 
ahh the signatures came with all copies of the CDs! i guess they're just too lazy to make album arts hahaha.
 
and yeah i understand what you mean about the unusual vocals lol. i accept it's not everyone's thing, but it's something unique to the scene that's personally very close to me so i'm thrilled to hear that you like it!
 
 
@@doombox
 
*high fives* i didn't know you like Anli Pollicino, Diz and FoLLoW as well! that's such a pleasant surprise :'DD
 
do check out Shellmy! honestly before i listened to them i didn't think i'll like them (from their appearance at least, they seem a little too melancholic/brooding compared to what i typically listen to) - but damnnn, it's gotta take something quite remarkable to displace vistlip's album from the top spot haha. Lig is a new band and they only have 2 singles so far. i prefer their more recent one (which is in this list) - the band's style reminds me a lot of カラット and 恋HANABI sounds like a song Yuuji could easily have sung

2015 marked the first year in which I kept a record of every new release that I listened to and attempted to create some sort of ranking system to determine which ones I most enjoyed. This is a favourites list, not a best of list; I don’t believe that music can be reviewed objectively and thus I feel that the concept of a best of is inappropriate. Also, I’m going to mix the Japanese and non-Japanese releases together and just list them all in alphabetical order.
 

AES DANA feat. MIKTEK - Alkaline
Ambient, Electronic, IDM

 
Both AES DANA and MIKTEK are members of European label Ultimae Records; a label specialising in a distinct brand of ambient and occasionally trance-influence IDM. It should come as no surprise, then, that Alkaline is a trip through a cerebral, almost dystopian aural soundscape. It marks the second instalment of a planned three-part series of releases by the two artists. I tend to find AES DANA’s work to be most enjoyable whenever he’s collaborating with other artists and Alkaline is no exception. Despite only being three tracks long, this is one of my favourite releases by either artist.
Sample song:
 
Aureole’s latest effort is the most direct, raw and straight-forward album they’ve ever put out. Despite generally being described as a post-rock band, Aureole’s previous releases haven’t been scared to delve into other territories including considerable ambient and electronic influences. On Spinal Reflex, however, the band opted to utilise a more streamlined sound-palette (the electronic elements in particular have been notably turned down) and the result is a more tightly-focused album than any of their previous efforts. It could perhaps have had a couple more stand-out moments, but overall Spinal Reflex is Aureole’s most consistent album to date.
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One day I’ll stop shamelessly fanboying over everything that haisuinonasa does. Today is not that day. Almost two years after their previous release, 2013’s reflection, haisuinonasa came back to remind me why they’re one of the few bands I can honestly say have never let me down to even the slightest degree. 変身 is every bit as captivating as the rest of their material. Even if it’s not quite as experimental as their preceding single, it still encapsulates everything that makes this band so fascinating; it’s cerebral, unique, and utterly brilliant. New album in 2016, pretty please?
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Geskia (apparently now sans his trademark !) released both an EP and a full-length this year. As you can probably guess from their almost-identical artworks, both of them are extremely similar in sound & style and thus are included together here. Unlike the majority of his work, Geskia opted to make heavy use of vocal samples this time around, resulting in slightly less complex but in many ways more chill soundscapes that make both of these releases rather unique within his discography. Neither of them are my favourites amongst his other releases, but they’re both welcome additions to his always exemplary portfolio.
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Over half a decade on since their previous studio album, Los Angeles-based noise rockers HEALTH finally returned this year with DEATH MAGIC, arguably their most dynamic album yet. DEATH MAGIC sees the band finally embracing the pop elements that have slowly been creeping more and more into their sound whilst still retaining a large portion of their trademark noisiness. Usually the idea of a noise rock band embracing pop sensibilities would be a cause of concern, but in this case it works surprisingly well, and in fact helps to make this my favourite release by them.
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For the longest time I had ATLANTIS AIRPORT’s a [ 360° ] Cosmic Flight set to feature in my favourites of 2015 list, but after finally listening to their split with Marmalade butcher released back in October, I’ve since decided to replace it with Rembrandt rays. Normally I tend to find splits hard to enjoy as cohesive entities as the two (or more) bands involved rarely tend to gel together effectively, but in the case of these two artists that problem is nowhere to be found. Marmalade butcher contribute two solid tracks that emphasise the band’s strengths while hiding the weaknesses in thei songwriting, whilst ATLANTIS AIRPORT put out one of their strongest songs in the form LOVECRAFT MYTHOS. Solid stuff all around.
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mouse on the keys’ second full-length is probably their most dynamic release yet. Jumping from epic pieces like leviathan and the lonely crowd, to more subdued numbers like mirror of nature and reflexion, to an experimental recreation of Maurice Ravel’s le gibet. Despite their expanded stylistic palette this time around, however, mouse on the keys never lose sight of their core sound - minimally phrased piano melodies supported by the brilliant drumming of their main composer, Akira Kawasaki. It’s not a flawless release - the band still has a habit of coming off as being somewhat pretentious to me at times - but it is nevertheless one of 2015’s strongest efforts.
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After a few years of embracing their darker/heavier side (albeit with a brief break in the form of 2014’s 今日も生きたね single), THE NOVEMBERS have finally re-embraced their softer, poppier leanings for the first time since 2012’s GIFT with Elegance. Compared with their 2012 effort, Elegance is tighter, more refined, and more accessible, yet nevertheless willing to throw a curveball at you in the form of its closing track, 出る傷を探す血. THE NOVEMBERS have established themselves as one of the true standout bands in Japan’s absolutely stacked indie scene, and Elegance does nothing to suggest that things will be changing any time soon.
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the piqnic have created quite the buzz around here as of late and after listening to ZyouK it’s not very difficult to understand why. Their first official release is a well-crafted (albeit highly imitative) noise/shoegaze album that immediately earmarks the band as one of the most intriguing up-and-comers of the scene. That said, despite the albums many strengths, I’m not quite as willing to place them on the same level as say, THE NOVEMBERS, just yet. Rather they seem like a band that’s still trying to discover their own identity whilst nevertheless showing a lot potential in their songwriting abilities. I’ll be paying close attention to them in 2016.
Sample song: krs
 

