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Better late than never! Here's the newest batch of recommended tracks from the amazing ORZ team! Check them out and let us know what you think! @tetsu_sama69's Pick "PM:500" by ラッコ(LACK-CO.) I really don't know why it is that LACK-CO.'s ballads always seem to hit me in the right spot. "PM5:00" is definitely a track to be noted (if you can look past their drummer's current visual style) with its strange power ballad styling. It's very easy to get swept away by the tidal wave of guilt and depression, leaving you stranded in a sea of psychosis emitted perfectly though tenten's vocals and the bands messy but perfect instrumentals. Granted the rap segment of the track seems very awkward but it fits for me since it feels more like the ramblings of a man questioning his choices in life. Unfortunately, since I am not fluent in Japanese, I can't translate what is being said, only what is being musically expressed and LACK-CO. definitely know how to compose a robust track that can't be categorized as something "stereotypical". I really look forward to the release of their first album 『弱肉教職』 (Jakuniku Kyoushoku) , as it's hard to predict how it's going to end up. But if it's spiced up with a track like "PM5:00", then it's sure to land a place on this year's favorites list. @helcchi's Pick "お邪魔します" (Ojamashimasu) by まみれた (mamireta) Mamireta have brainwashed me. This song is a drug. From the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking, to the deliriously hypnotic opening riff, to the disturbing lyrical and visual themes, “Ojamashimasu” is the intoxicating psycho fix that VK has been thirsting for. This band is so shameless in expressing their corrupt morals, and so unhinged in their mannerisms, you can't help but feel like many years of lunacy have been packed into the unit's short lifespan. Laden with fast talking featuring the ramblings of a madman, the eccentric vocal delivery adds to the song's intrigue, as this trope is so steeped in VK tradition. Whilst a passionate chorus cuts through the repetitive rhythm that has pervaded through almost half the song, it quickly spirals into a fast-paced whir of pure neuroticism, leading back into the unnerving yet catchy door-knocking that started it all. I've lost count of how many synonyms for “crazy” I've already used in writing this, but did I mention that this band is crazy? Let Mamireta “ojamashimasu” into your head. @emmny's Pick "朧月夜 (Oborozukiyo)" by 己龍 (Kiryu) Kiryu have passed 10 years together as a band, a massive milestone for any band, let alone a visual kei band. To celebrate they're...throwing it back to 1997? It's no surprise that Kiryu have an old school influence, especially as the band members have been active since the early 2000's. They're just very good at infusing it into trendy structures with their loud traditional instrumentation. I, however, live for the moments in their dark tracks when they really let loose and wear some blood on their sleeves *wink*. "Oborozukiyo" is three minutes and thirty seconds of kote-kei styled mayhem, melodrama, guts, gore; it's so indulgent and obvious a throwback that it feels like an inside joke between the band and their older fans, with the youth at the butt of the joke. Of course, all parties are in gleeful, head snapping, harakiri'd joy. Mahiro's vocal gymnastics recall the tortured voices of the late 90's, but with an amazingly melodic chorus to match the growls and grunts (all on pitch by the way, eat your heart out Matina and Soleil). The trebly, pitch-harmonic laden guitar lines paired with frequent gyakudai-style rhythm shifts disorient the listener, creating an air of chaotic noise. The track is a throwback, but not a copy in anyway- a representation fitting of an intelligent band who have grown from the scene and still know how to extract every bit of theatric gold from a sound long forgotten, keeping it fresh 20 or so years later in 2017. @plastic_rainbow's Picks "管" (Kan) by umbrella umbrella is a band that I regrettably have not paid much attention to until recently. I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I've finally realized the greatness of their soft and melodic rock sound, plus their