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tonight's setlist

I'm gonna be 30 real soon. I've started my transitioning to being a grown-up and everything.

Some of my favorites: Sixteen photobooks planned for a 2006 release, that were cancelled due to KISAKI's tax evasion scandal around that time. About half were to be of KISAKI × random VK bands, but the rest were dedicated to VIDOLL, Phantasmagoria, CODOMO A, and hardcore bands that had played with Phantasmagoria. If I recall correctly, all of the books had been completely finished, but the company refused to release the photos. UNDER CODE must have lost a HUGE amount of money on them, and we collectively lost a good chunk of mid-2000s vk history. Distray (old Matina band) had a 5-month single campaign which was never released, and fellow Matina band LAYBIAL never released their planned full album. During their 2013 revival, DAS:VASSER announced two DVDs, but never released them. I was pretty sad about that one. Here's a partial list of cancelled releases in the weloveucp.com database.

WeLoveUCP has a lot of info on albums that were cancelled for one reason or another. Here's a few of my favorite examples (because I know they would have been great had they actually happened + love feeling disappointed): The Eternal omnibus "Barrier Crash": https://weloveucp.com/releases/glass/2835/barrier-crash-cancelled/ 狂同遊戯計画 -- a Mar'derayla x Garnet split-single (you know, one of those "1 new song, 1 cover song" deals): https://weloveucp.com/releases/marderayla/1230/kyoudou-yuugi-keikaku/ (Notice how all of these are somehow tied to Yayoi??) That Devil Kitty single that was supposed to come out this month Moi Dix Mois' 6th album, which has been "TBD" for like 3 years. Similarly, The Piass have been saying they're going to release an album since like 2009.

omygod Ruder

me, explaining my current views on dating to w/e horny single randos who suddenly float back in my life:

also @ZeusComing here to set the facts about Dir en grey straight: This is incorrect, Setsuna was a WIP project song by Dir en grey that developed over the course of 1997 (starting out as 5 minutes and evolving into a nearly 7 minute track) until finally being scrapped in the first half of 1998 for reasons unknown. Whether Setsuna was an official title or one given to it by fans is still subject to speculation. "Ai Murasaki Iro" Is in fact pronounced "Ranshishoku" based on a newspaper interview which I scanned and upped some year ago from a indie magazine made in early 1998. I know this due to the fact that the name was written out in katakana. It's the onyomi pronunciation of the same kanji. They played this song at every oneman live starting from August 1997 until their last indies live at the Budokan, after which it was scrapped due to poor audience response, supposedly. They had another unreleased longer track that they played throughout the second half of 1997 and on and off into early 1998 which then subsequently disappeared as well. No known title for this track. There was an early version of Mazohyst of Decadence played from 1997 which differed slightly. raison detre had a early quite different version which premiered at their oneman tour in late 1997 and evolved into it's current form during 1998. ZAN is also one of the earliest songs they wrote, and it was played from their first tour in april 1997 and onwards in various stages of evolution until it arrived at the GAUZE form in late 1998. Tsumi to Batsu was also performed during their last indies tour in a slightly different format. They also premiered two new songs at the DUM SPIRO SPERO and Kisou part of the recent tour respectively which haven't been mentioned or played since. I could go on but I think that'll do for now.

He’s slowly becoming one of my favorite vocals who can do it all - scream and growl perfectly yet have a fantastic voice. Kyo and Ruki are shook. Also, they stylized their logo with all caps.

