Brat Prince Lestat's Dearest 2015

[Lestat 2167]

The time has also come for me to applaud the many releases that I have had the pleasure of listening to this year. I have configured this in such a manner that I have both individual lists for separate tracks, and albums. The individual tracks are all by unique artists and none are repeated — up until the top ten, all are organized randomly, and the albums include only full albums for which I have written small observations (— no singles, or mini-albums). Please enjoy this selection.

 

(Warning, picture-heavy, best not to view on mobile devices)

[Lestat 2167]

individual tracks, 50 — 41

 

50. "L'Abime" by VANIRU (MASQUERADE OF COSMIC, 2015.01.28)

 

 

49. "LITTLE BELIEVER" by サウイフモノ (UN-DEADHOUSE, 2015.03.18)

 

 

48. "ピリオド" by the Raid. (Ray, 2015.01.28)

 

 

47. "ジレンマ" by アルルカン (ジレンマ, 2015.02.25)

 

 

46. "ジャパニーズサンダー" by GIGAMOUS (ジャパニーズサンダー, 2015.07.22)

 

 

45. "螺旋" by メディーナ (奈落ヘノ階段, 2015.04.29)

 

 

44. "Voyage" by Sadie (Voyage, 2015.05.27)

 

 

43. "下部構造" by COHOL (裏現, 2015.06.03)

 

 

42. "for" by Develop One's Faculties (「reincarnation」, 2015.10.28)

 

 

41. "不感症" by ザアザア (死にたい, 2015.09.01)

 

[Lestat 2167]

individual tracks, 40 — 31

 

40. "恋ができない" by ダウト (恋ができない, 2015.10.28)

 

 

39. "ピンク スパイダー" by INORAN (Beautiful Now, 2015.08.26)

 

 

38. "EPIC DAY" by B'z (EPIC DAY, 2015.03.04)

 

 

37. "Happy Life" by MERRY (Happy Life, 2015.08.05)

 

 

36. "「浴槽」～introduction" by 黒百合と影 (皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。, 2015.02.11)

 

 

35. "包丁の正しい使い方～実行編～" by DEZERT (「暫定的オカルト週刊誌①」, 2015.04.25)

 

 

34. "NEW DAYLIGHT" by defspiral (BRILLIANT WORLD, 2015.10.21)

 

 

33. "TAROT" by GOTCHAROCKA (Royale, 2015.06.17)

 

 

32. "FANG" by FEST VAINQUEUR (シャンバラ, 2015.04.06)

 

 

31. "RUIN" by DIAURA (RUIN, 2015.05.20)

 

[Lestat 2167]

individual tracks, 30 — 21

 

30. "Mortal" by THE MORTAL (I AM MORTAL, 2015.11.11)

 

 

29. "Art play" by グリーヴァ (妄想主義者ノ背徳。, 2015.07.01)

 

 

28. "-CHAIN-" by Rides In ReVellion (-CHAIN-, 2015.07.28)

 

http://i.imgur.com/7zj8zTP.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

27. "メンヘラベイビー" by リライゾ (子供天國, 2015.10.28)

 

 

26. "Neo Adam" by ライチ☆光クラブ (Jesus Christ Hyperstar, 2015.07.29)

 

 

25. "CRAZY4YOU" by D'ERLANGER (Spectacular Nite -狂おしい夜について-, 2015.04.22)

 

 

24. "INCUBUS" by ギャロ (INCUBUS, 2015.05.27)

 

 

23. "赫音-justitia-" by THE BLACK SWAN (赫音, 2015.08.26)

 

 

22. "Ella" by KEEL (R'lyeh, 2015.10.07)

 

 

21. "耳ゾゾ" by sukekiyo (耳ゾゾ, 2015.11.21)

 

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[Lestat 2167]

individual tracks, 20 — 11

 

20. "sensationalism" by マルコ (近代ブラック, 2015.08.19)

 

http://tinyurl.com/hvs9g5rpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

19. "Secret mode" by DECAYS (Secret mode, 2015.07.23)

 

 

18. "甘い死臭" by Femme Fatale (鼓動, 2015.07.07)