heartbreaking and soothing ballads are to die for. "Kan" sits as one of those beautiful tracks but takes it up another level. The beginning feels cinematic with the playing strings until a steady drum line and lovely guitar walk in. Yui's comforting vocals both sing like a slow heartbeat and an ocean wave that clashes against a rock gently; the perfect balance of softness and passion put into a ballad. Although umbrella may fall short because of their messier production, especially in their early days, they deserve much more love than they already do. I mean, if those mellow guitars don't tug at your heart strings then you must be on crack. "Snow the Dark" by Spook Jack Not being a fan of The Candy Spooky Theater, this new solo project of their vocalist Spook Jack (aka Jack Spooky) took me by surprise. While Spook Jack continues to portray his 'spooky' character, his solo work is not the usual fun spoopy-Halloween trope that The Candy Spooky Theater was. Instead, it's downright gothic and dark industrial. Apparently, Full (ex. Guniw Tools, Nookicky, Shilfee and Tulipcorobockles) collaborated with his solo project and although it's not certain how much he was involved in producing the music, some Nookicky influences can be heard. The slow tempo, the ghostly ethereal singing, the use of pianos and harmonious noises in "Snow the Dark" all make up the sound of Nookicky. However, being much darker, the track opens with a haunting industrial vibe, setting a gothic and bone-chilling atmosphere. Spook Jack's ethereal vocals tinged with a gloominess works wonderfully and reveals how mesmerizing his voice can be, unlike his The Candy Spooky Theater performances. If Spook Jack keeps this up with his new approach to a sinister and despairing night of horror, I'm all for it. "ニヤ" (Niya) by Large House Satisfaction There seem to be little to no fans of Large House Satisfaction here, so it's my job to make you start listening to them now, especially to those who like some new J-indie music. Large House Satisfaction is a three-piece band that have been around for over 10 years and play garage to classic rock music accompanied with harsh grating vocals. If you like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The Birthday, or any of Chiba Yusuke's side projects you may be interested in them. Usually their music is upbeat and faster-paced, but once in a while they'll chug out a few slower-paced songs as well. "Niya", from their newest album Highway to Hellvalley, happens to be one of those slower songs, yet is still stirred up by their punching garage-y guitar riffs and thick bass lines. The vocalist goes all out, and even sounds like he's about to croak, but his harsh singing effectively renders this piece as truly endearing. You'll be singing 'darling darling' all night once you listen to this. Guest Blurbs from @Ada Suilen "蛙-Kawazu-" (Kawazu) by キズ (Kizu) In the contemporary visual kei scene, it's incredibly hard to find something appealing and worthy of some attention. One of the few times I had such a feeling has been with the second single of the new band Kizu, where the lead track "蛙-Kawazu-"shows their unexpected and engaging style: a powerful melody driven by astonishing riffs, and intense vocals by the former singer of Lezard, who seems to have found his own maturity with this new band. I can surely consider Kizu as one of the most interesting rookies of the year. "愚かしい竜の夢 " (Orokashii Yuu no Yume) by D D has been one of my first visual bands, and they are nowadays one of my fixed listenings. When they came back from the hiatus, they redid one of their dearest themes and tried to experiment with something new, which I enjoyed but not so much as I thought I would. But I was sure that one day this band would have found their unique energy, and in their fifth mini-album, a limited release, they used what made them so popular for the visual fans. The title track is surely one of the best works in their career, featuring an incredible mix of languages (a la Rozova Dolina) and a clash of tempos, going from soft to powerful in a blink, with a great technique and sublime vocals. If you had lost hope in D, with this track you will surely find it again. Thank you for reading everyone!

