Visutox

Tracklist:
1. 蛙-Kawazu-
2. ラブソング
3. ELISE (Type-A only)
4. 十五 (Type-B only)
 
 ｜Prosaic, but with potential
 
Should a band be held accountable for not living up to hype created by fans before they’ve released a single note of music or even revealed their identities? That’s the question I pondered as I listened to キズ (Kizu's) second, and newest, maxi-single 蛙-Kawazu-.
 
The conjecture surrounding Kizu started near the beginning of this year when a red and black flier was handed out at VK venues with precious little information other than the name of the band, details of their first show, and a phone number prominently displayed. Callers of the phone number were greeted by a recording informing them that the band would listen to “your pain, your worries, displeasure, and anxiety”.
 
All VK fans had to work with was a new, mysterious, melodramatic, emo as hell band that had left no direct clues about the members’ identities; not even a group shot in silhouette or with the faces obscured by masks! The biggest clue being that the other bands performing at Kizu's first show (DOGinthePWO, Unite) were popular bands in the scene, so this new band must be made up of people with connections… probably from playing in bands with some success themselves. This wasn’t a bunch of newbies who would be unknown whether or not their names and faces were public knowledge!
 
Little by little more info leaked out of the Kizu camp (the vocalist of the band would actually answer calls to their number, more fliers with references to despair and scars and blood and loneliness) but still no one was quite sure who was in this new band. Theories about vocalists from all sorts of recently disbanded acts were entertained. One that gained traction that I hoped would turn out to be true was that this was Karma from Avelcain’s new band. The signs were all there: Karma is the queen of teen-angst-zetsubou and these promotional materials for Kizu had that in spades.
 
When it was finally revealed that the vocalist was Lime previously of Lezard there was a collective “not bad… but I wish it had been *insert my favorite vocalist who isn’t in a band right now*”. By the time their first (extremely energetic and polished) PV came out many people had already come down from their speculative excitement.
 
With all that being said, what about the actual songs?
 
The music is not the backdrop for despair that their promo fliers would imply, which is a blessing because Lime is a capable vocalist but it’s hard to imagine him pretending to cut his wrists or mumbling to himself trying to quiet the demons in his head. In fact, the least worthwhile parts of this maxi-single come when Lime tries to showcase his harsh vocals. Too much of "ラブソング (Love Song)" is marred by Lime trying to contort his voice into shapes it just wasn’t meant to fit into. He’s much better highlighting his slightly staccato, higher range such as in the otherwise rather moribund "十五 (Juugo)".
 
Kizu is at their best playing the frenetic, vaguely djent-inspired fast-paced VK you can hear in the title track "蛙-Kawazu-" or after the jarring Beethoven intro homage has ended in "Elise". When the big riffs and digital effects combine into some bouncy, undeniably fun rock'n'roll you can see why Kizu have scheduled a second oneman live at Tsutaya O-West less than a year from their formation and having released only two singles.
 
Ultimately, I'd place my bets on the slightly brasher Razor or the even more scatter-brained Lack-co to be the 'winners' of these djent-kei experiments, but if Kizu can continue to channel the relentless energy of the performances in their PVs (shoutout to them for the throwback 'VK band in the woods' video) into their live shows and releases they should be able to make a name for themselves in the crowded and often staid VK landscape.
 
Support the band: CDJapan

Better late than never! Here's the newest batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! 
 
Check them out and let us know what you think!
@tetsu_sama69's Pick
"PM:500" by ラッコ(LACK-CO.)

I really don't know why it is that LACK-CO.'s ballads always seem to hit me in the right spot. "PM5:00"  is definitely a track to be noted (if you can look past their drummer's current visual style) with its strange power ballad styling. It's very easy to get swept away by the tidal wave of guilt and depression, leaving you stranded in a sea of psychosis emitted perfectly though tenten's vocals and the bands messy but perfect instrumentals. Granted the rap segment of the track seems very awkward but it fits for me since it feels more like the ramblings of a man questioning his choices in life. Unfortunately, since I am not fluent in Japanese, I can't translate what is being said, only what is being musically expressed and LACK-CO. definitely know how to compose a robust track that can't be categorized as something "stereotypical". I really look forward to the release of their first album 『弱肉教職』 (Jakuniku Kyoushoku) , as it's hard to predict how it's going to end up. But if it's spiced up with a track like "PM5:00", then it's sure to land a place on this year's favorites list.

