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We're a bit later than usual due to all of the seasonal business, but here's our latest installment of recommended tracks! We're not quite done with 2017 just yet!!! @The Reverend's Pick "流れ☆" by Free Aqua Butterfly "Nagareboshi" by Free Aqua Butterfly I try to use writing mini-reviews for the Recommended Tracks thread as a chance to expand my musical horizons, explore things from around the varied Japanese music landscape, and share my discoveries; and then sometimes I throw those noble intentions out the window and just use this as a platform to talk about a band I really like that has released something cool lately. Free Aqua Butterfly's "流れ星" (Nagareboshi) is a pick from the latter category. Free Aqua Butterfly have been a pet band of mine since I first heard them on the Deep More Deep #3 compilation back in 2015, and they do not at all fit the mold of J-bands I usually like. I think being Visual Kei is at least partially defined by the other bands you play shows with, but Free Aqua Butterfly barely look like a VK band most of the time and have a very J-indie lineup that includes a girl on bass who shares vocal duties pretty equally. (I wonder if it's weird for her to be playing at VK event shows with 25 boys who all spend longer on their makeup than she does?) Recommended if you're looking for some catchy, sweet pop-rock that is played and presented without any pretense, or if you're intrigued by the idea of VK band using a dual-female/male-vocal setup and playing upbeat tunes that don't veer too heavily into 'oshare' territory. @doombox's Pick "PULSE" by defspiral It was nice to see defspiral back in rare form this month with “PULSE”; It’s been a while since they've been quite this leather clad and smokey eyed -- possibly not since they were in their previous incarnation as The Underneath. defspiral have been riddled with some identity issues over the years that kept them from gaining as large of a following as they deserve, but I’m glad to see they haven’t lost their spark along the way. The song’s vibe is dark, dangerous, and sexy. Basically, the perfect storm to get your heart racing! @plastic_rainbow's Pick "絲" by BABOO "ito" by BABOO Who would've thought that BABOO, one of the biggest WTF bands of 2017 with their supposedly 'kawaii' toddler-in-diapers act, would turn things around and reemerge as a band with a lot of promise? Dropping the cute and bright oshare-kei look, they've gone darker yet still embody a kind of tainted playfulness to their look and sound. Upon listening to their new single 黒白-kokuhaku-, I was blown away by the very first track, "絲" (Ito). It starts abruptly but introduces an ardent guitar that soothes an empty heart, and Bero's impressive vocals float about in the background and come back to the foreground like a guiding light as he sings with heightened emotions. If you thought the year of 2017 was feeling short on notable VK ballads, you can add "絲" to that miniscule list. With such an unexpected change in sound within one year of their formation, it's not certain whether BABOO will stick with their current direction or not, but whatever they give us next I hope it'll be just as good! @CAT5's Picks "凍狂" by 八十八ヶ所巡礼 "koukyou" by 88kasyo Junrei It's been three years since 88kasyo have released a proper album, and to the average J-rock fan that seems like an eternity. To make matters worse, the guys have teased our starving ears with a few new music videos since the end of 2016, and now going into 2018, they've yet to announce any new releases! "koukyou" is their latest appetizer and it's a delectable mix of catchy hooks and melodies offset by the band's quintessentially progressive quirk. Their sound is continually being refined, and here they've hit the perfect stride between accessibility and untrammeled instrumental wankery. In short, it's a jam! Let's just hope they actually release something new this year! "同じ夜" by DAOKO "Onaji Yoru" by DAOKO "Wait....THIS is DAOKO????" is exactly what I thought when I first heard this track. It's dark, cinematic, atmospheric and dare I say 'mature'-sounding? Basically, the song is a stark contrast from the 'kawaii' hop-hop of her early career and miles away from the nondescript Jpop fodder that she's releasing now. It's produced by indie up-and-comers D.A.N., which explains why it's so different for DAOKO, as it essentially sounds like one of their songs with her on vocals (which is actually an improvement over D.A.N.'s tonedeaf vocalist, but I digress). It's great to hear DAOKO excel in a style so foreign from her usual, and although this song is a one-off, it shows that she has the ability to morph and adapt to the artistic inclinations of her producers. I just hope she does more cool collaborations in the future, because I could take an entire album of this! "鏡面の波" by YURiKA "Kyoumen no Nami" by YURiKA I'm a HUGE haisuinonasa fanboy, so as soon as this song started and I heard the robotic vocal lines, the strategically place guitar-flourishes, and the single piano hits that sound like raindrops gracefully hitting the ground one by one, I KNEW this was produced by Yoshimasa Terui! His style is unmistakable, and YURiKA sounds right at home with it. I love how Terui brilliantly tailors his mathy and experimental tendencies to the kind of wondrous and imaginative pop soundscape that you'd expect from an anime OP - all without sacrificing ingenuity for accessibility. I haven't heard every OP of 2017, but I love Terui's work so much that i'd proudly deem this the best anime theme of the year anyways! - Liked our list? Have some new recommended tracks of your own? Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts!

Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @The Reverend's Pick "Lunar Regret" by BLESS THIS MESS At first blush "Lunar Regret" is just another VK song in a long history of mediocre tracks released by nobody visual kei bands. It's got all the hallmarks: the band playing in a nondescript basement, frilly black jackets, piano in the intro that isn't quite necessary, a drummer consigned to the shadows because he's not actually in the band, random stock footage of things that set a mood but don't really say anything. But then you start to notice the things that make this track a winner: a band with the patience and maturity to let the song breath and introduce elements gradually, the vocalist's unique timbre that makes you think you could actually identify him without the band's name on the screen, the chorus being catchy as hell, the guitarist Kevin Shields-ing a smart guitar solo that doesn't just ape the vocal melody, and the band interacting in natural ways in the video! (Don't get me started on this tangent... why do so many VK bands seem to only acknowledge they're sharing a stage with other people during the prescribed 'this-is-our-fanservice-minute' portion of a show?? I blame Dir en grey) I'm rooting for BLESS THIS MESS to have success and find a wider audience with the backing of their new label home Starwave. This video may have been released slightly too early to be a teaser for an album that doesn't drop until December, but if this is a taste of what's to come I'm excited for their future. Fingers crossed Yanagi stays healthy!! @emmny's Pick "症状4" by SCAPEGOAT "Shoujou (shi)" by SCAPEGOAT Back at it again, our consistency legends SCAPEGOAT are continuing to snatch the wigs firmly off our heads. They've been on a murderous streak for the past three years (*wink*), combining mid-era DIR EN GREY heaviness with Royz-core melodicism. The basis of their sound isn't new, but the band's execution is god-tier, resulting in some of the strongest songs to come out of the scene in the past few years. I had written them off for a while simply because they weren't a superlative band--they weren't 'br00tal', highly technical, virtuosic, challenging, über melodic or with shocking presence. They're a middle of the road band--but they're far from average. "Shoujou shi" is a perfect example of their trademark compositions. Haru's raspy vocals ratchet up the tension, but it never culminates in a screaming match--rather gang shouted, exclaiming 'despair" among his yells. Guitar and bass are simple, laying a firm rhythm while the band's trademark circus-y synth/guitar occupy the lead space. The structure follows like clockwork, from fist bumping riffs, blastbeats and key change to a dazzling chorus; rinse, repeat and topped off with a beautiful vocal solo toward the end. A track this good off another of SCAPE's concept mini-albums has me literally counting down for October when it drops...let's see what other medication the band have prescribed for us. @plastic_rainbow's Pick "Utopia" by Behind the Shadow Drops If you haven't heard yet, Takaakira 'Taka' Goto, the guitarist and composer of post-rock band MONO, released an album titled H a r m o n i c under a new solo project called Behind the Shadow Drops. Being less rock and metal oriented, the album breathes out an ambient and neoclassical soundscape full of melancholy with a tiny glimmer of hope, portraying much of the orchestral side of MONO. There were many remarkable tracks from the album; it was hard to pick just one track to recommend, but of the many standouts, "Utopia" presents a refreshing taste to MONO listeners. Contrary to its title, the track sounds nothing like bliss, rather expressing a desolate and haunting view of the world. The intro leads a trip-hop beat with a blaring noise in the background as an eerie drone seeps in. The guitars lament in a melody and the strings sway in a sad prayer. "Utopia" feels like you're losing your mind slowly when everything has become blurry and deafening, yet it is somehow quite soothing at the same time due to its subtlety. I'm very pleased with this new solo project of Taka and wonder if he will have anything else planned in the near future. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "puzzle" by アルルカン "puzzle" by Arlequin Overall, 2017 has been an extremely solid year for Arlequin and they seem to have no intention of slowing down or releasing anything but pure bangers. Not a trace of overwhelming bloops to be found or predictable br00tal breakdowns. "puzzle" is a sweet refined candy that you can't help but hit the replay button to get another wonderful taste. It's hard to pick out a favorite part of "puzzle" since the composition is so damn top notch and the vocals take the perfection up another level. I'm a major fan of when both guitarists play an amazing solo together, especially since Kuruto and Nao have no issues keeping up with each other to make it shine brilliantly. If you haven't already been charmed by Arlequin, then I highly recommend anything they've released this year since none of it has fallen short. @doombox's Pick's "グラスの底は、夜" by JYOCHO "Glass no soko wa, yoru" by JYOCHO Math rock isn't normally my gig, but every once in a blue moon a song gets a hold on me. "グラスの底は、夜 (Glass no soko wa, yoru)" happened to do it this month and I got sucked into the emotional ebb and flow of the track. There's a wonderful musical contrast JYOCHO has that takes their math-y, complex time signatures and put them across in a very restrained, almost minimal fashion. I can really dig their gentler approach. Maybe JYOCHO will finally be my foot in the door to dive into this genre properly, what about you? "Phoenix" by SEVER BLACK PARANOIA The boys are back with a new release and a new label, recently making the switch to Epictive Records. As one of the bands still carrying the electronicore torch they maintain a blend of metal with it that's become rare after most bands in the scene chased the popularity of more dance-able EDM or have disbanded over the years. "Phoenix" is a great showcase of all the elements that make this band great and only getting better. It's a good place to start if you've never heard of SEVER BLACK PARANOIA before, or something to hype you up even if you have. Guest Submissions: @Ada Suilen's Picks "Mademoiselle" by KAMIJO After the glorious return of his historical band Versailles, Yuuji Kamijou turns back to his solo project, where he continues to be majestic, starting from the sublime "Castrato" (where he shows a great improvement in his English). In this new track, after having tricked us with a goth industrial look, the Prince kicks out a ballad which goes back in time, recalling the nostalgic work of Lareine's best tunes and a bit of personal fascination, in a tender melody and sweet vocals, showing that Kamijo hasn't lost his 'tendresse'. "Sadistic Emotion (D'Erlanger cover)" by Kiyoharu With a thrilling line-up worth of guys like Hyde, Kiyoharu, Dir en Grey, Acid Android, Mucc and Merry among others, the D'Erlanger tribute album is a real attraction for true J-rock adepts, especially for the lineage that band has for the scene itself. All the interpretations were made different from each other, but Kiyoharu made something which no one expected: he Kuroyume-ized the famous hit "Sadistic Emotion," driving it with deep vocals and an engaging rhythm, with a sumptuous touch of nostalgia. In general, "Stairway to Heaven" is only for true J-rock lovers, so listen to it as soon as possible! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @doombox's Pick "Black owl" by Leetspeak monsters I'm a bit regretful I didn't hear about this band until they stepped up their monster-inspired theatrics and landed on the visual kei circuit this year. Especially as "Black Owl" isn't exactly a new song. It's been around for a few years now, but thankfully Leetspeak used it as the promotional track for their new mini album set to be released through GLK Music. And with how catchy the track is, it totally deserves a second spin for a new audience. Monster costumes and rap rock aren't the most original concept at this point, but it's been a while since a darkly-themed band came in not abiding by the hackneyed VK song structure. It was also a nice surprise to see an uncredited guest feature from Xavie (vocalist of revenge my LOST) even with his leftover fabric scrap cape (gold star for effort, I guess). If you're down for a bit of early Halloween fun, you should give this song a shot. @CAT5's Pick "ANGELNOIR" by 青葉市子 "ANGELNOIR" by Aoba Ichiko I might just be a hopeless Ichiko Aoba fanboy (and I am :P), but I don't think it would be farfetched to call her one of the most outstanding Japanese musicians active today. Wielding virtuosic, classical guitar skills and an angelic croon that could melt even the toughest of hearts, she's paved her very own lane in the industry with a folk sound that could only be described as otherworldly. Even when she ventures outside of her usual, acoustic dwellings, she still invokes that same magical quality - whether she's working with quirky, electro-guru Cornelius or Jazzy hip-hop instrumentalists Ovall. Such is also the case on her latest collaboration "ANGELNOIR", produced by little-known indie-pop outfit detune. for the supernatural anime 18if. Ichiko's warm, yet enchanting vocals lead us through a mysterious mirage of intricately layered electronics and orchestral flourishes, underpinned by a calculated rhythm section. The song culminates beautifully in the chorus, with the backing guitars employing an airy, shoegazy effect for good measure. It's yet another testament to not only Ichiko's choice of quality collaborators, but her ability to create viable music regardless of context. @qotka's Pick "わたしみ" by 大森靖子 "Watashimi" by Oomori Seiko Oomori is a tough one. She's been referred to as everything on the scale from 'nice/terrible meme' to 'the next Shiina Ringo' (still searching for clarifications on this last one). "わたしみ" was not what I was going to write about this month, but the magnitude of its punch when I first listened to it forced me to. This gust of raw energy is the coupling track for singer-songwriter's Seiko-chan's latest single, "draw (A) drow", a song composed by TK of Ling Tosite Sigure, and it's as astonishing as you'd expect a power combo of this caliber to be. But if you want to hear what Oomori Seiko really is all about, I'll recommend starting from the b-side "わたしみ", because while it's not readily digestible, it lets a certain raw, soul-baring essence, something that usually dies once a song is recorded, shine through. This simple and mellow acoustic pop ballad starts with Seiko sounding really tired, and just as it builds up to a point of crushing breakdown, she literally breaks down into a shrieking a capella mess that to some may sound painful but also full of emotion. This is perhaps one of the best translations of how her songs sound live into a studio recording. If you like your singers-songwriters messy and over the top, you've found the one. @Seimeisen's Picks "盲目であるが故の疎外感" by MUCC "Moumoku de aru ga Yue no Sogaikan" by MUCC The absolute banger of 新痛絶 (Shin-tsuuzetsu)! On the original 痛絶 (Tsuuzetsu), "盲目であるが故の疎外感" was the penultimate track; on the second pressing, entitled 痛絶〜印象違〜 (Tsuuzetsu - Inshouchigai), it was the post-intro opener and really didn't feel like an opener at all. On 新痛絶, MUCC managed to take a 'near the end of the album' type of song and make it an exciting opener bursting through the doors to the "New Absolute Pain" that's ahead. All it took was a different key, a new 40 second intro, and an incredible new atmosphere. You don't even need that static intro track on 新痛絶, not with this gem. "僕が本当の僕に耐えきれず造った本当の僕" by MUCC "Boku ga Hontou no Boku ni Taekirezu Tsukutta Hontou no Boku" by MUCC The greatest difference 新葬ラ謳 (Shin-homura Uta) has to offer. They really took this song and breathed life into it. I never really paid attention to the original on 葬ラ謳 (Homura Uta), it just never interested me, but this new one is absolutely outstanding! Another example of how playing a song in a different key can make quite a difference. Frankly, I never paid much attention to 葬ラ謳 in general, but the release of 新葬ラ謳, especially this new version of "僕が本当の僕に耐えきれず造った本当の僕 (Boku ga Hontou no Boku ni Taekirezu Tsukutta Hontou no Boku)," sparked a great interest in the album, both the original and the new, leading me to 'get to know' and grow to appreciate it. Some re-recordings may not live up to the originals, some might be just on par, but just a few, especially this track, blow the original out of the water. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "紅い意図" by CLØWD "Akai Ito" by CLØWD I'm writing judgement tickets for anyone who's been passing up the chance to listen to anything CLØWD has put out. At the start you think with the slow opener this is just going to be another boring visual ballad, but that peaceful set-up is thrown out the window once the guitars kick in. CLØWD definitely shows off their veteran badges with "Akai Ito" by composing a song overflowing with powerful emotions. You can feel the tension of a struggling relationship within the flow of fervent instrumentals and passionate vocals. I've been hooked on CLØWD since they first popped up on the scene in 2015, and since then they've grown exponentially with every release. If "Akai Ito" is anything to go by then there's little stopping CLØWD's momentum with future releases. @plastic_rainbow's Picks "夕轟" by マルコ "Yuu Todoroki" by Marco With two of the members leaving in September, Marco is living on the edge as they continue their way up. Thankfully, the remaining members have already stated that they will not disband just yet. If you are new to these guys, Marco are often compared with early Merry, mostly due to the strong similarities between the vocals, but I think listeners who enjoy VK from the 2000s, especially the mid-2000s, will enjoy Marco just as much. In fact, all of the members were previously in bands that were fairly well-known around the time, such as CindyKate, Order Made, JIVE, and SectMa. Marco sounds nothing like the aforementioned bands however, but the mid-2000s vibe is there. Before their lead guitarist and drummer officially leave the band, Marco drops in a phenomenal track one last time as a 5-piece band. "Yuu Todoroki" is less energetic than their previous works and instead brings out a soft retro rock sound. The impressive guitar work has always been a strong point of the band, and here they emit a luscious blues tone. Top it with Rei's alluring and rough vocals and you've got a feast for your ears. But let's not ignore all the splendid work done on the jazzy bass lines and guitar chords along with the soft drumming as well. It may be hard to imagine how Marco will manage from now on with their drummer and lead guitarist leaving, and a very talented guitarist at that, but I look forward to hearing more stuff from them again. "ワールドエンドサイレン" by lical "World End Siren" by lical If you haven't been checking up too closely on the Japanese indie scene like me you might have missed these guys. "World End Siren" comes from lical's new album titled Koto no Hanataba, Suisou to Kaisei that released not too long ago in June. It immediately opens with some mellow guitar chords and a distant train alarm, building a rush of energy. The jumping bass lines and light female vocals sound quite pleasing to the ears, but the blaring eccentric guitar riffs are the ones that take the cake. A few mathy influences can be heard as well and the distant train alarm from the beginning comes back again like a gentle warning. "World End Siren" for the most part may sound like a typical indie rock song, but the bouncy and hopeful depiction of a path full of risks makes it worth a listen and a fun track to jam out with. @fitear1590's Picks "螢の瞳" by アンフィル "hotaru no hitomi" by anfiel I'll try not to bore you with the nitty-gritty of my love-hate relationship with anfiel (please don't report me to hiroki). Essentially, they're a band I've always wanted to like, but after their first two singles, something just hasn't been clicking. Well, their latest single "hotaru no hitomi" might just break the spell. Stripping back the band's sound does wonders, especially because one of my biggest gripes with their past work has been the production of their electronic arrangements. With the setup in this track, the melancholy guitar riffs and robust basslines get to shine. The best compliment I can give this track is that it reminds me of UNiTE.'s similarly 'au naturel' single "ハートレス クラシックメモリー (Heartless Classic Memory)."If you're fed up with the hyper-screechy synth'd up VK of today, anfiel's newest single provides a breath of fresh air. "夏の客船" by ウワノソラ "natsu no kyakusen" by Uwanosora Uwanosora have been putting out music in various interconnected projects for a couple years now. My personal favorite is the side-project Uwanosora'67, which, if the number cued you, puts out tunes with a classic 60s girl-group flair. Now back in their original form, regular Uwanosora is gearing up for an album release later this year. To generate buzz for that, their first single from the album "natsu no kyakusen" is a beautiful, laid-back ballad and the PV's blue skies and ocean match the heartfelt soundscape perfectly. The entire experience is as calming as sitting on the coast and taking in the gentle breeze. I'm hoping the whole album will be on par with this! @emmny's Pick "愛という、変態" by gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy "Ai toiu, hentai" by gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy Love, a pervert. Another year, another mind-blowing release from experimental rock provocateurs gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy. "Ai to iu, hentai" is their first MV and a macabre look down into the rabbit hole (literally). Slick, sexual and more than a bit perverted, the song lives up to its namesake. The repetitive, skittery instrumentation reminiscent of merry go round spars with Sakura's challenging, rolling drum line while Kazuma's maddened crooning envelops the air. The song moves with a flow not unlike intercourse, coming to crashing climaxes and sudden halts before starting again and coming to another roaring blitz of noise. The first half of the song is foreplay, and the second half is whatever else you want it to be--an onslaught of sound and sensation. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

Greetings, MH! Another month, another batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @plastic_rainbow's Picks "天上天下" by ARCHEMI. "Tenjou Tenge" by ARCHEMI. Using religious themes like Hotokesama - which refers to Buddha - worship and spiritual enlightenment along with a heavy and aggressive sound, ARCHEMI. stands out from most VK bands. They recently gained a new drummer and now continue as a 4 member band once again. Although their new drummer Maya previously performed in a visually brighter band, Aloud, his fast-paced drumming works well with ARCHEMI.'s tumultuous force. Their newest single includes three equally good tracks - the fourth one being an SE - , of which "Tenjou Tenge" is the most refreshing. Instead of rehashing their overdone but brainwashing-in-a-good-way Hotokesama worship, the shouting of 'soiya soiya soiya', the beating of taiko drums, and flute in "Tenjou Tenge" evoke a traditional Japanese spirit. That being said, ARCHEMI. still have their furious bang down with the highly addictive heavy metal riffs and rushed drumming. Listening to ARCHEMI. is like following an underground cult, and the enthralling chants and head bursting screams spewed by Isami will drag you into a dark and calamitous spiritual adventure between heaven and earth. If you've never heard of ARCHEMI., you are totally missing out. "鮮やかな矛盾" by NoGoD "Azayakana Mujun" by NoGoD Picking up in quality again, the year so far has been looking good for NoGoD after the blasting release of Missing several months ago. They continue their successful streak by dropping another outstanding track that is "Azayakana Mujun". It brings back the softer and more poignant sound reminiscent of their indie days. Or to be more specific, I'd say that it carries the very essence of their album Mugenkyou, which was when the band peaked. Danchou's vocals become most effective when he exerts his voice in a wistful way, which he has not done in a while until very recently. In "Azayakana Mujun", the intro begins instantly with Danchou's passionate vocals, but later includes calming spoken word as well. One thing that NoGoD always excel at is the ability to contrast the silent and loud moments in a compelling way. You can especially hear this when the powerful guitar solo follows right after Danchou's soft spoken words backed up by tranquil guitar melodies. If you thought NoGoD would never produce anything as good as what they did in their heyday, I recommend that you check out "Azayakana Mujun" and think again. "昏睡" by SCAPEGOAT "Konsui" by SCAPEGOAT With their sound growing sharper each time, SCAPEGOAT has put out a killer tune yet again. Unlike their previous songs, however, the intensity and beauty of "Konsui" will surely make you listen to it nonstop. Shifting between a heavy and slow tempo, the track manifests the very feeble moment of being torn between life and death. It opens with heavy guitars and the muttering of Haru's sullen voice, giving it a sinister quality. Then, as if a helping hand reaches out to you, the trickling piano miraculously opens a door of light to illuminate a groovy ballad. The mellow guitars and soft bass lines plucked from a double bass barely border on art-kei, and Haru's compelling vocals breathe out a transient repose until all hell breaks loose again. Continuing as they are, I expect that SCAPEGOAT will keep on delivering stellar tracks such as "Konsui". "青年ナイフ" by ニトロデイ "Seinen Knife" by Nitro Day I bring you another great YouTube find, and one that shows a lot of promise! Nitro Day is a very young indie rock band that began activities just last year. Despite being new to the scene they are already growing fast, and with good reason. "Seinen Knife" demonstrates all of the stunning talent from the young 4-piece band. Right from the beginning, the striking high-pitched guitar notes and smooth bass lines lead you to their robust and dynamic sound. The unique and emotive vocals, which might be too nasal for some, are the front wheel that drives the band's gripping momentum, while the more laid-back drummer keeps them in pace. They are one of those bands that can only make you think 'they’re cool' as you listen in awe. If I have to describe their sound though, they are like an alternative noise rock band with an emo and punk edge. Nitro Day are already receiving comparisons with huge J-indie acts like Number Girl and Bloodthirsty Butchers and could be the next band to lead the increasingly stagnant scene. I insist that you give them a listen now. "Sorry, I Am Not" by SHE TALKS SILENCE SHE TALKS SILENCE is a minimal noise and shoegaze DIY solo project led by Minami Yamaguchi that began way back around 2009. She's had a few supporting members in the past, but has been working completely solo again starting this year after her drummer left to pursue her own music path. In the early days of SHE TALKS SILENCE, Minami was very rough in her music writing, but has improved greatly over the years with better production as well. The newest song she wrote, "Sorry, I Am Not", comes from an album of the same title released this month, which also compiles her older songs from when the drummer was still around. In "Sorry, I Am Not", Minami sings in her whispery style, as she always does, accompanied by eerie guitar melodies, a constant bass drum, and clattering noises, making it one of her more haunting songs. Still, there remains a tangible sweetness from her gentle voice that floats like an angel's feather amidst the dark atmosphere. I admit that the choppy bass lines do need some polishing, but the simple melodies and mellowness of noise as expressed by SHE TALKS SILENCE may be for you if you've never heard of them. @qotka's Pick "雨” by 游彩 "Ame" by Yusai While desperately searching, which is what I call mindlessly droning through YouTube these days, for some new decent angura-kei to heal my weaboo heart, I ran into a band called Zin on several occasions. Zin were a sweet yet hardly memorable mixture of that traditional-Japanese-sound infused rock and oshare-kei pop. This fragile bunch disbanded late last year only to reemerge as Yusai a few months later, sporting a more leathery look and slight stage-name changes. "Ame" is Yusai's second single and it paves their way into a darker, somewhat more sophisticated form of existence. The intro almost sounds like a generic start to a nu-metal anthem, but it breaks down into a solid, mid-tempo ballad that elegantly mixes in a sequence of electric shamisen chords without making it sound forced or artificially glued onto the track. But what made me go back for a ridiculous number of listens this past month was Rui Amane's laid-back vocals. His voice is not exceptional but he knows how and when to use it, keeping it on the low side for most of the track and saving those miserable, characteristically v-kei wails only for when they're really called for to create maximum impact. Another thing to notice about "Ame" is the great bass work, especially after the first chorus. If you like your bass strong and distinct, I recommend listening to this one with headphones on. Only time will tell what will become of Yusai in the long run, but they're definitely off to an interesting (re)start. @emmny's Pick "虚言癖" by DAMY "Kyogenheki" by DAMY I don't think it's any surprise that the more 'heavy' or 'abare' styled bands are more or less flopping lately, as the songwriting tends to be subpar compared to more melody-loving bands. It's a problem DAMY had suffered from in the past as well, with sloppy song structures and messy playing made up for only by the pure aggression and despair conveyed by the band. They have hinted at their abilities with "Obutsu" from their last album, but never quite hit that peak again. Every once in a while, a bop comes out of the indies scene so damn good that everyone--ghost writers, bandmen, fans of other bands--are left clutching their pearls, permanently shook. Much to everyone's surprise, mine included, "Kyogenheki" is that song. They've definitely got a new ghost writer stepped their game up all the way around and wrote a cohesive, heavy-yet-melodic banger that doesn't sound like a DEZERT song but definitely keeps that influence obvious. The most notable change here is in the percussion and vocals department, with Ryo taking out the over-the-top zetsubou vocalizations and replacing it with Chiaki's signature sing-talk-whatever while still keeping his whine in there. Miharu, once a roadie for DEZERT is starting to show off his chops, with an incredibly rhythmic drum line and sharp little frills and fills that definitely recall his mentor's drumming style. I don't have enough good things to say about this, DAMY have definitely established themselves as serious contenders. @helcchi's Pick "⚪︎と×" by ザアザア "Maru to Batsu" by Xaa-Xaa Xaa-Xaa are exceptionally adept at writing ballads, with Kazuki's soulful voice compellingly conveying emotion and psychological conflict. Their newest release "Maru to Batsu", continues their creative streak. While "Maru to Batsu" might not be as haunting as 2015's "Yukidokei" nor as sorrowful as last year's "Shizuku", those upbeat tunes still hit you with sentimentality, for they are sure to evoke a wave of nostalgia. Working early 00s melodicism into a repeating chorus that's strongly reminiscent of "endless loop" by ROUAGE, and with a sound that's manifesting in Kagerou's influence, "Maru to Batsu" is an injection of all the feels. Let this song transport you back into the past. @tetsu_sama69's Pick "burst" by Zill I have an extreme weakness when it comes to anything Cra gets herself wrapped up in, even if it usually only ends up being something temporary. I am hoping that Zill is something that ends up having a much longer lifetime, as their first release Adam is already overflowing with potential. All three tracks on the single are very strong, but "burst" ended up getting my attention. It's got a catchy rhythm that gives you such a rush of energy it's hard to sit still while listening to it. The breakdowns give "burst" the chance for you to enjoy a fair bit of headbanging fun between the melodic full course meal that Zill delivers. If you find yourself thirsting for a visual band that relies purely on musical prowess instead of synths and metalcore, then Zill will definitely sate your tastes. @The Reverend's Pick "Dystopia -Vanishing Point-" by Boris You know how songs get labeled 'epic' just cause they're kinda longer than normal? Even though Boris often deserve it, I am going to purposefully not levy that trite praise on the penultimate track from their new album Dear (even though it is twelve minutes long!) The first half of "Dystopia" is really just a chance to set the stage for the climactic guitar solo that makes up the last five minutes of the song. Kind of like someone shushing you because the good part of a a movie they've already seen is coming up soon. And what a guitar solo it is! It sounds like a savant who has never actually touched a musical instrument got handed a guitar; the first couple minutes are full of awkward tone and fits and starts while this hypothetical 6-string genius gets comfortable with the instrument prior to unleashing some magic. But as soon as it comes together, boy is this song powerful! Alternatively, I'd compare it to those baby giraffes that stumble around immediately after being born, but before you know it are galloping confidently with their mothers. Not quite the usual doom/noise dirge preferred by Boris when they write such long songs, "Dystopia" is certainly full of melancholy, but is also undeniably beautiful. Check this one out if you've been scared off by how *dense* the band usually is! @CAT5's Pick "声飛行" by Gutevolk "koe hikou" by Gutevolk It's been seven years since singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Gutevolk (Hirono Nishiyama) released an album, but she's back in full effect with the leading track from her upcoming release titled, Gutevolk no koe hikou -Hello Tiny People!I Will Catch You-. "koe hikou" sports a prominent, pop-style beat, which instantly sets it apart from the subtle instrumental subtlety of Nishiyama's past works. Outside of that, however; this is vintage Gutevolk. Whispery, dreamlike vocals? Check. Whimsical, childlike melodies? Yep. Colorful, beautifully layered instrumentation? Of course! All the charm of Nishiyama's lighthearted indie-pop has remained perfectly intact over nearly a decade of radio-silence. The album sounds set to be a winner! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on the list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, we look forward to seeing your comments below!

