Visutox

Artist: cali≠gari Album: 12 01. わるいやつら (Warui yatsura) 02. 脳核テロル (Noukaku Terror) 03. 颯爽たる未来圏 (Sassou taru mirai-ken) 04. セックスと嘘 (Sex to uso) 05. トゥナイトゥナイ ヤヤヤ (Tonight Toniyayaya) 06. ギムレットには早すぎる (Gimlet ni wa hayasugiru) 07. とある仮想と (Toaru kasou to) 08. 紅麗死異愛羅武勇 (Crazy I Love You) 09. バンバンバン (Ban Ban Ban) 10. フィラメント (Filament) 11. あの人はもう来ない (Ano hito wa mou konai) 12. さよならだけが人生さ (Sayonara dake ga jinsei sa)
Rating: | A fine achievement from the masters of weird.
 
When I heard the sad news that long-time drummer Makoto was out of cali≠gari, the future did not seem very bright for the band. At least, that's what I thought. cali≠gari have been kind of slacking off in terms of releases these past few years anyway – sporadic activity, lots of live-only and fanclub-only cash grabs, you name it. I, however, cannot hate them no matter what they do, as long as they deliver quality tunes I can get into. This album continues to prove that statement right, while at the same time asserting that they remain a force to be reckoned with, even as a three-piece.

12 is another typical cali≠gari full-length (as much as you can call such a quirky band 'typical'), packed with catchy melodies and occasional crazy outbursts. The band manages to find a decent balance between those two extremes. Gone are the days of totally mental freak-outs, like "Hakkyou Channel" for example, but they can still pack a punch when needed. Case in point, take the frantic trance-like pummeling punk of an opener "Warui yatsura", or the follow-up track "Noukaku Terror." These filthy little beasts contrast well with the album's brighter and airier compositions such as the gorgeous revamped version of "Tonight Toniyayaya" (proving that the creative juices are still flowing) or the sweet closing track "Sayonara dake ga jinsei sa", reminiscent of another old tune of farewell, "Good Bye."

The best bits of 12, however, are the instances where the band isn't afraid to openly show their love for '80s new wave and pop nostalgia. Songs like "Sex to uso", "Gimlet ni wa hayasugiru" and the like are characterized by big fat slappin' bass goodness, twinkly synths, sharp cleaned-up guitar tones and… is that saxophone I'm hearing?? Clearly, they spared no creative expense when arranging these fine pieces of 'updated throwback' music. There’s even a nod towards a sort of proto-VK atmosphere (very much like what they did around 1998-1999) in tracks like the swift "Sassou taru mirai-ken," the post-punk tinged sax-o-rama of "Crazy I Love You", and the aforementioned "Sayonara…". Altogether, these colorful elements make this full-length both enjoyable for hardened, long-time cali≠gari fanatics and those new to the band's curious antics.

Overall, 12 paints a picture of a band of 'professional eccentrics' who still know how to rock out as well as craft some interesting songs. The days of youth are gone, of course, so one mustn't expect an onslaught of all-out craziness. They more than make up for that with a big bunch of catchy moments that blends their past styles and influences into a powerful mixture that sounds anything but dated. In short, this is probably the best cali≠gari has done since their comeback. I cannot wait to see & hear what the future holds!


Support the band! 12 @ iTunes (Jp)
12 @ CDJapan
12 @ Yesasia

Phantasmagoria and KISAKI PROJECT, for obvious reasons. Syndrome, MIRAGE, LAREINE, E'm～grief～, ネガ, Megaromania, ヴィドール, Vior gloire, NightingeiL, アヲイ, Malice Mizer with Gackt (let's consider them gone, really). And I might add Versailles to this, for Kamijo is just doing too well on his own to be continuing his previous band.
 