 
@helcchi's Pick
"お邪魔します" (Ojamashimasu) by まみれた (mamireta)

Mamireta have brainwashed me. This song is a drug. From the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking, to the deliriously hypnotic opening riff, to the disturbing lyrical and visual themes, “Ojamashimasu” is the intoxicating psycho fix that VK has been thirsting for. This band is so shameless in expressing their corrupt morals, and so unhinged in their mannerisms, you can't help but feel like many years of lunacy have been packed into the unit's short lifespan. Laden with fast talking featuring the ramblings of a madman, the eccentric vocal delivery adds to the song's intrigue, as this trope is so steeped in VK tradition.
Whilst a passionate chorus cuts through the repetitive rhythm that has pervaded through almost half the song, it quickly spirals into a fast-paced whir of pure neuroticism, leading back into the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking that started it all.
I've lost count of how many synonyms for “crazy” I've already used in writing this, but did I mention that this band is crazy?
Let Mamireta “ojamashimasu” into your head.

 
@emmny's Pick
"朧月夜 (Oborozukiyo)" by 己龍 (Kiryu)

Kiryu have passed 10 years together as a band, a massive milestone for any band, let alone a visual kei band. To celebrate they're...throwing it back to 1997? It's no surprise that Kiryu have an old school influence, especially as the band members have been active since the early 2000's. They're just very good at infusing it into trendy structures with their loud traditional instrumentation. I, however, live for the moments in their dark tracks when they really let loose and wear some blood on their sleeves *wink*. "Oborozukiyo" is three minutes and thirty seconds of kote-kei styled mayhem, melodrama, guts, gore; it's so indulgent and obvious a throwback that it feels like an inside joke between the band and their older fans, with the youth at the butt of the joke. Of course, all parties are in gleeful, head snapping, harakiri'd joy. Mahiro's vocal gymnastics recall the tortured voices of the late 90's, but with an amazingly melodic chorus to match the growls and grunts (all on pitch by the way, eat your heart out Matina and Soleil). The trebly, pitch-harmonic laden guitar lines paired with frequent gyakudai-style rhythm shifts disorient the listener, creating an air of chaotic noise. The track is a throwback, but not a copy in anyway-  a representation fitting of an intelligent band who have grown from the scene and still know how to extract every bit of theatric gold from a sound long forgotten, keeping it fresh 20 or so years later in 2017.
 
@plastic_rainbow's Picks
"管" (Kan) by umbrella

umbrella is a band that I regrettably have not paid much attention to until recently. I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I've finally realized the greatness of their soft and melodic rock sound, plus their heartbreaking and soothing ballads are to die for. "Kan" sits as one of those beautiful tracks but takes it up another level. The beginning feels cinematic with the playing strings until a steady drum line and lovely guitar walk in. Yui's comforting vocals both sing like a slow heartbeat and an ocean wave that clashes against a rock gently; the perfect balance of softness and passion put into a ballad. Although umbrella may fall short because of their messier production, especially in their early days, they deserve much more love than they already do. I mean, if those mellow guitars don't tug at your heart strings then you must be on crack.
 
"Snow the Dark" by Spook Jack

Not being a fan of The Candy Spooky Theater, this new solo project of their vocalist Spook Jack (aka Jack Spooky) took me by surprise. While Spook Jack continues to portray his 'spooky' character, his solo work is not the usual fun spoopy-Halloween trope that The Candy Spooky Theater was. Instead, it's downright gothic and dark industrial. Apparently, Full (ex. Guniw Tools, Nookicky, Shilfee and Tulipcorobockles) collaborated with his solo project and although it's not certain how much he was involved in producing the music, some Nookicky influences can be heard. The slow tempo, the ghostly ethereal singing, the use of pianos and harmonious noises in "Snow the Dark" all make up the sound of Nookicky. However, being much darker, the track opens with a haunting industrial vibe, setting a gothic and bone-chilling atmosphere. Spook Jack's ethereal vocals tinged with a gloominess works wonderfully and reveals how mesmerizing his voice can be, unlike his The Candy Spooky Theater performances. If Spook Jack keeps this up with his new approach to a sinister and despairing night of horror, I'm all for it.
 
"ニヤ" (Niya) by Large House Satisfaction

There seem to be little to no fans of Large House Satisfaction here, so it's my job to make you start listening to them now, especially to those who like some new J-indie music. Large House Satisfaction is a three-piece band that have been around for over 10 years and play garage to classic rock music accompanied with harsh grating vocals. If you like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The Birthday, or any of Chiba Yusuke's side projects you may be interested in them. Usually their music is upbeat and faster-paced, but once in a while they'll chug out a few slower-paced songs as well. "Niya", from their newest album Highway to Hellvalley, happens to be one of those slower songs, yet is still stirred up by their punching garage-y guitar riffs and thick bass lines. The vocalist goes all out, and even sounds like he's about to croak, but his harsh singing effectively renders this piece as truly endearing. You'll be singing 'darling darling' all night once you listen to this.
 