Welcome back the Official Review Team's monthly Recommended Tracks series! We hope you've all been well and enjoying this month's music. Here are some more songs we want to make sure you didn't miss. @tetsu_sama69's Picks "のんれむはぐるま" by ナイトメアシンドローム "Nonrem Haguruma" by Nightmare Syndrome "VOMITER" by THE BLACK SWAN "滅亡のブルース" by ラッコ "Metsubou no Blues" by LACK-CO. "強くてNEW GAME " by メトロノーム "Tsuyokute NEW GAME" by Metronome @fictioninhope's Picks "Surrender" by FAKY "animus" by FAMM'IN @emmny's Picks "真っ赤な嘘" by アルルカン "Makkana Uso" by Arlequin "孤独癖のメメント・モリ" by CANIVAL "Kodokuheki no Memento Mori" by CANIVAL "優しい世界" by シェルミィ "Yasashii Sekai" by Shellmy Guest Submissions "Calling" by Vamps "ぐちゃぐちゃ" by ザアザア "Guchagucha" by XAA-XAA If you'd like to submit songs for next month's recommendations list please contact @doombox for more information. Thanks for stopping by, we hope you enjoyed!

Greetings, MH! The ORZ staff are back with our latest batch of recommended tracks! Feb. was a pretty delectable month, so let's waste no time and dig right in! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @emmny's Picks "アイラク偽心" by 游彩 "Airaku Gishin" by Yusai ex-Zin members' (minus ex-vocalist Riku) new band Yusai offers more or less of the same thing Zin were known for: a japonesque sound that was decent but not quite Kiryu. That's not as bad of a thing as it sounds, Kiryu's ADHD sound is a bit much at times. Yusai keep the angular guitarwork, sharp melody, funky rhythm and traditional instrumentation accents while keeping it concise and catchy. Amane (once on guitars as Luy) has a husky yet nasal voice which adds an interesting contrast to the instrumental track. This shouldn't be too much of a surprise given Zin's uncanny strength in composition. Keep 'em on your radar, ladies and gentlemen! "幽囚谷のバッタ" by ラッコ "Yuushuudani no Batter" by LACK-CO. Vk troublemakers LACK-CO. are back with another wacky song (and even wackier accompanying music video) which I happened to enjoy more than their prior output. As now typical of their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style, the song has thrashy verses, a breakdown, swing sections and delicate jazzy, clean passages reminiscent of Moran and Chemical Pictures. I can't even tell what's going on half the time, but this jazz-kei bastard child has enough going on between the complex guitar work, lovely yet forceful vox and wild rhythm section to keep me amused for its brief three minute run. "失明" by グリーヴァ "Shitsumei" by Grieva Grieva is dead. The vintage DEG and Madeth gray'll kote-kei satan spawn is no longer. What have we done to deserve such a fate? The end was near with the release of Konton no hako and the nail in the coffin was hammered in by "Liar..." and its alt-metal-isms. It was probably Grieva's roughest era, being all over the place stylistically. Now we have the next phase, a splice of their old sound and....*gasp* TMOAB-era DEG. I'm proud to report that it is the best thing the band have done in a while. "Shitsumei" removes the worn 90's riffs and fills them in with mid-00's metalcore riffing, all while keeping the 90's charm and incredible ear for melody intact. Grieva sound entirely re-energized and ready to plagiarize some more, thank god! @Zeus's Pick "Lineage" by Versailles Versailles is a band that takes pompous as a compliment, and from music to visuals they've built their brand on being larger than life. Lineage is both the release and the song that restores luster to a band that had lost their way. I extolled the virtues of "La Musique" in my full-length review of Lineage〜薔薇の末裔〜, but this is the track that defines the mini-album. I'm loving how the violin and keys direct the melody without overpowering the metal. The progressive elements come in at the right moments and introduce enough variance to prevent stagnation. KAMIJO's charisma is still as infectious as ever and the instrumental portions of songs feel much more theatrical and less like a showcase for HIZAKI and TERU's skills. Versailles does not often release namesake tracks on singles - in fact I believe this is the first - so not only is this a pleasant surprise, but it speaks to the confidence of KAMIJO in his band and this song when he penned it. This is a track I can play all day. @fitear1590's Picks "フラブジャスナハト" by グリモア "Frabjous Nacht" by GRIMOIRE Since 2015, GRIMOIRE has risen to become one of my favorites among indies neo VK. They've consistently delivered atmospheric, haunted house tunes mediated through high-concept visuals and surprisingly glossy PVs. While I can understand their main criticism--that they can be a bit too 'samey'--"Frabjous Nacht" looks to break the spell. On top of being their most standout title (lol, I still can't get over the word 'frabjous'), it's one of their most unique compositions. Verses have a slow, hypnotic quality and the track sports some of their most technical guitarwork so far. They're now apparently on Timely Records (home to the likes of other all-caps bands like XAA-XAA and DADAROMA), so I hope more people will take note of GRIMOIRE in all their 'frabjous' glory. "偽物の宴" by 眩暈SIREN "nisemono no utage" by memai SIREN Somewhere down the line, memai SIREN was recommended to me on YouTube. "Nisemono no utage" has a lot of interesting crossover appeal. It's part anime OP song, part Paramore-style power pop, part uplifting VK number (that guitar melody at :14 is something classic I could see MegaMasso doing). On top of that, the video is pretty striking, combining the pseudo-silhouettes of the band members over projected imagery that oscillates between organic and geometric designs. "夕闇に鳴動する衝動と幸福の在処" by Soanプロジェクトwith手鞠 "yuuyami ni meidou suru shoudou to koufuku no arika" by Soan Project with Temari Last month, Soan (ex-Moran) showed us a darker/heavier side in his surprising collaboration with Akuta (Chanty, ex-Administrator). This month, the art kei dial got turned up to 11 by enlisting the help of Temari (ex-Amber gris). It's a complete 180 from the previous release, nixing percussion and rock instrumentation in favor of a more sublime, orchestral sound. From the crisp piano that could adorn any Ghibli feature to the heart-wrenching, dramatic strings, Soan and Temari have crafted something divine. Soan Project is clearly a multi-faceted venture, so even if the first mini didn't tickle your fancy, you still owe it to yourself to check this one out. @CAT5's Picks "Change your mind" by 雨のパレード "Change your mind" by ame no parade I've long been critical of ame no parade (amepare for short) and not out of some unrooted distaste for their music, but because I am genuinely fond of them and would like to see the band succeed. Kohei's pristine and soulful croon has made him one of my favorite male voices of today, and the band is competent in both playing and invoking atmosphere. They're cooking with some amazingly potent ingredients, though they've yet to serve anything truly fulfilling. Instead they've been using the same boring recipe of recycled vocal melodies, bland, minimalistic verses, and big-for-nothing choruses. In promotion of their upcoming second album, the ironically titled Change your pops, amepare has dropped the MV for "Change your mind", which is a surprisingly welcome 'change' of pace for the band. Their standard formula is still in play, but the drab minimalism of the past has been enhanced with groovy synths and danceable drums that actually manage to engage you. From the very start of the song, it's evident that they're playing with renewed conviction, and it gives me hope that amepare might actually 'change THEIR pops'! @Original Saku's Picks "New York City" by Tempalay Tempalay has surprised me so much this month with music that I just typically don't listen to much. I discovered them earlier this month by chance while I was browsing JPS. They weave this weird blend of psychedelic and chillout rock that is just so addicting. It was love at first listen and I haven't looked back since. The weirdly named "New York City" serves as the opener of 5曲 (5 Kyoku) which instantly becomes less bizarre once you watch the PV. Most interesting is the concept of the album. I highly recommend you check out the whole thing if you like what you hear. "ノクチルカの夜" by まじ娘 "Noctiluca Night" by majiko majiko made her major debut this month with her mini album Cloud 7. We all know about the 'major curse' that plagues indie groups and artists once they go major. I was more than a little worried at the prospect that the same curse could afflict majiko, thankfully those worries were for naught. In fact I can only see an improvement in this record. "ノクチルカの夜" showcases a clear departure from her mellow pop-oriented utaite roots, and we can see a shift to a more mature, darker sound with much more depth and production quality. The new musical shift does wonders for her beautiful voice and meshes really well with her haunting singing style. It really brings a certain level of intensity to her music. "一休さん" by 水曜日のカンパネラ "Ikkyu-san" by Suiyoubi no Campanella After a mini album that most would call 'stale' or 'more of the same' last year, people were already counting Suiyoubi no Campanella as a one trick pony. This notion was immediately disproved this month with their new album SUPERMAN which does more than enough to validate their musical prowess and innovation. "Ikkyu-san" showcases what makes this group so awesome and addicting, with an infectious beat and a stunning vocal performance from KOMUAI, accompanied by eccentric electronica sounds aplenty. I know this is a REC track thread but I really just want to say how cohesive this album is from start to finish and I couldn't recommend it more! It might even be better than their previous album Zipangu for me. "明日も" by SHISHAMO "Ashita mo" by SHISHAMO This is a group I've been infatuated with over the last few years. SHISHAMO brings forth my love of female fronted indie rock bands like no other. They have the 'it' factor in their music, that feeling of euphoria and mellowness that wraps around you and makes you just feel legit good. They're a part of the few all female rock bands that currently are keeping the dream alive in Japan. I enjoy and appreciate them so much! These girls have been spitting out material so fast that it hasn't even been a full year since we got their last album, but we already have SHISHAMO 4 to start 2017 off with a party. "明日も" Is a fun pop rock jam that asserts that these girls' instruments are not for show and that they can jam when it's time to. Like with all my other RECs, please check out the full album for the true experience. Do yourself a solid. Guest Recommendations: @TheStoic's Pick "METALIN" by そこに鳴る "METALIN" by Sokoninaru Breakdowns. Blast beats. Gang chants. Chaotic soloing. These are not typical elements that describe the music the rock trio そこに鳴る. Since releasing their debut EP in 2015, the group has gone under the radar on the pages of MH. It's a shame given their technical abilities and impressive songwriting in the indie rock scene. However, their latest single "METALIN" (featured on the album of the same name) is more than worthy of appropriating the metal moniker. The band effortlessly melds their upbeat melodic choruses and core indie sound with a fresh dash of tremolo thrash metal riffs, neckbreaking breakdowns, and a frenetic energy that is a blast to listen to. If you have not given them a proper listen, "METALIN" may be be your gateway drug, as this single shows that they have the hunger to give indie heavyweights like 凛として時雨 (Ling Tosite Sigure) a run for their money. @Ada Suilen's Picks "Lineage" by Versailles I think that the visual kei scene is living a sort of rebirth, with many shiny comebacks, giving the genre a new shape. Probably the most awaited one comes from the symphonic metal act Versailles, starting off with the compilation The Greatest Hits -2007/2016- last September, and now with their second mini-album Lineage -Bara no matsuei-. In general, the sound echoes the inheritance of this band, taking even some elements from the side projects of the single members where this track represents its peak. With an incredible, virtuous metal sound, powerful riffs and more mature vocals, "Lineage" will surely stick in your head. Welcome back Descendants! "Remember the Name" by アイオリン "Remember the Name" by Aiolin One of the newest products of the scene, formerly known as code name Px, debuted with their first album at the beginning of the month and the final result was pretty shocking. As you can see from the name, their music (especially in this lead-track) is filled by a melodious violin (provided by the singer) mixed with electronic elements, energetic sounds and harsh vocals: the ideal ingredients for a sure success. Probably one of the most promising acts of 2017 and I hope that they will continue down this path. - Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! And another big thanks to our guest contributors @TheStoic and @Ada Suilen! If you have any thoughts on our list, or if you have any recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact @CAT5or @doombox.

Greetings, Monochrome-Heaven! Welcome to our first installment of Recommended Tracks for the year 2017! Things are already off to a great start and we've got a wonderful selection of new songs to recommend! So let's get straight to it! (We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions!) @fitear1590's Picks "A Little Picture" by ユナイト "A Little Picture" by UNiTE. 2016 was a fairly slow year for UNiTE., with only a maxi-single and three digitally released tracks. Although a bit over-produced, "A Little Picture" is a joyous return for the band. While I haven't gotten my hands on a physical copy to check the liner notes yet, I'd bet that the guest saxophone is by RUPPA. For those who are looking forward to listening to the entire release, head on over to streaming services like Spotify! The single's PV is simple, but delightful, featuring some of the best production value for the band's videos so far. Filtered through a soft pastel aesthetic, we get to see the members frolic around in a paint studio. #literallyartkei "偽りへの招待" by テマネキ "itsuwari e no shoutai" by temaneki I've also gotta keep an eye on the little guys! As far as I know, temaneki are a trio of newbies in the scene and, boy, are they rough around the edges. Their look is lacking some serious polish and their production is out of whack. And yet, I'm drawn to their first single! Clunky synth arrangements aside, I am loving their melodies. The chorus has the kind of dramatic edge that I live for in VK. I'm curious to see where temaneki will go from here! "Shimokitazawa" by Ailiph Doepa Now this is my kind of random discovery. As far as I can tell, no one has posted about Ailiph Doepa on MH yet, but I'm sure they would be up a lot of people's alleys. They've got the quirky, spastic touch of bands like The Blood Brothers or early バックドロップシンデレラ (Backdrop Cinderella), but with the djent savvy to pull off some bursts of truly heavy stuff. Plus, the band seem to have a great sense of humor, with stage names like Eyegargoyle (vocals) and Donaldy Ketchup (drums). I am going back to check out the rest of their discography, stat! "透過幕" by Soanプロジェクトwith芥 "toukamaku" by Soan Project with Akuta Collaborative 'projects' aren't uncommon in VK: HIZAKI grace project, Kisaki Project, ～Lily Project～, and so on. Well, Soan Project happens to be the latest, most notably featuring Moran drummer and composer Soan, with vocalist Akuta (Chanty, ex-Administrator). I hadn't been following the Soundcloud samples prior to the release, so when I heard the mini, I was going in 'blind.' It doesn't sound like Moran x Chanty by any means, but I'm still impressed--it's cool to hear these musicians work in a new style! This particular track is angsty with gorgeous backing piano and an epic guitar solo. Next month, Soan's collaboration with Temari (ex-Amber gris) comes out! @beni's Picks "ケルベロス" by 相対性理論 "Cerberus" by Soutaiseiriron Sotaiseiriron have been around since 2006. While the band tend to keep to themselves, as shown by their lack of appearances in promotional pictures and music videos, Sotaiseiriron have a massive fanbase. For those who have never heard of them or have yet to try them, don't leave that experience waiting any longer! Trust me. Those who already know and like singers like Bonjour Suzuki and DAOKO will have a field day with Sōtaiseiriron too because of the similar vocal work. Yakushimaru Etsuko's whimsical yet cute voice against the rocking music and repeated strings and chords make for a funky, sweet tune. That chorus is undeniably adorable and won't be leaving your head any time soon. And how could I not bring up the music video? An Okami-like animated sequence of a baby Cerberus can only mean one thing: cuteness overload. "Bitter" by 緑黄色社会 "Bitter" by ryokushaka This newly debuting band (yes band, don't let the music video fool you too into thinking it's a solo artist!) are instantly showing a lot of potential. Thanks to the bright music video, the tune takes me back to acts like Sugar's Campaign and Awesome City Club. While the video is simple at best, it's still a pleasure. I can't be the only one finding myself joining in with their singer Haruko Nagaya's random hand dancing in the chorus! For those interested, their first mini album Nice To Meet You?? dropped earlier this month! "成仏できない" by メランコリック写楽 "joubutsu dekinai" by melacholic-sharaku If there's a band I'm sure JPopsuki and AramaJapan! will jump on sooner or later, it's melancholic-sharaku. The Seiko Oomori like vocals are becoming a real trend with some breaking indie acts recently, and these guys are no different. But what I love about them is the insanely catchy pop chorus. By the first chorus on my first listen, I was sold. Nothing more can be said for these guys other than I hope they stick to this path. For those who like a good time and want something new, goofy (just check out that MV) and obscure for now, melancholic-sharaku are your order. "after that" by ぼくのりりっくのぼうよみ "after that" by Boku no Lyric no Boyomi I was recommended by @CAT5 to try this guy's second album release Noah's Arc. It's a great 2017 album and chock-full of brilliant songs, one of them being "after that". For such a young artist, at the age of 18, bokuriri is already proving to be a star. The composition reminds me of other musical geniuses I've been impressed with such as Nakashima Koh. bokuriri has quite the distinctive voice and his lyrical delivery even changes from singing to rap. It's no surprise then that he came from the Utaite scene, going under the name of Shigaisen before he became the professional artist we see today. This is a masterpiece of a track that I hope encourages you to give the full length album a go! "Hit It Up" by Omoinotake "Hit It Up"? More like Groove Me Up! While the vocals could leave something to be desired, the sheer music quality of this smooth, swinging track doesn't disappoint. The tune gets progressively more involved, with the climax being solos of everything involved, from the piano, to the trumpet and vocals! This feelgood track gets better with each and every listen. I'm sure glad I stumbled on these boys! @emmny's Picks "FIVEFOLD ENVY" by VRZEL VRZEL helped us ring in the new year with "FIVEFOLD ENVY" in all its divine ratchetness, and for that we'll be blessed in 2017 with a whole lot more messy, guilty pleasure Gazetteisms. The brainchild of vocalist Cion, VRZEL have been active for far too long and refused to die even after a bunch of lineup changes. Within all that time, they've courted a flock of high school girls as fans, which is a pretty decent outcome for a guy who sounds like post-2010 Ruki trying to make his best impression of a post-2010 Gazette song. This is all so wrong yet so, so right; until we're called up to explain our sins...enjoy this *wink*. "with you" by ラミエル "with you" by Ramiel Ramiel were the most pleasant surprise of 2016 for me, a totally cute pop-rock band with the concept of "love" signed onto Satanic Shimizuya records, a label known for producing Avelcain, Lycaon and Sibilebashir. They're a breath of fresh air with a sound recalling older oshare acts, and "with you" is a love letter to the genre. Melodic lead lines, nasal vocals, crack-like chorus, lovely engrish, crap production and just overall loveliness make up the song. They're lovely, in case you didn't get how lovely this already was from listening. Very lovely, super lovely...all my love to Ramiel. "君を殺して僕も死ぬ(嘘)" by SCAPEGOAT "Kimi wo koroshite boku mo shinu (uso)" by SCAPEGOAT SCAPEGOAT come back hot off the heels of their killer string of 2016 releases with their best song so far, and a strong contender for song of the year for 2017...all before 2017 even started. "Kimi wo..." is an odd, chaotic mishmash of elements yet incredibly sharp and catchy, SCAPEGOAT's signature. A lover's suicide gone wrong, the frantic chorus is broken up by wedding organs and glockenspiel throughout. Whereas a lot of bands try to play crazy, SCAPEGOAT do it for real; moving through eerily saccharine verses, building up the tension before Haru whispers the track title and all hell breaks loose. @CAT5's Picks "North Park" by PENS+ PENS+ is a young, talented, and lively emo/math-rock band that plays with technical proficiency, but writes songs as catchy as they come. Arai Ryo, leader and vocalist/guitarist, lists bands like cinema staff, the cabs, and malegoat as his favorites - all of which have played a clear role in influencing PENS+. They just dropped a new split CD with American band Leer, and it's a fantastic, international pairing of quality math-rock. On "North Park", PENS+ speedily traverse the fret board while keeping your ears hooked with their bright and infectious melodies. The entire split is great, though. If you like what you hear, be sure to pick it up on bandcamp for SUPER cheap! "SNOOZE" by Suchmos I'm generally pretty critical of Japanese bands that incorporate traditionally 'black' music styles, as more often than not, I feel they sound like parodies instead of authentic interpretations of the genres. Suchmos, however, has done a fairly convincing job so far. They've been riding the city-pop wave that's been trending lately, but their sound emphasizes smooth funk and soul grooves - perhaps most similar to UNCHAIN. Their new album THE KIDS just dropped, and "SNOOZE" was easily the standout track for me. It's got a bit of a gritty hip-hop feel to it mixed with some hard-driving funk-rock, yet it's entirely soulful throughout. You'll be bopping along in no time to this one! "close2u" by G.RINA Speaking of city-pop, G.RINA is back with her new album LIVE & LEARN - her second foray into the style following 2015's Lotta Love. The album's a great set of catchy pop that draws heavily from 80's funk and R&B, and it's the most confident and assured that I've ever heard her. "close2u", the second track on the album, is an instant jam and G.RINA sings (and raps!) with the coolest conviction. It's a great, feel-good tune to get the year started with. Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on our list or recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact either @CAT5

. Happy New Years, everyone! December was a super busy month for the ORZ crew, so we have a bite-sized selection of new tracks to recommend you guys this month, but rest assured, they're delectable as always! Thanks to our guest contributors @Lestat and @Ada Suilen! As usual, we apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions. @CAT5's Picks "紫光 (shikou)" by 八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88kasyo Junrei) 88kasyo Junrei have released an album every year, without fail, from 2009 all the way up through 2015, usually within the month of August. Having taken their prolificness for granted, most of us had assumed that a 2016 release would be given. Sadly, that wasn't the case, but Margaret and the crew must have sensed our yearnings, as they dropped this PV out of the blue shortly into December. And while no new album has been announced yet, what they've served us here is certainly appeasing! "shikou" is somewhat different for 88kasyo. These guys don't usually make a habit of restraining themselves - often taking every opportunity to noodle our faces off and pummel us with their cacophonous insanity - so it was a bit of a shock to hear how subdued this track was at first. But it came as an even bigger surprise that this track still manages to fucking rock! It's a slower tune for them, sure, but the band's musical acumen hasn't been diminished one bit because of it. Margaret employs a squeaky, rap-like flow while providing one of the band's most memorable basslines, Kenzoooooo's drumming is as coercive as ever, and Katzuya sprinkles just enough of his psychedelic guitar work in the mix to be potent. What I thought at first was 'restraint', was actually just the band exercising their instincts with a newfound control. "shikou" isn't just the 88kasyo taking it easy, it shows a mature step forward in the band's songwriting. I can't wait for what's next! "さよーならあなた (Sayounara Anata)" by カネコアヤノ (Kaneko Ayano) The Japanese Folk/Singer-Songwriter realm has been pretty uneventful for me this year. My personally appointed 'Celestial Goddess' of modern J-folk Ichiko Aoba proved to be mundane after all, with her humdrum follow-up to 2013's masterpiece 0. And the much less renown, but equally dear to me, mmm/me-my-mo made a brief appearance early in the year with her band Maria Hato, releasing a single titled "C.P.U" (that I wrote about in February's edition of RT), which was brilliant, but only managed to whet my appetite. Enter Kaneko Ayano. While not as quirky as mmm, and certainly nowhere near Aoba's ethereal genius, Kaneko's straightforward and simple sound has been a refreshing serving of the folky tunes I've been craving from 2016. She's released two EPs this year - hug back in April, and Sayounara Anata just recently. The title track diverges from her usual, barebones acoustic approach and includes a full band backing that really vitalizes her already emotive sound. It almost sounds like risette and ミラーボールズ (mirrorballs) were smoothly merged together - the end result is the perfect blend of carefree indie-pop and adorably earnest folk-rock. "Youth" by Young Juvenile Youth Young Juvenile Youth, YJY for short, consists of vocalist Yuki and producer/beatmaker Jemapur. Having formed in 2012 and only having released their debut EP in 2015, they're relatively new to the scene, but have already carved out a bit of a niche for themselves. Their latest single "YOUTH" is a beacon of this musical alcove that they've built: sleek, minimal electronic music that you'd sooner hear out of London than Tokyo. Not exactly trip-hop, but certainly not electro-pop either, "Youth" sports a sound that would be difficult to find contemporaries for in Japan. The synths are meticulously layered and arranged, and the beat is just chill enough to garner a contemplative head-nod. There's also a certain accessibility to Yuki's vocals, but the songwriting feels really subtle in its pop aspects. "Youth" shows a lot of promise, and while YJY may not be topping the Oricon charts anytime soon, they do have the potential to expand on an international scale, while also being a singular force within Japan. @beni's Pick "The Lights" by FABLED NUMBER Another month, another random gem found. This time it's FABLED NUMBER. The little known rock band reminds me of SILHOUETTE FROM THE SKYLIGHT, but with a pop/electronic edge. This makes for a very accessible sound, and the song's energy does not let up at any point. You'll want to continuously repeat the track in no time! They instantly caught my attention with this tune, and hopefully that's the same case for others. It's a real shame that these guys are so unknown compared to other, similar bands, as they show great potential in this latest single of theirs. Here's to hoping you also check out their debut album coming out in early February entitled ILLUMINATE! @togz's Pick "埋葬 (maisou)" by RAZOR I was a little worried as to where RAZOR's line-up would take them. After their mini-album RED INVISIBLE dropped, all my worries went away. The release is a solid listen as a whole, which you can learn more about in @Zeus' review of it here. The track that really made me move was "埋葬 (maisou)". It's upbeat from the start, but fairly heavy for a visual kei composition. Ryoga's fast paced speaking along with the guitars builds into a really fun environment when the instrumentals and vocals come together. The phrasing is predictable, but that makes it easier to anticipate where the song is going and, in my opinion, makes for a damn good live song. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a band and hearing them for the first time while not having to worry about whether you can follow the crowd or not. It's a song you can simply feel and really rock out to. @Zeus' Pick "drifting litter" by DECAYS It's no secret DECAYS has redeemed themselves with their transformation, and I've extolled the virtues of Baby who wanders enough in my review. What I didn't mention in the review was my favorite track on the album, and that would be "drifting litter". This hypnotic, hazy ballad is at odds with the overall direction of the album, adopting a thick, dark tone. The melody is anchored in place by the thick bass and guitar and Nakamura commands the chorus completely. The pure rock guitar solo in the middle skyrockets the song to eleven. If Baby who wanders wasn't dark or heavy enough for you, then this is what you are looking for. @Original Saku's Pick "人魚の檻 (ningyo no ori)" by 陰陽座 (Onmyo-za) Onmyo-za is a band that comes and goes for me. In that, I mean that they're a group who I enjoy a great deal when they release something, but I don't keep up with specifically, so more often than not it's like a nice little present that soon fades till the next one. "人魚の檻" from the band's newest effort Karyoubinga is just one of those aforementioned 'presents'. While being a whopping seven minutes six seconds long, it comes in as the longest song on the album and does not suffer for it. The track begins calm and serene then Kuroneko chimes in with her beautiful soft vocal technique that can only be described as 'heavenly'. It soon flows into the backing guitar riffs that thunder and transform the song into something more chaotic but, still beautiful. Shortly after the guitars kick in, Matatabi gets his turn with his trademark deep, powerful vocals that eventually lead into dual vocal excellence between the two. The track progresses into the instrumental bit where Maneki and Karukan show off their prowess and melt my face off in the process. The last minute and a half takes on a very 'haunting' aesthetic that slows down the tempo and closes out wonderfully. Guest Recommendations: @Lestat's Picks "輪舞曲 (rondo)" by 藍-AI- I wonder if I have traversed in to the mysterious universe of Konami's Castlevania, as "輪舞曲" promptly astonishes me with an enigmatic alliance of both a devout organ and a set of dungeon-crawling synthesizers. Whoever praises the unnatural and the unknown realms will likely appreciate this on short notice, as it is fully enclosed by the strange and the dark. While an engaging bass performs its own black magic and whirs away, the track sneaks along this very murky line, slowly approaching an evanescent moment of clarity; fog clears, and for a brief moment you open a dark cellar's trapdoors toward a more flitting, yet vigilant chorus, one where the opaque and ambiguous vocals of ex-DEATHGAZE's 藍-AI- take on a transparency in the wee hour's quickly fading light. "-SHAMBARA-" by R指定 (R-Shitei) All the while, R指定 have proven themselves multifaceted goliaths, able to mutate or evolve at will. The immensely popular band does not discriminate between dawn and dusk, and waltzes among both pop rock and heavy metal in swiftly taken steps. Give this ingenuous and tireless group a sound, concept or genre, and they will shape and form it into their very own inherent creation. One of those consistent transformations takes place in "-SHAMBARA-", wherein マモ (Mamo) and his gang do not shy away from channeling the obscure Dir en grey through otherworldly sonant assemblies and distressing squalls from the deep. This is where R指定 release their inner demons and convey their ghastly messages through tuned down equipment, a swarm of screams and breakdowns, and a lone guitar's eerie-sounding strum. @Ada Suilen's Picks "The Buddha" by LM.C The most freaking and colorful J-rock duo of the moment achieves the important score of ten years in the music industry, and for this occasion, they decided to make this year pretty interesting; starting from the colorful rocking "MONROEwalk" and then the nostalgic and soft dyed "Rainmaker". They released their fifth album Veda this month, where they maintained and improved their eccentric and beating sound in all the shades they know best. In this track, the duo brought something mature and innovative to their sound, along with an electro-exotic vibe which never hurts, for this is one of their best tracks for sure. "Ai to ai so nokosazu (Baby who wanders ver.)" by DECAYS When this band debuted with the song "Secret Mode", they didn't convince me at all, despite of the presence of Dir En Grey's Die and the famous singer Yusuke Kobayashi, two sure winners of the genre. With the mini-album Red or Maryam, my interest for them grew more, even if I felt that something lacked. And how, with the addition of the violinist Ayasa and the pop singer Ataru Nakamura (a pleasant discovery for me), the band found out what was lacking and this new take of the song shows it, with its energy, grace and sensuality, all filtered inside a wonderful rock theme. It's a track everyone should listen to and that is quite hard to forget. Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on our list or recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact either @CAT5 or @doombox See you all next month! ^_~

