recommended tracks Recommended Tracks: April 2016!

[doombox 4421]

 

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.

Spoiler

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

@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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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!

Spoiler

 

 

@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.

Spoiler

 

 

@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. 

Spoiler

 

 

@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.

Spoiler

 

"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/

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

@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. 

Spoiler

 

 

@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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

@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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

"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.

Spoiler

 

 

 

That's all for this month, see you next time!~

 

[emmny 4139]

this list is so heavy on vkei muahahaha @CAT5 left and we turned it into the vk shit show this is the DEVILS work

jk, great pics everyone!

[Seimeisen 4406]

Royz and THE BLACK SWAN took over the April blurbs!!

[Original Saku 1593]

56 minutes ago, emmny said:

this list is so heavy on vkei muahahaha @CAT5 left and we turned it into the vk shit show this is the DEVILS work

jk, great pics everyone!

 

My monthly  J-indie and J-underground recs are gone now... sad day

[doombox 4421]

6 hours ago, Original Saku said:

 

My monthly  J-indie and J-underground recs are gone now... sad day

I'm missing them too.

[anieresus 270]

From some songs that I've heard from the list I agree with NoGod, The Gazette and The Black Swan but I think that Nocturnal Bloodlust's - Malice Against deserves at least a  mention. The song (and mini album) were an improvement on their past single.

 

 

Edited May 2, 2016 by Thats not hep hap

[TheStoic 176]

@doombox Thank you for introducing me to Last Calix!  Hopeless is an amazing track - so when I looked deeper into what was on this page for them, Anemone blew me away!  I love the band - and did not even realize that their vocalist performed melodic vocals for the Misanthropist until it was reiterated.  Love it.

 

@tetsu_sama69 I have never listened to Blesscode - but that track was on point.  It gave me some crazy DuelJewel vibes - which was a great surprise.  I also never listed to Neverland, but the recommendation has piqued my interest in more.  Thanks!

[doombox 4421]

36 minutes ago, TheStoic said:

@doombox Thank you for introducing me to Last Calix!  Hopeless is an amazing track - so when I looked deeper into what was on this page for them, Anemone blew me away!  I love the band - and did not even realize that their vocalist performed melodic vocals for the Misanthropist until it was reiterated.  Love it.

 

Happy to hear you enjoyed them! Anemone was what sold me on them too. As far as I know they only have the 2 singles available so I can't see what happens when they finally make a full album. 

[plastic_rainbow 2162]

I'm quite happy to see that VIVALET got a feature! They're one of the young and fresh bands in the scene that deserve some attention~ ^^ The b-sides are kinda plain in comparison to the title track though. On another note, I always thought that their Sacrifice mini-album, gave me some Lycaon vibes from Red Rum, but that may just be me.

Edited May 2, 2016 by plastic_rainbow

[tetsu_sama69 1119]

7 hours ago, TheStoic said:

 

I have never listened to Blesscode - but that track was on point.  It gave me some crazy DuelJewel vibes - which was a great surprise.  I also never listed to Neverland, but the recommendation has piqued my interest in more.  Thanks!

I wasn't kidding when I said it reminded me of them. Just solid great visual music to listen to. BLESSCODE has the potential to be a long lasting band if they keep this up. Also you should definitely try Neverland. They're pretty great as well. I feel like they go under the radar because they're not doing the metalcore thing.

[emmny 4139]

18 hours ago, Thats not hep hap said:

From some songs that I've heard from the list I agree with NoGod, The Gazette and The Black Swan but I think that Nocturnal Bloodlust's - Malice Against deserves at least a  mention. The song (and mini album) were an improvement on their past single.

i was on the verge of featuring the new nokubura, but when i kept listening it just sounded like a mess. i really miss the nokubura of desperate, libra, strike in fact, sphere--that was when they were perfectly heavy but still totally listenable. i really couldn't find much i liked on zetes, but im still gonna follow them because they've delivered some amazing stuff in the past.