사람12사람 - feels too letter
Acoustic, Chillwave, Electronic

 
SARAM12SARAM’s sound revolves almost entirely around vocalist zieum’s beautiful, wispy vocals with everything else simply serving as a musical landscape for her to play around in. It’s a simple yet highly effective approach that paid dividends on the duo’s first EP, 2013’s 빗물구름태풍태양. In comparison to that release, feels too letter isn’t quite as dark or moody and places more emphasis on the acoustic elements rather than the electronic, but nevertheless retains the duo’s core sound. In fact, if anything, feels too letter is more of a refinement of that sound than it is a progression, but it works and is, in my opinion, the stronger of their two main releases.
Sample song: Cripple
 

실리카겔 - 새삼스레 들이켜본 무중력사슴의 다섯가지 시각
Neo psychedelic, Prog rock

 
SILICA GEL’s debut EP is a wonderful, albeit short, aural acid trip. Their sound is basically a combination of predominantly-instrumental progressive and psychedelic rock mixed with a healthy dose of synth and occasional vocals for good measure. In a country where the term “indie rock” more often than not refers to chilled-out, sentimental pop in disguise, SILICA GEL are one of the few standout bands not afraid to challenge the musical norm. Hopefully this EP is just the beginning of what they have in store.
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I already wrote a larger review for this album here if anybody is interested. In short, ghost is dead marks a welcome return for one of the few bands whose music I consider very close to my heart. Kana Otsubo’s vocals remain as insanely relaxing as ever, while on the musical side the compositions feature a renewed emphasis on minimalism and subtle complexity that plays to the band’s strengths. Given the extremely busy nature of each of the members’ personal lives, ghost is dead may be the last we hear of SCLL for quite some time, but fortunately this release shows that there’s still plenty of life in the band… when they can find the time to record new music.
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I suppose I’ll get one thing out of the way early: I didn’t enjoy this release as much as IMMORTALIS. The main reason being that whereas I found their first album remarkably consistent throughout its long length, VITIUM seems to go through a notable dip in quality during its middle three songs. foster mother seems to aimlessly meander around without any direction, 雨上がりの優詩 feels like a song that the band didn’t really know how to finish and just cobbled together, and maniera seems like a song much more suited to a live setting than a studio record. That said, however, VITIUM’s strong points, most-notably leather field and focus, do more than enough to convince me that this is still one of the most intriguing CallItWhateverYouWant-Kei bands going at the moment.
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Proudly sitting alongside 실리카겔 as one of my favourite Korean rock discoveries of the year, Tierpark’s music is a delightful blend of dreamgaze, post rock, and a hint of math rock accompanied by melodic, haunting vocals courtesy of the band’s vocalist SeHee. The Moment Two Worlds Meet is a notable improvement over their previous self-titled full-length released in 2013 (although the opening track is a little on the weak side); the arrangements are tighter, the compositions more intricate, and the vocals more effectively utilised. It’s kind of like what you’d get if you took COgeNdshE’s sound but placed more emphasis on the melodic vocals.
Sample song: 명왕성
 
toe - HEAR YOU
Math rock, Post rock   For the longest time I really wasn’t sure whether I wanted to include HEAR YOU on this list. Somehow toe have managed to come up with what I consider one of the strongest albums of the year yet simultaneously one of the most disappointing. Perhaps it’s just the ridiculously high bar they’ve set for themselves over their exemplary career, or my stubborn unwillingness to fully accept their subtle stylistic developments. Either way, I can’t deny that HEAR YOU is still an expertly made album, and even in my disappointment with its relative lack of mathy elements, I can’t deny that toe achieved exactly what they set out to achieve here. There is, admittedly, a rather delightful irony about the fact that whilst Japan’s plethora of toe clones keep trying desperately to imitate the magic of 2005’s the book about my idle plot on a vague anxiety’s intricate complexities, the real thing themselves have been moving further and further away from it.
Sample song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxeQmF4sUJY'>Boyo