Awwwwwwwwwwwww yeah, it's that time again! What time? Time to recommend a fresh batch of new tracks! November may not have been the busiest month of the year, but boy do we have some sexy tunes in store for you! A big thanks to our guest contributors this month: @Delkmiroph, @Ada Suilen, and @Lestat! As usual, we apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions. I hope your bodies (and ears) are ready for some new tunes! @Zeus' Picks "浮融 / fuyuu" by 有村竜太朗 (Ryutaro Arimura) "浮融 / fuyuu" is my track of the month for November 2016, accompanied by a shift in the seasons that compliments the song when I'm out for long walks. The release of デも / demo snuck up on me; I hold Arimura in high respect for all his work with Plastic Tree despite my dislike for most of their output, but I had not heard of this until it appeared in my recommendations queue. I got what I expected - a gloomy exploration in alternative rock - but there's more here. Plastic Tree never clicked for me, but "浮融 / fuyuu" birthed a new appreciation for his unique musical talents. It's a simple, distorted set of guitar chords that forms the backbone of this emotional roller coaster, and it complements Ryutaro's vocals like a duet between two flirtatious lovers in the heat of an affair. To start the album off proper with a seven minute epic speaks to the confidence and strength of "浮融 / fuyuu". It doesn't revel in complexity or tease with build up for a predictable explosion of emotion. It's a very straightforward, melancholic, and powerful song. Definitely check this out! @emmny's Picks "雨音" (Amaoto) by emmureé The rain sound resonates along with the ringing of a guitar string Not so much ringing, rather droning in its distortion The clouds roar once more, and spill forth the rain While a kind voice speaks from above The kind rain sound Fills your ears Simultaneously a screech And a pitter-patter The rain which cleansed your hands Now becomes snow And you'll sit, looking at the sky Waiting for the rain sound to fill your ears again @fitear1590's Picks "アシンメトリ (asymmetry)" by ねごと (NEGOTO) NEGOTO are long-time faves, but their 2015 album VISION did not impress. As they took a year and a half off from releases, I anxiously awaited their comeback in November 2016 with アシンメトリ (asymmetry) e.p. The eponymous track sounds like a glorious return to form. The band has always had a synth pop flair, but this time around, they go for a lush electronic sound. "Asymmetry" also features a colorful concept PV meant to be played across two smartphone screens; this is similar to THE NOVEMBERS's "きれいな海へ (kireina umi e). This is the first step back in the right direction for NEGOTO and I'm curious to see where they go from here! "ふとん史 (futonshi)" by メガマソ (Megamasso) Fresh out of their hiatus, Megamasso hit the ground running with a double A-side single. "Futonshi" is a fun game of 'spot the VK trope,' forging a hodgepodge of so many of the scene's signatures: a paradoxically royal and cheap string arrangement, an emphasis on melodic guitar riffs that sound like half neo-classical/half video game BGM, traditional Japanese chord progressions, an out-of-the-blue refrain, and very trendy (trebly) synthwork. It's not the most original track, but it sure is catchy as hell (this is Megamasso, of course) and all three members seem to be in top form. Welcome back, guys! @doombox's Picks "Kaiju" by [Alexandros] It's not too often we get to see the aggressive side of [Alexandros] break from their snarky, sarcastic lyrical style to come across quite this straightforward. "Kaiju" is a funky, slightly grungey, yet fierce take on a sentiment that is relatable to many of us feeling stuck or stagnant in our current circumstances. None of the instrumentation is particularly technical or ground-breaking, but the open arrangement allows the chorus to come in like a punch to the face and the message of the track to take the spotlight. Who wouldn't want to 'rawr' like a big shot kaiju, right? "Omega" by Crystal Lake It's been a hot minute since a Crystal Lake release hit me the way old releases used to, in the same vein their Dimension and Into The Great Beyond albums did. And though Ryo's vocal style and Gaku's drums are still very much what help make current Crystal Lake the metalcore monster that they are, the depth and emotional tone of "Omega" is a total throwback to the old days. It's definitely one of their first tracks in a long time I'd recommend to those who may have taken a step back for the last couple of years. Though, judging from the rest of True North, it may very well be the final shred of this style they had in them. So enjoy it while you can. "RED ZONE" by RAZOR Yet another new 'super-band' has arrived! RAZOR made a pretty explosive entrance onto the scene with their "RED ZONE" preview this month. My anticipation for the full mini album release is extremely high as the band is full of familiar faces from BORN, Sadie, and MY BACTERIA HEAT IsLAND. And "RED ZONE" has not disappointed me since the more I hear it, the more I genuinely love it. The chorus is catchy and melodic, the verses rip, and everything about the musicianship is as solid as one would expect from these veterans. It's also worth mentioning that they look positively awesome. So if you haven't had the chance to hear them out yet, now is the perfect time. @beni's Picks "MonSter" by ZYUN. ZYUN. is a new artist on the block who just debuted this May with a previous mini-album. What first stood out to me was the artistry of the MV, and the fact that I was positive ZYUN. was a woman. Turns out she is in fact a he, who was already famous before his debut as a fashion designer and concert promoter. Props to him for single-handedly working his own magic into his music as the producer of the outfit designs, music videos, photo concepts and cover/booklet images. The imperfection of his vocal control is so appealing even when he's stretching his voice too much. It makes for this ballad to stand out and catch the listener's attention. This is one new artist I'll be keeping an eye on from now on, and I think you should too. "シューティングスター (Shooting Star)" by Half time Old Boy band? Tick. Nasally high pitched vocals? Tick. "Shooting Star" sung in Engrish to kick start the chorus? Tick. There's so much to enjoy with this one. From the super rocking instrumental segments to the instantly memorable and groovy chorus, Half time Old prove they're a force to be reckoned with. It may be typical J-rock infused pop, but you have to admit when it's a hell of a good one. Its theme is astronauts and space. Now tell me how you could not fall in love with the out of this world tune? "まほうのカギを手に入れたら/むすびズム (Mahou no Kagi wo Te ni Iretara)" by musubizm This infectious tune is my favorite discovery of this month, without any contest. I've had in on repeat ever since I stumbled on it, and let me tell you why. Even though musubizm is tooth achingly pure idol through and through, the sound is clearly rock. It reminds me of all female bands like SCANDAL, especially with one particular singer with an especially nasally voice just like SCANDAL's Tomomi. Who my favourite is in that band is obvious due to that individual trait, so you can tell who my bias is with musubizm already. It's yet another reason why this song kicks butt! So even though it's idol, don't let that put you off. As is often the case with idol groups, each female's voice is distinctive and the group vocals always sounds amazing, like listening to another unit of Macross Δ's Walküre. I'm impressed and excited for more to come. "khaki circle" by SWIM SWEET UNDER SHALLOW SWIM SWEET UNDER SHALLOW is a name I've known for a while now, but have never felt anything towards them. With their fourth album now out, in which they give the option of paying or nabbing it for free over at their website, this is the leading track to the release. And I sure am glad I gave them another chance. Their sound reminds me of PLASTIC GIRL IN CLOSET mixed with Swinging Popsicle. It has that shoegaze-y edge, but mostly very much indie, both musically and vocally. And I love that about them. Plus it's a male and female duo, both on vocals. You know I'm sold on that magic combination. "khaki circle" is simply divine, with a soothing and romantic lullaby structure and sound, yet also engaging enough to not be a bore. "生花 (Seika)" by ATOLS feat.YURiCa/花たん (hanatan) No words can describe the perfection of this track. Theatrical and atmospheric is just a basic description of it. Our @CAT5 had directed me to this tune, and it instantly clicked for me as well. ATOLS, a Vocaloid producer unit, was a new name to me but YURiCa is nothing new, as she is easily one of the few Utaite (cover singer on Nico Nico Douga & YouTube) singers I completely adore. This song uses her powerful and absolutely stunning voice that beats plenty of major/famous artists' vocals to make quite the impact. You know it's YURiCa, but I've never heard her touch music as massive as this before. She sure better keep it up. It has an anison feel to it, but on such a grand scale, it leaves a lasting impression and makes for an instant jam. "Seika" doesn't shy away from being pounding and in your face with its electronic sound, and with YURiCa's signature beautiful voice, amazing vocal range and vibrato, you know it's a match made in heaven. As a YouTube comment simply put, it's "overwhelmingly perfect". @togz's Picks "Taking Off" by ONE OK ROCK Looks like ONE OK ROCK are taking off with another musical direction change. Their new track "Taking Off" was released recently as a teaser for their upcoming album Ambitions which will be obtainable in January. While the song still sounds authentic to OOR's style, it's fresh and offers a lot of vocal variation. The instrumentals aren't very complex but they help power up the chorus melody. It's catchy, memorable, and overall a fun a listen. "Six Feet Under" by Crystal Lake Before "Six Feet Under", Crystal Lake released their music video for "Omega" which offered more dynamics. With only two minutes and seventeen seconds to listen to, this track gets straight to the point. It's a completely different vibe than "Omega" and gets me even more excited for their album release on November 30th. "Six Feet Under" is a real head banger with its chaotic guitar riffs, the lowest of growls, and heavy double bass work. Both of these songs will be available on True North. "倒錯症レジスタンス(tousakushou resistance)" by DIAURA I've personally only heard of DIAURA's earlier works and haven't followed them in some time, but when I heard this song I was instantly interested again. The vibe in this song really brings me back to when I first heard them because I feel the vocals and instruments work well together to create a heavy, upbeat, but melodic environment. Definitely a band I'll be paying attention to again. "WOLFMAN" by コドモドラゴン (Codomo Dragon) コドモドラゴン (Codomo Dragon) is another act that I used to follow but stopped somewhere along the way, but this track brought me back. It starts off with a distanced drum and funky bass line. It's a cross between punk and funk that leads in to a really good vocal line. But funk and punk isn't all that's offered in this song. There's very quick guitar work but also some heavy riffs. The chorus is an interesting key change as well. I've got my eyes and ears on you コドモドラゴン. "色眼鏡 色彩皆無 (iromegane shikisai kaimu)" by ラッコ ( LACK-CO.) If anyone knows me at all, they'll know I'm forever Tenten biased. Naturally I hopped on the ラッコ ( LACK-CO.) bandwagon as soon as this video was released. Aside from Tenten's unique vocals, the music is also technical in some places. From this song alone, this new unit is a good combination between My BACTERIA HEAT IsLAND and KuRt if you keep Tenten's vocals in mind. I'm really excited to hear more from this group, but most of all excited to see some of these members still active in the music scene. @CAT5's Picks "ビハインド (behind)" by cinema staff It's been a mere six months since cinema staff's latest full length album eve, and they're already back with a Triple A-side release titled the Vektor EP. While eve was an exemplary exercise in the band's trademark indie-styled pop-rock, Mizuki and the gang seem to be taking off the kid gloves on this new EP. "behind", the third A-side, has been released as a promotional video, and it's already one of the most explosive cinema staff tracks in years! At roughly about two minutes, the song packs in some of the band's more spastic tendencies, proving that they haven't forgotten any of their emo or punk influences just yet. It's great to hear these guys rock out again! "アラジン (aladdin)" by 水曜日のカンパネラ (suiyoubi no campanella) Two seconds into this song and you'll think you're listening to Micheal Jackson's "Thriller." Seriously. Producer Kenmochi Hidefumi wasn't exactly subtle in paying homage to the MJ classic. Yet I find it peculiar that I've not seen too many people commenting on this fact, and those that do, don't seem to be bothered by the blatant plagiarism either. Why? Well, it's simply well done, that's why. It's a sign of true artistry when you can take something so well-known and transform it into an entirely new entity, and suiyoubi have managed just that. In fact, "aladdin" is such an earworm that after a few listens, you'll completely forget that this song references anything other than suiyoubi's own, unique brand of Jpop. "PANDORA" by EVO+ EVO+ is a female utaite, which is usually an area of music outside of my wheelhouse and something @beni knows more about, but what a serendipitous discovery this has been for me! Having teamed up with doujin music producer ATOLS, EVO+ just released her first EP titled PANDORA, and the title track for it is gorgeous. EVO has a deep, sultry croon and her vocal melodies have a vague, anison feel to them, but when the beat drops, you know this is something really special. The production is very hip, with a few trap elements, but it's also got a really organic and earthy feel to it - not unlike suiyoubi no campanella. The utaite scene may be based around cover songs, but if this song is what happens when they get original, then I need to hear more. "env Reg." by 網守将平 (Shohei Amimori) I first heard Shohei Amimori back in 2014 on a compilation titled Forma. 4.14 put out by Japan's finest label for IDM - PROGRESSIVE FOrM. His track was easily one of the standouts, so I was definitely interested when I discovered he'd be releasing his first album early next month on the same label. But now that I've heard this track, my excitement IS OVER 9000!!! Seriously, I love this. "env Reg." is intelligently produced electronic music, yet it's also fun and groovy too (watch out, METAFIVE!)! Just to add icing to the cake, it features one of my favorite indie-pop artists on vocals - Babi. I have such high hopes for the album! "Crystal Chrysalis" by world's end girlfriend world's end girlfriend probably needs no introduction, as anyone into post-rock or IDM to any extent has likely come across his moniker by now. If you haven't, well, his music is an expansive amalgam of beautiful, cinematic soundscapes, twisted distortion, and gritty electronics. His latest album LAST WALTZ is expectedly massive, and I admit, choosing a standout is next to impossible. The epic, thirteen-minute "Flowers of Romance" would have been an easy choice, and the equally gargantuan "Radioactive Spell Wave" would have been just as apt, but there's something about "Crystal Chrysalis". It's got a certain atmospheric gravitas to it. The other songs are generally more overt and in-your-face, but the power of this track lies in its subtlety. It's deeply atmospheric, yet haunting all the same. Brilliant. "Discal Smoke" by LASTorder PROGRESSIVE FOrM is hands-down one of my favorite labels. They've had a rather dismal output in recent times - and understandably so, as the many artists on the label have set the bar quite high - but they seem to be making a comeback, and I'm happy to feature yet another artist from the label in my picks this month! LASTorder has always been pretty good, but I dare say he's reached a stellar peak with this track. "Discal Smoke" has your standard IDM glitchy-ness and LASTorder's typically bold drums, brilliantly combined with analog instrumental bits, and very tastefully implemented vocal samples. This track was instant love from the very first second, and it just gets better as it progresses. Delicious! "Waltz For Real World" by uyama hiroto Uyama Hiroto will probably be viewed as the spiritual successor to his peer and collaborator, the late Nujabes. However, with all due respect, I would say that Hiroto's new album freeform jazz has propelled him into a league of his own. The album, while technically not "free-jazz" certainly feels less bound than his previous works. It's a more musical effort overall, and the drumwork is especially more organic than previously, as opposed to the straightforward boom-bap approach that similar artists take. In fact, you can hardly categorize this as just "jazzy hip-hop" anymore. The entire album only features one rap feature (and thankfully so, because I can't stomach cheesy backpacker rap!). freeform jazz is such an exquisite listen that I honestly can't choose just one track to recommend, so hopefully the heartfelt melodies of "Waltz For Real World" will persuade you guys to delve further! Guest Recommendations @Lestat's Picks "天上天下唯我独唱 (Tenjou tenge yuiga dokushou)" by Gossip-ゴシップ- Semi-nationalists Gossip-ゴシップ- conclude their dynamic year with their sixth and final release of 2016, now headlining the propaganda papers with this November's distribution of 天上天下唯我独唱 (Tenjou tenge yuiga dokushou). Ensuing their exceptional maxi-single 東京スキャンダル (Tokyo Scandal), compilation album 脳味噌回転愚流愚流地獄-黒歴史盤- (Nomiso kaiten guru guru jigoku - kuro rekishi ban -) and the following three consecutive monthly singles, the group continues to yell its 'Banzai!' at the rising sun. The title track delivers us with classic —if we can call it as such, with a mere two years under their belt— Gossip-ゴシップ- elements with which this band has its boot stiffly put between visual kei's door; the bellowing ring of sirens, footsoldiers marching toward warfare, and Saku's patriotic chants loudly supporting an emanating blitz. And what follows is an unforgettable, catchy offensive, ready to go down in history. "Ash" by GOTCHAROCKA Have you been searching for a fool-proof method to brighten up your day in only a short matter of time, or do you simply need a well-deserved break from the abundance of gloomy-sounding bands surfacing in the Japanese music scene? Look no further, as GOTCHAROCKA will surely and effortlessly lift your spirits with their ever-positive atmosphere while the month is growing colder. This time, they provide you with another warm and tight embrace in the form of "Ash", an optimistic and encouraging message conveyed to you in a presentation of melodic and sprightly riffaging, up-beat drums, and glossy, light singing. Be sure to make use of this song, as these three smiling guys will want you to remember this memo; "Keep playing until your grief is gone." @Ada Suilen's Picks "Re:incarnation" by Insanity Injection This year brought up another great superband in the visual kei scene; their name is Insanity Injection and the members who compose it are known for bands like Aliene Ma'riage, Glamscure and Das:Vasser, so the hype has been real since their first announcement. Then they released three singles, all of them solidified their style and the first mini album, where this epic track is featured in, confirmed their strong position in the scene; eleven minutes of greatness and technique, where each element, from the vocals (the coupling of Kyouka x Chaos has been simply awesome!), to the instruments, and the background effects assume a peculiar meaning with sudden stylistic changes inside the melody. The band shows that they cannot fail at whatever sound they make. "深紅に揺らめく、儚き鶺鴒 (Shinku ni yurameku, hakanaki sekirei)" by Chariots Another incredible comeback in the visual kei scene is Riku, with his solo project's respectful new line-up featuring people of VII-Sense and UnsraW fame made this year brighter for me. After releasing three solid singles they go strong with a mini-album, where the title-track is the most powerful and astonishing part of the release. This emotional ballad is reminiscent of Phantasmagoria's golden age where Riku unleashes his deep and suggestive voice in a powerful and fascinating rock sound. A sure synonym of their glorious return. @Delkmiroph 's Picks "猫夢 (Nekoyume)" by 有村竜太朗 (Ryutaro Arimura) Like everyone knows, Ryutaro started his own solo project after many years in Plastic Tree. With the promise of his first solo release of 1996-2011, 「デも／demo」 impressed me with some songs (I have not heard the mini album fully yet). But "Nekoyume" is very expressive to me and I would say that this is a personal style of Ryutaro's that reminds me of the last releases of Plastic Tree. "Nekoyume" is energetic and catchy at every chorus, and the AC. Version gives the song more life, but I love both versions equally! "END TRIP" by Insanity Injection I definitely love this release from Insanity Injection. I followed them since their first release, but I did not hear their digital releases. I think I should get to them. "END TRIP" is a very deep and solid song that makes me think that someone is still doing great work in the visual kei scene. Chaos' voice with Kyoka is a great combination which brings a melancholic mix into the whole mini-album. Of course it reminds me of some other bands which is also why I like it. I would love to go to a concert of theirs to watch all this dark insanity. It's great when the name of the band already expresses this to the listener. "愛のゆくえ (Aino Yukue)" by きのこ帝国 (Kinoko Teikoku) I discovered this shoegaze/dream pop band this year (exactly two month ago). Kinoko Teikoku won me over when I heard their first album eureka, but I was more excited for this new album that they announced for this month. I had the expectation that they were becoming more dream-pop with each release. It's now normal for them in my opinion. "Aino Yukue" is an enjoyable song that's half shoegaze and more dream pop (I guess). It's a totally soft and sweet melody with strong beats as the title track of the album. I appreciate the album, and this song mostly. I believe that this song is all cute and lovely. Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on our list or recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact either @CAT5 or @doombox! See you all next month! ^_~