Alright so I decided to translate them anyway, so here they are: Too all [MAD]ist Delivering news like this to everyone who kept believing in us, and for us to not keeping our promise until the end is very hurtful to say the least. These five years with Grieva is something that I won't be able to exchange for anything ever. We managed to get great members, [MAD]ist's and lots of valueable friends. We laughed a lot We cried a lot There's been a lot of stuff we've regret And we've seen a lot of beautiful things In all of this I managed to find my reason to live, and the place where I belong Spending days as Grieva was nothing but happiness to me. I wanted to protect it forever, but in the end I couldn't. I'm terribly sorry. I can't thank all of you enough. Us actually existing for five years as band is all thanks to you. For the remaining gigs, I want to express this feeling and create even more beautiful atmosphere than what we have been able to do so far, therefore please stay with us until the very end Grieva KYOUKI Thank you for always supporting Grieva! We started Grieva in 1st of july 2012, but 30th of december it has to come to an end. To me, Grieva is like a family and the life I have built up. We've been troubled and thought a lot together Smiling together everyday, trying to become a better Grieva together Seeing fans getting happy because of us Wondering how we're going to face new fans, how to get new fans We've searched for answers for all these things together. The fact that we managed to do all this, with all these amazing members is something I proudly boast about. Five years is definitely not little time, and if all of you weren't here for us then nothing of this would ever be possible, and I also wouldn't have been able to grow as much as I have. Thank you all so much. The time we have left together is barely none, but I want to give back the favor to each one of you during the remaining gigs. If you think "Grieva was such a great band" when you're thinking back on us, then surely nothing will actually change and we'll continue to grow. We'll keep on fighting until the very end, so please continue support us! Grieva ROKU Thank you for always supporting us. From 2012 we've changed a lot, we said goodbye to members but still kept looking forward and doing activity. However, at 30th december this year we have decided to call it quits. We're all very good friends and we've felt a lot of stuff together. We've always encouraged each other so much, and to be honest, for the first time in my life I've thought "So this is what friends are!". I really think we managed to create one of the best bands. If I'm going to be honest, had I not been invited to join Grieva at that time then me today would be very different. These five years has been a rocky road, but because of that we have all been able to grow personally and as a band. Being able to keep doing this for five years has been all thanks to you. Getting up on stage, seeing all of you has always made me think "this is my reason for living". These five years has been the absolute best of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratefulness because you made me be able to be this happy with my band, all of you, and all our staff. Thanks for supporting us for five years! There's not much time left but I want you all to come to our final gig and leave no regrets behind as we close up this band. We're going to do our best for every last show we still got up until then, so please come support us until the end! Grieva HARU It's been five long years, huh. Time goes fast! I wonder if you're all mad when you're reading this announcement? Or maybe you're sad? Sorry for such a sudden announcement. For me personally I could continue play in this band with these members for the rest of my life. Every day we've had a gig I've been so happy. A lot of you have told me "Grieva has saved me" and it always made me happy to hear. On the contrary, I think hearing those words have saved me in a way. Being able to play bass in this band as Hisame, and having all of you fans has always made me so happy. There's not much time left but we have a lot of gigs, let's enjoy them to the fullest together! Grieva HISAME This band Grieva is the band I've done most things in The band I laughed with the most The band I cried with the most The band I thought "I am so happy" with the most The band I've regret most things with All of this as Yuugo from Grieva And me as a person Is something I thought I'd never experience. And this is my fortune, in a life I thought nothing about me ever would change. We've fought so hard together, done stupid shit together and discussed our dreams together. It all comes to and end 30th of december. Grieva has been active for five years, and it's been three years since I was invited. I don't think if I'm the one to say this but in a good way it feels as if Grieva has combusted. Either way Grieva will be Grieva until the very end. None of us are on bad terms or anything like that. If we all can treasure each day as it is and have fun together then I'll be happy. Feast your eyes on Grieva until the very end, if we're able to leave a mark on your heart forever then I'll be happy. Sorry for everything ending. Please support us until the very end. Grieva YUUGO

克哉 (katsuya) (Misanthropist, ex-CodeRebirth) new band will form, & he is recruiting a vocalist.

Hi guys and gals, I really want to start an online project that sounds like an oldschool VK band. I'm thinking something like an old Matina band or similar—bands like Madeth Gray'll, Shiver, L'yse:nore, La:Sadie's, early Kuroyume, early Dir en grey, La Feérie, Aliene Ma'riage, Noir Fleurir, etc. I can play guitar, bass, drums, and/or keyboard, and I can sing, although I'd really like to find someone else to do vocals—preferably in Japanese if at all possible. Is anyone interested?