With most of these bands I grow melancholic and sad during listening sessions for no other reason than that among these are my absolute favourites. My common taste revolves around but a few considerable musicians in this scene and one in particular (we need narrate no introduction) has a habit of travelling around. Kisaki has left behind an arsenal of nostalgia and with each listen I feel myself growing closer to his music, regardless the project he was involved in during that period. I doubt he'll be willing to leave the scene anytime soon, but there is always the fear of him growing out of his current project and that will simply sting again once it happens, although I do not fear for his future all that much (aside from his health). Beyond that, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION has felt like my home since stumbling upon the label. Its dissolve has torn me and to see all these wonderful musicians scattered across the scene —or having disappeared entirely— just feels like... growing up. Children 'leave the house' eventually, and I believe the label has been a place where a lot of these men could grow up before they set out to explore new things, and new lives. I'll never forget how close of a community UNDER CODE was to me, how much of a family, not only among fans but including the musicians as well; I felt close to each and every one of them, I loved and still love each and every one of the people who have been involved in this beautiful project, and I will never forget its legacy.

new 40 minute game play demo from E3 2015
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heohAR-Ov4s
 
man every single time I see this game I get more and more excited for it, I'm so glad this is about to come out in less than 2 and a half months.

So this arises from the vault. 

Best New Tracks: May 2015

Best New Tracks is a new series brought to you by MH's Official Reviewers (ORZ)! Every month we'll be recommending brand-new Japanese songs from the recently passed month, so stay tuned! Feel free to comment or discuss any of this month's picks and even offer your own as well!
May was a busy month! We've got tons of recommendations this time around, so sit back, relax, and dig in!
Visual Kei
"午前二時 (Gozen Ni-ji)" by AvelCain

"ひどいかお2 (hidoi kao 2)" by Chanty

"キャリー (Carry)" by Develop One's Faculties

"包丁の正しい使い方～思想編～ (houchou no tadashii tsukaikata～shuusokuhen～)" by DEZERT

"Pairidaēza lost" by IX -NINE-

"The Beginning" by Royz

"Voyage" by Sadie

"Lament." by the LOTUS

"new born baby" by VERY BERRY

"Fake" by グリーヴァ (grieva)

"アネモネ (anemone)" by ペンタゴン (pentagon)

“螺旋 (rasen)” by メディーナ (Mediena)

"まつぽいよ (Matsupoiyo)" by 最上川司 (Tsukasa Mogamigawa)

Rock / Metal / Punk
"Lies And Sorrow" by 16REASONS

"Surrender" by Boris

"Ignorant Rain at the End of the World" by envy

"Feedback" by geek sleep sheep

"行く先へ手を伸ばす" (Yukusaki e te wo nobasu) by ROLE

"おかげさま (okagesama)" by SUPER BEAVER

"僕の言葉ではない これは僕達の言葉 (boku no kotoba de wa nai, kore wa bokutachi no kotoba)" by UVERworld

"Music Traveler" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen)

"売春 (Baishun)" by 女王蜂 (Ziyoou-vachi)

Indie / Alternative
"ムカデ (mukade) Starlight Ver." by amazarashi

"夏がそうさせた (natsu ga sousaseta)" by never young beach

"飾りすぎていた (kazarisugiteita)" by odol

"Anyone" by theCharmPark

“めまい (memai)”by ミツメ (mitsume)

"あぱんだ (apanda)" by 吉田一郎不可触世界 (Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World)

"i I I i...." by 湯川潮音 (Yukawa Shione)

"アニバーサリー (anniversary)" by 禁断の多数決 (kindan no tasuketsu)

Pop / Idol
"Is this call??" by BiSH

"My Heart Beat" by Crystal Kay

"DREAM" by FLiP

"LOVE" by MACO

"Now I Know" by PassCode

"Beautiful" by Superfly

"LOVE TO YOU -by CUPS-" by Suzu

"The edge of Heaven & Revolution" by T.M.Revolution

"I Believe U" by TiA

"Stay With Me" by TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

"Birthday" by 安室奈美恵 (Namie Amuro)

"TOKYO/OSAKA" by 神田莉緒香 (Rioka Kanda)

R&B / Hip-Hop
"ONE OF THEM" by EMI MARIA

"Night Club Session" by NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS

Electronic / Jazz / Other
"Speak no Evil" by Kyoto Jazz Sextet

"Ants" by nego

"doll (kidkanevil remix)" by Noah

See you next month!

-OZ-
Canzel
AWOI
Halienju (Habaki as vocals)
RED UNIVERSE
Waduru
NEGA

The song was up on youtube for some time too before it was removed. Didn't get to hear it myself, but read that it was very Slayer-esque and metalish, just like the band promised whent hey started talking about this album a soon after their previous one was released. This is gonna be so god damn good, and if they've managed a better production this time this might end up as one of the highlights of the year,

sensei finally got something i can get behind with the 2 newest songs
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG5Bc9iQfBY  My loves' comeback
 

runner up

That looks neat.