Hey, everyone! I'm back hosting our monthly song recommendations along with @doombox! October was a great month, and we've got a smorgasbord of fantastic music for you to check out! We apologize if some videos aren't available due to region restrictions. We'd also like to thank our record FIVE guest contributors this month: @Ada Suilen, @chemicalpictures, @hiroki, @indigo, @Lestat. It's been awesome to have you guys on board. Now let's dig in! @beni's Picks "LOVE DOLL" by DECO*27 If there's one reason I want people to give Vocaloid a chance, it's all because of this guy right here. DECO*27 is one of the better known producers within the Vocaloid scene for having created several popular songs such as "Aimai Elegy", "Yowamushi Montblac" and "Mozaik Role". His lesser known works include his Utaite covers and contributions outside of Vocaloid, writing songs for other artists such as Hello Project!'s Buono! group. GHOST is his latest album after a two year break, and a personal anticipated release. The album is yet another release he used only Hatsune Miku in, with my selected stand out track "LOVE DOLL" originally being created for and sung by GUMI instead. "LOVE DOLL" had debuted two years ago in fact. But that doesn't take anything away from its enjoyment. It's an absolute treat to hear this freshened up by Miku instead, and included in the album. The song's emotional, metaphorical message and lyrics is another reason to appreciate DECO*27's efforts. "LOVE DOLL" demonstrates what DECO*27 does best: an insanely catchy chorus with wonderful trippy build ups all around it. I suggest checking out Utaite uploads instead if you can't stomach Miku, specifically Soraru and/or Dari's covers. As a plus you can even see the original PV from when GUMI was the singer! "flora" by 南壽あさ子 (Asaco Nasu) Nasu, you've made me wait for almost an entire year for new material! Asaco Nasu was one of my favourite new finds from last year, and I had been anticipating any form of a new release all year, so I'm beyond ecstatic she has delivered something, and of this calibre. It was worth all the waiting even if it's now October! "flora" is the theme song for the PS Vita/PS4 game Firis no Atelier, a long running JRPG franchise Nasu has lended her voice to before. Her gentle yet lush voice takes me back to the likes of the ever so majestic Okazaki Ritsuko, which is an absolute delight since no one comes close to how she had performed, but Nasu makes it a close call. And even though it's just a ballad, "flora" is still absolutely beautiful and whimsical. Nasu's soaring notes in the chorus, and the echoing effect makes this song full of wonder and joy. "flora" is as gorgeous as you would expect. "Pride" by X4 I have already suggested these boys are Japan's calling to K-pop originating in their homeland (just see Future,Super Duper,Nova. You're too late with the PV now though!), and now they go and do this - a ballad. Specifically as a way to celebrate a wedding. With all five of the boys in the group dressed entirely in white like angels, I'm sold right there. X4 can be called Yuya Matushita's boyband, who already has a name for himself for the solo career he's had for almost a decade now. With both tie-in hits left, right and center, including a clear sound of successful R&B and hip-hop influences, he passed this on to X4. The group takes a breather from their louder tendencies with "Pride". Along with their other gorgeous ballad "Will You Marry Me", "Pride" steps it up, with stunning, effortless group vocals, each time all in harmony. And yet each of the boys' distinctive, powerful voices yield all on their own outside of the chorus. This is how you do a boy group! "NANIMONO (feat. Kenshi Yonezu)" by 中田ヤスタカ (Yasutaka Nakata) At this point, I can safely say I am absolutely addicted to "NANIMONO". Made by the efforts of the collaboration of Yasutaka Nakata producing, and Kenshi Yonezu as singer and lyricist, this is the first time the latter has joined forces in making music. He sure should be proud! Having been left feeling disappointed in almost all of his latest efforts, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much this song has quickly grown on me. Nakata's signature Perfume sound with Yonezu's distinctive tone does wonders, making something from Yonezu sound fresh and different. It's certainly a step in the right direction in fleshing out his new sound as being his own artist outside of the Vocaloid scene. The song will be used as the theme for an upcoming movie of the same name, and will appear on their joint release with remixes of the song as the tracklist. I don't think I could ever tire of this tune, so bring it on! "オムライス (Omurice)" by 杉恵ゆりか (Yurika Sugie) One of my favourite new artist discoveries of 2016 has definitely got to be this darling. I just so happened to stumble on her YouTube account, which then took me to avex, the major label she now releases music under, with this latest PV of hers. She seems to still be rather unknown even now which is just devastating. In "Omurice", the build up to the chorus doesn't give away her star potential... completely! In the bridges and verses, her tone is super adorable, exactly what you'd expect from looking at her. And then it all explodes. Every bit of zest in her tiny body reaches new heights as she's hitting all her lines and notes with such bright energy. There's definitely more to this little lady, and I can't wait to follow her and see what else she has to offer. @CAT5's Picks "今が君の思い通りに (ima ga kimi no omoi dori ni)" by infro Chances are, if you're not a connoisseur of Japanese emo and punk, then you may not have heard of infro. They've been around since at least 2007, when their first mini album was released, and since then, they've only released one other EP while appearing on splits and compilations here and there. Of course this is all typical of bands associated with a scene as underground as Japanese emo. So I was pleasantly surprised to see these guys release their very first music video this month, and it's a highly satisfying and earnest piece of melodic punk! So far it doesn't look like infro has any new releases planned, but this song definitely whets the appetite for more. (They also get extra points from me for performing punk music and NOT resorting to Engrish! XD) "Voice" by SOSO BREAK THE WALL Do you guys remember progressive alt-rockers the brown? Well, eye, their vocalist has surfaced with a brand new project called SOSO BREAK THE WALL, and it's everything I could've hoped for! One of my biggest criticisms against the brown was eye's primary use of English, which rendered an otherwise good band mostly unlistenable for me. Fortunately, SOSO has 'broken that wall' and eye has, for the first time I've ever heard, actually sung in Japanese! She sounds marvelous, and in combination with the music, SOSO creates the kind of mournful, female-fronted alt-rock that the J-rock world has desperately been lacking since the demise of REDЯUM and me-al art's third album! The band's debut EP will feature a slew of cool musicians from kamomekamome, ANYO, Vampillia, and more - it might very well be one of the best things to come out this year! Huge thanks to @Hakoniwa for informing me about this! "Rehena" by minakumari Combining traditional Indian music with experimental, ambient, and J-pop, the sitar-wielding singer-songwriter minakumari is a bit of an anomaly, to say the least. Given the atypical nature of her music, she's neither well-known in Japan nor abroad, but she just released her fourth album REHENA, which could very well escalate her to new heights! The album is entirely produced by the renown Hirotaka “Shimmy” Shimizu (of The Cornelius Group and Plastic Ono Band fame), and the title track is one of the most upfront and engaging songs minakumari has ever made. There’s a plodding groove to it that provides a good amount of accessibility, yet minakumari’s worldly outlook remains perfectly intact. “Rehena” is an entirely fresh take on J-pop, and just as worthwhile as it is novel. "美しい孤独 (utsukushii kodoku)“ by paranoid void If you’re like me and think that tricot is heinously overrated or just throw-up in your mouth at the mention of the band, then you might rejoice to know that I’ve come across a band that does what they do, but are actually good at it! That’s right, paranoid void have the potential to completely dethrone 'try-hard-cot' from their questionable reign as the female-fronted champions of Japanese math-rock. “utsukushii kodoku“ proves that not only do these girls have the chops to play math, but they actually put heart and soul into their songwriting and musicality - as opposed to lifelessly doing things by the numbers. The trio just dropped their debut mini-album POP MUSIC, and if this song is any indicator, they will be a band to watch out for. "Mother Fucker" by Limited Express (has gone?) For those of you that enjoy your share of aural anarchy, look no further than the new Limited Express (has gone?) album All Ages. It’s their first release in three years and a welcome site for fans craving zany, alternative punk. “Mother Fucker” is the perfect track to single out, as it sums the album perfectly: turbulent drums, chaotic sax, groovy post-punk basslines, erratic riffs, and YUKARI’s ear-piercing vocals! It’s noisy, it’s bonkers, and it’s a helluva lot of fun! "Taxi" by トクマルシューゴ (Tokumaru Shugo) Tokumaru Shugo albums are always an event worth looking forward to! His folk-infused brand of indie-pop has remained a unique commodity within Japan’s music scene, as no other artist can really replicate what he does. His new album, TOSS, while not as exciting as previous releases, has still managed to provide gems like this, however. “TAXI” delivers all of Tokumaru’s hallmarks with its infectious guitar riffs, jaunty toy instrumentation, and wonderfully wacky arrangement. It’s such a catchy and playful tune that I DARE you to feel anything other than joy while listening to this! "Beryl" by Marihiko Hara & Polar M I’ve always had a keen appreciation for music scores, soundtracks, and instrumental music in general - music that tells a story, but not just that, music that invites your imagination to tell its own stories. Composers Marihiko Hara & Polar M (aka Masumi Muranaka), have managed to do just that with their new, and second collaboration album simply titled Dance. “Beryl" in particular evokes a bittersweet, nostalgic feeling with its lilting acoustic guitar and wistful post-classical piano. It’s a sorrowful, yet contemplative piece that certainly will ‘dance’ with your imagination. Beautiful~ @doombox's Picks "City Lights" by abstracts After a strong album release earlier this year abstracts are back with more awesome melodic metalcore, and this time with a bit more bite! "City Lights" layers their usual bright and djent-tinged guitarwork with a fun, upbeat tempo. The result brings the band into some new, more mature territory we haven't gotten the chance to hear from them before. This composition creatively pushes the vocals to the back seat to really let the playfulness of the guitar melody shine through. It's only a single digital release at the moment, but I hope this song is a sample of what's waiting for us on their next album! "アウトサイダー(Outsider)" by Kidori Kidori The duo returned this month with their new mini album OUTSIDE and if you're familiar with the band you know they are consistently good at what they do. "Outsider" is a bit of an update on their sometimes folk-y, sometimes funky, retro garage rock sound. But both song and video are an interesting peek at this side of the band. I highly recommend checking out the entire mini album to get a proper feel of just how expansive their sound is if you have the time. Kidori Kidori never disappoint! "CRAZY N' SANE" by CRAZY N' SANE I'm a little late to the CRAZY N' SANE party, but I gotta say the 90s kid in me is in love with this track! If any of you miss that ol' funky rap rock, nu metal sound CRAZY N' SANE are here to bring it to you. This band is the Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park hybrid you never knew you needed in your life. Though the members' identities are shrouded in mystery I'd place good money there are some familiar faces from the Japanese metal scene hiding under those masks. Am I the only one thinking the screamer sounds a bit like Ikepy from HER NAME IN BLOOD? "5150" by THE ORAL CIGARETTES While I thoroughly enjoy THE ORAL CIGARETTES, their releases have a tendency to be hit or miss and end up a bit same-y. Last year they had a rather hectic release schedule and I think it showed in their stunted creativity, but "5150" brings us back to the kooky-cool side of the band that I really love. The beat drives this song at a near frantic pace, but Takuya's lower vocal tone has a great soothing quality that keeps this track from flying off the rails. The combination is what makes THE ORAL CIGARETTES so special when everything comes together just right. @emmny's Picks "羽花 (Uka)" by MEJIBRAY I'm going to save y'all the shade and not use this as a means to slam MEJIBRAY for flopping consistently for the better part of two years. It's not hating, its all out of love really; I hold 'em to a high standard given their past output. I consider their SM singles compilation to be essential listening for 2010's visual kei: no one did it harder, catchier, and with more charisma than early MEJIBRAY. Their cult following and popularity is pretty apparent given how much their work is more a testament to the members' respective musicianship rather than a collective effort: MEJIBRAY's shining feature and greatest weakness is their individuality. Sometimes it just turns into an ego vs. ego vs. ego vs. ego mess of sloppy metalcore and failed experimentation. I'm happy to report "Uka" is none of that, rather an incredibly balanced and beautiful return to form. It's more layered a composition than usual; the time off they've had from spamming releases has resulted in greater attention to detail. The contrast between the thrashy verses and beautiful chorus is the basis of the track, accented by a stunningly restrained solo from the queen of wannabe virtuosity, MiA, as he undoes the heaviness in the first half with a swaying guitar-line over delicately picked acoustic chords, eventually leading the track to its closing. Balance is everything. "カミオ (Camio)" by Sioux Anyone who knows a thing about me or has been a member here for more than 5 minutes also knows about my love of amber gris and all things 'art-kei'. So when kaname, ex-amber gris guitarist and composer came out with a new band with the totally 'art-kei'-riffic concept of a traveler's existential journey, I knew it was gonna destroy me. I didn't expect it to destroy me this hard though; "Camio" is a straight up amber gris throwback, with all the beautiful guitarwork, layered instrumentation and emotive vocals that came with it--except this time we have kaname on vox. That said, it doesn't sound like kaname singing over an amber gris track: "Camio" has a more mathy-tone, even if it's a ballad. His vocals lend a more indie-than-visual vibe to the track, which keeps it totally fresh, even if the vocals are a bit inconsistent. Considering I'm this enamored over a track off their first single, i have incredibly high expectations for Sioux in the future, and somehow I think this band of wanderers will leave their mark on the scene. "リテラシズム (Literacism)" by THE BLACK SWAN TBS are a perfect example of a band continuing to improve with every release, sharpening their prog-kei the longer they play with each other. "Literacism" is a surprisingly pretty piece marked by contrasts. it opens with Jin crooning over a sombre chord progression, leading you to think a ballad is coming up, which isn't entirely wrong--in true TBS fashion, there's more to this six minute track than meets the eye. Once the tremelo lead guitar in the intro fades out, spastic guitarwork and Ren's blastbeats take over while Jin spits a beautiful vocal melody, unlike anything TBS has done before, all over warring instrumentation. This dichotomy fuels the track, as it floats in and out of of dreamy, slow, guitar-led sequences, blastbeats, a legitimately brutal breakdown and back again. "Literacism" is at once familiar, both with the genre and the band's prior output as well as the new, showing off some cool tricks under their sleeves. @fitear1590's Picks "人間ビデオ (ningen video)" by ドレスコーズ (the dresscodes) What do the dresscodes, the moniker of charismatic solo artist Ryohei Shima, and GANTZ, the super gory anime/manga series, have in common? I'm still trying to figure out the connection, but that didn't stop the former from penning the theme song to the new GANTZ CG film. While the track opens with some dark riffs and some creepy chanting, the chorus is pretty classic ultra-catchy songwriting that we've come to associate with Ryohei. While I have no idea how well this song meshes with the the new GANTZ adaptation (my feeling is NOT MUCH), I'll be rocking out to "ningen video" in the meantime. "亡霊たちの楽園 (boureitachi no rakuen)" by ニカホヨシオ (nikaho yoshio) Remember South Penguin from this summer? Well, what do summery indie riffs dress up as for Halloween? Solo artist Nikaho Yoshio has to be the closest thing. While his style of laid-back guitar pop is comparable, there is something slightly spooky in the atmosphere and lethargic vocals of this song. The title, roughly translated as "Ghosts' Paradise," is surprisingly fitting. Fans of Tempalay should also enjoy this. Check out Nikaho's debut EP SUR LA TERRE SANS LA LUNE on November 2. "マイムマイム (mime mime)" by グリモア (GRIMOIRE) The saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I'd wager that GRIMOIRE are operating under a similar motto. Since their debut single in September 2015, they've maintained their niche visual/musical concept. Though only slightly tweaking their sound along the way, they've steadily beefed up production value. I can't find information on their label (they're not even on VKDB!), but if they are self-produced, color me impressed. If you haven't been a fan of them so far, "mime mime" is unlikely to change your mind. For me, however, it's definitely a favorite, combining the creepy ambiance and arrangements from their earliest tracks with their signature chuggy riffs--one of their most balanced efforts to date. The bar around :44 (and its repeats throughout) even has an epic quality, cleverly offset by dissonant riffs--a new twist on the band's sound. Overall, GRIMOIRE are perfect VK band for Halloween! "Adonis" by Sioux Finally, we have Sioux, who combo-break the spooky theme my other tracks/PVs have established. Although... maybe the members popping feathers into their hair and using a dream catcher in their logo for a 'Native American' aesthetic is Halloween after all. How problematique™! All kidding aside, "Adonis" rules. ex-amber gris guitarist Kaname takes up vocals in this band and is seemingly backed by a bunch of talented newbies. Gorgeous guitarwork and raw, evocative vocals hit all the right spots. With only their first release, I can absolutely see Sioux's potential to help fill the void of some of the major art kei disbandments that happened over the past year. @tetsu_sama69's Picks “CROWS” by BLESSCODE Another supercharged release from the overflowing potential of a band, BLESSCODE. The opening of the song sets a strong rhythmic pace that thrives throughout. The track is entirely infectious with powerful vocals and amazing instrumentals that only this band are capable of. It's hard not to feel yourself compelled to dance a little as you listen to the track as it's so steady and solid. By the time you finish the song you'll be singing 'Thank you for the music' and wanting to enjoy more of what BLESSCODE brings to the table. “PERSONA” by THE BLACK SWAN The wait was so long for this new release from THE BLACK SWAN and it was worth every single minute that the fans were a ball of impatient tension for it to surface. The heart beat from the start gets torn apart with a dirty cacophony of guitars and drums that don't hold back. “PERSONA” is a track that feels like a conflicting duality of darkness and rage combating each other with screams and clean vocals leading the charges in dissension. It's hard to decide which part is my favorite because the whole thing is a hard smack to the face of awesome music that any fan of the band should enjoy overall and find it difficult to not have the song on repeat. “Psycho Creature” by MIZTAVLA Rhythmic synth bleeps may start off this track but it's pure deception when the rush of instrumentals start and I found myself bouncing around my room with this vibrant track. The drums are so spirited in this song and they grabbed my attention with the insane mess of power they brought forth. The vocals are a rough shambles of scattered screams and cleans that fit the overall flow. The chorus especially was an amusement ride of headbanging and chaos that made it instantly the standout track of a very solid mini-album. @Zeus' Picks "quiet squall" by siraph Snagging the ending theme song for an anime is always a double edged sword. Unlike the opening, you are not guaranteed that your audience will stay for the credits. So as impressive as it is for siraph's first single to feature as the ending for the anime Bloodivores, it's fortunate it can turn heads given only 90 seconds. siraph plays their first ace card with "quiet squall", an unexpected but not unwelcome smooth jazz tune from left field. For a band that many may have classified away as 'school food punishment 2.0', it's great to see siraph take steps towards creating their own identity so early. It's perfect to unwind to while also flexing their diverse influences, if you can look past Annabel's less than perfect English. Personally, I'm excited to see how many different directions this band can go in successfully. Guest Recommendations @Ada Suilen's Picks "Phoenix" by 摩天楼オペラ (Matenrou Opera) It was thought that, after the departure of the historical guitarist Anzi, considered as a key element for this band's sound, Matenrou Opera wouldn't had been the same rock act arrived with the EP Phoenix Rising, where they went back to their origins, but not so much; in fact, each song, especially the one featured, is driven by the same unique energy and which they were from their 'golden age' (since 2009). In other hand, the recent album Chikyuu extended a lot their musical range, bringing to them a little ray of hope. A hope that versatility which always characterized them, with the guitar which this time belongs to the talented Leda; so if you saw this band as done, you got it wrong! "Give me a break, stop now!" by REOL I rarely listen to contemporary pop music, especially Japanese (apart from the great ladies of the scene), but some time ago I read about this singer and her debut in pop music, as she was in the Vocaloid scene, and several people were pretty enthusiastic about her, so I tried the first album Sigma. And the first impression has been pretty good, even if at the first notes I thought I was listening to an idol; but Reol is definitely closer to the banging-dancing electro-pop music, which is more appreciated by the Western audience, with an eccentric use of auto-tune and engaging beats, without forgetting her charismatic presence. I tell only that you should only give her a try, since she is fresh, energetic and catchy, and you cannot resist her style. @chemicalpictures' Picks "Get up" by MONOEYES Takeshi Hosomi is a giant in Japanese music that I think hardly gets any recognition by western audiences... ELLEGARDEN was HUGE, the HIATUS and MONOEYES are filled with respected musicians and draw crowds all around. While the HIATUS is fully experimental post-rock, MONOEYES embrace the simplicity of ELLEGARDEN and Hosomi's earlier american rock influences. "Get Up" is a nod to 90's pop-rock sound, like Third Eye Blind, Spin Doctors, and Semisonic. Simple, straightforward guitar lines, and groovy bass and drums contrasting with Hosomi's great feelgood lyrics ("If you are sore from yesterday, the sunrise means that you are still alive" is lovely, come on!) make this a perfect sunny-afternoon-by-the-pool track for you to rock out with your friends! "感情トリートメント (Kanjou Treatment)" by Develop One's Faculties Unsurprisingly, DOF did it again. The VK gods are backing blowing our minds once again with another intense, emotional track that only they can do so well. During the first minute, the guys have already set the mood for one of their best tracks of 2016. Yuya going back and forth, with Johannes' crazy-pace drumming and a simple, yet beautiful violin line sprinkling on the back creates a powerful chorus that will be stuck in your head for a while. During the bridge, the fast tempo instrumentals while yuya keeps his vocals in check is clever and makes for a nice contrast, and shows how they already mastered the sound they are trying to achieve. It is refreshing to see how they can play with their formula to provide a different experience each time. I can only imagine how rocking this must be during their lives. It's a real shame this is a live limited release, though. Here's hoping to see it on their next full length. @hiroki's Picks "この手に在るもの (kono te ni aru mono)" by Blu-BiLLioN Blu-BiLLioN’s "この手に在るもの" is at once a return to their signature synth-pop blend that many later bands have attempted to appropriate but few have come close to matching, and at the same time a small nudge towards the EDM elements from “S.O.S” which earned them mixed reviews from even their most ardent fans. What impressed me most this time, however, was the thoughtful restraint So-ya has exercised in his infusion of dance elements to produce an upbeat, delicately balanced title track—translated as “what I have in my hands”—which doubles as an assuring nod to the fans that the band will not recklessly abandon what they started out with even as they mature (indeed, the lyrics are all about the future instead of some hazy indistinct need to return to the past that you tend to find). Needless to say I’ve always admired Mike’s vocals; it’s versatile but never outrageously flamboyant, markedly precise but never mechanical, and he’s simply exquisite across all 3 tracks here (the groovy B-side "レプリカ (Replica)" is my personal favorite). Overall, "この手に在るもの" is an accomplished distillation of the Blu-BiLLioN’s 6-year career thus far, with a not-so-faint whiff of what one might expect from them in time to come. "ラストシーン (Last Scene)" by グラムヘイズ (glamhaze) It is difficult for me to review this single without lapsing into a eulogistic mode after the awful news that グラムヘイズ will be disbanding in January. Even after having listened to many many visual kei bands I struggle to name another vocalist with Satoru’s combination of a powerful chest register, intricate gradations in his falsettos, and above all, his effective and deeply emotional tone that just tears at my heart. While tempting, it would be misleading to brand "ラストシーン" an out-and-out ballad, for its melancholic piano introduction quickly gives way to a cascade of sounds that nonetheless continue to foreground Satoru’s gripping vocals, before finally capping off with a fiery, drawn-out recapitulation. Stylistically the composition of "ラストシーン" is reminiscent of a number of JILLED RAY songs, most notably the equally expansive "DOLL", while the B-side “I say goodbye, what about you?” is a really sweet song that’s loads of fun live (lots of moshing). If this single is Satoru’s heartbreaking farewell to us, it will be one that’s painful to come to terms with even as he pleads to us, in his lyrics, to “remember that this song exists only because of you and I.” @indigo's Picks "Puke" by Age Factory Age Factory is a relatively young J-indie rock band who just released their debut full album. I'm a sucker for heartfelt music and that's exactly what Age Factory does the best, mostly thanks to young vocalist/guitarist Shimizu Eisuke with his husky and soulful voice. "Puke" is admittedly one of the standout tracks on the album for me - with slap bass, screamed vocals and a loud, almost ferocious guitar, it's sure to make your head nod along! @Lestat's Picks "Perfana" by Kaya Succeeding the untimely demise of the simultaneously robust and tender Femme Fatale, the thespian queen-monarch Kaya re-enters upon the scaffolding, donned in an extravagant outfit plenteous in theatrical and melodramatic presence; with a performance encompassing artistical freedom, the singer once again appears to find himself in his traditional element. Self-assured and dauntless, layered thickly in unique vocal processions and otherwise uncharted areas, "Perfana" returns to us the ever-thriving solo-career of an already undoubtedly qualified artist, now formally in league with the multifaceted and accomplished KAMIJO, whose creative expertise once again flowers gracefully in the composing of the single's electronic, buoyant title-track. "今日死ぬ (Die today)" by SIKI VERNISSAGE SIKI VERNISSAGE is the handle given to an unrestrained and seemingly limitless project whose genesis-story currently remains unknown as no information is present. Unpredictable and haphazard, "今日死ぬ (Die today)" stampedes violently from EDM Trap, to Black metal, to Crust punk, to Hip-hop, to Shoegaze and Hardcore in nine mile boots, and not one distinctive label appears to be reserved for the sum total of the grandiose debut release REPLICA. Rarely have I encountered a group this difficult to describe and this daring to embrace such a colossal range between genres. Avant-garde and hard to digest, SIKI VERNISSAGE may not be an enjoyable experience for everyone, but certainly arrives on the Japanese music scene with a monstrous entrance. Thanks for checking out our recommendations this month! If you have any thoughts on our list or recommendations of your own, please feel free to comment below! If you're interested in being a guest contributor, contact either @CAT5 or @doombox! See you all next month!

Welcome back to our monthly collection of songs we thought rocked this month! And boy, oh boy, is this month packed full of quality tunes! So please keep your arms and legs securely next to you until this ride comes to a full stop. We apologize some videos may not be available to view in all regions. And we'd like to thank our guest contributors @Ada Suilen and @chemicalpictures for joining us once again! Recommended Tracks: September 2016 @beni's Picks "たぶんわたしがゆうれいだったら (Tabun watashi ga yuureidattara)" by Her Ghost Friend I admit that I was a bit late to this party, but throughout the entire month, I mashed the repeat button YouTube to this tune. One of the best ways to describe Her Ghost Friend is probably comparing her to Izumi Makura and Bonjour Suzuki, mixed with Etsuko Yakushimaru's anime tunes, but even cuter! Hold your horses though, it's not rap at all! The act is comprised of duo singer Shinobu Ono and DJ Obake. The synths over a relaxing, almost ambient but playful beat makes this such a joy to listen to. With a childish yet ethereal voice, Her Ghost Friend have certainly caught my fancy. "Kiss" by lovefilm Even though their first ever album was quite a flop to me, I at least took this with me for keeps. lovefilm was quite a new name to many, and probably even more to come. I only managed to discover them from following the label UKPROJECT, and I'm sure glad it was "Kiss" I stumbled upon. The band have the female and male duo vocals going on, which is always a treat to the ears -- especially when both are so similar. It's especially sweet when they harmonize, and while the tune is definitely simple, it's worth your attention at least once for the feel good vibes. "Cruisin' Cruisin'" by bonobos Many thanks to @CAT5 for showing this to me firstly. For someone like myself who doesn't know the first thing about groove, this is a great starter. Everything about "Cruisin' Cruisin'" is just... well, cruisin'! The smoothness of everything, from the seemingly effortless cool vocals to the - just as amazing - chill instrumentals makes this so serene. For a linear, five minute track, you'd be surprised with how quick it seems to end. You can't help but be sucked into the whole feel of the tune. As I've said before, there's only a handful of such musicians I know and enjoy, such as cero being the closest act to them, so being exposed to even more brilliance is a pleasure! And I know it goes the same for everyone else too. Don't miss this! "supercell" by Cö shu Nie I had known this name for quite a while thanks to @CAT5, who had brought them up to me once again since their music change with this. And now I can't stop digging them! The now rocking pop duo do not let up their energy with this super number. The chaotic yet gorgeous tune is certainly energetic, and with the strong and lush female vocals of Mirai Nakamura, it really stands out and makes an impression. It's a move from their indie/math sound, and a change I've seen no one disagree with. I can safely say they have a least one more fan after this genre switch! I'm sure they'll quickly start to garner attention. "She won't forget" by Someday's Gone Telling the story of remembering fond yet bitter memories in the corner of a coffee shop, "She won't forget" is an instantly catchy number, relatable, genuine and real. The balance of sweetness with the vocalization "dood, dood, do do do" from pleasant, youthful male voice with the clearly bitter lyrics makes for an emotional and impactful listen. I can't blame anyone to be turned off at the rather amateurish Engrish delivery, but if you can overlook that and enjoy his voice, then you've sure got a nice little gem here. Also, any music video recorded in a coffee shop is the definition of cute, so how about adding "She won't forget" to your memory? "CRAZY" by I don't like Mondays. Everything about these guys is so infectious with each and every piece they put out! I have no idea how they do it. How they manage to make a great mixture of Japanese and English, while making it sound as good as it does is beyond me. The effortless Western feel and sound these guys can put out is so very impressive, and deserving of much more attention. From the incredibly... questionable music video style, to just how god damn gorgeous everyone looks, you'll be 'CRAZY' if you don't end up feeling like grooving to this! Be sure to check them out sooner or later while they're on fire with all their recent output! @fitear1590's Picks "Ice Candy" by カフカ (KAFUKA) Last year, pop rockers KAFUKA put out Tokyo 9 Stories, a commendable album. Less than twelve months later, they're already back with another one, AINKSKI (あいなきせかい / ai naki sekai). While I haven't heard the full release yet, "Ice Candy" puts the album off to great start. It's a jaunty romp, punctuated with some surprisingly fuzzy guitar riffs. Frankly, I didn't know the boys had it in 'em to go in an even moderately shoegaze direction. Color me intrigued. The PV matches the aesthetic with some icy Super 8-style film footage. Let's hope the rest of the album has some nice surprises too! "美しい火 (Beautiful Fire)" by THE NOVEMBERS It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of NOVEMBERS ~dream ver.~, so when they gave us a second taste of their new album (Hallelujah) via Soundcloud, it was love at first listen. "Beautiful Fire" is gorgeous and the polar opposite of the shoegrunge grittiness of July's "黒い虹 (Black Rainbow)," which was also stellar. This track has more conviction than the dreamy, yet wispy work on last year's Elegance and it also marks a glorious return to those warm horn arrangements, a nod to 2012's stunning GIFT EP. They add a nostalgic touch here, as well as on album-closer "いこうよ (ikou yo)." There's plenty to chew on with Hallelujah, so be sure to check it out if you haven't already! "ポイズンベリー (poison berry)" by トキノキト (tokinokito) Tokinokito seem to be slipping under people's radars, but if you're a neo-VK fan, what's not to like? They come bearing surprisingly slick visuals for a super indies band and with "poison berry," they introduce a quirky take on the graveyard circus sound so dear to their heavier contemporaries GRIMOIRE. The track opens with spooky chimes and accordion, just in time for Halloween! Then, whimsical synths and noodling guitar riffs lead us into the meat of the song. The verses are an unconventional mesh of time signatures that take some getting used to, but it's kind of brilliant. Tokinokito continue to grab my attention, so I think I'll be in it with them for the long haul. Hope you'll join me! @Original Saku's Picks "鬼 (Oni)" by クリープハイプ (CreepHyp) This month kicks off with one of my most anticipated albums - Sekaikan from CreepHyp - and it does not disappoint. "Oni" is like a crazy train ride with a dose of peculiar sounds and grooves, it includes all the quirky aspects from this band that I love. From the wacky backing vocals to the unorthodox instrumental sounds to the eccentric vocal style of Ozaki. It's all there in a little package waiting to be unwrapped, I love it. One of my favorite albums of the year from one of my favorite bands, check it out. I will however forewarn any new listeners that Ozaki's vocals can be an acquired taste. Sometimes he sings in such a high pitch that it can be hard on the ears, but his eccentricity is very lovable once you've warmed up to it. "twoface" by Aimer I'm by no means a stranger to Aimer. I've been listening to her output for years in anime openings/endings and soundtracks, but lately I've noticed a slight shift in motivation or direction. That brings us to her new album daydream, and in particular the song "twoface", with music produced by Uchisawa Takahito from androp. This track has a lot of power behind it, which I don't often hear from Aimer songs, and it has caught my attention because of that. She performs wonderfully here and is in top form. That, combined with the interesting instrumentals and direction, makes this one of my favorite songs from her. I can't exactly put my finger on what has changed, but I feel that we have only just begun to see what she can do. "Groovy Cony" by Casablanca This is a sleeper pick from last month that I wasn't able to get to since it came out so close to the deadline. Casablanca a newly formed band comprised of Yoko (noodles), Sawao Yamanaka (the pillows), and Shinya Kusube (Radio Caroline) - a veritable super group if you will. With such talent coming together, there was no doubt in my mind that their first album Another Story would be quality tunes, but nothing prepared me for the instant gratification that I received upon listening to this record. "Groovy Cony" is just one of the amazing tracks from this debut release that has a particular sound that I can only describe as nostalgia in a bottle. With Sawao's guitar work, backing vocals, and composition, and Kusube's loud and proud drumming, we have a instrumental style that harkens back to the sounds of old. You then add in Yoko as the lead vocalist and we have a distinct sound that feels nostalgic and fresh at the same time. @togz' Picks "Redemption" by Her Name in Blood I became a little concerned for the direction of this album with the release of the "Bakemono" music video. However, the majority of the tracks on this release really caught me by surprise. "Redemption" was the composition that grasped my interest the most. The guitar work in the beginning serves as a great hook for the entire track regardless of the repetition. Although the guitar riffs aren't very complex and we get a lot of palm-muted chugga-chugs, I found myself subconsciously bobbing my head along. The strongest aspect of this song is the catchy chorus. Ikepy's vocals really show growth with the range, depth, and stamina of his cleans. I can only hope to enjoy this song live some day. This is a must listen! "海の静寂 (Umi no Seijaku)" by downy I'm fairly new to the world of downy, but I have this song along with a few others to thank for getting me hooked. I'm not sure if this song is a great representation of all of their past work, but I can vouch that it's a great easy-listening track. I admire the flow of this song because of it's slow jazzy mood with silky-slick vocal phrases. It's a rather sluggish song, but it's not muddy and it's tasteful. It works as great thinking music, inspirational music, or just something to sit back and relax to. "愛はなけなし (What Little Love)" by THE NOVEMBERS THE NOVEMBERS never seem to disappoint, but this song in specific really resonates with me from their new album Hallelujah. The intro is a beautiful and emotionally dark combination of beautiful acoustics and muted guitar strums. Kobayashi's voice enters in a lullaby-esque melody, which fits his voice flawlessly given that his tone can range from a whispering chant to raw shouting. The middle section of the song is an interesting direction change and really jumps back to their dream-pop sound, but remains able to melt back into the solemn vibe of the song overall. While I would highly recommend the whole album, this track is where I'd start. "ぴゅーぱ。( Pyupa/Pupa)" by PIGLOW in GLOOMY I feel like visual kei has become a realm filled with cookie-cutter bands and finding gems is a chore. I listened to PIGLOW in GLOOMY on a whim, and while I wasn't amazed, I wasn't disappointed either. This track is off of their first mini-album むくあ(mukua) which was released August 31st. I like this track because it has hints of what visual kei sounded like when it was at it's peak for me, which was the obscurely mellow intros that lead into heavy guitar riffs and gave off a psychedelic sort of vibe. The composition itself isn't too complex, but it shows potential to head in a very interesting direction. The vocal style also reminds me a bit of Karma from AvelCain, so if you're in to that I'd say they're worth a listen! @emmny's Picks "頭蓋、紛い (zugai, magai)" by gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy Grandpa-kei' icons ggg return with a new single for September, hilarious titled I LOVE YOU. Considering how dark their sound is, a simple 'I love you' is an ironic declaration more so than a love letter. While the title track of the single has a stutter-y groove and an old-school merry go round vibe, "Zugai, Magai" chooses instead to brood and melt in its own darkness, giving a nod to later-era merry go. Kazuma's yelling has been a love-hate affair on their past material, as i enjoy his clean vocals more than his dragged-out-vibrato-whimper-yell, but it sounds perfect haunted on this track. I don't think anyone would have predicted ggg's success (or existence) 10 years ago, but this oddly random project has flourished into one hell of a beast. They exist on a creative plane far from their contemporaries, yet with an incredibly familiar sound that grows in magnitude with each release, it's incredibly thrilling to watch. "EVIDENCE" by lynch. Gang vocals? Yes. Delayed and reverberated clean guitar intro? Hell yeah. Compression for the gods? You know it. Thumping metalcore break down? Duh. Fist pumping chorus? Absolutely. lynch. basically rehashing what they've been doing for the past 3 years but still managing to blow our ears in with some surprises here and there? Thank god! "カミソリ (Kamisori)" by ザアザア (Xaa-xaa) Osaka it-band Xaa-Xaa are once again spamming us with music, this time in the form of a 3-month consecutive release around the theme of 'despair'. "Kamisori" is the first incarnation of this project, and Xaa-Xaa handle the questionably triggering concept with fury and also grace. "Kamisori" features a thrashy guitar riff at its centre with this oddly cute wonky tone that keeps it from coming across too 'metal'. Kazuki's vocals are at times breathy, other times strained, increasing the tension behind the words (special shout out to that howl at the end). The song flows incredibly well, outside of repeating the main riff a few times too many. The progression from the breakdown to the solo is particularly awesome. Next month is looking to be great too...see y'all here in October? "撲殺サマンサ (Bokusatsu Samantha)" by DAMY I'm gonna be real honest with y'all (as you can always expect): there's little merit to the new DAMY record outside of DEZERT's obvious influence. I knew it was an enjoyable record, but I didn't find any new tracks were interesting enough on their own for a feature. It works better as a whole... except for "Bokusatsu Samantha". This is straight up catchy metal-kei that stands amazingly on its own--so we'll forgive the fact that this technically came out in 2015. There's not much to rave on about this track, it's not that complex, or original, or all that interesting--but it's so fucking fun. You'll be screaming along to the gang refrain in no time, not knowing the band's detailing whacking a girl over the head to death. Intellectual music has it's place, but sometimes you just wanna whip your hair to some depravity--thank god DAMY make music for that. @Zeus' Picks "The Love From a Dead Orchestra" by Versailles Versailles' return and announcement of new material is the greatest gift they could have given to their fans. There's been a dearth of good symphonic visual kei acts to fill Versailles' flowery rococo heels, but they didn't go out on the best note, so their Greatest Hits release feels less like a cash-in and more of an attempt to convince us there's enough magic to keep going. The tracks they chose were among the best of the best, but one in particular caught my eye almost instantly. I prayed and fantasized about what an updated rendition of "The Love From a Dead Orchestra" would sound like for years as it's always been a bold song held back by constrained production choices and a vocalist who had not yet adapted to his range. The re-recording exceeded my expectations. Some rough transitions were smoothed over with the inclusion of new instruments, everything was redone from scratch, and new lyrics were added to cover up sparse interludes. In terms of low-hanging optimizations to the melody the band plucked them all and then some. What's harder to communicate with words - and what Versailles did successfully - is play like a band. There's the perfect mix of old Versailles and new Versailles here to both restore my faith and keep my interest for what's to come. "孤独旋回 (kodoku senkai)" by downy It's no secret that I'm all about downy's latest LP, 第六作品集『無題』 (Mudai), but it's hard to describe in words the emotions I feel when listening. If I had to choose one track that captures the entire feel of 『無題』, it would be "孤独旋回" (kodoku senkai). If 『無題』 were a story, "孤独旋回" would be the tense rising action before the climax. The rhythm is as tortuous as it is both uplifting and oddly distressing, beckoning the listener this way and then another with the variations in tempo and theme. I can feel the members of downy flexing their knowledge of musical theory on me with this one. Fans of post-rock and mathy melodies still new to downy just might fall in love. Moments of tranquility are upended into a whirlwind of emotion, painted with the melancholy tones of vocalist Robin Aoki. Such a description is fitting for a track named "Revolving Loneliness". One of the best tracks of September for sure! @CAT5's Picks "2772" by ZA FEEDO Initially appearing on a Yasei Collective feature back in 2014, ZA FEEDO have finally come forth with their debut album 2772, sporting what they describe as a 'Futurist Polyrhythmic Tropical Bad Ass FUJIYAMA Sound '. While they site acts like Aphex Twin, Little Dragon, Miles Davis, and bjork as influences, on their latest PV for the title track "2772", ZA FEEDO's off-kilter grooves and soulful vocals land them closer to the realm of Spangle call Lilli Line. The song has a great balance of experimental ingenuity and accessible, pop charisma. Let's hope the album is just as good! "星雲ヒッチハイク (seiun hitch-hike)" by TAMTAM TAMTAM originally made a name for themselves by creating a delectable fusion of Jpop and dub. They tried a few new things in 2014 - most of which seemed like a direct appeal to the Anime industry - but thankfully, they've returned to form on their new album NEWPOESY, even stating in their promo campaign, "Back to the Riddim"! The album is full of sweet, soulful jams that, while enjoyable, are best appreciated as a whole. "星雲ヒッチハイク" stands out completely on its own, though! It's an epic, expansive groove and the most pristinely gorgeous track of not only the album, but of TAMTAM's career thus far! "白薔薇のララバイ (shirobara no lullaby)" by 手嶌葵 (Aoi Teshima) When it comes to Jpop songstress Aoi Teshima, her music is just as classy, elegant, and beautiful as she is! She just released a new album titled 青い図書室 (Blue library) in celebration of her 10th anniversary and it's expectedly lovely. "白薔薇のララバイ" is particularly extravagant, with its somber, psychedelic-folk sound that harkens back to 70's kayōkyoku ballads, and even brings to mind the likes of Douji Morita. Absolutely stunning! "Falling Alone" by Aimer Hot on the heels of her recent single "insane dream" (produced by ONE OK ROCK's Taka), Aimer has finally dropped her new album daydream this month, which features three additional tracks penned by Taka as well. Of the three, "Falling Alone" serves us the kind of riveting pop-rock we've come to love from Aimer - even towering above "ninelie", which was produced by 'Mr. epic' himself, Hiroyuki Sawano. Taka and Aimer have proven to be a potent combination. The chorus of this song is EVERYTHING! "Sunshine Freeway" by I love you Orchestra I love you Orchestra is one of those bands that look brilliant on paper, but unfortunately, have yet to deliver anything truly substantial. With two drummers and three guitarists, one would expect some level of brilliance, but so far, their releases have consisted of songs too spastic to really get into, and songs too short to offer anything memorable. Thankfully, their sound finally seems to be coming together on their third and newest album Crack. "Sunshine Freeway" reflects this by perfectly balancing out the band's spastic tendencies with more accessible melodies and a coherent structure. The song feels more like an actual experience now, as opposed to just passing sounds. Japan's instrumental scene has been lacking lately, but these guys may just put a 'Crack' in the monotony! "see through sway in you" by 別野加奈 (Kana Wakareno) Kana Wakareno is a young singer, pianist and cinematographer, who just recently released her third album forget me not, and it's absolutely exquisite! Her music is based on her own, imaginary/fictional landscapes, and through each track, you get a clear sense of her cinematic visions. The minimalistic melancholy of "see through sway in you" congers up a particularly visceral scene, with its mournful, yet gorgeous melodies and subtle background noises that sound to be the crackling of a fire - you get a sense that there's warmth nearby, but at the moment, there's something comforting about how numbing the cold is. Amazing. "六月ノ雨ニ討タレテ (rokugatsu no ame ni utarete)" by alt of the society Real Japanese emo is a bit of a scarcity. The scene is relatively small, and there aren't an abundance of fans in or outside of Japan, so I was pretty delighted when I finally got my hands on alt of the society's new album 追憶の風景 (tsuioku no fuukei), which was released all the way back in March! Not only was my need for this style of music sated, but the album also provided a few gems as well - "六月ノ雨ニ討タレテ" being one of them. It's a track with a traditional kind of post-rock build, starting relatively calm and then climaxing into a swell of emotion. Easily one of the most compelling tracks of the album! "滅菌、消毒、絆創膏。(mekkin, shoudoku, bansoukou.)" by Chanty Chanty are undeniably a VK band, yet they've continuously proven that their appeal extends beyond the scene. They're just as at home being on the same bill as VK bands like Grieva and Kuroyuri to Kage as they are sharing the stage with "non-vk" acts like indie-rockers aquarifa. On their latest album 不完全な音楽 (fukanzen na ongaku), they continue to straddle that line between unabashed "vk-ism" and indie appeal - they're almost like a VK version of cinema staff in that regard. "滅菌、消毒、絆創膏。" takes that archetypal, circus-y VK rock sound and amps it up a bit with the spastic recklessness of a 9mm parabellum bullet or Arukara track. This song is a helluva lot of fun! "灰よ (hai yo)" by 平沢進 (Susumu Hirasawa) The musical wizard of everything wondrous, the one and only, the legend himself, Susumu Hirasawa has just released Ash Crow, a compilation of songs he's composed for the Berserk franchise over a span of 20 years. The compilation features songs from the Berserk movies, games, and even some of the new insert songs from the Berserk 2016 anime - most notably "Hai yo"! The song is suitably dark and epic, evoking the grim nature of the show while providing the perfect backdrop for the demonic warfare of the series. It's a song that's both uniquely Hirasawa, and uniquely Berserk. It's a shame that the Berserk 2016 anime wasn't worthy of such a great piece! Guest Recommendations @Ada Suilen's Picks "1000 Years" by THE NOVEMBERS After the dark and dreamy Elegance EP, The Novembers have come back with their sixth album Hallelujah. A product which doesn't disappoint for a single note. But if you isolate it carefully, you can see the single vibes that are inside it: nostalgic rock sound, with even a passionate soul full of adrenaline and astonishing themes, which I liked most. "1000 Years" represents perfectly the most rebellious and out-of-scheme style that this band could ever do (those grungy vocals!). "Trigger" by MUCC In my opinion, MUCC is one of the few bands which always opted to stupefy and to entertain in unusual ways (think about the genres they've showed off); in their latest single this happened once again. With an energetic A-side and a curious first track on the B-side, here we are in front of something which smells unexpected and incredible. "Trigger" appears as one of the 'black-sheep' of MUCC's discography, where a warm guitar intertwines with sublime vocals and the structure twists around itself each second for a whirling musical experience. @chemicalpictures' Picks "拒絶 (kyosetzu)" by SCAPEGOAT SCAPEGOAT was always a hit-and-miss band for me. While I loved "告白＿時々、雨 (kokuhaku ___ tokidoki, ame)", I couldn't care less for the other five songs on the mini. What made me love it so much is that the guys have a concept of trying to tell a story through their songs. They got it right that time, and got it right on the spot again! The Nagoya-y vocal lines set the tone and create a heavy atmosphere full of visual kei tropes like whispers, moaning and slow paced singing. The lead guitar nicely defines the tempo, starting slow and exploding into a catchy, dark and powerful chorus that provides some nice headbanging moments. You can feel that they are trying to express that emotional burst through the chorus, and that's an interesting little quirk. Music-wise there is nothing really innovative to be seen here, but it's a nice banger on a slow vkei month. "Jellyfish" by ZON With their third single, ZON is showing how consistently good they are. All the songs are great on this single, but "Jellyfish" stood out mainly because of 834. I'd like to get everyone's attention on how good that guy is. The song already starts packing a punch: 834's drums all over your face, dueling with Mii's melodic guitar lines, while Azu does his thing. Everything is just fine, but it all goes wild in the chorus, with 834's drums again in the spotlight, urging you to stand up and dance. It's IMPOSSIBLE to stand still. They really let him go full crazy mode... It's interesting how he subverts the regular progressive rock beat infusing a high octane funky-afrobeat, making it so energetic and vibrant (lol, sorry I got a little carried away here, but he is THAT good!). Another nice touch is the transition on the three-minute mark from the classic vk slow bridge into fast chorus transition. Smooth AF. This is EDR with a capital R, guys. These guys can be HUGE in no time. Thanks for hanging out with us for another month of songs and we hope you enjoyed them as much as we did! Please comment below if you had any special songs this month you didn't see listed above that deserve some attention! We'd love to hear about them, or any of the songs we've listed above. Please let us know what you thought. If you'd like to become a guest contributor for Recommended Tracks next month please contact @doombox! Until next time~