Guest Blurbs from @Ada Suilen
 
"蛙-Kawazu-" (Kawazu) by キズ (Kizu)

In the contemporary visual kei scene, it's incredibly hard to find something appealing and worthy of some attention. One of the few times I had such a feeling has been with the second single of the new band Kizu, where the lead track "蛙-Kawazu-"shows their unexpected and engaging style: a powerful melody driven by astonishing riffs, and intense vocals by the former singer of Lezard, who seems to have found his own maturity with this new band. I can surely consider Kizu as one of the most interesting rookies of the year.
  "愚かしい竜の夢 " (Orokashii Yuu no Yume) by D D has been one of my first visual bands, and they are nowadays one of my fixed listenings. When they came back from the hiatus, they redid one of their dearest themes and tried to experiment with something new, which I enjoyed but not so much as I thought I would. But I was sure that one day this band would have found their unique energy, and in their fifth mini-album, a limited release, they used what made them so popular for the visual fans. The title track is surely one of the best works in their career, featuring an incredible mix of languages (a la Rozova Dolina) and a clash of tempos, going from soft to powerful in a blink, with a great technique and sublime vocals. If you had lost hope in D, with this track you will surely find it again.

Thank you for reading everyone!

Fucking Sweden.

Tracklist:
01. BLOOD
02. CREATURE
03. the whirl
 
| lynch. is as lynch. does
 
Either my standards have risen too high, or the floor has fallen out, but 2017 has been a symphony of bands failing to meet my expectations. No single or album has resonated with me, and I've been on the lookout for the next act ready to blow up the scene. That's why it's deliciously ironic that the one band I expect nothing new from delivered something that captures my attention, and they did it by doing what they always do.

The secret to liking lynch. is to expect nothing new. A band that's been together for thirteen years knows themselves musically, and forcing change just to change is how you end up with EXODUS. Much like their departed big brother DEATHGAZE, lynch. has a defined sound they shouldn't stray far from. They went to one extreme with pop on I BELIEVE IN ME, the other into metal with EXODUS, and yet they always come back a mix of pop and metalcore that's undeniably lynch.. BLOOD THIRSTY CREATURE is your standard lynch. single through and through, and I guarantee you already know how you feel about it before listening.

It goes without saying that I like the two new tracks "BLOOD" and "CREATURE", but I don't remember the melody from either. "BLOOD" is your two minute banger virtually indistinguishable from "BEAST", "MAD", or "ANIMA". There wasn't ever much depth in these sub-three minute tracks and "BLOOD" is no exception. "CREATURE" is the more interesting of the two new offerings, sounding like a more traditional lynch. song, and it hides its recycled parts better. I particularly enjoy the break down near the end, but I would be lying if I said that both of these tracks could have been on AVANTGARDE and no one would have noticed. The real attraction is the re-recording of "the whirl", which is low-key one of my favorite lynch. tracks due to the dynamics between soft and heavy. This contrast is not lost in the re-recording, and is perhaps even enhanced with the clean production and the grittier metal bits. I hate to say it's the best track here, because that takes away from the impact of the new material, but it is.

Don't get the wrong impression about "BLOOD" and "CREATURE" - both are fine singles and lynch. has produced far worse in the past - but that's it. A band that stays in the same musical realm for thirteen years is bound to repeat themselves eventually. The best thing about knowing what to expect is knowing what to expect, and the boys find some way to surprise me with every album. If we treat this single as a sample of what to come, the next lynch. album is shaping up to be slightly more memorable than the last.

I don't even remember which of the lynch. albums is the most recent one, but that's the price one pays for consistency.
 
 
Support the band!
iTunes

I'm sorry, but I can't actually believe that no one finds it inappropriate that things like this get dumped on the forum here?
 
I wouldn't enjoy seeing any of you naked, flustered and straight out of the shower either. As for Kisaki, he has definitely looked healthier – it wouldn't be beyond any of you to worry for his wellbeing in this case. 

Some albums to look forward to in the coming months:
 

Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs
 

Hooded Menace - Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
 

Druid Lord - Grotesque Offerings
 

Tribulation - Lady Death
 

Evilfeast - Elegies of the Stellar Wind
 

Beastiality - Worshippers of Unearthly Perversions
 

Obscure Burial - Obscure Burial
 
 
Damn, that Hooded Menace and Druid Lord covers are sweet as fuck. Awesome! Really like the cartoonish tone of the Beastiality cover (albeit a bit of a weird choice considering the music they play) and the darkness of the Tribulation Ep cover too. Looks good!