 

http://tinyurl.com/zy7hpyxpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

17. "回転木馬" by Purple Stone (回転木馬, 2015.12.09)

 

 

16. "終幕の芥" by 滅びの美学 或は、加虐偏愛者の調性の確立 (終幕の芥, 2015.06.07)

 

 

15. "

焔-homura-" by R指定 (少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-, 2015.10.28)

 

 

14. "月光の夜、常しえに闇" by Black Gene For The Next Scene (裏返り, 2015.04.22)

 

http://i.imgur.com/c2qm4j4.png?2px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

13. "BORN TO BE FREE" by X JAPAN (BORN TO BE FREE, 2015.11.06)

 

http://i.imgur.com/0U9ECZQ.jpg?2px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

12. "鳥籠トロイメライ" by My Fairytale (鳥籠トロイメライ, 2015.06.03]

 

 

11. "SLOW" by MASKED RIDER SYSTEM (SLOW, 2015.06.10)

 

[Lestat 2167]

individual tracks, 10 — 1

 

10. "彼ノ夢、幻。" by -真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ (愛シ貴女狂怪性, 2015.09.14)

 

 

09. "拡聲ニ蝕ユ蠢" by 己龍 (FAMILY PARTY, 2015.11.25)

 

http://i.imgur.com/X2d4hSY.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

08. "Absolute being" by amber gris (2015.04.15)

 

 

07. "ETERNITY" by lynch. (D.A.R.K. -In the name of evil-, 2015.10.07)

 

 

06. "METRO" by DER ZIBET (別世界, 2015.11.25)

 

 

05. "Stranger" by PENICILLIN (Stranger, 2015.10.14)

 

http://tinyurl.com/jemsyc5px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

04. "残り香" by More (Morphe, 2015.10.07)

 

http://i.imgur.com/fBAR3Ru.jpg?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

03. "God Palace -Method Of Inheritance-" by KAMIJO (Royal Blood -Revival Best-, 2015.07.15)

 

 

02. "青く透明なこの神秘の海へ" by 摩天楼オペラ (青く透明なこの神秘の海へ, 2015.07.20)

 

 http://i.imgur.com/kylGx5L.png?1px;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

 

01. "Dedicate to Graveyard" by 凛 -the end of corruption world- (Dedicate to Graveyard, 2015.09.09)

 

http://tinyurl.com/qdmwjlwpx;width:auto;" src="200" alt="Image" />

[Lestat 2167]

full albums, 20 — 11

 

20. "Beautiful Now" by INORAN

 

 

Never having listened to INORAN's solo-project precedently to this album, I was pleasantly surprised by how mellow and thorough this release rolls with it. Almost reminding me of the latest poppier works of 'Bon Jovi' (a band that I have adored ever since I made my first steps), 'Beautiful Now' is a very natural journey of pleasant Pop-Rock.

 

01. Beautiful Now

02. Might Never See, Might Never Reach

03. Awaking In Myself

04. 2LIME S (feat. Minhyuk, Peniel & Ilhoon)

05. Fading Memory

06. Lullaby of Winds

07. Something About You

08. Hold On

09. ピンク スパイダー

10. All We Are

 

19. "Ray" by the Raid.

 

 

the Raid. have woven together an album deserving of a great variety-award; with songs dallying between flattering and sweet ballads, to ample and abundant synth-driven growl-festivities that one wouldn't seek behind their gentle and meek appearances, the underestimated 'Ray' effortlessly earns its place in this tally.

 

01. innocent Blue

02. Ray

03. esora.

04. レゾン・デートル

05. www.

06. 言い訳DREAMER

07. Devilish Kitty

08. 依存の雨

09. Prisoner

10. REBELLION

11. ピリオド

12. PRECIOUS

13. M

 

18. "MASQUERADE OF COSMIC" by VANIRU

 

 

This is a beautiful record, crepuscular and very dramatic in the sense that reminds us of sensational acts such as 'SOFT BALLET' or 'BUCK-TICK'. 'MASQUERADE OF COSMIC' captures the theatrical flair in an expressive electronic jacket, one that I have individually been missing from the Japanese music scene.