Recommended Tracks: August Hello again Monochromians! ORz are back with a new freshly baked batch of tunes for you to snack on. Summer may be nearing its end, but that's no reason for the party to stop! Special thanks to guest reviewer @Ada Suilen for joining us again this month! Please, leave a comment below with songs you loved this month and let us know what you thought! @fitear1590's picks "お願いUFO (onegai UFO)" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen) Koochewsen is officially on a roll. Their latest video game-tastic PV (the THIRD from this mini, btw) "インドのタクシー (indo no taxi)" was just edged out by this slice of musical heaven, which shows that the band still gets their prog juices flowing now and again. Slow, creeping verses build into mighty choruses that split the sky wide open just long enough for a UFO to zip down to our stratosphere and abduct us. And lawd, is it glorious. I could go on and on about how much I love Riyo's unique vocals, but why don't I just let the song speak for itself? As a cooldown, the track graces us with a killer organ breakdown and a face-melting guitar solo. @togz' picks "THE STORY ( ACOUSTIC )" by coldrain "THE STORY ( ACOUSTIC )" is off of coldrain's newest single VENA II which was released on the 17th of August. The single provided us with two acoustic versions from their last full-length VENA. Both prove to be great remakes and show another side of coldrain I haven't heard before. However, there's something special about the depth of "THE STORY". While the original wasn't one of my favorites from their album, the acoustic version may have changed my mind. Masato already has a very melodic vocal style but it surely shines in this track and he tends to elongate his words so they resonate in a different light. While the guitar work is beautiful on its own, the bass and drums are the real MVP of this song and offers some smooth jazz elements. I'm not even going to spoil the guitar solo for you. If you haven't heard it yet, you're missing out. I recommend this track for days. @emmny's picks "月光" (Gekkou) by DIAURA Some tracks warrant a short story's worth of an explanation as to why they're so good, and others just escape words. "Gekkou" is the latter for this month; it's not so brilliant to leave me utterly gobsmacked, but so eerily beautiful in its simplicity that it just...clicks. Yo-ka's vocals are dazzling as he glides over the delicate, acoustic guitar-driven ballad, the emotional buildup leading to a fabulously Uruha-style restrained-yet-virtuoso guitar solo from Kei. If you're not a ballad fan, this isn't the track to convert you; but to those who enjoy them, you'd find the polite ebb and flow of "Gekkou" to be rewarding. "「洗脳」" (Sennou) by 黒百合と影 (Kuroyuri to kage) Spoiler alert: Kuroyuri have flown straight out of indie purgatory after losing two members and (possibly?) being dropped by Ains, coming to bash us all across the head. If "Gekkou" put you to sleep, "Sennou" will wake you the fuck up, as expected, given Kuroyuri's signature oldie alt-metal barrage. The song opens with some surprising djent-style breakdown riffage before leading into a standard old MUCC-style crawl. Note how the bass work from K is turned up to 11, compared to prior releases. It has a fabulously ploppy and dirty clack to it. Mei, as usual, is giving the freaky-kei stans all that they could possibly ever want, going from whispers to growls with the occasional whimper singing here and there. Rinse, repeat, cue a fabulously sugary chorus and a dubstep breakdown. Wait...did I actually just--oh my god. YES, Kuroyuri against all odds throw the most pathetic wub-wub during a breakdown midway; which is so charmingly ratchet and clangy that it works brilliantly in their favour. Kuroyuri to kage stay true to their sound but throw in a few details here and there to keep everyone on their feet. Is it enough to keep their sound fresh? It's your call to make, but I'd like to think this is a good sign of things to come. "Merciless core" by メディーナ (Mediena) Ah yes, Mediena. In case you've missed them before, they're a fairly young Indies band with a heavy mid-2000's influence...think a lot of Phantasmagoria+UCP and Vidoll: super melodic, very synthy with a fabulously operatic and nasal vocalist. They're also (allegedly) signed onto godly revival-kei label Ains. It's not a coincidence that every band featured by me this month is somehow linked to Ains, they're constantly killin' it. That said, Mediena is hitting the can soon, which is entirely exciting considering a similarly hyped old-school loving young indies band (I wonder who it is!) is also calling it quits this year. If some Ains super-band forms out of the ashes of Mediena, we only have @Peace Heavy mk II to blame. Conspiracy theories aside, Mediena are leaving us on a pretty good note with "Merciless core": intense string synths, gratuitous vibrato, kote screams, god-awful production, some headbang worthy riffage and great melodies. If this doesn't sound like an amazing time, you're in the wrong place. @Original Saku's picks "Alche(mist)" by the equal lights My first pick this month is from a newer band that I just discovered, the equal lights. "Alche(mist)" from their first mini album LaLaLa-prima brings a blend of pop-rock and indie sounds that are a delight upon listening. Vocalist and guitarist Mishima Tetsuo does an excellent job of carrying the song forward with his soft vocal melodies that sound pleasant to the ear. Check these guys out sooner rather than later. "よいよいまほろば (Yoi Yoi ma Horoba)" by 中山うり (Uri Nakayama) Next we're taking a change of pace with the singer-songwriter Uri Nakayama and the song "Yoi Yoi ma Horoba" from her last album Mahoroba. Here we have a slow folk-y jazz number that starts off beautifully with Nakayama's warm 'miraculous' voice that she is known for and a variety of instruments make appearances throughout the song, including trumpet, accordion, and saxophone, among others. This is truly a track that gives you a soothing feeling and peace of mind. My recommendation doesn't do this song justice let alone the album, so if you love what you hear, please check out the full album if you so desire. "EGO" by ARTIFACT OF INSTANT Once again we are gonna flip the tables and switch to something a bit different from the previous recommendation. "EGO" is a catchy alternative rock song from newly discovered act ARTIFACT OF INSTANT and their 3rd mini album Recoil. What makes this track interesting is the great energy that it gives off. From start to finish, it's one wild ride that hardly lets up. The band employs bumping bass lines, vigorous guitar riffs and drumming to achieve a very aggressive sound that pleases greatly. There is also a use of dual male female vocals that adds a nice touch to some of the chorus. Overall, a great track for the more heavy inclined this month. "Lux Fugio" by ノイズ (nowisee) For a lot of people nowisee's (pronounced "noise") long awaited album Tenohira no Senso was the highlight of August, myself included. With the female-fronted group being largely shrouded in mystery and the monthly music video drops, the hype for this album has just been building and building all year. Although the album itself is made up of songs that most fans have heard by now through the youtube channel or app, I can tell you right now that the abridged versions don't do the full songs justice and to say that this album has no surprises for current fans would be the furthest from the truth. That brings us to one of the new songs that we have not heard before. "Lux Fugio" is a piano pop ballad that begins somber and then slowly builds into a masterpiece of a song that plateaus into a flurry of piano and vocal prowess a little half way through the track. Then, it begins to slowly cool off, and slips back into the darkness. This is the album of the month for me and has great potential for AOTY. The anticipation for this release was ridiculous and despite already having a good sample of the songs beforehand, the full versions were spectacular nonetheless. @doombox's picks "Fool's Gold" by Survive Said The Prophet It's been a little touch-and-go for the five-piece outfit from Tokyo but in the last year the band has really gotten their feet under them. They even seemed to keep momentum whilst dealing with a recent member change, surprisingly. "Fool's Gold" is the first sample we get to hear from their upcoming full album FIXED. The song shows a more prominent post-hardcore side to the normally melodic, emo-tinged composition style the band has displayed in the past. Bassist Yudai's screams have been pushed even further to the forefront while Yosh's clean vocals hold down the catchy hooks (and perfect English lyrics). It's hard to tell if the change in musical pace for the band is due to new addition Tatsuya (ex. FAKE FACE) on guitar or was a natural evolution for the band, but either way, it's a step in the right direction. "Savior" by NOTHING TO DECLARE Surprise, surprise. I'm back again recommending another band you would never know were Japanese by only listening to them, this time with NOTHING TO DECLARE. "Savior" is a song that could easily fit in on major rock radio which leaves the band to be massively underrated in my humble opinion. This track has everything to dig its hooks deep into you. Chant-along gang vocals? Check. Big anthemic chorus? Check. Emotional, borderlining on spiritual outro? Check! I know these things are nothing original that haven't been done before but the band does a great job of keeping a fresh and genuine feeling about it that you don't find very often. "ともに(tomoni)" by WANIMA WANIMA keep the hits coming, and this summer is no different. "Tomoni" is that perfect, feel-good, summer jam that you can turn up loud and have zero regrets. Even though WANIMA's style does not change much from song to song, their message never seems to get old. The positivity and cheer this band spreads is infectious and has proved to have real staying power in the Japanese melodic punk scene. I mean, just attempt to watch their music videos without smiling. I dare you! "Nothing" by FAKE FACE Diving into a band who likes to get a little darker with their themes and music videos, FAKE FACE have been around for a few years but have yet to really hit their stride as far as a regular release schedule goes. However, they do manage to pump out a mini album or so every other year. Their latest single, Nothing, has paired them up with Tower Records for its release, which looks like things may be starting to happen for the group. I definitely think they're worth checking out for fans of post-hardcore and alternative rock bands like ONE OK ROCK and coldrain. "パニックパニック！(Panic Panic!)" by Purple Stone I've recommended Purple Stone previously for their song "Aoi Yami" not all that long ago. And just when I thought they couldn't improve on their already wonderful sound, the guys have really taken their music (and music videos) to the next level with "Panic Panic!". Electronic rock may be a bit of an overused trend for visual bands, but there's still something to be said for bands that know how to do it well, and Purple Stone are doing just that with synths, guitar riffs, and samples that are just as catchy as any of the vocals. It's the perfect storm to make this track an ear-creeper that will burrow its way into your brain and not let go. @tetsu_sama69's picks "The Baptist" by Insanity Injection I was really hoping that when I saw the cover art for this single that it was more focused on Chaos and I was not let down a single bit by this release. "The Baptist" takes a walk down a different path and is more on the melodic side of things from their previous releases. The opening is a messy storm of bass and wonderful chugging guitar that seems like it's going to be nothing special until the vocals kick in with a cacophony of awesome. The spoken parts show up again much like "Sense of Ash" but this time they erupt into what can only be explained as a psychotic rampage of a guitar solo that melt back into a smooth verse before a twister of screams carries the song to the end. Chaos and Kyouka's voices mingle so well together it's a treat, especially when the operatic vocals are backed up with insane demonic screams that just hit the right spot for me and anyone else who appreciates the music that this band creates. "真昼間は別の顔 (Mappiruma wa Betsu no Kao)" by ペンタゴン (Pentagon) Typically I'm not extremely blown away by what Pentagon has brought to the table but they do make some pretty nice tunes from time to time that I have a hard time getting out of my head. Zekkyou was a pretty alright release until I ran into "Mappiruma wa Bestu no Kao" and the song got stuck on repeat for a while by means I cannot explain entirely. The song definitely stands out from their typical styling with a strange tinkering fast-paced piano bit that comes up throughout the track. The energetic jazzy pace of track overall is extremely addicting and done so well instrumentally and vocally it's almost as if I found a box of my favorite candy on my desk after coming home from work. If Pentagon can explore and do more songs with as much energy as this song then they'll definitely earn a higher placing on my list of current enjoyable visual bands. "セーラー服と夏休み (Sailor Fuku to Natsuyasumi)" by スタア区。(Starku) Starku are definitely not playing around as they bring another amazing and solid release to the forefront with "Sailor Fuku to Natsuyasumi". After a few listens the lyrics were already ingrained in my mind and I could not stop hearing those beautiful guitar riffs that had me dancing right away. The pace changes that occur in this song are downright insane and it almost feels like a roller coaster ride of awesome for your ears from beginning to end. It's full of that wonderful super-positive charged punk rock style that Starku do so well and I definitely cannot get enough of. I find it nearly impossible to listen to their music and not find myself full of life whether it's from Reno's unique vocals or the bands overall downright talent. Starku are really coming into their own with every release and I hope the next song they put together is even better than this. "Dystopia～断罪の聖堂～ (Dystopia～Danzai no Seidou～)" by forCroiX If you are missing that late '00's visual style music with a lovely punch of 'gothic' synths and power metal then you have hit the jackpot. forCroiX's first and hopefully not only release Grimoire is something that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys visual kei. "Dystopia～Danzai no Seidou～" isn't a very long song but in that 3 minute and 12 second window there's a lot brought to the table for your enjoyment. The opening piano track bursts into a heavy mix of chugging instrumentals and powerful vocals that just don't seem to have any idea where the brakes are. The guitar solo is so maddeningly paced that I can't even think of a better way to describe than insanely good. I really hope that forCroiX gets a bit more attention for their first album and they return quickly from their hiatus and not disappear into the ether like many other visual bands. Guest picks @Ada Suilen's picks "Presto" by Hizaki One of the most prolific Japanese musicians of visual kei scene brings up a wonderful instrumental album, where there's something for everyone's taste; I enjoy the most virtuous works of the guitarist, this track suited me more than what I could expect: an incredibly fast rhythm, with Hizaki ready to bring glory and potency in a single hit (the homage to Vivaldi's "Summer" is simply gorgeous!), accompanied by a beautiful violin; a track that is pretty hard to forget. "正義のヒーロー (Seigi no hero)" by R指定 (R-Shitei) I have to admit that I don't dig this band so much (apart from few songs such as "Suicide Memories"), but with their 23rd single they caught my attention a little more, not much for the title song, but for the b-side; a real plot twist for me, where an unknown energy is unleashed in a piercing and adrenalinic rock sound. Mamo's interpretation is incredibly awesome even for himself, helped by good bass lines. If you aren't accustomed with energetic R-Shitei, this is your time! That's all for this month! Thanks for listening and if you would like to submit a guest blurb for next month please contact @doombox!

Recommended Tracks: July Your friends on the Official Reviewer team are back with another month of tunes we have hand picked for you to jam to. We hope you enjoy and let us know what you think! @beni's picks "CALL" by スカート (Skirt) Simplicity can sometimes make a gem, and what do we have right here? One hell of a shiny one! The track may be painfully short, but it's one I never fail in returning back to now and then. With vocals that can be described as laid-back on almost the same scale as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION'S Gotch, with a touch of melancholy especially due to the overall sound, this is one you can categorize as 'great indie goodness'. You'll easily recognize this track amongst any other, due to its opener of a single riff. The sprinkles of piano elsewhere, including a build up in its bridges makes this one a necessary repeater of a tune. Underrated is an understatement for this band! "秘密 (Himitsu)" by SUPER BEAVER Now this is just getting ridiculous, lads! You'll be appearing in our Recommended Tracks each month if you don't slow down any time soon! As I continuously MUST point out how SUPER BEAVER are getting better and better with each release, their singles and PVs continue to impress me as soon as I hit 'play'. Using a similar formula each time of quick but melodic vocal work against an instantly recognizable and complimentary beat, "Himitsu" is just as tastefully addictive as all their recent pieces. Fast paced, but exquisitely tuneful for exactly four minutes, it's a catchy and memorable ride, which seems to end all too soon! If you have yet to check them out, you must give them a try at least this once! And just for the record, the album that track appears on entitled 27 really deserves your attention too! These guys will not be halting their winning spree any time soon. "ACROSS" by 相川七瀬 (Aikawa Nanase) I must admit right here and now that you're not the only one missing out on this brilliant madam. I've known her name for the longest time but have never given her a listen until this single of hers, and oh, how late I am to the party! With one hell of a strong, melodic voice for a mainstream/major singer, against music done by L'Arc~en~Ciel's Tetsuya (yes, that's right, have I caught your ears now?), "ACROSS" is a delicious blend of pop rock. Nanase's stunning voice stands out even more due to Tetsuya's welcome involvement with the sound, and that definitely helps this song attract attention. What's even more of an attraction is the PV, filmed in gorgeous 360 panorama motion shots, which makes it a pleasure even to the eyes! "Fake" by GOMESS GOMESS is one of my instant loves of this year, with "Fake" being the main culprit for this. As soon as I heard his music, what came to mind was a male rap version of Bonjour Suzuki, and early daoko. "Fake" is a tuneful lullaby track as you might have guessed with my artist examples. From just this one song, to the mini-album it appears on, GOMESS has skyrocketed up to being one of my favourite experimental rappers. As those who know me already, I'm not that much of a rap listener, yet I find GOMESS extremely special because I enjoy his music so much. This is not to be missed. This song, the mini-album, nor himself. "BABY, BABY" by TWEEDEES A very random but lovely find of this month is the jazz duo of TWEEDEES. If I had to be honest about me and jazz, I'd have to say I'm not the most favourable towards it save for certain groups (BLU-SWING and JiLL-Decoy Assocation), but when it's as cute and charming as this, who am I to ignore it!? Unfortunately unknown to the majority of us, TWEEDEES definitely deserve more fans who can kick back, appreciate and enjoy anything smooth, sweet and jazzy. It even has the approval from @CAT5! "カラーバリエーション(Color Variation)" by ケツメイシ (Ketsumeishi) Talk about a match made in heaven (those clash of colours and awkward dance moves gets me every time)! Sounding exactly like how I'd think of Greeeen if they were an idol/dance boy group, this hip hop group of four (in fact) incorporates infectious rap and super pleasant singing in the chorus against the dancefloor (and even EDM) sound. This is definitely one of my guilty pleasure finds of this year (even that awfully cheesy music video is!), and I can't love it any more than I already do! If you're looking for something cheery now that we're coming to the chillier seasons, you better get up and moving to this! I know I can't stop myself! @togz' picks "この世界が嫌いな人へ (kono sekai ga kirai na hito e)" by Develop One's Faculties Develop One's Faculties has always caught my attention with their unique sound in the VK scene. They never fail to incorporate quick and complex elements to at least one song per release. "この世界が嫌いな人へ (kono sekai ga kirai na hito e)" is a B-side off of their 4th single 斑 (mura). Though the song has a fast pace to it, Develop One's Faculties is able to accomplish layering smooth vocals over a funky slap bass line. My favorite part of this track is when the vocals and guitar work lift each other and reinforce this sort of staccato verse. It's a fun song that I would recommend to scratch the surface of this group. "Water Lily" by illion illion is the solo project of Yojiro Noda (Vocalist + Guitarist of RADWIMPS). It's been just over 3 years since the debut album Ubu. Originally, an untitled release was due out for illion on the 20th of July, but that got pushed back until fall. The sad news was remedied by the announcement of a new RADWIMPS album to drop. Despite illion's release being delayed, this amazingly interactive teaser went live and "Water Lily" became available in the Japanese iTunes store on July 15th. This is a very ambient, upbeat, and space-y sounding track but offers a strong melodic vocal line. If you need some great thinking music or something to tide you over until the new RADWIMPS release hits the shelf then "Water Lily" is a must! "黒い虹 (Kuroi Niji)" by THE NOVEMBERS Even with their new album release right around the corner, THE NOVEMBERS surprise listeners with a sudden digital single release. This song will be on the new album Hallelujah which will be released on September 21st. "黒い虹 (Kuroi Niji)" represents many sides of THE NOVEMBERS as it sways from an aggressive grunge sound and floating chants to up-front chaos as everything mashes together. Given the unique layering of harmonizing vocals, the chants/singing during the song is clash-y but pleasing. If you're just checking out THE NOVEMBERS for the first time, this would be a great song to start with in preparations for their anticipated release come end of summer. On July 20th a link to purchase the song through iTunes was made available through various social media outlets. From the looks of it this song is just a limited time release exclusively for the Japanese audience. "Rx Overdrive" by Crossfaith After the band's most recent album Xeno, I felt a little let down. While I understood the direction the album went in and how it was beneficial to utilizing all their members equally, I do feel they lost a little bit of their punch. Xeno was still an album that translated well to a live setting, but it lacked the heaviness that drew people in from the beginning. Aside from the visually pleasing music video, "Rx Overdrive" replenished the heavier factors that people craved to hear again. This song has satisfactory synth usage that doesn't take from the importance and depth of the percussion area. Whether you're looking to give Crossfaith a second (or third) chance or are just checking them out, "Rx Overdrive" is a great place to sum up their journey to this point. @tetsu_sama69's picks "SENSE OF ASH" by Insanity Injection Hands down one of my favorite releases this year and a purchase I hardly regret every single time I hear this song. Granted, Insanity Injection has been met with mixed opinions, yet they always seem to strike it rich with me. "SENSE OF ASH" is a continuation of the chaotic hybrid that this band exists to be and does it so well. The haunting intro with light voiceover erupts into the unholy mess of screams from Kyouka and is spiced up with operatic vocals from Chaos. A cacophony of twisted guitars, heavy bass, noisy rhythm with an occult narration thrown in is a great treat if you're into dark and filthy sounding visual kei goodness. "廻想ルナシエル (Mawarisou Luna Ciel)" by FerrisWheeL You hopefully are listening to this treat of a song while you're reading this little blurb about its contents because I don't think I can completely explain how good this song is with words alone. FerrisWheeL is really underrated and should rightfully get more attention as their band continues on. They're also a pure example of the scene can still play "old-school" style visual kei and make it sound very unique in their own way. Maybe it's because the band is a wonderful collection of members from previous bands such as Crishuna, Cruicifixtion , and GRIST or that they're focusing more on making great music than just trying to sweep up fans by sticking to trends. "Mawarisou Luna Ciel "is a delightful listen and I do hope they continue with consistent music of this variety. This song is a a blast from the past and the opening guitar riff alone is enough to get almost anyone addicted to it. "desperate" by chariots The official return of chariots was definitely the hype train that I got on right away. I've always enjoyed the interesting evolution they've gone though since their start. Though, Kisai is a great release overall and is a refreshing continuation for the band since before they went on break to take progressive steps towards the style of heavier music. "Desperate" ended up being my favorite track from the single overall because I just couldn't resist putting the song on repeat. Perhaps it's the chugging guitars from KAZ, strong bass from Jin, perfect drumming from MIKAGE, and rough vocals from Riku that are an amazing mix that definitely comes together to make a stimulating hefty load of power metal. @emmny's picks "period" by ギルガメッシュ (girugamesh) And here ends Girugamesh's legacy... the band responsible for getting a fair chunk of this forum into the j-rock scene throughout the better part of the past decade or so is over. It's worth noting how much of an influence they've had on the current scene (in case you're new), with their current output being ripped-off by the new visualcore bands and their mid 2000's material serving as a large influence to revival kei groups. After my first few listens of "period", I was entirely gobsmacked at how well they managed to combine their current slick yet brutal metalcore sound with the moody alt-metal atmospherics of their indies days. It doesn't entirely sound like a Chimera left-over, but "period" definitely borrows from its predecessor's theme of mixing old and new, bringing the concept to a fever pitch. The end result is a driving metalcore/djenty banger with ominous chord progressions, the standard anthemic chorus and interesting use of orchestral programming--up until 4 minute mark. The outro begins as ambient synths and piano underscore satoshi's distorted crooning, then suddenly everything drops out and a hellfire of grinding guitars and furious drum fills close the track while they glitch into oblivion. The curtain falls, applause, goodbye. "百鬼夜行" (hyakki yakou) by 己龍 (kiryu) BPR's flagship band return with their fifth full-length album Hyakki yakou, featuring a title track so good your eyes will probably water, your neck might snap and you will 100% be reminded as to why you ever liked the shit-show known as visual kei in the first place. Hyperbole? Absolutely. Kiryu deserve every smidgen of praise they get given how consistent they've been for the past 9 years. Year after year, they've been serving their signature mix of all things dramatic and neo-japonesque with a healthy dose of ADHD oshare fun and a kote kei lean ALL topped with sharp progressive tendencies. "Hyakki yakou" is a manic mix of everything Kiryu have ever done, but it remains fresh because of how brilliantly the song flows. The track opens with a wild piano riff and matching insane shrieks from Mahiro, the guitars duel in that signature late 90's staccato riffage under a soaring flute-sounding riff as Junji goes off on his drum set, not missing a beat or accent. All that said, this is just the first 30 seconds or so; "Hyakki yakou" is wildly textured in its arrangement, as typical of a band who pays abnormally close attention to detail. To spare you all a 3 page long in depth explanation of all the reasons why this song utterly slays, shut me up and just give it a listen. "右手のナイフ、左手のヒス" (Migite no knife, hidarite no hiss) by SAVAGE So I thought I was stanning trash last month with the VEXENT feature... but y'all underestimate my ability to literally swim in the dumpster of visual kei trash to pull out some more crap. Here comes SAVAGE to the rescue, the new band of ex-Depain members who are more known for having girls hawking over them than releasing anything of substance. But, there's a catch to this: SAVAGE's trash is occasionally amazing. As per Depain's discography, there are some surprisingly great songs here and there; nothing original, but definitely well-done heavy kei. "Migite..." is the best song SAVAGE have put out since "Biran", and probably the best song they've ever done. If there's one thing they do well, its creating a menacing atmosphere that few current bands can replicate. "Migite..." slinks around with its dark mood, further punctuated by the use of space in the song and Ryuka's eerie tone deaf robot vocals. A creepy music box interlude half way leads to an especially amazing fast section, driven by Takeru's ghostly seven-string guitar riffage and some great old-school blast-beats. "Migite..." is a fabulous throwback to when the height of heaviness was bands like Dio, NEGA, UnsraW, Awoi and -OZ-, back when visualcore had a bit more dirt on the surface. Despite all the trash I've talked about SAVAGE, this is not only an amazing track but ultimately a necessary throwback considering how sanitized the current scene can be. @fitear1590's picks "ぼくのことすき (boku no koto suki)" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen) Koochewsen has sky-rocketed to become a new favorite of mine. It appears that they're slowly weaning us off their extra progressive sound, but trust me, they're not boarding the shuttle to Genericville by any means. The PV track for their upcoming mini 超能力セレナーデ (chounouryoku serenade) is a noisy helping of synthy power pop. I always appreciate a band that can fuse talent and a good sense of humor--a combination that they are currently killing. I know you love retro astronauts delivering an anthemic chorus in zero gravity just as much as I do! "秋明菊 (shuumeigiku)" by 神はサイコロを振らない (kami wa saikoro wo furanai) Back in March, @saishuu introduced us to a very special band in the indie scene, kami wa saikoro wo furanai. Their polished math-rock riffs and warm, soulful vocals (pretty uncharacteristic for a scene dominated by high-pitched, shrill, and/or nasal singers) set them apart from the average newcomer, right from their first PV. For their aptly named debut mini-album, anfang (German: beginning), they've presented us with "shuumeigiku," which continues the gorgeous guitar work and soaring choruses. If you haven't checked out kamisai yet, now's the perfect time! "Métamorphose (LA VIE EN ROSE KAMIJO -20th ANNIVERSARY BEST- Grand Finale)" by LAREINE One-day revivals might be en vogue right now, but often they're just a last-ditch effort for old bands to make a quick buck. Rarely do musicians take this opportunity to go all out, but shortly before New Year's Eve of 2015, KAMIJO did just that. Playing a special 20th anniversary show, he brought all his past and current projects together into one mega-show. Of everything that went down that night, I think many of us were most excited to see LAREINE take the stage again. While bassist Emiru has remained active (albeit, behind the scenes), we haven't seen or heard from guitarist Mayu or drummer Machi in around 10 or 15 years, respectively. To see the four of them so seamlessly pick up where they left off is just uncanny. They even played my favorite song, "Métamorphose"! Fortunately, the entire 'LA VIE EN ROSE KAMIJO -20th ANNIVERSARY BEST- Grand Finale' concert experience has been immortalized on DVD for all to see--an absolute must-see for KAMIJO fans of all eras. "Migimimi" by Migimimi sleep tight What happens when you blend 少年記 (shounenki) levels of melodrama with a cold hazy Instagram filter? Well, you get Migimimi sleep tight, a new project featuring Megamasso's Ryohei. Anyone with some background in VK will probably agree that the band's visuals and sound are mind-boggling. Shouldn't you be dressed up like a revolutionary French aristocrat or in some kind of PVC outfit to be making those exaggerated hand gestures and reaching passionately toward the camera? Shouldn't your jovial extras waltzing through the forest be random melancholic white girls? Shouldn't that deserted cliffside beach be Lockheart Castle? In all seriousness though, the song is tight--it's just the incongruity of it all that makes it even more interesting. "NECRO" by MORRIGAN I haven't followed MORRIGAN, but they are my guilty pleasure for the month. This era of heavy 'neo VK' is generally not my bag, but every so often, a band hits all the cliches in just the right way and produces something totally solid. That describes "NECRO" to a tee. It starts off with a spooky carnival arrangement, which is easily a top 5 way to my heart. Then, it gets br00tal with some trashy harsh vocals. Following a by-the-numbers songwriting approach, there's even the obligatory sudden melodic chorus, but you know what? It's beautiful and I can't help but be drawn in by the gaudy drama of it all. #wiredforVK "Alaska" by South Penguin Following my disappointment with ミツメ's (mitsume) awkwardly funky A Long Day album, I had to look elsewhere for my sunny, laid-back guitar pop fix. Cue South Penguin's "Alaska," which is my official beach-kei recommendation of summer 2016. It's all here, from the jangly Mac Demarco-style riffs that are are gentle as the ocean breeze, to the vibrant bass licks that form the groovy backbone of the track. Subtle synths pulse in now and again to provide a touch of dreaminess, making this the ideal track for your summer strolls with your head carelessly in the clouds. "ハイゼンベルク (heisenberg)" by ツヅリ・ヅクリ (TSUZURI.ZUKURI) Combo breaking the shit out of my sausage fest of a list (sorry about that, btw), we have TSUZURI.ZUKURI. Discovered purely through the art of clicking through YouTube, this duo immediately grabbed my attention. ”Heisenberg" is a lavish composition, featuring angelic piano, sweeping chimes, dramatic strings, and skilled percussive work which is both delicate and epic--you'll hear what I mean. The true star of the show, however, is vocalist Mumu, whose ethereal range is truly a beauty to behold. With a multitude of mini and full albums under their belt, it'll take a while to catch up, but I'm excited to delve more into TSUZURI.ZUKURI. @CAT5's picks "us" by Aimer Alongside the likes of supercell and EGOIST, I consider Aimer to be one of the reigning queens of the modern anison world. It's an area of music as oversaturated as any other, but Aimer stands out easily with her towering vocals and her top-quality collaborations with some of the finest composers in the field - Yoko Kanno and Hiroyuki Sawano to name a few. On her latest, double a-side single insane dream/us, she adds Taka (from ONE OK ROCK), and TK (from ling tosite sigure) to her list of musical consorts. "insane dream", which was penned by Taka and also features him on vocals, is an instant banger and it was honestly difficult for me NOT to write about that song. But the TK-produced "us" takes the cake! It's epic pop-rock at its best - somber, atmospheric, and cinematic with all of TK's signature touches and Aimer's dramatic crooning operating in perfect harmony. TK hasn't written a song this good for himself OR his band in years. These two make a killer pairing, and I'd love to hear them work together again! "グルメ紀行(Gourmet kikou)" by 婦人倶楽部(fujin club) Thank the universe for providing me with a keen musical network of friends. A pal of mine introduced me to this group recently, and since I haven't been exploring new music like I used to, and there's been almost no mention of this band through popular Western J-music channels, I would have completely missed out on FUJIN CLUB if not for his recommendation! I was specifically introduced to them through this song/video, and it was love at first listen. They have a very organic pop sound with bright melodies and crisp and colorful, classical instrumentation - somewhat similar to WUJA BIN BIN. "グルメ紀行" sounds like how watching a Ghibli movie feels. It's cozy, endearing, and pure, yet it evokes a sense of wonder and tugs at your imagination. Fantastic! "Talisman" by Boris You know a band has reached an unrivaled level of badassery when they can release a disc of bonus material that puts the actual albums of most other bands to shame. That's exactly what Boris has done. 10 years after the release of their classic, Pink, they've reissued the album as a deluxe version with a second disc titled Forbidden Songs. The bonus disc features nine previously unreleased tracks, and it fuckin' rocks. I mean, Boris practically piss quality music, so it's difficult as hell for me to single out one song above another. But since I have to pick, I'll go with "Talisman". It's an absolutely crushing stoner-doom number that harkens back to 2002's Heavy Rocks, yet is equally apt as an extension of Pink. If hard rock is your thing, then be sure to check out the deluxe edition in its entirety. If you're already a Boris fan, you won't want to miss any of the gems on Forbidden Songs either! @Zeus' picks "LEM" by KEEL KEEL is why I don't cry about disbandments anymore. When 9GOATS imploded and girugamesh hung up their hats, I was distraught...until this band rose from the ashes to scratch an itch those two could never get. It's a fusion of turn of the century nagoya kei with modern heaviness and sensibilities visual kei hasn't seen since the legendary deadman. With four of the most seasoned musicians in the scene, there's a lot to love about KEEL. I cannot deny how straightforwardly emotional their music is on their single Ugly duckling, and is how B-side "LEM" won me over; rhythmic bass, pounding drums, and the constantly shifting guitars are easy to get lost in. It's heavy without being distracting and the melody slides into semi-amorphic nagoya kei melancholy and song structure so naturally it's a little scary. The bridge and the chorus in particular send shivers down my spine when Ryo alternates between his crooning vocals, his rasp, and his normal range, showcasing his deceptively wide range and those trademark KEEL croons. You never quite know what's coming next until the end. I look forward to the day when KEEL announces a proper full-length album. "詩踏み(utafumi)" by DIR EN GREY Dir en grey drops the nuanced groove and focus on atmosphere for pure aggression and it's absolutely amazing. Distilling all the best parts of their last three albums into a three minute songs is a herculean task, but Dir en grey do it right. "詩踏み"'s loose structure takes a few listens to digest, yet it still manages to create a claustrophobic, religious experience with the atmosphere that keeps my ears glued to my headphones. The completely mental music video and their accompanying look has quickly become my favorite one of year, perfectly capturing the aggression, energy, and confusion of the song. If this is a sign that they've embraced their visual kei roots once more, this is one hell of a return! As we approach their 20th anniversary, "詩踏み" is a bold statement that Dir en grey isn't done yet. @doombox's picks "One Last Time" by HONE YOUR SENSE Brutal metalcore? Deathcore? I'm not even sure anymore with all the labels these days, but I can tell you it's heavy and excellent. HONE YOUR SENSE never fail to impress with their releases and it sounds like upcoming mini album will pack quite a punch if "One Last Time" is any indicator, which I am positive it is. The song is fast and furious, yet clear enough for all of the technical guitarwork and lightning speed drum fills to have equal footing. It's the kind of thrill ride only HYS is capable of giving you and if you haven't checked them out yet, I highly encourage that you do so! "忌際(kisai)" by chariots When the return of chariots was announced I took my time getting around to catching up with them. I half expected more of their previous melodic style heavily laden with the usual visual kei tropes. Color me surprised when I checked out their latest release and was, quite frankly, blown away. I would have never expected a heavier, more orchestral turn towards power metal. But stepping outside of the box is exactly what the doctor ordered. And while Riku may have kept most of the spotlight for himself in the previous incarnation of chariots, taking a chance to let everyone else shine only brings up his own caliber of vocal delivery to meet them this time around. "Nightcrawler" by OBLIVION DUST Four years is much too long to go between OBLIVION DUST releases. VAMPS and FAKE? are just no substitution for the original, as fun as they may be. And the trio are back to their old tricks (and a couple of new ones) on the most recent release DIRT this month which had a surprisingly quiet release. The songs are more of what we have come to expect from OBLIVION DUST's electronically-charged industrial rock with Ken Lloyd's signature whine. "Nightcrawler" follows suit and serves as a great introduction for newcomers and a fun romp for die hard fans as well! Guest Reviews @chemicalpictures' picks "100年前から、こんにちは。(hyakunen mae kara, konnichiwa.)" by Develop One's Faculties If I had to choose one band to be the flagship of current VK, it would be Develop One's Faculties. They are all extremely gifted musicians who aren't afraid of experimenting and infusing their songs with new sounds, which makes Yuya's project is much more interesting than your average VK experience. In this song they get in touch with their indie rock influences, Yuya's clean riffs could be easily seen in bands like cinema staff or androp. Johannes is a beast as usual, DOF's 'let it loose' style let him shine so much more than his previous works. This kind of approach is very healthy for them as a band and for the scene, as VK could use more genre-bending bands, instead of the regular chugga-chugga we are used to. Overall, while this is definitely not their most creative or innovative effort, it is one of those songs to end the encore of a concert in such a high note you'll end up wanting more. "人魚姫(ningyo hime)" by FoLLoW FoLLoW is one of those acts that gets under people's radar for a reason I don't really know. Their sound is TIGHT. MASASHI's vocals are really on point, perfectly expressing his feelings and guiding the listener through the song. I also really like maki's drum lines; while basic, they help give an edge and nicely dictate the rhythm of the song. The 03:33 part into the last chorus is really powerful and emotional. All in all, this is by no means an epic song, but everything here matches so perfectly I can't help but have a smile on my face by the end. @Ada Suilen's picks "詩踏み(utafumi)" by DIR EN GREY I have to admit that 'not visual' DEG were not one of my favourite bands until I heard "Rinkaku". And with "Utafumi", despite of its length, they enhanced their style at an incredible level. The technique is incredibly relevant in this dim and painful track, where Kyo's theatrical and creepy approach fits incredibly with the whole thing. Surely one of the best tracks of the year! "斑(mura)" by Develop One's Faculties One of the best rookies so far have probably reached the best of themselves. Their eccentric rock sound evolved a lot, arriving to touch more unpredictable and skillful features, where their latest song, "Mura", represents the apex of what was their project; with sublime funk bass lines and beating rhythms, this band literally caught my heart and my ears. Thank you for hanging out with us another month! Special thanks to our guest reviewers! If anyone would like to be a guest reviewer in the future please contact @doombox for more info!