Wish I could attend to such an amazing gig! 
 
Yes, the album cover of Eroded Corridors is really spot on. Really representative of the music! Love album covers that are a true reflection of the music itself. 

Spectral Voice and Blood Incantation will have a gig here in Budapest about a week from now, so I've been spinning some of their stuff and damnnn this is some juicy filthy music right here! Good vibes, the stench of death permeating everything, likin' it.
 
Also yes, that Spectral Voice album cover is awesome as hell!

title track + MV is out!
i heard about the cowbell from some japanese gya who heard it on the radio but it's still kind of surreal to hear lmao

That Horrified cover is stunning. Woah!
 
New Summoning sounds so good. Just can't wait!

Wonder Woman - Much better than expected and a decent superhero film, but if this exact film was made by a male the hype train would not be so big. It's an original film without much origin information, way too much slow-mo and cheap-ass CGI. It takes an incredible amount of time to get going, and when it gets going it's just one poorly directed action scene after another. And even when it takes its time, like in the first half, it doesn't do much at all. It's kinda just there.
 
There's some cool and different action scenes in the film, but the majority are ruined by poor CGI and/or slow-mo. 
 
Now this sounds incredibly negative, but I thought it was decent entertainment. But there's no chance in the world it deserves its grand reviews and ratings.
 
Doctor Strange - This however is exactly how you make a superhero film. First off, Doctor Strange never feels very super. And just that alone makes it stand out a bit in the huge world of superheroes we've got today. There is some doggy CGI here, but what really makes the majority of CGI work fairly well is that it never tries to look real. The visuals is fairly trippy and weird, the origin story feels like an origin story and its tone is just very different from most other films. By far the most artistic and out-there MCU film yet.
 
Visually it feels a bit like a trippy Inception at times, only this isn't pure filth as Inception is. It's actually fairly pleasant to look at.

That moment when you find out that the guy who released one of the best death metal albums of the year worked on a Yohio album. Ehh, mixed feelings now. Oh well.
 
 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - Dead Men Tell No Tales is the shortest film of the series, but still feels like it's an hour longer than any of the previous films. Pirates of the Caribbean started off with a proper bang and The Curse of the Black Pearl is a modern action-adventure classic as far as I am concerned, but the series has gotten weaker with every film. But to my big surprise, I've actually found great/good pleasure in watching every single installment of the series...until this. It's so polished, it's so fake and it's so fucking safe and boring. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are simply the most overrated directors in Norway, and two of the most overrated directors in the whole god damned world. It was the same with Max Manus and Kon-Tiki. It's so safe. No risks taken. They just do whatever 68765716514561 directors did before them because they know it'll please the masses.
 
Fuck 'em, and fuck everyone who enjoys their garbage films.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials - I was really taken by surprise by The Maze Runner, and because of that I was really looking forward to this. But this is nothing but one big fat disappointment. It's cheap, it's lazy and it plays like a B-grade Resident Evil film. The first one had a proper story, it had character development and it had a huge sense of mystery to it. This has nothing of that. It's just another D-grade zombie film that offers nothing but some decent CGI and boring action. It had nothing to offer.
 
Really, really disappointed!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - I really liked all of David Yates' Harry Potter films, so I was naturally really looking forward to this. Did it live up to my expectations? Yeah, I'd say it did. It's not a masterpiece, but it's just a real fun, light-hearted fantasy film that draws enough from Harry Potter's universe and mythology, but without relying much on the Harry Potter films. There's just enough references to Harry Potter to give you a familiar feeling but without going to deep into those. It's a film that stands firmly on its own two feets, and it does what it does really well.
 
On the negative side there's a bit too CGI-heavy to my taste. The problem with the CGI is that it's so obvious it makes the things that are real really stand out, and that is never a good thing. 
 
As soon as the villain steps into the screen you also know who the villain of the film is. Why do it like that in a film like this?
 
Also, I am not sure what I think about Eddie Redmayne. I can't decide if I liked him or if I just want to punch his weird-ass face. There was just no energy in his performance, but at the same time I felt that it kind of suited the role he played. I'm not sure.
 
Also, because it's a small spoiler:
 

January 5th!

Cradle of Filth's Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay isn't quite as good as Hammer of the Witches, but it's very nice. They reuse much of the same elements, but it sounds a bit less black metal again. But the songwriting is really nice and there's a lot of fun going on in each track. Love the gothic atmosphere. And with gothic I don't talk about gothic as in gothic metal, but gothic as in victorian, gothic horror. I love it!
 