 

01. Who am I, Picture of Ghost...

02. コズミック・ナイト

03. L’Abime

04. Harlequin

05. 深海マリア

06. Stardust Waltz

07. Memory of Mayfly

08. Διόνυσος

09. 狂乱の夢

10. 柘榴

11. 月詠ミ

12. 千の夜～Pallidus～

 

17. "GIGA BEST" by GIGAMOUS

 

 

The crew of GIGAMOUS creates an up-to-date blend of what they preferably refer to as 'party-rock'. They are not wrong in their assessment, as from beginning to end, 'GIGA BEST' delivers an upbeat and positive collection of tracks that brings an invigorating freshness to the Visual Kei scene of today.

 

01. GIGASPEAKER

02. プラトニック

03. SCARY GODS SHOW

04. 電脳ビッグマウス

05. ギガキャットのテーマ

06. 「東京」

07. ノンフィクション

08. チックタックヘッジホッグ

09. GARON

10. Make Noise!!

11. 監獄ロックメン

 

16. "シャンバラ" by FEST VAINQUEUR

 

 

While frankly not the most talented young band, 'FEST VAINQUEUR' certainly have taken onto the stage as being one of the most entertaining and amusing groups of today. This album is essentially about merry-making and banter, and I am glad that comedy can still be provided in an honest and genuine way, without it being staged.

 

01. シャンバラ〜Sambara〜 

02. Stand By Always 

03. ソレイユ

04. GONG!!!

05. NANIWAリスペクト ～Yah man！俺たちラガマフィン～

06. 合掌

07. FANG

08. KNIFE-slander-

09. 共鳴

10. THANKS 

11. Good By Again

12. レジューム〜Resume〜

 

15. "子供天國" by リライゾ

 

 

None of the newcomers in 'リライゾ' are evidently newcomers, and it is hereby that I honorably declare them as supergroup. I believe it is commonly known that talent is quite a rare characteristic in our beloved Visual Kei scene, but in this case it has indisputably gathered together in an unconcealed pool of greatness.

 

01. 序章

02. マダラ蝶

03. フルセラナヨサ

04. メンヘラベイビー

05. 好き嫌い好き∞

06. 無色の華

07. 七十億分の一

08. 芋虫

09. オカシイ娘

10. あなたに殺されたい。

11. 人形劇

12. 馬鹿 (通常版限定曲)

13. 別れ

 

14. "皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。" by 黒百合と影

 

 

Alike most lists, '皮肉な種の卑屈な芽。' has also been included on mine, as it is perchance the album I have spinned most out of all. Arisen and reincarnated from their very own ashes, this is perhaps the most successfully ambiguous and occult group the year has given us, and I except many great of things of them to follow after.

 

1. 「浴槽」～introduction

2. キミの薬指はボクのシチュー。

3. 蜥蜴-トカゲ-

4. チヒロちゃんの眼球舐め

5. -それは規則正しい不眠症-

6. ギチギチ 試聴する

7. ヨコハマメリー。

8. チャイルドマザー

9. ひとり桜。

10. 「月蝕」

11. 絵の具まみれ

12. へその緒

13. 「未遂」

14. 断崖地獄喉輪落とし

 

13. "「暫定的オカルト週刊誌①」" by DEZERT

 

 

'DEZERT' are expressly hysterical and distraught, but perhaps that is the most attractive and charming feature that they consist of. When a group can pull this off, it is quite easily that I am about to sell my very soul to them. I have mostly played this album while myself feeling uproarious or rampant, and I must say; it is quite an efficient stress-reliever.

 

01. 「秘密」

02. Sister

03. 包丁の正しい使い方-思想編-

04. 包丁の正しい使い方-実行編-

05. 包丁の正しい使い方-終息編-

06. 「誤解」

07. 大塚ヘッドロック

08. 「遭難」

09. ゴシック

 

12. "「reincarnation」" by Develop One's Faculties

 

 

Quite obviously one of the most anticipated acts of the year, thus so does this participant earn a place on this catalogue. It is highly unusual to hear such clever musicianship in Visual Kei; instrumental compositions that actually flow well together, a capable vocalist, and noteworthy and uncommonly used patterns in these measures that leaves one desiring for what they can bring us in the future.