Recommended Tracks: June Welcome again to our monthly recommendation thread! We return to you with a batch of fresh new jams for summer whether you like fun in the sun or have it made in the shade. We do hope you enjoy. Note: Not all videos may be available for viewing in your country, we apologize. @tetsu_sama69's picks "Dear:from..." by MIZTAVLA Okay, this is just mostly bias because anything Riuki is in, I'm 100% there but really, this was much more than I expected it to be. I was kinda thinking it was going to be more Velbet style but ended up being so much more than just that. The track is full of vibrant melodies without giving into the synth parade of most vk bands these days which is a breath of fresh air. There's a lot of potential here especially since it's a whole different line-up working with Riuki also new to the scene guitarist Kou working with a group of more experienced musicians from bands such as Serial Number. Though this is the first track they've release together it's very obvious they've spent time working out their style and I can only hope they continue to bring such solid music forward with their next release. "JOKER" by MUCC When I first listened to this single I thought ハイデ (Heide) was pretty damn good and was sure I'd be writing a review for the leading track of this single but instead another song got my attention instead. "JOKER" is a trip of a song that starts out with a happy cheer but once the vocals kick in it takes a much heavier turn. It has heavy vibes of a period of their music that I love them so much for yet still manages to bring something fresh. Once the chorus kicks in you're taken on a emotional musical roller coaster that goes from touching to high energy thanks to the punch of amazing instrumentals and awesome vocals from a well experienced and very talented band. "Limit" by LUNA SEA Let's just get right into the meat of this tasty song because LUNA SEA doesn't need a damn introduction and if you haven't gotten to sample their excellence at this point now's a good time to give them a shot. Yes, admittedly this song is of their usual style at first but then the chorus kicks in slapping you across the face with a torrent of powerful vocals and stand-out instrumentals that only LUNA SEA can bring forth. You're swept up in such a strong swell of addicting guitars and rhythm that manages to dig so deep into your mind that you can still hear it after the song is over making you come back for another listen. "色の無い空の下 (Iro no Nai Sora no Shita)" by スタア区。(Starku) I don't usually get deep into this kind of music because I'm not big on 'oshare' style of visual music especially in recent years BUT one band has managed to catch my attention. Starku was formed from the ashes of Cradle with a few new members thrown into the mix which resulted in an explosion of musical awesomeness that I was in no way prepared for. Their first release 子供ROCK (Kodomo ROCK) was a great listen and had me eagerly waiting their next release. "Iro no Nai Sora no Shita" has instantly won itself a place in my heart from the moment the cacophony of digital notes and rock came from my speakers. This song is a dance rock party that just won't stop from beginning to end that bursts with the energy of Reno's scream in the middle of the track. If you are looking for a great positive-vibed visual band to get into keep your eyes on Starku! @Original Saku's picks "雨ノチ、雨アガリ (Amenochi, ame agari)" by 感覚ピエロ (Kankaku Piero) This month starts with a bang right out of the gate. Kankaku Piero drops their second mini album Fukanou Kanouka. Brandishing their own form of rowdy indie rock, they lay claim to a very unique sound that is indistinguishable from other acts. In particular I have been dazzled by "Amenochi, ame agari" and its insatiable sounds. This song starts off strong with the vocalist Yokoyama Naohiro showcasing his range and unique style, along with some engrish which I surprisingly don't mind so much here due to me really digging his voice. It continues on into the verses that have a nice head bobbing effect and then the chorus explodes which can only be described as too catchy for its own good. This band is worth keeping an eye on. They have just enough rawness and uniqueness that I can see them evolving into something great in the future. "fam fam" by never young beach Just when I thought the beginning of the month was lacking in great albums, never young beach releases their second album fam fam. This album brings with it a mountain of good vibes, enough to bring you out of any sour mood you might be in at the time of listening. The title track "fam fam" is the feel good song of the month and creates a very charming atmosphere that just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside and on occasion incites a nostalgic feeling of family and friends. When a song is able to change my mood and uplift me the way this one has then it deserves my full recommendation. If you want to listen to something with great vibes then this is for you. "オブジェ (Object)" by ミツメ (Mitsume) Mitsume, no strangers to the relaxing side of music, released their new album A Long Day and with it brought a whole new slew of great tracks to sink our teeth into. If the last recommendation was the feel good song of the month then "Object" is most certainly the chillest song of the month. It opens up to a steady drum beat that soon transforms with the addition of backing vocals and the other instruments joining in. The song overall has this funky element to the sound and gives off the feeling of floating along to the beat. The main draw of this track would be how well it flows along while introducing new facets to the sound the further it progresses all the while still being able to keep that relaxing feeling and not breaking the atmosphere it has created for itself. みつめるみつあみ (mitsumeru mitsuami) by フレデリック (Frederic) I just recently started listening to Frederic despite them being around for a while. Their music has a strange attraction that really just grabs you and doesn't want to let go. Their new single Only Wonder is no different in that regard. While the whole single is really good stuff, I found myself being strangely attracted to "mitsumeru mitsuami" more than the rest. It is a very catchy number that incorporates a lot of electronic sounds in its make up. Now usually I'm not the biggest fan of electronics in my music but here it is done quite tastefully and they make great use of it to enhance the song. I would also like to bring attention to the amazing use of backing vocals here which enhance the song even further. These guys are going places, check em out. "Dr.PANTY" by モーモールルギャバン (MOWMOW LULU GYABAN) Okay now we come to a long time favorite of mine MOWMOW LULU GYABAN. The three piece from Kyoto are back again with a new album titled PIRATES of Dr. PANTY. We're pretty much guaranteed one hell of a ride with this one. "Dr.PANTY" is infectious on a whole different level, from the addicting guitar riffs and bass strumming to the sing along anthem like chorus and the great keyboard effects laden throughout the song. It infects you with its fun wacky atmosphere and you just can't help but to love it. @fitear1590's picks "本能 (honnou)" by シビレバシル (sibilebashir) The world has been on a steady downward spiral in 2016, but there have been sprinklings of musical gifts from the gods, now and then. Following in the glory of Golden Bomber's outstanding MALICE MIZER pastiche, an indies visual kei group has delivered an unexpected cover of smash-hit "honnou," by none other than 椎名林檎 (Shiina Ringo). I suppose Ringo elitists will see the cover as a cheap copy (the glass panes from the original PV are replaced with plastic wrap), but that's part of the charm. Sibilebashir really have fun with the whole thing, inserting traditional VK crooning with bits of humor. Whether you're a fan of one or both of these artists, I would just love to see more cross-scene covers like this! "無限ピクセル (mugen pixel)" by ユナイト (UNiTE.) UNiTE. small-scale Beyoncé'd us this week by releasing unannounced digital single "mugen pixel." The song is that special brand of UNiTE. pop: upbeat yet mellow and filled with surprisingly technical guitar bits in the verses. This time, however, everything has an 8-bit sheen. From the title to the album art and the song's chiptune flourishes, the band went all out with the digital theme. One song is hardly enough to tide fans over, but luckily for us, two more consecutive digital singles will follow in July and August. "記憶について (kioku ni tsuite)" by PELICAN FANCLUB June is apparently 'club' month (Awesome City Club and Helsinki Lambda Club also had releases), but I was most anticipating PELICAN FANCLUB and their OK BALLADE mini album. As the kings of 2015 for me, I tried my best to keep my hype moderated for new music. I'm still processing the release, but I don't think it's quite as good as their earlier stuff (I'll spare you the cheesy pun that it is only 'OK,' because it's much better than that). Nonetheless, there are plenty of great tracks throughout! "Kioku ni tsuite" is a sprightly opener, calling upon the 90s-style fuzz of Yuck and the homegrown scratchy riffs of caroline rocks. Endou continues to deliver strong vocals that stand out in the scene. OK BALLADE may be diverse to a fault, but indie rock fans should find something to enjoy among the generous eight tracks. @emmny's picks "青いレインコート" (aoi raincoat) by ザアザア (xaa-xaa) Yes, Xaa-Xaa wont shut up and yes, it's still good. I'm not too crazy about their new rain inspired concept mini-album considering it sounded just as uninspired as the well worn concept behind it. That said, Xaa-Xaa are still miles above their competition, as "Aoi Raincoat" proves. I like when Xaa-Xaa get metallic, and "Aoi Raincoat" is a doom-and-gloom, sludgy dirge. If you told me this was a Kuroyuri to Kage song, I might have believed you; it's tense, heavy and thick with the atmosphere of rain falling on a dark, empty street. The song unfolds incredibly well, a trademark of Xaa-Xaa's adventurous writing; had the rest of the mini been as sharp as this song, it would have been definite AOTY material. "月のうた" (tsuki no uta) by DADAROMA DADAROMA have shown off their ability to do jazzy/swing infused deathcore, but something they've been lacking of late is a truly good ballad. "Tsuki no uta" is a turning point for DADAROMA as they forgo cliche saccharine ballad instrumentation for a sharp mid-tempo metalcore number. What makes it so special is Takashi's sharp guitar line: he leads the song with djenty riffage and other cool tricks while Yoshiatsu follows with his emotive vocals. Backed by DADAROMA's brilliant rhythm section, the song packs just enough balls to keep it from being entirely boring and enough emotion to keep it heartfelt without diving into romantic-drama theatrical cheese. Kicking ass while showing vulnerability is pretty awesome; leave it to DADAROMA to nail that sweet juxtaposition. "THE FATES" by VEXENT Before you guys scream at me over how this trash sounds like Mejibray, DADAROMA, etc--YES I know this is entirely generic, but there's so much cheese to love from VEXENT. All the heavy-kei tropes of recent years come up in full strength: odd symphonic elements, drop-a open string chugging, belting vocals, breakdown, screams that are probably better left off the record, some spastic lead work and incredibly pretty bandguys who you can't help but wanna be mitsu for. Sometimes this combo results in a mess, other times it just...comes together, and that's the case with "THE FATES". The vocalist has pulled a Kamijo-style 180 from the first two singles and went from a nasally bark to a deeper, more resonant vocal--sounding more like Ice (ex-BFN) than a mute 90's indie guy. Still not sure how seriously I take VEXENT, but if they're a guilty pleasure of mine, then so be it; I'm sinning in peace! @doombox's picks "インフェルノ第1奏(Inferno daiichi sou)" by バラライカ (balalaika) After a bout of mystery and intrigue Balalaika have released their first video and it does not disappoint! It's not a huge leap from the members' previous work in The 3rd Birthday, but enough to make "Inferno daiichi sou" stand on its own. In typical visual kei fashion, the song rides the line between speedy growled verses and melodic choruses, but the entire song maintains a ferocity that never allows the energy to dwindle. This is a great first showing from this new band and I can't wait to hear more! "shinkirou" by RGN The members of Region have regrouped with a new vocalist and a slight name change for their new ep to be released this month. Their previous incarnation had released some interesting melodic hardcore tunes, but "shinkirou" may be the best I've heard from them so far. The new vocalist sounds much stronger; the music is more emotive; it all-together sounds like a much more mature undertaking for them and a good omen for what is to come. And if you like what you hear they have a the song "fireworks" for free download on bandcamp which will also be on the new ep. "Marigold" by The Florist If you're looking for quality shoegaze music, look no further. The Florist are back this month with their usual lot of stunning sounds. "Marigold" is rather upbeat for the band but that is part of what makes it shine. It starts off as a whirlwind of frenzied guitar strumming and only builds in intensity from there. And if you're wondering why the video is shot that way, it is because the band made it specifically for viewing on your smartphone! So apologies for anyone who might have gotten a neck pain trying to watch it sideways. "MARINE SNOW" by THE MUSMUS It's taken me some time to accept THE MUSMUS after losing the indomitable powerhouse of the members' previous outfit UPLIFT SPICE. The change in sound was hard to swallow with the seeming loss of their emo and punk influences. But with time and some healing it's plain to see THE MUSMUS actually make really fun alternative rock music. "MARINE SNOW" shows the style has changed but the heart of the music is still just as strong as ever and it's near impossible not to move along with the infectious beat of this track. Guest blurb @plastic_rainbow's pick "雨、東京。(ame, tokyo.)" by ツヅキマシテ、 (tsudukimashite,) Formed in 2015 ツヅキマシテ、(tsudukimashite) remain a growing VK band that brings a fresh yet old sound to the scene, turning away from the wave of synth-infused bands or dark and heavy bands. Since their formation they have produced songs of mere decent quality, but from their newest single, "雨、東京(ame, tokyo)" exceeds anything they have written so far. What instantly catches your attention upon hearing this track is the strong and kicking bassline. With a complicated bassline like that one can tell that he holds an extensive role in the band. It even makes the mediocre vocals sound likable. Still, everything in the track complements each other making each member stand out. Showing what they’ve been capable of, tsudukimashite are a band worth keeping an eye on. That's all for this month! Thank you for reading and please share with us your favorite new songs this month in the comments!

Recommended Tracks: May 2016 Welcome back to our monthly digest of rockin' new tunes. Our review team has been hard at work trying to bring you the best of the best this month. We hope you enjoy! Now onto the picks! Note that not all videos may be available in your area. @doombox's picks: "Dandadan" by HEY-SMITH I couldn't help but to get swept up in the energy of this track. Even though the song is about ending a toxic relationship it's hard not to jump around and dance to this one. The video also drives the point home with the entire band attempting to woo a girl who in the end wasn't worth all the effort. The song is typical ska-punk fare those familiar with HEY-SMITH have come to expect through the band's 10 year career, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The band spits out consistently great tunes! The dual vocal call-back style chorus of "Let it go! Go away!" I find especially catchy. If you haven't given HEY-SMITH a spin yet, this is the perfect time! "NOISE" by Beyond Her Words It's exciting to see the metalcore and post-hardcore scenes in Japan continue to pick up steam. There are still a new crop of fresh faces showing up every year and a lot of surprisingly good releases coming from them. Beyond Her Words got on my radar with their previous single earlier this year, but this time around "Noise" really showcases how solid they are. The clean vocals are a major plus since they don't need a second vocalist to handle them alongside the screams (like far far too many bands these days), and Taku's singing voice is on the deeper side in contrast to most of his peers. On top of their high-octane djent-heavy style, this has put them on the fast track to popularity. @beni's picks: "あぶく(abuku)" by 辻林美穂 (Miho Tsujibayashi) Tsujibayashi isn't just new to myself, but also to almost everyone else, surely. With only mentions/credits in her discography that goes to other artists' tracks in releases, such as Lovely Summer-Chan and Aoi Yuuki, Tsujibayashi comes out with her first full length album and what seems to be her only original source of material, "Clarté". It easily being one of my favourite albums of this year already, this spot was instantly taken just for her. The simplicity of the lullaby track, with splashes of synths to add a slight dreamy touch with the piano and orchestral interludes paints a beautifully tranquil scene, that similar to the almighty brilliance of the late, popular Ritsuko Okazaki and recent favourite from last year, Nasu Asaco. If you're also a fan of other soft, similar artists such as those I've stated, definitely be sure to check this delightful treat of a sweetheart out too to add to your collection! "堂々巡リ(doudoujunri)" by イトヲカシ (Itowokashi) This super exhilarating song is your typical Utaite dish, served to impress. It really is as it comprises of popular Utaite singer Itou Kashitarou, and his long time friend and well known Vocaloid producer LeftyMonster-P. Kashitarou already has plenty of brilliant covers and original songs/releases under his belt, but with this new collaboration between these two well established Vocaloid contributors, it's more than a welcome and deserving unity. On his own, Kashitarou has always provided a distinctive voice, with a quavering vibrato while LeftyMonster-P has given us original Vocaloid material from "START" and "さよならのかわりに ". Against the rocking quick pace of the song, it certainly ends all too soon and leaves you wanting more. No need to worry on that though, since you can already purchase their first mini-album 捲土重来 for five other songs completely their own! -Silver lining- by SWANKY OCEAN ACOUSTIX I thought the name was familiar, and in fact, this band is a side project of SWANKY DANK, a pop punk/rock band who are already distinguished in the scene. SWANKY OCEAN ACOUSTIX has been around since only 2015, and from the brief listens I've given to SWANKY DANK in the past, SWANKY OCEAN ACOUSTIX's existence is greatly appreciated since I adore how clear and appropriate Koji sounds against the chilling tune instead of their more hard hitting material in SWANKY DANK. Their English lyrics flow effortlessly in "-Silver lining-", and the whole sound is a joyful vibe to treat your ears to again, and again, and again. "woman's Rib" by 岩崎愛 (Ai Iwasaki) In just one play of "woman's Rib", the infectious tune continued to play in my head throughout the day. This little gem of a pleasantry is gifted to us by a rather little singer-songwriter herself, called Ai Iwasaki. The name is new to me but definitely not to our resident indie King @CAT5, who confirmed my suspicious of her being a long running obscurity; specifically in the indie scene. She plays the acoustic guitar and her first album was released a good ten years ago, back in 2006. While this is definitely on the poppier side of her work, you can discover her previous music such as another recent song she released this year here. If this sounds like its up your alley, or if you're more of a simple acoustic lover, anything Iwasaki is sure to be worth your attention! @fitear1590's picks: "She'll Never Forgive To Be Insulted." by a crowd of rebellion a crowd of rebellion are gearing up to release their latest album, Xanthium. If the "M1917" PV from March played it a bit too safe for you, "She'll Never Forgive to Be Insulted." brings back the crazy in full force. This song is a blazing mess, in the best way. As I've written in previous blurbs, there's something uncannily VK about acor's creative take on post-hardcore composition. In this track, they mix NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST levels of harsh vocal brutality with Kiryu-esque traditional Japanese kookiness. And somehow, it works! It's always neat to see bands with crossover potential and I think acor has what it takes to reach out to a certain sect of VK fans. "夜を抜ければ (yoru wo nukereba)" by odol Mellow indie rockers odol just released their second album YEARS. As much as I dig their music--their light piano style makes them sound surprisingly similar to ねごと (NEGOTO)--their vocalist occasionally has an annoying squawky delivery. I guess it only makes sense that I'm recommending quasi-instrumental closing track, "夜を抜ければ." Following a slow buildup, his vocals chime in near the halfway point of the song and actually, this is his best performance on the whole release! If you aren't so picky with j-indie vocals, then I highly recommend giving the rest of the album a spin as well. @emmny's picks: "おはよう(ohayo)" by DEZERT Ah, DEZERT and their love of trolling with live-distributes. If DEZERT have demonstrated anything during the past year, it's their ability to morph their sound with ease, pulling off every style that they try. This isn't anything different with "Ohayou", as they don a heavy newer-Girugamesh and western metalcore influence, twisting it into their own perverted creation. The creepy children on backing vocals and the eerie chord progression keep the signature DEZERT sourness and tension intact. It's not much of a coincidence that they're dropping their most accessible and catchy track to date on June 5th, the night of their Zepp Tokyo Oneman, but there's nothing contrived about it; it's pure DEZERT crack from start to finish. DEZERT are pretty much the underground success story of the indies circuit, and if you've yet to join the bandwagon, take a look at the banner at the top of the page and take the hint \m/. "faraway" by …。【サイレンス】(Silence) Silence isn't a new name in the scene, being around since 2011 as a side project of emmurée vocalist Sou, but they're still quite low-profile given the slow rate at which they release new material. Given the goth-rock pedigree of the members, that influence is still quite strong but Silence have lightened up considerably throughout the years, sharpening their older, more experimental sound to a more easily digestible and catchy alt/indie rock template with a thick gothic rock and nagoya kei leaning. psycho:lens, their first full-length album is a love letter to the 90's in that respect; think of shoegazey melodies and arrangements but with a bellowing vocalist and more shrill guitars. "faraway" represents Silence at the most hypnotic intersection of their sound; the rays of light piercing through blackened clouds, knowing full well it's for a brief second until the rain falls again. "after the addle apple" by the god and death stars After tracking aie's work throughout the years, we've all come to expect a certain sound from the amazing guitarist and singer-songwriter. Cue after the addle apple, a track-for-track remake of the (fantastic) god and death stars' 2011 debut mini album addle apple. Since his work with deadman, aie's known to play a lot with the concept of a remake but with after the addle apple, the remakes are borderline unrecognizable from their predecessors. The arrangements are uncharacteristically lush and adventurous, especially in the case of the title track, taking on an oddly funky turn with the addition of synths over a rhythmic backing track. The verses contrast with a beautifully delicate chorus, and the rest of the track flows effortlessly, ending with the opening line of the original song--a sly gesture, considering that's the only nod to the original. @Original Saku's picks: "ダンボール彼女(danbouru kanojo)" by ぼくたちのいるところ。 (Bokutachi no Iru Tokoro.) Great song by one of my newest loves, Bokutachi no Iru Tokoro. They play a really dirty indie rock style that just punches you in the gut from first listen, very enjoyable stuff for indie rock fans. The song "Danbooru Kanojo" starts off with some spoken words singing style from the vocalist Jinsei Dame Ko that I've fallen for hook, line, and sinker. Jinsei commands this song with her vocal style and she is the driving force throughout the song. I would also like to take a minute and talk about the production as a whole on this song and the rest of the album for that matter... It's good, like really fucking good. You may not be able to tell from the YouTube video below but the mixing and production is great here. It delivers a very explosive sound that doesn't lose any momentum from bad mixing and can be cranked up loud while just enjoying the tune. All in all a great song and a great album with lots of variety and catchiness from this up and coming indie group. "DON'T WORRY BOYS" by Homecomings Next up we calm down with the indie pop sounds of Homecomings and their song "DON'T WORRY BOYS" from their new album SALE OF BROKEN DREAMS. This song is the definition of chill out feel good music that this band is known for, while this sound and type of music is a dime a dozen among the Japanese music scene, you won't find better execution of the genre anywhere else. At the core this song delivers a up-tempo progression with swift verses and delicious hooks. All in all the perfect song and album to just relax and let the good mood vibes flow into you. "卒業(sotsugyou)" by My Hair is Bad Okay now we'll go for a change from the last two songs and introduce the newly major debuted band My Hair is Bad who plays a alternative rock style that has really got me excited for what they have in store for the future. "Sotsugyou" is the ending song of their new single Jidaio Atsumete so it's a bit less in your face as the first three song on the single but it overall showcases the band's strengths. In particular the vocalist Shiinoki TomoHitoshi (椎木知仁) really impressed me with his range and ability to switch between spoken word vocalization seamlessly into the more traditional singing you might expect, I also just really dig his voice. The song has its fair share of low and high points throughout that really does a great job of closing the single out, I particularly enjoyed the acoustic guitar strumming sections of the song and it paired up quite nicely to the vocals for a almost folk-y atmosphere. "勇気を持ってグッドバイ(yuuki wo motte goodbye)" by イロメガネ (Iromegane) Now we come to another new discovery for me this month in Iromegane and their/her new album 37.2℃. In particular the opening song "Yuuki wo Motte Goodbye" captured me from the first moment I listened to the album. Immediately I was delighted by acoustic guitar strumming that lead into the wonderful and serene voice of Higashi Ayu. As the song progresses it ramps up and turns into a fun rock ballad that makes you want to dance with the tune, then starts to die back down at the end. Truly a fun and catchy song, which also like the rest of the album has some amazingly clear production and mixing. Speaking of, the album itself is also just as praiseworthy and I would say has a really nice variation in styles and influences, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of different sounds used in the album. "overground" by cinema staff It's no secret that I'm a really big cinema staff fan, hell I've bought most of their albums and they are probably one of my most listened to bands. Eve is their 5th overall album and their 4th major album. Most indie fans would say this is the point where good bands lose their way, but surprisingly that has not applied to cinema staff and I've only grown to enjoy their music more with each release since their major debut, this album is no exception to that either. "Overground" is quite possibly one of my favorite songs from them in quite some time and has quickly infected me with its insanely catchy chorus and instrumentation, along with snappy verses that pound on your ear drums. It's worth mentioning that it is also the last song on the album and closes it out, and by god I couldn't think of a better way to end a album. cinema staff has delivered again with extreme precision and knocked away any doubts in my mind that they might be 'losing their way', here's to another five albums! "時間は告ぐ(jikan wa tsugu)" by Siraph Siraph is a band that seemingly came out of nowhere for me, but I'm sure glad they did. Consisting of members from School Food Punishment, ハイスイノナサ (Haisuinonasa), mop of head, and the delightful Annabel on vocals. Siraph took me by surprise this last week with their self titled debut EP and I've not been able to stop listening since. It's no big surprise honestly when you consider the members who make up the group. "Jikan wa Tsugu" is just one of the six tracks that make up the debut release but by far it is the one that most reminds me of SFP while also treading new ground and making it their own. Annabel on vocals is just sublime and really sets the song off on a one way track to my heart. Combine that with the great performance from Masayuki Hasuo on keyboard and Yoshimasa Terui on guitar and you can just tell something really special is happening here. "atom" by jizue The wait is over and we finally have another jizue album to sink our teeth into, fans of the instrumental piano driven group know all too well what a new album means and the delights that it brings along. It was a long wait this time around since they skipped 2015 as a whole but let me assure you that it was every bit worth the wait. If "atom" is any indication the band has delivered again that piano driven post rock sound that we all love; they are in top form in this track too. From the first second of the track the piano just explodes in a flurry of keys and you can really tell that Kie Katagi is really enjoying herself here. The song as a whole is just one wild piano driven ride that is backed up masterfully by the other instruments, all to come together at the end for a huge bang. The name of the album is Story and after listening to it in it's entirety I can say that it's one hell of a tale. That's all for this month, see you next time!~