The new V-Kei DDR game sounds promising. Wish the player would actually choose a song though.

Samples from MUCC's tribute album have been released! What do you guys think? (other than the samples being super short lol)

It's Inside Beast.

justice for ranchuu -.-, bandmaid slayed that, sukekiyo is SHOCKING, ggg is godly omfg, polysics was...shook, plastic tree was FASt, shido was suprisingly decent, oral was uhm....equally shocking, lynch was lynch, merry sounds pretty, dezert slayed my existence, golden bomber trash okay this is actually shaping up to be a really cool tribute!! derlanger what happened

don't let this stop you from getting into VoD. the members are all very talented musicians and definitely deserve to have their past releases recognized, because they are incredible. and i'm sure they'd appreciate any support they can get right now.

It's a damn shame, but any time I read "sudden illness" I can only think it's self inflicted ...

THE BLACK SWAN – 蟲聲 (Type A) THE THIRTEEN – EVIL MAD SCIENCE (regular edition) JILUKA - 「Ajna -SgVer-」 バラライカ - チェアー

Day 22: I am stretching the term horror a bit here, but it's OK. Death Note - A complete fucking shitfest of a film. Doesn't matter if you're familiar with the source material or not, this was cheap, boring and fucking shit. I've been a huge fan of Adam Wingard up until now, but he just seems to have lost it all with Blair Witch and now this. What a fucking shame. There was however a few superb special effects moments. But that's about it. 3/10 Day 23: 1922 - A horror-drama that's really slow and isn't about scares, gore, atmosphere or nothing. It's about our main character Wilfred James and his suffering and slow rot from the inside and out. It's a Stephen King adaption and a good one. I wasn't too happy about it, but that's my own fault. I felt that it was a bit too long, but in the end I just don't think I was in the right mindset for the film. If I had watched it today I would've probably scored it a point or two higher, because this is not a bad film in any way. It's actually a real strong one. Thomas Jane is real good. Delivers a proper performance, and probably his best ever. 6/10

You are not a idiot you just did not know the band ^^

Oops. I made a mistake. I'm so sorry, it's normal for me to accidentally assume a band mentioned here is Vkei. I'm an idiot.

http://smarturl.it/requiemage?IQid=monochromeHeaven The single is also available on iTunes. The link above should direct you to the album in the iTunes store for your specific locale. It looks like he has it up in 111 different countries, so that should cover just about everyone here (and if you're on Android when you go there, it'll take you to Amazon instead)

5 (Five) whole fans.... glamscure better watch out...

They are not a visual kei band.

From the left: Kaoru has talk events and writes a blog, there's some merchandise involved in that as well. Toshiya has DIRT, it also seems like Ster Edge became a regular thing? Kyo has sukekiyo, madaraningen, The Zemeckises, solo exhibition in spring, he participated in Sugizo's solo album as well. Shinya has SERAPH and networking with all other bandomen, he's probably the most busy one xD he just participated in Halloween Party 2017 event. Die has DECAYS, occasionally he collaborates to produce some leather or silver goods. Some of them probably help their kouhai/younger musician friends with producing, but I can't remember any names on top of my head.

I like about half of these, that Daikirai cover is fucking EMBARRASSING though Feelin GGG, Dezert, Polysics, The Back Horn, Sukekiyo and Merry the most atm. I'm also still salty cali gari wasn't given an older song to work with lol

Still here for ggg, sukekiyo and DEZERT. When Kishidan came on I was like "hey why do they get to perform one of their own songs? oh wait." XD

The weird part is that there was several unreleased Black:List songs that probably were recorded in some form or another... why not release those instead of pumping out the same three tracks over and over?

To be honest, I'm not expecting anything mindblowingly different from the last two albums. They're pretty much old men by J-rock standards with a miriad of different albums behind them, so I feel like they're in a position where they just do whatever they want without straining themselves too much creatively. Sometimes it produces kinda 'meh' results ("Yumemiru uchuu" album imo), sometimes pretty great ("Arui wa Anarchy" album imo). We'll see.

These are the ones that come to my head at the moment NEW SODMY mousouko (there is only a small clip of it in the TOUR CAT WALK 2002 -Documents- VHS, and a transcription of its lyrics, but it remains unrecorded), Frame (only played live, unrecorded), DALA (you can hear it in the LAST LIE live VHS but there never was a proper recording). MALICE MIZER 16のソリチュード (16 no SOLITUDE), Freeze me, Portugal, 白昼のワルツ (Hakuchuu no WALTZ), 前兆 (Zenchou's vocal version), 魅惑のタンゴ (Miwaku no TANGO), You can hear them in several bootleg recordings from their lives. E'm~grief~ Rita and Cecir were supposedly working on new songs some time after their hiatus, but with Yuuze's death and Rita leaving the scene I guess any chance of getting to hear them are pretty much dead too.

pretty much everything from wtd bleeds together (C, beautiful dirt, spilled milk they literally sound the same)

I recently listened to Uroboros for the first time in 5 years, and I'm surprised how well it's held up for me. Some of their later releases (Unraveling, Dum Spiro Spero, Arche) quickly lost their shine for various reasons, I could rant for hours about those; but Uroboros still holds up as one of my favorite in the band's discog

I thought it was more in the line of "What do you mean [insert vk indie band] has already disbanded?? They only released 4 promo pictures and announced they were formed, who does that??"

Math class with Taira? Fucking sign me up. These sound amazing though, their sound is all over the place but here it's in a pretty cool way.