 

01. 「 」

02. insert memory

03. フラスコを振ると天秤揺れた

04. hope

05. REAL=

06. ettad

07. ネガティブベイビー

08. 瞬間的衝動の果てに失った瞬間

09. 残念な唄

10. it is what it is.

11. for

 

11. "VITIUM" by sukekiyo

 

 

This is for me, also a very unsuspected and surprising addition to the list. I have never been an abundant supporter of Dir en grey, yet Kyo manages to capture me in his grasp with his side-project. 'VITIUM' is deliciously eerie and bizarre, there is something uncanny about it, something that almost invokes a certain feeling of unease.

 

01. leather field

02. dunes

03. dot

04. foster mother

05. 雨上がりの優詩

06. maniera

07. 白露

08. celeste

09. focus

10. 雨上がりの優詩 (Collaboration with Toshi)

11. focus (Collaboration with 三上博史)

12. elisabeth addict (Remixed by Renholder)

13. latour (Collaboration with Wes Borland)

[Lestat 2167]

full albums, 10 — 1

 

10. "EPIC DAY" by B'z

 

 

After being assigned the title of 'best-selling artist in Japanese history', the long-serving duo in 'B'z' laughs in the face of retirement, and instead continues to pack arenas to the brim where it serves up great portions of quality Rock 'N' Roll on a silver platter. Do we still hunger for more? Oh yes, we most certainly do.

 

01. Las Vegas

02. 有頂天

03. Exit To The Sun

04. NO EXCUSE

05. アマリニモ

06. EPIC DAY

07. Classmate

08. Black Coffee

09. 君を気にしない日など

10. Man Of The Match

 

09. "Royale" by GOTCHAROCKA

 

 

As a fanatic of both Jui's and Jun's previous participation in VIDOLL and Phantasmagoria, I can not help but stay involved with their choices of movement — and there I believe myself to be one of the few individuals who remains eclectic about this extremely fun and clever assemblage of musicians, whose chemistry

continues to reflect on my everlasting love for UNDER CODE PRODUCTION records.

 

01. 撃愛

02. S or M

03. 恐想ロワイヤル

04. TAROT

05. Director’s cut

06. SNAKE CHANNEL

07. 赤い駅

08. Shortcake

09. Alarm

10. Starry eyes

11. Emotion

12. Happy

 

08. "BRILLIANT WORLD" by defspiral

 

 

After quite actually dismissing this group earlier in the year, defspiral are now another new contestant that made their way into my list of favourites simply by this astonishing collection of faultless Hard-Rock, most cherished when played with the volume turned up high. Vocalist Taka just about has that rough edge to his chords that make this unbelievably enjoyable, no matter the occasion.

 

01. NEW DAYLIGHT

02. SILVER ARROW

03. DREAM OF YOU

04. IN FLAMES

05. THANATOS

06. SERENADE

07. カナリア

08. FAR AWAY

09. ESTRELLA

10. BRILLIANT

11. CARNAVAL

 

07. "裏現" by COHOL

 

 

Every annual calendar deserves to encompass an absolute powerhouse, and 2015 has been a proficient year for the upcoming Post-Black horde going by the name of 'COHOL'. While haunting the less intensely freezing forests of Tokyo, we are still reminiscent of many brothers and sisters in the cold lands of Scandinavia.

 

01. 冷たい石

02. 下部構造

03. 暗君

04. 地に堕ちる

05. 葬送行進

06. 絶えぬ火

07. 病の元型

08. 急性期の終わり

 

06. "I AM MORTAL" by THE MORTAL

 

 

Who would have imagined that in this age, it was possible to navigate backwards into the olden Romantic era of spooks, witchcraft and vampirism? Mastermind Atsushi Sakurai and his supergroup 'THE MORTAL' have arranged for us a genius of gothic-horror favourites, compact in the grandly, beautiful full album 'I AM MORTAL'. 