Recommended Tracks: April 2016 Welcome back to our monthly digest of rockin' new tunes. Our review team has been hard at work trying to bring you the best of the best this month. We hope you enjoy! And we'd also like to send a huge thank you to @CAT5 for doing such an excellent job posting the BNT and RT threads in the past, we'll do our very best to keep up with the standard of quality he set. Now onto the picks! @Seimeisen's picks: "UNDYING" by the GazettE As the GazettE head towards the end of PROJECT DARK AGE, they give us a song that serves as a prequel to DOGMA (which is fitting, as the artwork is the far left of the DARK AGE tapestry). I’m not gonna map out the entire song, but there’s quite a lot going on: tempo changes, key changes, soft and slow parts, fast and heavy parts. The band does a great job at arranging all of the different elements without making the song sound disjointed. We see the band getting heavier and softer in the same song. "UNDYING" beautifully captures the entire essence of PROJECT DARK AGE. "RUVISH" by THE BLACK SWAN A little background info: "RUVISH" is about "being raped and thrown away" and was inspired by the concept of rape trees (source). Maybe it's just knowing the lyrics' subject matter that makes the song so disturbing and creepy. You don't know the exact lyrics, but you feel the pain and torment in 儿's (JIN) whimpers and wails, the agony in his screams through the fastest parts, you sense danger during the quiet break with the creepy guitar line. It's not only sad, it's also discomforting. It's quite amazing how the band could take 樹's (ITSUKI) composition and make it so intense. "鬼ト邪吼 (oni to jakou)" by Royz If you like your Royz fast and heavy, then this is the track for you! This song is fast, aggressive, and triumphant. 智也 (Tomoya) really shines in this track with the constant fast-paced drumming that only slows down for a short guitar solo in the middle. 昴's (Subaru) harsh vocals have been greatly missed, and this track shows that he can still screech and growl, and the clean vocal melodies are great, though not as dramatic as a typical Royz song. Great soundtrack for evil rituals. @fitear1590's picks: "movie" by 吉澤嘉代子 (Kayoko Yoshizawa) Kayoko Yoshizawa started off as a brilliant fresh face in the Japanese pop scene in 2013. Unfortunately, due to a non-stop release schedule (mini-albums and full-albums every few months), her creativity slowly tapered off and her songs became a bit uninspired. "movie," the opening track off of her recently released second album 東京絶景 (tokyo zekkei), is a subtle, but gorgeous number with acoustic elements. It might not be the quirky retro Kayoko we started off with, but it's a step in a new direction that I'm very much enjoying. "ネバーエンド(never end)" by グリモア (GRIMOIRE) You can fight me, but one of the most underrated new bands in the visual scene is GRIMOIRE. In fact, do yourself a favor and just let them replace your ペンタゴン (pentagon) discography. Well-executed conceptual visuals and decently high PV production values are the perfect vehicles for the band's eerie graveyard-carnival sound (let's just establish that this is a real style). Perhaps the only thing holding them back is their nasal vocalist RyNK (ex-Diement.), but this is visual kei after all! I'm pretty sure we're used to these kinds of vocals by now! @Zeus's pick: "VAMPIRE" by NoGoD Talk about a surprise out of left field! NoGoD is finally able to break out of their stagnation with a banger. The album title Renovate hinted at long-overdue changes to their formula, but "VAMPIRE" is the first NoGoD promotional track that reminds me of the attitude and energy of their indie days. Equal parts catchy and engaging, with a sinister riff to kick things off and a rousing chorus, "VAMPIRE" is good fun. Vocalist Danchou is the center of attraction as usual, using his full range over the course of the song, but it's the guitar work between Shinno and Kyrie that elevates this above most of their other similar singles. It's good to see this band find their inspiration once again. @staegermeister's pick: "LAST DAY" by HER NAME IN BLOOD "Last Day" is the opening song to the band's newest EP Evolution from Apes, which was released on April 27th. The song is very upbeat, fast-paced, and offers a wide range of guitar work. It starts off with a quick and precise yet chaotic riff that would suit for a great live song. Normally we'd get a lot of screaming and growling from Ikepy but this song is a great example of the bands transition towards more melodic vocal phrases. Aside from the change in vocal direction, the production shows a new approach on their sound. If you're just checking the band out, I'd say "Last Day" is decent to start with. @emmny's picks: "白夜二燃ユル花(byakuya ni moyuru hana)" by Dio -distraught overlord- Yes, Dio, the queens of all things dramatic, heavy and cheesy from the late 2000's came back during the month of April for a series of revival lives, and with them brought a live-distribute single, 白夜二燃ユル花 . As much as Dio don't entirely need a description, I'll try to fill in the new fans or (god forbid) people who've never heard of Dio. I'd say they were split between good ol' melodic vk and a really primal nu-metal/metalcore hybrid. The result was a solid sense of heaviness and melody with a healthy dose of chaos and mess. Looking back at the era, they were some of the best composers of the period within their niche. The ease with which they wrote is still evident seven years later with "Byakuya", the conclusion to the Byakuya single trilogy. The 7-string guitars take on a riff closer to melodic death-metal than their usual metalcore before proceeding into the usual nu-metal crawl during the verses. It wouldn't be a Dio rocker without an anthemic chorus, and Mikaru kills it with his vocals--a marked improvement from when Dio were active. It's a shame that the last we'll ever likely hear of Dio proved to be so amazing; I'll be praying for these vampires (cue eye roll) to come back again one day. Guilty pleasure or not--visual kei is missing something without 'em. "Faizh" by JILUKA One of the biggest surprises of 2015 for me was JILUKA, who by all intents and purposes are to Deluhi what Grieva are to 90's Dir en grey; calling 'em a cover band is a little harsh--let's just say they're 'heavily inspired'. JILUKA deviate a little bit (thank god) from the Deluhi-centric sound by adding deathcore and djent influences here and there--going so far as to label themselves as having a djent sound. Just like Far East Dizain! Oh... no wonder. While they've basically done the same thing for the past half-year, there's something magnetic about their formula: blistering, thrashy riffage during verses, an obligatory breakdown somewhere, some Leda-wankery solo and a glittering chorus to cover up their sins. "Faizh" is all of the above, of course, and while it sounds predictable on paper, the instrumentalists are sharp enough to rise above the Deluhi comparisons sometime in the future. The future isn't anytime soon though, so let's mosh along to this hot mess. \m/ "流声、相剋の廃と(ryuusei, soukoku no hai to)" by THE BLACK SWAN Alas, the final form of OUSIA, THE BLACK SWAN's debut album rears its head. While the majority of the tracks debuted in earlier singles or on the prototype, OUSIA -dispersed-, "Ryuusei" was born in the sessions following their releases. There's a hypnotic and almost ritualistic quality that's been hinted at in TBS' live introduction which finds itself fully realized in "Ryuusei". The song melts in its own atmosphere during the first half before bringing out the strings, moody breakdown and tapping-solo towards the end. It's not without some rough moments, but of all the acts attempting this sound in the post-UROBOROS landscape, THE BLACK SWAN handle it with the most ease. It's especially rewarding to see Jin, who's been tackling this sound since NEGA's VANITAS, slowly pushing his ambitious atmospheric metalcore compositions closer and closer to a more polished, sharp and progressive direction. @nullmoon's pick: "BERSERKER" by Satsuki Until recently, I hadn't bothered with Satsuki's solo venture in years... as in since 'La Lune'. Everything was too slow and light and NOT Rentrer En Soi. For some unknown reason I decided to check out APOCALYPSE and ECLIPSE and I was shocked beyond belief. Satsuki absolutely nails it in these releases, covering a wide range of genres and vocal styles, all with a surprising earnestness and energy. Granted, this song is nowhere near RES-level brilliance, but hearing Satsuki growl his way through most of the song is incredible. This is especially the case considering how poor his harsh vocals were in RES (to those shouting blasphemy, take off those rose-tinted glasses). With newfound aggression, both vocally and in the music itself, this is one of the many songs from Satsuki's recent output that made me seriously interested in his work again. @tetsu_sama69's picks: "Dummy" by Neverland There really should have been a lot more hype for this album (and the band in general) honestly it was hard to chose my favorite because it's very strong release overall. But after a few listens and in addition the fact that I like the album as a whole I was really taken in by "Dummy". The bass is so strong and consistent that I just let it carry me through the entire song and it keeps bringing me back to it. The haunting and extremely catchy synth gives some darker taste to the song all around and it feels like a mix of heavy rock with some light gothic vibe. Also Rouyta's rough vocals (which are very addicting and enjoyable) come out more during this song and I like that he's able to showcase his singing talents through the album all together. "毘紐天 ‐vishnu- (bichuuten -vishnu-)" by Royz Royz has always been a pretty damn consistent and great band in my opinion, and always blow me away especially when it comes to their albums. S.I.V.A overall was a much heavier album but I think it's a step-up they needed to make. My favorite track from this album "毘紐天 ‐vishnu-" has a more 'cult' vibe to it and that's perhaps why I like it so much. I know Royz is capable of a rougher sound and this definitely brings it to the table. The trippy and chilling strings mingled in with the heavy instrumentals are only enhanced by the layered vocals of screams and amazing range. I didn't expect this kind of song from Royz and that's mostly what makes me enjoy this track so much. "Imperial City" by BLESSCODE BLESSCODE is a band that I've enjoyed from their first mini-album THE BEGINNING CODE (which is still available for free on their site) and since then they've evolved into stronger band with every release since then. "Imperial City" is only further proof of that and has already placed itself on my list of best songs of the year, seriously expect it when I post my list for 2016. The opening riff sent chills down my spine and when the vocals kicked in I couldn't help but be sucked into their new song from start to finish. The track itself almost reminded me of DuelJewel and their solid rock style. If BLESSCODE keeps up with music like this I'm sure they'll be more than capable of leaving their mark on the visual scene. "2度目の絶望とSucide ceremony (nidome no zetsubou to Suicide ceremony)" by VIVALET This song is such a mess and dear lord do I love it so much. VIVALET has always had some pretty chaotic music and that's why I like them. Something about them makes me think of older visual bands and perhaps it's their sporadic, heavy style that has their hooks sunk so deep in me. Much like BLESSCODE, VIVALET is another band that seem to be improving with every release. Mary's imperfect vocals take you on this insane roller coaster ride of fast, lovely chugging instrumentals and dark themed heavy rock. VIVALET is definitely a band coming into their own and I really hope they stay strong with their style of music especially if it's a wreck of awesome such as this track. "アスモデウスの槍(Asmodeus no yari)" by THE BLACK SWAN I cannot with all the space I have here explain why I love THE BLACK SWAN so much but I would use OUSIA as a great example to present to those who haven't give them a try yet. I got a great early taste of the album via OUSIA -dispersed- and I was anticipating this every single day up until it finally surfaced. The waiting was worth it because not only did it include the remastered/re-recorded versions of their single tracks it also came with a few unheard songs thrown in the mix. My favorite of the new songs is definitely "アスモデウスの槍" as it's a chaotic, heavy, insane, blast to the face of what their sound is as a whole. The ever varied raw vocals with instrumentals that pack a punch of pure metalcore along with a bass line that stayed in my head so strongly that I had to put the song on repeat a number of times. I'm sure you'll have a similar experience with this track if you're a fan of them. @doombox's picks: "WIDE EYED (The Ghost Inside cover)" by CRYSTAL LAKE I don't think this pick will be a surprise, but it's really important to me to recommend it this month because it's about more than just a song. Crystal Lake get a lot of comparisons to The Ghost Inside ever since their change in vocalists. This song is a strong confirmation of that, not only with the music, but the heartfelt personal message left for TGI in the bridge. All the profits from "WIDE EYED" will be donated to TGI to aid in recovering from their horrendous bus accident late last year. The cover itself is fairly straightforward until the second half when the distortion takes a back seat in favor for a cleaner, acoustic vibe. Yosh (Survive Said The Prophet) shows up for clean vocal duty in place of Jason Butler's feature on the original version and positively crushes it. That is saying something considering I love Jason's vocals with a serious bias. So if you're a fan of Crystal Lake, SSTP, or TGI, you will have no regrets scrounging for spare change in your couch cushions and buying this song. "Hopeless" by LAST CALIX I have to thank @beni, first and foremost, for recommending these guys previously and succeeding in getting me hooked on their brand of emotional and melodic metal. The guitar riffs steal the show at first but with a key element of restraint they stop short of making the track all about them, which is wonderful because the song continues to grow from simply cool and catchy to a delicately calculated tidal wave of intensity that this band looks considerably young to be quite that good at. So good in fact, it's one of my favorite tracks so far this year. "絶望論。(zetsubouron.)" by コドモドラゴン (Codomo Dragon) This is one of those songs that has multiple addictive elements layered over each other from the clap-along inciting drumbeat to the brain-burrowing "yannacchata yannacchatanaa" chorus, and a headbang inducing post-chorus. All of them compete for which segment is the catchiest. This composition is a great direction for Codomo Dragon proving things don't always have to be overly technical or extremely heavy to be memorable in the current visual scene. That's all for this month, see you next time!~

Recommended Tracks: March 2016! It's that time again! The Official Review Team is back to recommend you some of the most worthwhile new music, and boy do we have a heaping helping this month! To accomodate, we've made some slight changes to the format, but rest assured the content is the same as usal. Major thanks this month to our guest contributor @yakihiko! Enjoy! @emmny's Picks: "link" by アルルカン (Arlequin) "蘇-よみがえり- (Yomigaeri)" by AvelCain "気持ち悪いほど晴れた空をペンキで塗り潰した (Kimochi warui hodo hareta sora wo penki de nuritsubushita)" by ザアザア (Xaa-Xaa) "REVELATION" by 砂月 (SATSUKI) "淫魔-BELPHEGOR-" by ギャロ (THE GALLO) "KOGEN" by ムニムニ (munimuni) @tetsu_sama69's Picks: "Axis" by DEVIZE "悲哀 (Hiai)" by MEJIBRAY "夜想GALAXXXY (Yoruso GALAXXXY)" by DIV "姦魔-LEVIATHAN-" by ギャロ (THE GALLO) @ShanethVarosa's Picks: "White Moon" by ナイトメア (NIGHTMARE) "Reincarnation/Apocalypse" by 砂月 (SATSUKI) "Forever Young" by Crystal Kay beni's Picks: "LOVE ME DO" by SCANDAL "メルシー伯 (Merci haku)" by 絶景クジラ (Zekkei Kujira) "恋をしている目をしている (Koi wo Shiteiru Me wo Shiteiru)" by しなまゆ (shinamayu) "Evergreen" by GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE @fitear1590's Picks: "KARATE" by BABYMETAL "JAPANESE BOY" by 中塚武 (Nakatsuka Takeshi) "CITY DANCER" by Often Mofun "シニカルデトックス (cynical detox)" by シナリオアート (Scenarioart) "高級娼婦とカミキリムシ (koukyuushoufu to kamikirimushi)" by ユナイト (UNiTE.) @saishuu's Picks: "Tokyo" by 雨のパレード (Ame no Parade) "Around the World" by Heavenstamp "Cry & Fight" by 三浦大知 (Daichi Miura) "煌々と輝く (Koukou to kagayaku)" by 神はサイコロを振らない (Kami wa saikoro wo furanai) @doombox's Picks: "Winterfell" by EARTHISTS. "Through The Deep" by The fin. CAT5's Picks: "西東京 (NishiTokyo)" by 赤い公園 (Akai Ko-en) "subliminal" by TK from 凛として時雨 (ling tosite sigure) "The Nexus" by OVUM "空蝉の時雨 (utsusemi no shigure)" by Chouchou "You Me" by YTAMO "Sakura" by Chocolat & Akito Guest Picks: "my own song" by アンフィル (anfiel) "螺子 (Neji)" by DADAROMA See you next time.