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

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

Wow~ I cannot believe it will be fifteen years. I feel so old even discovering them in '06' is like ages ago.. ::cry:: my baby boys are now like uncles. lol But I am happy for them~

Day 16: Annabelle: Creation - The first Annabelle was nothing short of a disappointed where more or less everything was wrong. So with that in head, I did not exactly expect much of this. Before this, director David F. Sandberg impressed the world with his short film Lights Out, while he later disappointed the world with his first feature film, Lights Out, which was just one huge, standard boring and modern horror cliche after another. But Annabelle: Creation is almost exactly what the first one should've been. Ok, so it's a tad too long, go for a few cheap scares too many and takes the easy way out at the end. But for the vast majority of the film you get some very good atmosphere, beautiful shots and a good cast doing some very nice acting. I don't think this is nearly as good as The Conjuring, and not quite as good as The Conjuring 2, but unlike the first one which was a mess of a cheap fucking horror film, this actually has something in common with these films in form of how the scares are chosen and how the atmosphere is created, despite being much further away from the premise of The Conjuring I & II than the first film. 7/10

Thanks, Shinya, but no thanks.

Should work with iTunes 12.7 https://getsatisfaction.com/lastfm/topics/itunes-12-7-windows-the-last-fm-scrobbler-plugin

Day 8: Don't Breathe - Very good film that actually suffers a bit from Alvarez wanting less blood and violence than previous films. So, this is basically a new and updated Wait Until Dark, even though Alvarez claims to not have seen the film before after he made this. It's dark, gritty and suspenseful as fuck, but every single time there's a violent scene it comes off as incredibly half-hearted. It's like Alvarez tried to avoid violence and blood so that he could get a lower rating, which is stupid for a film like this. I mean, just imagine if you'd taken away all the violence in Green Room. That's what this feels like in many ways. But it was very good nonetheless, but it won't get any status as a classic and people will forget for the simple reason that there's not enough violence shown. This isn't a psychological thriller/horror where the elements you don't know or get to see is half the scares. It's a fairly plain and straight-forward suspense-horror with a lot of violence, just not graphic or shown. Stephen Lang is sublime tho! By the way, I don't buy Alvarez' words about him not seeing Wait Until Dark until after Don't Breathe. Fuck off with your lies. Jesus. 8/10

Found a couple more that this list was missing. Anli Policino BUCK-TICK Cløwd DISACODE (romanized tags) Waive (only 1 album and romanized tags) Edit: Grieva was just added (romanized name, but correct song tags)

Chariots Only their 3rd era, and they have romanized tags

Menwhopause (rock band from India) : Malagasy Guitar Masters (instrumental world music, rock, jazz from Madagascar) Markus and Shazhad Santoo Khan (alternative, electro, world music from Pakistan and France) The Barberettes (from South Korea) Cero 39 (electro, from Colombia) The Excitements (jazz, soul from Spain and USA) Jacques in the Box (alternative, rock, experimental from India) Soweto Gospel Choir (gospel from Africa) The Fanculos (ska, reggae, funk from India) Hifana (electro from Japan) City Kay (reggae, from France) Jazzanova Live feat. Paul Randolph (jazz from Germany and USA)

Gossip (Ains band) Sirene La'veil MizeriA SCHWARZ KEIN (シュヴァルツカイン) Zombie (ぞんび) Hizaki

thanks for the post, note that nue is actually mistagged as it should be nüe

http://ameblo.jp/mediena-official/entry-12168995804.html it is announced 3 HOURS before your post similarly NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST members have NOT yet mentioned release of their best album in their OHP and twitter at this moment...you can choose NOT believe what I get https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/42448-nocturnal-bloodlust-best-album-release-european-live-tour/ to Yutaproid1: what make me really get angry is as follows: https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/40734-ホタルhotaru-one-day-revival/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/40128-planetarium-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/42072-赤林檎座akaringoza-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/40778-d4c-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/40305-luccica-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/39615-incribon-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/39324-fang-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/39073-relight-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/38950-carrot-vacation-club-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/38779-altair-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/38539-homunculus-will-disband/ https://www.monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/36854-モノmonofka-mikey-will-disband/ all these threads had only 0-1 replies or only replied by me...

Victim of Deception has announced that their vocalist Daichi has passed away on October 28 after a sudden illness. As a result, the band has canceled the rest of their remaining live dates this year, and are currently discussing activities for next year. Daichi's funeral was also held for family and friends only. http://www.victimofdeception.com/home/

This is so disheartening! He will be missed. His last tweet is also really ominous.

i still can't believe it best wishes to his friends and family.

RIP Daichi (VoD)...