 

01. 天使

02. DEAD CAN DANCE

03. Barbaric Man

04. 夢 -Deep Dream

05. Fantômas -展覧会の男

06. MOTHER

07. ギニョル

08. 月

09. PAIN DROP -It rains cats & dogs

10. グロテスク

11. Mortal

12. サヨナラワルツ

 

05. "少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-" by R指定

 

 

It is unquestionably rare for someone to enjoy every singular release that makes up one distinguished band's discography, but for me — so is the case with the young men of 'R指定'. Walking a lone desert of nonconformity, '少女喪失-syojosoushitsu-' is filled with originality and character, and makes up for all the legends we have seen coming and going.

 

01. 帝都に死す

02. 喪失-soushitsu-

03. サドマゾ

04. 終身旅行

05. 晩秋

06. 病ンデル彼女

07. 白いキャンバス、赤い絵の具

08. O.D

09. 八幡の薮知らず

10. 君はサブカルチャー

11. 殺したいくらい愛してる

12. THE廃人間

13. スーサイドメモリーズ

14. 焔-homura-

15. MELT DOWN

16. さらばビッチ

17. 誰かのメリークリスマス

18. LOVE is HAKATA

 

04. "Spectacular Nite -狂おしい夜について-" by D'ERLANGER

 

 

After what is nearing the thirty year mark, 'D'ERLANGER' continue to provide us with proportionate and uncompromised Hard-Rock, this album mixed with a taste of just about every respectable sub-genre available to the veterans, and therefore it would do on just about anyone's shelf. A pity, how undervalued they still are.

 

01. SEX ON THE CARPET

02. 狂おしい夜について

03. Cherry

04. Dance with me

05. SWEET EMOTION

06. DARLIN’ -2015

07. BABY

08. LULLABY -2015-

09. Candy In The Shape Of You -2015-

10. Skeleton Queen

11. CRAZY4YOU

 

03. "別世界" by DER ZIBET

 

 

The few spins that I have given this album have transported me back in time. The intelligence and craft with which this album has been composed is something I believed to no longer exist in our current era, but here comes 'DER ZIBET' in all its former and current glory; pummeling a melancholic and almost lugubrious proficiency at us, track after track.

 

01. 別世界への招待状 (ver.0)

02. METRO

03. Mr.Bad Trip

04. 時の亡命者

05. 月下美人

06. 黒い犬

07. トリックスターの憂鬱

08. MONDO MOVIE

09. 青空

10. 朝日を待ちながら

11. 傀儡使いの街

12. ドッペルゲンガー

13. 天使達のパ・ド・ドゥ

14. 別世界への招待状

 

02. "D.A.R.K -In the name of evil-" by lynch.

 

 

Being rather late to the party, I discovered the brilliant musicians of lynch. in early 2015 (after an extensive period of unjustified avoidance). Correlative to its predecessor which was equally and continuously solid, 'D.A.R.K. -In the name of evil-' does everything musically and instrumentally correct, warring itself as a deafening rival to everyone who dares to walk in its way, or footsteps.

 

01. INTRODUCTION

02. D.A.R.K.

03. ANTARES

04. EVOKE

05. GHOST

06. ILLUMINATI

07. ETERNITY

08. FALLEN

09. BEAST

10. INVADER

11. COSMOS

12. MELANCHOLIC

13. MOON

 

01. "Royal Blood -Revival Best-" by KAMIJO

 

 

Majestic, glorious, and famous for his immortal voice. This year was the one in which our nocturnal and aristocratic king took us back into his career spanning two whole decades, and our royalty did so splendidly by shining a new and bright light on well-known compositions, astride of a few new classics that will be heard by many an ear in the future to come. 

 

01. Emblem

02. Imperial Concerto

03. 薔薇は美しく散る

04. Aristocrat’s Symphony

05. 蝶の花

06. Audrey

07. この世で一番美しい薔薇よ

08. 冬東京

09. HEEL

10. God Palace -Method Of Inheritance-

11. Royal Blood

[Tetora 625]

Really like the list and thorough nature of it. Absolutely obliterates computer memory as well, hehe.

 

You really bring another side of VK to the table and represent it well. Lots of stuff that need more repping on this list.