Sounds like a solid 8/10.

I have long wanted to watch the Undisputed series, but I never got that far. Until recently.
 
Undisputed - Really, really disappointing. I really like Wesley Snipes, I enjoy Ving Rhames and I adore Walter Hill as a director. But this did not do it for me. A mediocre boxing-drama that doesn't offer enough hights. The drama is disappointing, the characters mostly boring and the action is weak. 5/10
 
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing - Isaac Florentine takes over the direction, and the entire cast is new, even though Michael Jai White plays George "Iceman" Chambers who was played by Ving Rhames in the first film. But this is a different film in every way. Gone is the standard drama and boring bullshit. Michael Jai White's character was a antagonist in the first film, but returns as a protagonist in this film. And he is good. But even better is Scott Adkins who rules supreme in the film, and his character, Boyka, is terrific. He's not goot much meat on his bones, but he's just totally badass throughout the entire film. But the real star? The choreograph whos name I don't remember at the moment. What a fucking brilliant choreography. The way the action is choreographed, performed and filmed is very untypical Hollywood, and big budget directors won't even dream of including fights this good in their movies. And this is a fucking direct-to-video film. But the action is superb. Very asian, especially in the way it's filmed. 8/10
 
Undisputed III: Redemption - Scott Adkins and his character Boyka goes from being the antagonist to being the protagonist, and it works really well. Best character in the previous film, and he still reigns supreme in this film. So does the choreography which is again mindblowing! And once again very untypical of an american film. Amazing! 8/10
 
Boyka: Undisputed IV - The first film in the series not to have an antagonist being the protagonist, instead it continues the focus and story of Boyka. And it works. Probably the deepest and most story-oriented film of the series, but it's really well done and it works really well. But again, Scott Adkins and his character Boyka is truly amazing. But as with the previous two films, the choreography and direction os the action scenes are the true star. So fucking gorgeous. So sexy. That shit turns me the fuck on. 8/10
 

 
The fucking Guyver kick, man. Heeeeeeellz yeah!

Saw the new "It" movie last night. It was surprisingly good! Much better than the original movie. I'm not big into horror movies in general but this is an actual good quality flick that goes back to the basics of horror. Many horror movies these days rely too much on blood and gore that gives the feeling of disgust rather than the terror aspect. This however does the opposite. There were a few well crafted jump scares that actually shook me and the creep factors here, especially pennywise, were pretty effective. Oh, let's not forget about the writing. I love the dynamics of these kids in their developments. It gave us a reason to care for them, something that many horror flicks lack. Great acting too! One major criticism I had was the climax scene. I hated the way it was directed because the camera kept swaying back and forth. shaky cams, and the there were like 100 cuts in a min making me feel disorientated. This is one of my biggest pet peeves in an action scene. Yes I'm looking at you, Jason Borne movies.
 
I recommend seeing "It."

The thing that worries me is that horror is a niche genre whether we like it or not, and it's a genre that simply shouldn't please everybody. It's a genre that shall divide people. It should be as hated as it is loved. But when everyone, including people who loathe horror films in general, suddenly loves a film, it does worry me quite a bit. Call me stupid, but that's just how it is for me.
 
A film getting good reviews doesn't worry me. I love plenty films who debuted to brilliant reviews and all that. But when the the 62 year old woman I work with, who absolutely loathe horror films, love a horror film, I feel like I've got all the reason in the world to turn very sceptical.  

Guys, seriously check out the new Cannabis Corpse album. I know they seem kinda like a joke band (their song titles sure make me chuckle at least xD), but this is some of the most pulverizing, crushing, solid and catchy death metal I've heard in a while. One of my go-to feelgood bands, they always make quality stuff.

I'm not one of those who hate Myrkur with passion, but I don't like it either. Not one bit. It's shit. But after this atrocity of a cover song I hope she just drives off a cliff or gets raped by a fucking bear or something. That is awful.
 

Wizard Bloody Wizard is the title of the new Electric Wizard album. Fantastic title, and I like the cover. There was a new track up on youtube but it's taken down. Apparently Clayton has made his mark onto the band as the track has some elements of Satan's Satyrs, which I think sounds amazing. People seem to think it's hella lot better than Time to Die as well, which as well all know is a good album,b ut their worst. Looking forward to this.
 
 
The track is up on Spotify. Sounds superb!

Totally, he was just awesome. I have no comparison cuz I haven't watched the first adaptation, but I have an itch to watch this one again in the cinema soon.