The first(?) song and video from Till Lindemann's new project Lindemann together with Peter Tagtgren is out now. Sounds a bit like expected - a mix between Rammstein and Pain. Catchy as fuck and very cool. Really like the lyrics and video too. Hah!
 

New Nile and Rotting Christ? No thank you, good sires. I am eagerly awaiting the ucoming Megiddo album though. First proper release since their last album, The Atavism of Evil, released all the way back in 2002. Excellent band, and the new tracks are stunning. It's got a real genuine old school vibe to it, it's just oozing of mid to late 80's. Fans of old Bathory, Celtic Frost and Venom should check out the band. The new track as well as the old ones, event hough the first album has more of a Beherit feel to it as well.
 

This seems to be relevant to this thread:
 
 
Looks like there is still some life in last.fm, because as a subscriber I recently got in invite to check out the beta version of the upcoming last.fm site.
If you're interested, here's some screenshots:
 
 
New profile page:

 
 
New artist page:

 
Since this is a beta and a lot of things are still very rudimentary/non-existing, I will reserve judgement on the design for now, like the round profile images or the "track name - artist name" format... but yeah, there still seems to be some developement going on.
 
There's a Followers/Following tab on the profile page, so I guess they want to put more emphasis on the social-networking aspect again? Apparently the "Following" tab is just everyone of my last.fm friends, while the "Followers" are just my 10 most recent ones... presumably the ones I got since the beta started. Doesn't make much sense, but eh... it's a beta.
 
The radio/stream function is basically just an embedded Spotify, so that's probably as deep as that feature goes.
 

Whow. I don't think I have listened to Paradise Lost since.... well, since they had a brief Depeche-Mode-worship-period in the 90s (which I thoroughly enjoyed for that matter). But this sounds pretty neat.

I can't understand how people can keep several languages active in their head, it's really impressive to me! I have a hard time keeping the 3 I "know" updated XD

New Cattle Decapitation album out on August 7.
 


 
DAMMIT, MY BODY IS SO READY.
 
Random fun fact: Phil Anselmo will be doing some guest vocals on one of the tracks~

Godawful video, but the song is actually pretty good. I'd do fine without those poppy female vocals, but aside from that it's good. Dani sounds better than he's done in years. I get a very 1998-2000 Cradle of Filth vibe from it. Hm.

Spanish and Maghrebi Arabic (which is a dialect of Arabic spoken in Maghreb, the one I speak is from Morocco) are my native languages, I learned English and French some years later. I speak these languages fluently (except that I need to improve my English). I also plan to learn two or three more languages (I have Arabic, Catalan and Greek in mind). That's all for me.

I'm totally astonished by the majority of you who took french lessons at school, I didn't know that it was so "popular" to be an option.
 

where is javascript

This is a multiple choice question.
 
MH POLL OF THE WEEK #22: What languages do you speak?
 

 
To submit a poll for the MH POLL OF THE WEEK, P.M. either @CAT5 or @beni with your poll question, choices, and state whether it's multiple choice or not.

Happy birthday you lovely lot!
 
@Visutox and @Xerath and @Kuroi Hoshii,
as well as @snackpacks and @Meuri!
^o^

Happy birthday to our dear Xerath (19) andVisutox (20) ! Let's not forget  snackpacks (24), Meuri (23) and Kuroi Hoshii (32) !

^ Good point. Would also mention Megadeth and Orphaned Land main pics. 
 
But it's weird, really, because 99% of the official pictures are awful... Must be one dude at work. In that case it would be legit to say he has no taste or even that he's the greatest troll alive. Either way he managed to make some profile pages on the website look like shit, genius. #theorizing
 
I wonder if something will change by flagging those pictures? If so, then we could use this thread to help if something. 
 
Anyway. Upvoted and suggested a correction for what you guys posted.
 
Suggest a correction for FAR EAST MENTION MANNEQUINS to FEMM, please. 
 
 

#tentacles 
 
Tekken goes Hentai with the new Yoshimitsu.

 
Harada's gonna have some problems with Warframe imo. Gotta love the look anyway.