 

Some random things I also really like are Inoran, and the X Japan song is still great, as well as other acts that have been around a while but are still making it work in 2015-2016, which is why I think in VK, anything is possible!

[CAT5 9075]

Was defspiral the band that I forgot that I recommended you?

 

If so, I'm surprised - didn't actually think you would try them out! But I'm also glad you did. I was into TRANSTIC NERVE pretty big back in the day, but haven't kept up much with their subsequent releases. Will you be back-tracking through their career and various monikers?

 

I've enjoyed everything I've heard by VANIRU on dub/plug, but haven't actually tried any of their releases yet.

 

sukekiyo I remember being pretty nice. Foster Mother was an especially nice track!

 

seeing THE MORTAL on your list makes me happy. THE MORTAL makes me happy, period. Musicians from two bands that i'm into (downy and MY WAY MY LOVE) are members of the band, so it elates me knowing that they're involved in a project that might receive more attention from overseas fans. It also just shows that J-rock is a whole and not just divided into vk and non-vk. I love it. Plus Atsushi alone is more than worth it!

 

Fantastic list overall, even if I'm unfamiliar with a good bit of it. You obviously put a lot of work into it, so great work, and thanks for sharing!

[Delkmiroph 1649]

I love your list @Lestat i agree with almost all. The best until now for me

[Lestat 2167]

Really like the list and thorough nature of it. Absolutely obliterates computer memory as well, hehe.

 

You really bring another side of VK to the table and represent it well. Lots of stuff that need more repping on this list.

 

Some random things I also really like are Inoran, and the X Japan song is still great, as well as other acts that have been around a while but are still making it work in 2015-2016, which is why I think in VK, anything is possible!

 

Thank you, I tried especially to bring out the somewhat... 'forgotten legends', if you may call them such. I do think that the bands and solo-artists who have been around for an extensive period of time no longer receive the recognition they deserve (X JAPAN, DER ZIBET, INORAN, B'z, D'ERLANGER, etc.). I wish I could've found more classics, but unfortunately the available content on them is currently limited.

 

Was defspiral the band that I forgot that I recommended you?

 

If so, I'm surprised - didn't actually think you would try them out! But I'm also glad you did. I was into TRANSTIC NERVE pretty big back in the day, but haven't kept up much with their subsequent releases. Will you be back-tracking through their career and various monikers?

 

I've enjoyed everything I've heard by VANIRU on dub/plug, but haven't actually tried any of their releases yet.

 

sukekiyo I remember being pretty nice. Foster Mother was an especially nice track!

 

seeing THE MORTAL on your list makes me happy. THE MORTAL makes me happy, period. Musicians from two bands that i'm into (downy and MY WAY MY LOVE) are members of the band, so it elates me knowing that they're involved in a project that might receive more attention from overseas fans. It also just shows that J-rock is a whole and not just divided into vk and non-vk. I love it. Plus Atsushi alone is more than worth it!

 

Fantastic list overall, even if I'm unfamiliar with a good bit of it. You obviously put a lot of work into it, so great work, and thanks for sharing!

 

Yes, they were. I wouldn't have thought that they'd actually make some kind of list of mine at all, but then I gave the new album another chance and was miraculously sold by their persistence. If there is any available content, I will surely attempt to scour the internet for more of their releases as well. — Of course I listen to THE MORTAL for other reasons as you would, aha. Atsushi is my main interest with this band, I haven't heard of these others apart from Jake. But it is indeed nice that two separate scenes can intermingle and create something that appeals to a greater audience. It would be well-received if more artists attempted this.

 

I love your list @Lestat i agree with almost all. The best until now for me

 

Thank you. I have evidently taken a long time to consider what I should include, and a lot of artists were unfortunately scrapped from the list for it otherwise becoming far too extended. I do believe this list represents my personal tastes fairly well, and that it also represents today's hidden and forgotten gems that should be paid more attention to.

[Atreides 454]

Well, I just want to say thank you.  I was listening to some stuff you posted and I think VANIRU is extremely sick.  Kind of reminds me of a few others I've heard recently, The Mortal and KA.F.KA.   I really love Masquerade of Cosmic!