Recommended New Tracks: February 2016!Greetings, fellow Monochromians! February has come and gone, and the year has already yielded a ton of musical goodies! We've got a lot to recommend this month. and we've also got a handful of new contributors this month! Please welcome our new ORZ members @emmny (altho he has contributed before), @togz, and @tetsu_sama69 into the fold! I'd also like to give a shout-out to our guest contributors this month, @yakihiko, and @Matsuchan! So saddle in and check which out what we've got to recommend this month. Let us know what you think and feel free to discuss your own picks as well! If it conveniences you, you can check out our YouTube playlist for this month here! ^^ @emmny's Picks: "月-MOON"byAvelCain AvelCain are currently one of my favourite active bands, so while this song was technically released in the tail end of January, I gotta shout it out anyway. "月-MOON-" is actually the opening theme to an upcoming 'movie' called MOONBOW which vocalist Karma is acting in, so how it'll fit into the context of the movie is beyond me since few details have been released (as per AvelCain's mysterious shtick). The song works great as a standalone single; eve, their producer and main songwriter pulls out all the stops, pairing heavy chugging guitars with a cloyingly sweet chorus and surprisingly prominent string arrangements. "月-MOON-" is a lovely pop song at its core, but it leaves me wondering whether AvelCain will push their poppy sensibilities further and further away from their alt-metal roots as the current flagship band of Shizumiya Records for the sake of their popularity. While there's a certain level of quality we can expect from AvelCain, they always have a surprise or two to throw at listeners, which is why I'm on the edge of my seat for the release of 蘇-よみがえり- (yomigaeri) in March. "Luxuria" by MALISEND Malisend's debut mini-album ロストソレイユ (lost soleil) suffered from something I'd like to call preview-disorder. You know when you're so hyped for a band's release that you listen to the promos for weeks before the actual release but when you hear the full songs they just feel kind of stale? From what I heard on the previews, it was awesome--dark, brooding metal with a heavy gothic/coll:set-era D'espairsRay influence. Unfortunately, the songs didn't develop well enough to keep up with all the ideas thrown at listeners. "Luxuria" should have suffered the most with its relatively short running length of 3:30, but the doomy guitars and ominous vocals reminiscent of iconic D'espairsRay fan favourite "Garnet" paired with a furious drum section are too delicious to resist. The breakdown at the last minute of the song where the song crumbles before heading back into the riotous verse is nothing short of breathtaking, and that moment sealed its fate as an album highlight. "形の無い、何よりも、愛したのは、お前だけが" "(katachi no nai, nani yori mo, aishita no wa, omae dake ga)" by gibiky gibiky gibiky highfashionparalyze, the odd nagoya kei outfit originally composed of Aie and Kazuma (ex-merry go round, smells) changed their name earlier this year to the equally odd "gibiky gibiky gibiky" in response to the addition of bassist Kazu (ex-kagerou) and Sakura (ex-l'arc en ciel, zigzo), signaling a new era and sound for the band. They operate on the outskirts of visual/nagoya kei, as their sound is mostly based off of improvisation with a heavy noise/experimental rock leaning. This song has been around in one form or another since the band's 2009 demo, surfacing again as a full-band remake on the live distribute single MA&MA&MA from 2015, which will again be featured on their upcoming first full length album. While HFP/gibiky 3x can be quite hit-and-miss given the jarring vocals and off-kilter guitar work, "形の無い、何よりも、愛したのは、お前だけが" is absolute alt-rock perfection. Kazuma can easily overpower a track with his intense vocal acrobatics, but aie and co. keep up without missing a beat, turning a once haunted and sparse demo in a brilliantly melancholy full-band arrangement. @fitear1590's Picks: "さようなら僕だけの人 (sayounara boku dake no hito)"byベル (belle)Belle most notably features guitarist Yumehito (ex-2 different versions of Ayabie). Since their debut in late 2014, they mostly flew under my radar, first sparking my interest last fall with their "ビードロ (vidro)" video, which harkened back to some late 90s/early 2000s white kei guitar tones! While that song was good, the new PV track from their first full album is perfucktion. The band reminds me of カルペディエム (Carpe diem) with their beautiful sense of melody and tastefully exaggerated vocals. And again, Yumehito's airy guitar tones are just lovely. There's definitely something very refreshing about this band in the current scene. Skip to 1:31 in the video to hop straight to the music! "欲望の歌 (yokubou no uta)" by ゴールデンボンバー (Golden Bomber) Oh. My. God. I think we collectively shit ourselves when known troll band Golden Bomber released this PV masterpiece. From the obvious MALICE MIZER and LAREINE costume homages, to the more subtle nods to X-JAPAN/Dir en grey and Versailles-esque music, there's plenty to enjoy for longtime fans of the scene. Whether it's chubby-faced Gacktmijo with braces or playing with the "PV white girl" trope by having fake-Klaha chase her through the forest while striking vanity poses, the video is just a blast. I never found the appeal in this band, but recently, something's clicking. The vocalist's contribution on the recent スピッツ (Spitz) cover album was actually beautiful and now this hilarity. There's a special place in VK hell for Golden Bomber, but you know what, I think they're totally down to own that spot! "灰燼に帰す (kaijin ni kaesu)" by サウイフモノ (souiumono)Souiumono may have recently announced their disbandment, but at least they're going out with a bang. Not only did they have the most entertaining and RPG-appropriate announcement (@Trombe's translation: "the band will disband as demon boss is defeated, curse is dispelled and subjugation quest is cleared, and peace of the world is restored"), they also left us farewell album GAME OVER. While there are a few too many old tracks, the new ones do not disappoint. Track two, composed by bassist Nuppe, combines the heaviness we've come to know in this last era of souiumono with SACCI's gorgeous dramatic choruses, recalling something Merveilles-era Gackt might sing (yes, two MALICE MIZER references this month). I just hope we don't have to wait too long before the members resurface in new bands. "Little Boy" by SeussSeuss's new track is a mellow indie anthem. The marchy beat is what initially pulls you in. When the vocals emerge from the dense spiral of riffs, they are a bit garbled. While Engrish can be a turnoff, I have definitely come to appreciate this song a lot more than their clunky twee pop single, "Dancing stupid". I find myself coming back to this latest track, for background music if nothing else. Their album TODAY WAS GOOD is out March 9th. "エメラルドグリーン (emerald green)" by そこに鳴る (sokoninaru)Last year, I reviewed sokoninaru's debut EP I'm NOT a pirolian. "Emerald green" is the band's first single from their new mini, YAMINABE. How does it fare, you ask? Just based on this song, the band has streamlined many of perceived 'gimmicks' of pirolian's PV track "pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜," but vocalist/guitarist Suzuki does squeeze in a rad solo, as he's known to do. Overall, it's closer in style to “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono), which was my favorite from their first EP, so no complaints here. As far as I'm concerned, they work best when they're just a little more mellow. With 8 tracks on the upcoming YAMINABE, I think a lot of us will have a much better idea of how we feel about this polarizing band come March 9th. @tetsu_sama69's Picks: "朱色の空 (Shuiro no Sora)"byDeathfina When I first heard of this band, I was a little hesitant - mostly because Haku's vocals in his previous band Mitht needed a lot of work and I was concerned there might not be much improvement on his end... I was very wrong. After returning to the Visual-Kei scene with Deathfina, their first release, "Shuiro no Sora", really impressed me, especially the A-Side track of the same name. Even though it's a slower song, it packs a lot of emotional energy in it, which is something a lot of bands have trouble doing for me recently. There isn't a point where the instrumentals derive from the feel of the track, and it's not overtaken by the slightly gothic synths, Haku's deep vocals help bring together this pretty solid song. "若者離れが止まらない!" by ZETSURIN⚡HAGUKIThis release totally came out of nowhere for me and latched onto me with its super infectious and groovy vibe. ZETSURIN⚡HAGUKI came from the ashes of now disbanded Tokyo Heroes and didn't pull any punches, especially with the title track "Wakamono Banare ga Tomaranai!" It's an extremely energetic track with a sweet and tasty Spanish guitar flavor. I've tried to get this song out of my head since I first listened to it, but once the bass line kicks in and takes you to the chorus, it's hard to resist the urge to jam to this addictive song. It's also hard to pick exactly what I like the most about this song because, overall, there isn't a weak point in the instrumentals or the vocals and something about it reminds of the heavy, jazzier songs MUCC used to release. "9rue1 au5ocracy" by Insanity InjectionFirst of all, y'all knew this was coming, and a track of this single had to make it on here, especially since I've been looking forward to this band since it was revealed it was an actual band. I was also more than happy it was released internationally so anyone can buy it online almost anywhere! Even though I enjoyed the single as a whole, one song hit me right where it made my heart explode into a ball of happiness. "9rue1 au5ocracy" is everything batshit I hoped this band would release, and if you like a heavy, dark punch to the face followed by a train of wild screams, then this is the real deal. Chaos's and Kyoka's vocals dip up and down into a mingle of sweet, strange harmony before twisting into dark, hard-hitting and chaotic screams, spiced with pure head-banging instrumentals throughout. @Zeus's Picks: "Vinyl"byHOLLOWGRAM Halfway between 9GOATS and GULLET, HOLLOWGRAM never had the spark to their music to really catch on. Anyone that's dabbled in visual kei can tell you how important it is to stand out. That's why vocalist Ryo's sudden outburst to start "Vinyl" off is so important. The confused electronic elements and the lifeless guitar work are out, and rock is in! Coupled with a charismatic vocalist who is the very definition of consistency, it is difficult not to lose yourself in this song. "Vinyl" sounds like KEEL without aie's influences, that Nagoya kei guitar tone, and aggressive bass. Ryo intends to do something totally different with HOLLOWGRAM than his previous projects and it appears that the band needed some time to truly come together. If this is the new direction they wish to go in, I will gladly follow. "Strong Fate" by 和楽器バンドI'm left wondering where this band pulls their influences from every time they release a new single. "Strong Fate" is a ballad with a twist near the middle and the end because despite the name, this band is anything but "traditional" compositionally. Vocalist Yuuko Suzuhana has a habit of stealing the limelight - and it's not hard to when you are this talented - but for once it's the entire band which grabs my attention instead. Different instruments take center stage depending on the tone called for at the moment, so the transitions between the koto/shakuhachi and the guitar/percussion are not only refreshing, they feel natural too! The atmosphere conjured is intense. It's incredibly satisfying to be lulled into a state of complacency only to skyrocket into the stratosphere without warning. And of course I can't forget to mention the major label production which turns everything up to 11. Yet another interesting single from one of my guilty pleasures. "B.R.N" by Insanity InjectionBetween his flamboyant taste in visual kei apparel to sounding like he never left 1999, Kyouka's antics will never get old to me. INSANITY INJECTION is the new band I have been waiting for and picks up right where Kyouka's other bands left off. One half old-school kote kei charm and the other half mental badassery with those eagle screams to top it off, this is the most inspired revival kei sound I've heard in quite some time. On top of that, the looks and production values put the visual back in visual kei. The falsettos and that chorus drive the cheese home even more. "B.R.N" is a very interesting first single, and I2 is shaping up to be the experimental mess that DROSERA OBLAAT. was meant to be. I can't wait. "Where the Falling Angel Meets the Rising Ape" by CyclamenMember change-ups have haunted Cyclamen like no other over the last few years, but that doesn't stop magnanimous front man Hayato Imanishi one bit! Cyclamen is a band that moves through phases and now is that time where we return to explore the softer, more tranquil side of Cyclamen's sound. "Where the Falling Angel Meets the Rising Ape" as a tribute to Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld fantasy novels, is touching enough. What really sells this track for me is how super chilled and dreamy the atmosphere is, reminding me so much of the whimsical adventures detailed in the "Discworld" series. I'm genuinely saddened when it comes to a close, but the short length works in it's favor too. It's nice to see Cyclamen still experimenting and with all of the new tracks we've been getting previews of. I'm excited to see where this band goes next! "「サプリミナル・ダイエット」" by Charisma.comNow let's talk about catchy! I've gained a soft spot for this dynamic duo ever since DIStopping. Their music meets at the three way intersection of culturally relevant, catchy, and hard hitting without coming across as too preachy or holier-than-thou. "Suppliminal Diet" - a combination of "subliminal" and "dietary supplement" - discusses the harm that the media and society causes by promoting unhealthy body types. The focus on how society/media is a supplementary diet pill is crazy genius and the music video is great fun while still keeping that signature Charisma.com weirdness. It's a tad over produced, but hats off to the girls for making such a high energy song with an important meaning! It seriously gets catchier with every listen. I already can't wait for 「愛泥C」. @togz's Pick: "Veiled Eyes"byPLASTICZOOMSPLASTICZOOMS has always been a band I found interesting whether it be because of their flaws or unique musical choices. Over the past few releases, this band has shown great change in their sound and style. Veiled Eyes doesn't fail to bring change to the table yet again. It was announced that this song would be a digital release but... I didn't realize the song would be so digital. While I don't think this one track sums up PLASTICZOOMS as a whole, I do feel it's a great song to check out as it does have hints of that more New Wave sound mixed with their previous Nu Goth tendencies. Aside from the mixture of the previous two genres, they've added a lot more electronic elements that really boost the song in to a dance-like groove. The bands production and mixing quality seem to be improving alongside Sho's vocal range. This song is a lot of fun, and I've been waiting for PLASTICZOOMS to release this for sometime. I wasn't disappointed and you won't be either! If you'd like to check this track out, you can purchase it on itunes~! @beni's Picks: "No. 2"byCIDERGIRL Being their first track on their latest second mini-album, there's a lot to love with this indie, all male band despite their petite discography. The familiarity of the chorus in "No.2" might be too along the lines of 'been there, done that' but it somehow makes it instantly memorable. The crystal clear vocals and poppy yet rocking melodies is something to be enjoyed by plenty of us. "氷の皿 (Ave Maria)" by Poet-type.MWhat a find to get into the swing of things for 2016. Being a member of two late rock bands, namely BURGER NUDS (1980) and Good Dog Happy Men (1999) didn't stop this dude from going to even greater things as a soloist back in 2011 and again in 2013 after a pause in activities. The Visual Kei-esque vocals took me by surprise at first until I was lulled into the dreamy sound of the tune and fell for everything that makes the song. The mix of soft rock and electro makes for a contemporary mash of differing genres which works wonder, and with his lush, distinctive vocals it all mashes splendidly together. It's another of those underwater/deep blue sounding songs that comes off as peaceful and romantic, leaving a super lasting impression. "Urusai." by SUPER BEAVERSUPER BEAVER have been on a roll recently and there's no stopping them. Continuously getting better with every release, "Urusai." is proving to be their bulls eye - their best song to date. At only two minutes and thirty five seconds long, the tune is a roller-coaster, squashing in its energetic chorus three times and a softer, slower couple of verses. The song is fittingly named "Urusai.", as we all know means 'shut up'. The song opens with vocals from all the guys and guitar chugs that penetrate your ear drums, instantly becoming addicting. Being a short song that packs a punch, I can promise you that you'll be coming back to it repeatedly. Loud, obnoxious, and bursting with energy, SUPER BEAVER certainly are a super bunch. "KOKO" by WEAVERLike SUPER BEAVER, WEAVER is a band that I hold close to my heart because of their charm. There's something strangely surreal, empowering and warm about their music, and "KOKO" is probably their best song to prove this. With a sound that sets them apart from your usual pop/rock bands in America only because they're Japanese, "KOKO" is both engaging and has too much repeat factor for its own good. The song has plenty of colour and character to it thanks to the structure which is similar to that of the dubstep genre; a strong and loud build up before the chorus hits. Artistic and full of flare, there really isn't a dull moment in "KOKO". @doombox's Picks: "KICK ASS HERO"byFEELFLIP & SKALL HEADZTo celebrate their ongoing ska punk festival concerts with the same name, band bros FEELFLIP and SKALL HEADZ put out a kick ass song to go along with just how kick ass it must be to bring the entire Japanese ska punk scene together year after year. The song and video are a high energy romps true to the spirit of both bands' work with strong horn sections and lots of pop-punk ruckus that proves that the more the merrier, indeed! "時を貫く槍(toki o tsuranuku yari)" by Within The Last Wish I've been in love with this track since the video came out last month, but when I saw it was recently uploaded to Bandcamp for ￥200 (with a second and equally amazing song) I had to snatch it up, asap. I have a major weakness for the screamo-esque vocals over hyper-melodic post-hardcore and the swirling dissonance that radiates from this track. Within The Last Wish have masterfully crafted a powerful and memorable approach to tackling age-old feelings of loss and introspection. "Delicious" by MONKEY MAJIK It's hard not to dance along to this feel good jam from what is probably one of the most unassuming J-pop groups in history. If MONKEY MAJIK didn't release something new for the Year of the Monkey it would be a sad missed opportunity for sure. The song, and hilarious video, play on some retro 80s-inspired jazz-funk complete with jazzercize dancers in horrible spandex to round out the 'it's so bad, it's good' concept. The music and lyrics are extremely catchy as we'd expect, but they're also a bit of a new leaf from your typical acoustic-ballad style MM is known for. It ends up being just the spark of creativity needed to keep things fresh, yet familiar. @CAT5's Picks: "gods"bymothercoat After the release of last year's super solid album "GOHUM", indie-quirksters mothercoat have returned with a new single, and they've stepped their game up another notch! "gods" almost sounds like a mash-up of their previously released songs "fake a fake" and "post", sporting a slightly mathy main riff that's rhythmically remeniscent of the former, yet carries the buoyant energy of the latter. The production on "gods" is also noticeably improved from the band's 2015 output. Every instrument is clearly audible with a pristine sense of individual space and clarity. Even with the vocals laid atop, everything jives pleasantly as a whole. "gods" is a distinctly 'mothercoat song', but it should appeal to any fan who likes a bit of 'pep' in ther indie-rock 'step'. ; ) "C.P.U."byマリアハト (Maria Hato)If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I fucking LOVE mmm (me-my-mo). Who is mmm? You're right to ask. Chances are you probably haven't heard of her unless you're an ardent fan of Japanese indie-folk singers. Long story short, she's an underground folk musician that got her start in 2006 and has been involved with the scene since, performing with several bands like oono yuuki, Oh Shu, and Aniss & Lacanca. She has a unique voice and a penchant for writing compelling songs. She could release a record of herself blowing into a mic, and I'd still love it. I'm biased. Sue me. Thankfully, the music she makes is actually much more interesting that. After a brief 'retirement' from the music world in 2013, she returned in late 2014, much to my delight. She's also resumed activities with her band マリアハト, and they've just released this utterly fantastic 7inch single. mmm has always shown unorthodox tendencies in her music, but "C.P.U." is, without a doubt, her most adventurous song to date. It starts off simple and pleasant enough, but then veers off into an unexpected breakdown, complete with tribal drumming and noise-sax, before diverging even further into a psychedelic-dub haze. The song never looses its way, however; these aural detours somehow feel like they were a planned route all along. I love it! Be sure to check out the equally trippy PV in the spoiler! ☆Guest☆ Picks: "殉恋歌(junrenka)" by BORN Bringing the typical BORN music format, "殉恋歌(junrenka)" is such an amazing song, with heavy bass, average drums, guitars as always fitting very well with each other and with high traces of Ryoga's epic and crazy singing style. If you know how each member's voice sounds, you can clearly notice all of their voices in some parts of the song, which make this, and their last single even greater. -submitted by @yakihiko "Ruin"byDeviloofDeviloof is a 5 member Deathcore band from Osaka claiming to be the "Most violence and extreme Visual Kei band" and with their 1st Single "Ruin", which was originally released in December but made available through indie-CD shops since February 10th, they definitely proove that they have every right to do so! A pretty good amount of blastbeats, and probably the heaviest breakdowns and most nasty-sounding vocals of the scene make this song a must listen for every fan of heavy Visual Kei.. -submitted by @Matsuchan See you next month!

Recommended Tracks: January 2016Greetings, fellow Monochromians! The Official Review team has rebranded our "Best New Tracks" series to "Recommended Tracks"! We've also revamped our format! New Year, new improvements! 2016 has blasted off to a brilliant start, and with so much great music being released, we've got a good batch of new music to recommend! So have a look around! We hope that you discover some new music to get into! If it conveniences you, we've also made a playlist of the embedded YouTube videos here! ^^ @Zeus's Pick: "OUSIA"byTHE BLACK SWAN I have had a lot of time to digest THE BLACK SWAN's magnum opus thus far. "OUSIA" is vocalist Jin's first eleven minute progressive behemoth, birthed with no formal training in music theory. I'm sure he got by with a little help from his friends, but having the pleasure of reading Jin's translated comments concerning the origins and motivations behind "OUSIA" emphasized some elements of the song more. I must admit I am biased and find progressive wankery a much better alternative to a breakdown or simple repetition any day of the week, and the effort is impressive. The five or so minutes of melodic rock sound like a NEGA homage thanks to the piano played by Yuu (who used to play piano and drums in NEGA) mixed together with a section that reminds me of Dir en grey's "Macabre". The breakdown halfway in is ripped straight from NEGA's "虚しき「生」の寓意≒「死」の真意", and then the band buries their homages in guitar solos so frenetic the mood switches from depressing to energetic and back in under a minute. I wouldn't blame anyone for finding it a tiring, confusing mess, but I love every second of the ride. @emmny's Pick: "「ここにラブソングを」 (koko ni love song wo)"byDEZERT Leave it to DEZERT to return unfazed after a seemingly long lull after the departure of their guitarist, which, in their defense, could have easily killed any other band. Kira is out, Miyako (ex-Moran) is in, and DEZERT came back more brutal, melodic, twisted and catchy than before—take “「ここにラブソングを」” off their second full length album “「最高の食卓」”as an example. The song blasts through its incredibly quick two-minute run time with an even faster drum blast-beat as 千秋 half-sings, half-raps like a madman while the guitars chug in Miyako's hideous, extra-distorted tone. This brief sequence ends with 千秋 belting the sugary chorus, and a little breakdown before closing off the song in his surprisingly angelic falsetto. It all shows just how well DEZERT mix uglyness and beauty to make their one-of-a-kind style of alt-metal—a style that was sorely missed and well worth the wait. @fitear1590's Picks: "Open your heart"byLONDBOYB.P.Records has been on my shit-list thus far. 己龍 (Kiryu) may be one of my favorite active VK bands, but that has nothing to do with this multi-type-obsessed label. With no long-term interest in their other bands, I considered their signing of Kiryu to be a fluke. Then came LONDBOY, whose PV seems to have been produced by the label. Silly name and cheesy song title aside, their first song has me very interested! The song begins with a simple, but beautiful synth line. Gone are the cheap trash synths (I need to make a thread about this) we hear with Royz, for instance. Though the drums could use some production work, I'm pretty impressed with the catchy and dynamic pop-rock composition in "Open your heart"! It's unclear whether B.P.Records will actually sign the band, but whatever the case, I'm hoping their March single "アイリス(iris)" will impress! "MOON" by LUCKY TAPES About 4 years ago, I discovered Lamp--truly "love at first listen". Their sublime, relaxing brand of jazz/easy-listening infused pop is unmatched. Having said that, I've been keeping an eye on a few musicians who approach their style, such as the Indonesian solo artist Noh Salleh, the quirky シンリズム (shin rizumu). LUCKY TAPES is my latest find. Their new song "MOON" might be one of the closest I've ever heard to Lamp! Unfortunately, a quick YouTube search seems to indicate that their previous music isn't quite in the same vein. But if this single marks an overhaul in their sound, then I'm all ears for what they'll come up with next! "光線 (kousen)"byクウチュウ戦 (koochewsen)"Kousen" is the single from their 2nd mini-album Sukoshi Fushigi and it's so fun. While it might not exactly be the psychedelic romp of their 1st mini-album's single, there's still plenty to love about their compositions. It opens with a kind of off-kilter kookiness, before moving into an extremely groovy verse. Vocalist Riyo also has an intriguing style, at once raspy and breathy, proving to be a surprisingly strong singer. You gotta love that PV as well! Special shoutouts to @doombox and @seurong for turning me on to them! "N_tower"byLILI LIMIT LILI LIMIT's new mini-album #apieceofcake might be a hodgepodge of indie sounds from the math-poppy "morning coffee" and Czecho No Republic-esque "Festa", but "N_tower" is the standout track for me! I hope you'll allow me another namedrop, but right from the first pulsing beats of the song, APOGEE came to mind. Tight bass lines and cosmic synthwork create a gorgeous soundscape. The late chorus is massive and you'll want to sing along 'Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuume!' Somehow, the song sneaks past the 5-minute mark in the blink of an eye. LILI LIMIT still seems to be finding their sound, but I'd love to see them explore this synth pop style even more! @beni's Picks: "Speaking"byMrs. GREEN APPLE I wasn't expecting Mrs. GREEN APPLE to be as rocking as they are. They've been on my 'to listen to' list for quite a while now, and seeing their album promoted on the net encouraged me to finally get into them. If I could talk about the majority of their first ever full length album's tracks, I'd totally go into more detail as the album itself is well worth a full listen, however, here's hoping the rocker tune will get the majority of you guys on board to give them a go. Not only does "Speaking" make your blood pump with a super quick delivery in every way, but it manages to make me feel depressed over the fact that they've not only been under my radar for so long, but for plenty of others too, I'm sure. So don't make the same mistake I did and give this awesome song a listen and then get straight to TWELVE! "Mobile Phone" by Swinging Popsicle Adorably pleasant indie darlings Swinging Popsicle finally release some new material after a good moment of silence. "Mobile Phone" has their signature Engrish (fluent in fact!) lyrics and a sweet, chirpy beat (modern bass sounding at that!) they always incorporate together with cute (and repetitive~) lyrics. If you're new to these guys and enjoy some indie now and then, as Swinging Popsicle being one of the first I ever discovered and still love to this day, I cannot put them forward any more, so please give this MV a shot. It's a treat you'll wish would never end. "ゴードン (Gordon)"byFINLANDS What caught me at first and what kept me listening to their mini-album ULTRA was Fuyuko's voice. Her super squeaky and off-pitch vocals when it comes to certain words in their songs and choruses are both endearing and engaging, and something different compared to those note perfect bands. My favourite song from them is the leading MV for their recent mini-album, which is totally worth a listen with simple yet catchy melodies and a rough and quirky singer to top it all off. Be sure to add FINLANDS to your indie, female fronted collection. "タイムマシン (Time Machine)"by加治ひとみ (Hitomi Kaji)The first thought I had when Kaji's voice graced my ears is that 'this is one of the most distinct voices within J-pop'. Against the lush and elegant music, it only emphasizes her sophisticated sound and tone more, which is anything but your typical popular J-pop music. Her discography is super small, with only two singles and her first mini-album being the source of this MV track. We can only hope and pray for more material after this impressive release. @CAT5's Picks: "1 Nite Wonder"byATATAIt's been four years since ATATA's splendid self-titled debut EP, and I've been longing for new music from these guys ever since. Thankfully, their follow-up EP JOY was worth the wait. The guys haven't augmented their sound at all - everything from the production, to their songwriting and musical competence is right where they left off in 2012. While this might be a bummer for some, I found JOY to be a most welcome addition to ATATA's scarce discography of roughly 9 songs (a 'whopping' 15 now, including the new material). More of the same doesn't hurt if the music is still good, right? With that said, pinpointing a standout from "JOY" is almost impossible - the EP is thoroughly awesome. "1 Nite Wonder", with all of its punk spirit and post-hardcore brovado, works just as well as any track from the EP. In fact, you should just pick the EP up on iTunes for a meager 6 bucks. "Luv U Tokio" by METAFIVE Yukihiro Takahashi of Yellow Magic Orchestra has recruited the likes of Leo Imai, Tomohiko Gondo, and legends Towa Tei, Cornelius, Yoshinori Sunahara to be a part of METATIVE - to call them a superband would almost be an understatement. With so many brilliant musical minds together, expecting any less than greatness was not even an option. Their debut album META may not have been the instant masterpiece that fans might have hoped for, but it was also lightyears away from being a disappointment! "Luv U Tokio" is among the most straightforward tracks on the album, but production is absolutely pristine, it's insanely catchy, one of the few with majority Japanese lyrics! "ブルース (blues)"byGalileo Galilei After almost a decade of unexpected success, fraught with applaudable triumphs and inevitable setbacks, radio-friendly rockers Galileo Galilei are calling it quits after touring in promotion of their final album Sea and The Darkness. The album isn't as gloomy as its title suggests, though. In fact, it's full of the light and airy pop-rock that their career was known for. However, if there's one emotionally poignant moment on Sea and The Darkness, it's undoubtedly the aptly titled "ブルース (blues)". It's a rivetting track with amped-up instrumentation, and a passionate vocal performance from Yuuki Ozaki. In a farewell message from the band, they expressed that they put all of their last thoughts into this album, and in this track, you can literally feel the heartache and sorrow that they've experienced on their road to the end. "女子達 (joshi-tachi)"byNakamuraEmi In an era where Jpop artists are either rehashing tired trends or trying too hard to be different, aiming for alternatives and missing the mark, I found NakamuraEmi's debut album NIPPONNO ONNAWO UTAU BEST to be completely refreshing. It's your typical pop record through and through, but Emi takes everything back to the basics. She doesn't overextend her reach, yet she's got enough going on to seperate herself from the hordes of Jpoppers playing 'follow the follower'. "joshi-tachi" almost perfectly encapsulates what NakamuraEmi is all about - lush acoustic-pop that neatly draws from both jazz music and hip-hop. And what's best is that this blend sounds completely organic and natural. The only gimmick you'll find here is 'good music'. "Captive of Mists"byCHERRYBOY FUNCTION Unless you're some kind of Japanese club music afficianado, then chances are you probably haven't heard of CHERRYBOY FUNCTION. Hell, even if you're just a casual fan of electronica, coming across him or his music is unlikely given his sufficiently weak social network game and scanty remix work. Yet despite this, he's been quietly cranking out his bleeps & bloops via the small record label ExT Recordings for about a decade now, and also plays alongside more prominent electronic acts like DE DE MOUSE and TOFUBEATS. "Captive of Mists" is but a small, yet healthy dose of the colorful techno and house grooves to be found on his latest work "Word in the Petals"! ☆Guest☆ Picks: "Big Bear Remix from Gravitation" by ギルガメッシュ (Girugamesh) Once again, Satoshi and his mates were able to make a good and refined release, and the "Gravitation" remix has turned out to be my favorite on their new mini album. They and Big Bear were able to manage a decent remix at an 8:00 length that makes me not care if it was ten minutes or more. If you like to dance in night clubs with all that crazy remix and related, this is definitely a thing you could enjoy. -submitted by @yakihiko "FANTASIA"by魔天楼オペラ (Matenrou Opera)In such a long time, I have never heard an album like this from 魔天楼オペラ, full of precious songs. "FANTASIA" could be pointed as a normal instrumental song, but they have Anzi, an amazing guitarist that has learned to improve himself to do really great solos, and was able to excellently carry a six minute track with the help of his band mates: Yo, Yu and Ayame. This has become my favorite song from 地球 (chikyuu). -submitted by @yakihiko See you next month!

Best New Tracks: December 2015 It's our FINAL edition of BNT from the year 2015! We hope you've enjoyed the ride thus far and we hope you find our last round of recommendations useful! Major thanks to all of the ORZ contributors for putting this together every month! I'd also like to thank our guest contributors @emmny and @Lestat for pitching in! And lastly, a warm thanks to everyone that has bothered to check BNT out over the course of the year! We will have much more to come in the new year, so stay tuned! @ShanethVarosa's Picks "White Moon" by 藍 -AI- "Master Key" by D "Wings Flap" by L'Arc~en~Ciel @doombox's Picks "Dead Motel 6" by EACH OF THE DAYS "Before The World Ends" by ENDZWECK "The Greatest Party" by THE BEETHOVEN "The man who leads the mad horse" by Presence of Soul "Collapse" by ぼくのりりっくのぼうよみ(Boku no lyric no bouyomi) @beni's Picks "傷 (kizu)" by 小南泰葉 (Kominami Yasuha) "Where Are You?" by Phew "近未来空想 (kin mirai kuusou)" by 新時あさ美 (Shintoki Asami) "アイノネ (Ai no Ne)" by YEN TOWN BAND "フラスコ (fresco)" by Plastic Tree @CAT5's Picks "Black designer" by ジラフポット (Giraffepot) "somewhere" by The Cheserasera "Wiseguy" by PLAY DEAD SEASON "SKREEN" by 8otto "童謡(わざうた) (wazauta)" by 山本精一 (Seiichi Yamamoto) "End of Fall" by indigo jam unit "烏 (karasu) (feat. KOJOE)" by BUPPON "バイブレーション (vibration)" by nowisee "降下する都市 (kouka suru toshi) feat. sonezaki" by Marmalade butcher See you next time. Happy New Years!

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!

Best New Tracks: November 2015! As always, the Official Review team (ORZ for short) has returned with a batch of new and recently released songs to recommend to our fellow Monochromians! We've got a packed selection this month, so we hope you enjoy this edition! Take a look and feel free to comment or recommend your own tracks below! Once again, we give a special thanks to @emmny for contributing a guest blurb this month! Visual Kei "insert memory" by Develop One's Faculties "ぼくとタルパ (boku to tulpa)" by GRIMOIRE-グリモア- "軽薄ナヒト" by umbrella "Re:ハルシオン (re:halcyon)" by yazzmad "Inner C" by アカシジア (akathisia) "UGLY" by the GazettE - @Seimeisen Rock / Metal / Punk / Indie / Alt. "Fall Asleep" by A Ghost of Flare "雷熊 (kaminari kuma)" by Day and Buffalo "PUZZLE" by KANA-BOON "Death in Reverse" by Mono "In the Darkness" by fox capture plan "ドライブ (drape)" by きのこ帝国 (Kinoko Teikoku) "ナナヒツジ (nana hitsuji)" by シナリオアート (Scenarioart) "激情とウンザウンザを踊る (gekijou to unzaunza wo odoru)" by バックドロップシンデレラ (Backdrop Cinderella) "シャッタードール (Shutter Doll)" by ヒトリエ (Hitorie) "Fuel" by ペトロールズ (PETROLZ) "鳴らせ (narase)" by マカロニえんぴつ (Macaroni Enpitsu) Pop / Electronic / R&B / Hip-Hop / Other "DEEP SWEET EASY" by BENI "Warp Stairs feat. 山田杏奈 (Anna Yamada)" by Jimanica "After Rain" by Qaijff "Passion" by Rie a.k.a. Suzaku "6月の物語 (Story of June)" by muffin "Cherish" by いとうかなこ (Ito Kanako) "メビウスの行き止まり (Mobius no Ikidomari)" by チャラン･ポ･ランタン (CHARAN-PO-RANTAN) "記念日。(Kinenbi) feat. miwa" by ハジ→ (hazzie) "ミステリートレイン (Mystery Train)" by 一十三十一 (HITOMITOI) "Overdrive" by 原田ひとみ (Harada Hitomi) "西玉夫 (Nishi Tamao)" by 水曜日のカンパネラ (Suiyoubi no Campanella) See you next month!

Best New Tracks: October 2015! As always, the Official Review team (ORZ for short) has returned with a batch of new and recently released songs to recommend to our fellow Monochromians! We've got some nice tunes in store this month, so we hope you enjoy this edition! Take a look and feel free to comment or recommend your own tracks below! Special thanks to @emmny for contributing a guest blurb this month! Visual Kei "m.o.b." by Chanty "イケナイKISS (ikenai KISS)" by DIV "窓の外は、カァニバル。 (mado no soto wa, carnival)" by emmurée "発火 (Hatsuka)" by KEEL "夢 (yume)" by THE MORTAL Rock / Metal / Punk / Indie / Alt. "Prometheus" by Crystal Lake "Party Boys" by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas "Phoenergy" by NETWORKS "リュカの黒髪 (ryuka no kurokami)" by the cold tommy "きれいな海へ (kirei na umi e)" by THE NOVEMBERS "ZyouK" by the piqnic "Happy End" by the quiet room "シーズンインザスリー (Season in the Three)" by VELTPUNCH "サイケデリンジャー2 (Psych Dillinger 2)" by アルカラ (arukara) "もあ (Moa)" by ドレスコーズ (the dresscodes) Pop / Idol / R&B / Hip-Hop "Kamakura" by G.RINA "bluemoon" by nowisee "STAR TRAIN" by Perfume "POSITIVE feat. Dream Ami" by tofubeats "YOU" by 世武裕子 (Sebu Hiroko) "安寧の音 (Annei no Ne)" by 雨ニモ負ケズ (amenimomakez) See you next month!

Best New Tracks: September 2015 Another month has passed and the ORZ team has more new tracks to recommend! Be sure to check them out and let us know with you think. Feel free to comment and recommend your own picks as well! In addition, a special thanks to our guest contributor @Lestat for writing our very first BNT guest submission! From now on, we will be accepting guest submissions for the Best New Tracks Series. To find out how to contribute, please contact @CAT5 via PM! Visual Kei "最終電車 (saishuu densha)" by DADAROMA "落花 (Rakka)" by Plastic Tree "思春期と伝染病 (Shishunki to Densenbyou)" by SCAPEGOAT "Jesus Phobia" by ペンタゴン (Pentagon) "Dedicate to Graveyard" by 凛 (lin) -THE END OF CORRUPTION WORLD- "Perfect Blue" by 和楽器バンド (Wagakki Band) "STARLIGHT SNOW" by 少年記 (Shounenki) Rock / Metal / Punk / Indie / Alt. "Nohara" by Age Factory "iny" by eito "CELINE" by möscow çlub (moscow club) "Marv Merchants" by sajjanu "LOST A COLOR" by T.C.L "sea side motel" by Tempalay "ディスワールド (this world)" by the north end "She's like Sofia Coppola" by カフカ (KAFUKA) "スカートリフティング (skirt lifting)" by バズマザーズ (buzzmothers) Pop / Idol / R&B / Hip-Hop "heavenly blue" by Kalafina "oⅠ" by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki "FUTURE FUTURE" by Yun*chi "ヒズムリアリズム (hizumu realism)" by カラスは真っ白 (karasu wa masshiro) "A型のうた (A-Gata no Uta)" by 西野カナ (Nishino Kana) See you next month!

Monochrome Heaven's Top 25 Tracks of 2014 Presenting The Top 25 Tracks of 2014 as voted by our Official Reviewers and staff members. Any Japanese song released in 2014 was eligible, although our primary focus was on J-rock. 25. TAMTAM - "シューゲイズ" 24. 宇宙コンビニ (uchu conbini) - ­ 光の加減で話した (Hikari no Kagen de Hanashita) 23. シナリオアート (Scenarioart) ­- "アオイコドク" (Aoi Kodoku) 22. DIR EN GREY -­ "懐春 (kaishun)" 21. LLLL -­ "Oddness" 20. BACK­-ON -­ "セルリアン (cerulean)" 19. 101A ­- "Forbidden Sky" 18. DIV ­- "漂流彼女 (hyouryuu kanojo)" 17. PLASTICZOOMS ­- "Sleepwalker" 16. ねごと (NEGOTO) -­ "黄昏のラプソディ (tasogare no rhapsody)" 15. sow ­- "to growth, for growth" 14. TK from 凛として時雨 (ling tosite sigure) -­ "unravel" 13. DIR EN GREY -­ "輪郭 (rinkaku)" 12. tayuta ­- "夢見た 蒼 (yumemita ao)" 11. 八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88kasyo junrei) -­ "攻撃的国民的音楽 (kougeki teki kokumin teki ongaku)" 10. Mono -­ "Recoil, Ignite" 9. 和楽器バンド (Wagakki Band) -­ "千本桜 (Senbonzakura)" 8. DIR EN GREY ­- "phenomenon" 7. la la larks -­ "end of refrain" 6. 黒百合と影 (Kuroyuri to Kage) - "「浴槽」 (yokusou)" 5. アルルカン (arlequin) ­- "墓穴 (hakaana)" 4. mothercoat - "trickster" 3. Boris -­ "雨 (ame)" 2. THE NOVEMBERS -­ "Rhapsody in beauty" 1. sukekiyo ­- "Aftermath"