The other day I met YOSHIKI. I was at a showing of We Are X in Oslo, Norway. Norway doesn't have a huge VK scene so I was happy he had come. It turned out to be his first time in Norway. I asked him "Can western bands be visual kei?" - He laughed and replied "Of course!" So I followed up with "If a western band is to be visual kei, is there something they must adhere to, in terms of style or aesthetic?" He explained VK is more of a mindset, born out of them feeling like they didn't really fit in anywhere. As he said, they played "super heavy" and "super soft" music. He also told me about a festival he hosted recently where the bands were everything from metal to pop, and there was even a band that didn't play music (that got some laughs around the room). He summed everything up by saying it really isn't a genre, but more of a mindset allowing yourself to be as creative as you want. And it also generally has makeup. I am summing these things up from memory. So here's my take on VK: 1. You must be influenced by Japan/Japanese music (because after all, it originates from Japan). 2. Make creative use of makeup/visuals. 3. Be somewhat diverse in terms of style. 4. Be doing your own thing confidently (basically: be true to yourself, because people and fans can see through you being a cookie-cutter). So basically, no you don't have to have a lolita in the band. One member doesn't have to wear a surgical facemask at all times. You don't have to have death-metal growls in your music. Some music fans within genres and subcultures get really elitist and that gets irritating, especially when people say that VK is only Japanese (so is glam-metal only truly American? Can you not make Brazilian samba music if you aren't from Brazil?). VK is unique in that it is vague but also has a meaning. A band alone isn't just "visual kei" but "visual kei rock" would be a better indicator. I think in that sense, the addition of the term "visual kei" before "rock" to me would indicate the above traits I listed, like being influenced by Japan, be somewhat "different" in terms of makeup/visuals and potentially have a diverse musical style. I had a blast meeting YOSHIKI. He's a funny and nice guy, and it was an honor having him in Norway.

mitsu holding him captive

Oh, thought of two more. Yuuga x Phobia's vocalist (Kisui?) had a small project that released a hip-hop mini album which was apparently supposed to be the first installment of 3. Endorphine, the splinter band of Baiser, released a mini-album called "Brain Child" who's booklet said that it was the first in a series of several planned releases. As far as I know, those never happened (even with one of the band's singles getting a radio edit).

Number of publications they were featured on, how well kept their history is (if no one cared, they'd be an empty last.fm profile with one or two blurry pictures), amount of times people have tried to be them (whether subtly or explicitly), general rate at which they released material, and, in this case, the reaction to their revival were indicators I personally use. The grain of salt with this though, as I'm sure you're hinting at here, is that it is a mix of gut feeling + observation, but distorted through the eyes of a Western fan looking backwards. I am open to learning about if this bias in incorrect. Of course, influence is a spectrum. Obviously someone at Glay's level will have much more influence on a macro scale than La'Mule, but that doesn't mean the latter's efforts are lost to the void.

CD will be released on november 8th 2017. It's his second solo album as you may have noticed. Tracklist 1. チンドン屋 2. 左様なら 3. よんじゅうこわい 4. 独楽の様に 5. 千早振る 6. 怨歌の花道 7. 決意の朝 8. 波天奈

I actually tried to reach out to both respective parties about these CDs. Kyohei ignored my Facebook message (wow) and someone from Romance For~ didn't even remember recording that CD.

Plastic Tree this year!!! Ryutaro - Hello Kitty Kenken - My Melody Tadashi & Akira - Lala & Kiki (Little Twin Stars)

That block with Deux, Taion, chizuru and ominous is just tasty as fuck. What a set list, I can only hope to hear something this great whenever I'm blessed enough to go see them.

ZIN-DRAMA STRIKES BACK!

last two series i've watched have been Danger 5 and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Both were absolutely fucking hilarious and i absolutely 100% rec them to everyone

Well, he developed a lot during the years. I have 2 songs from his first band before Depain... and believe me, you don't want to hear him!

ゴア (Gore) new distributed single "鬼灯くん (Hoozuki-kun)" will be released at 2017/4/1 and their new single "生贄 (Ikenie)" will be released at 2017/4/12 (2 tracks, 1200 yen). [track list] 1.生贄 (Ikenie) 2.凍え空 (Kogoe Sora)

Well what I mean is the actual quality of his singing as opposed to recording quality (although you are right about that - I like the studio filters they use as well) but it's exciting to know he's still developing (in addition to their development as a band) ! I'll have to watch any that get shared~ The intro/outro riff sounds something akin to DIAURA on Triangle or one of the singles on it. As a whole I'm not crazy about the song but It's got some cool sections!

LOL I'm too slots ahead of you lol. I want to see them live!!!!

My order finally arrived, yay! MALISEND - ロストソレイユ JILUKA - DESTRIEB dexcore - The Dead Sea MonstlloW - MonstlloW GYZE - Northern Hell Song コドモドラゴン - この世界は終わりだ。TYPE A LAZAROUS - QER LAZAROUS - DD LAZAROUS - SE/MD

MUCC Yukke tho Yukke (MUCC) Aki(シド)

this is also what I did got in Japan, just randomly somewhere in some stores.

Probably they don't have that much money to record stuffs, some of their CDs are better some aren't. I don't know why is that, but definitely pay more attention to the lives and they're really great!

Fatima was legendary for having a large portion of their discography unrecorded, but played frequently at lives--even with changing live arrangements. Taking a look at their last live DVD setlist, most of the song are unrecognizable unless you followed the band back when they toured and/or saw them live. its cool because fatima got pretty famous from their live show, as opposed to having frequent studio output--t'was a different time *sigh*. kein was also the same, except with the vast majority of their songs unrecorded. even their alleged last live VHS is something of legend--apparently it exists but its never surfaced online in its entirety or come up in auctions for sale. Thats kind of the case for all the band's material, kein stuff resells for around the same price as new releases, at their cheapest. the terekos are around for the last live and the tracklist is mostly unreleased stuff--most of which are nicer that their studio output. Omoi de no imi is an unreleased track so legendary that yukino and mako have played it live within the past 3 years--how they even remember the arrangement/lyrics is beyond me. edit: im not sure what is out/what isn't from kein, hopefully someone can chime in on this!

Hi.

It's pretty much true! I saw them 2 times and they are awesome!

MERRY someone kick tetsu out asap Initial'L Allen (IGGY)'s costume is brilliant: Rei (Sibilebashir), Kuloe (Morrigan), and Loa (IGGY)

Dunno if this has ever been shared yet anywhere, but I've yet to find MERRY's 無料配布MD for an affordable price ;w; they also have a song called "Screams of the Dark", which was only released as a live-recording in Nonsense Market's bonus cd. As for After effect, they only released a couple of tapes, and they have a whole bunch of songs that were never released: --- Pretty sure they might put this in a future release like they did with their other live distros (and thank fucking GAWD), but I'm dying to hear Marco's 金襴緞子 (released on June 25 this year). I have yet to even find this in the auctions ;w; Speaking of auctions, I've yet to also find JIVE's new under world (although they were my least favorite Rei band), Jisedai Excite's 片隅のレクイエム (a friend hooked me up with a rip, but I want to own a physical copy ;w; ), and Jackal's 性的グロサイト (which is apparently different from the LOOP OF LIFE version??). As for stuff that hasn't been released yet, Marco has yet to release 神田river on a cd; they've performed that song since they were ギースパープル, and that was a while back. They've already released their songs from that period (9mm Go Round, 灰ト罰, 相対性感情論,「 」不動), but have yet to release that one...

Kyoki ex. Secilia Luna and Insanity Injection as Kim Jong Un.

tracklist: 1.時計仕掛けの嘘と月 2.Guilty Answer

this isn't fair - this sounds so amazing i need to hear the full song now! XD also some seriously fantaststic vocal-work from kagami and the cover artwork for the regular edition looks BADASS - totally cannot wait for the release!! 8D

I'm feeling pretty today. #arab_kei

Made test for my Halloween costume and i'm happy with it. :') Mostly inspired of Chiaki from DEZERT

up

I guess it's nice to see who you're talking to on the forum, so here's a snapshot of me and one of those self-portraits I do from time to time.

What do people base themselves on when they call a VK band influential? Gut feeling? Observation? Or something sourced from actual members of the visual kei scene back in the day? You can draw parallels between La'mule and early 2000's bands all you want but how much of it is actually rooted in VK history?