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Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/17/18 in all areas

  1. 7 points
    deadman

    DEZERT new album, "TODAY" release

    I just read chiaki's new interview on cure, it seems like this album is his answer to this question(why doing music) he kept searching for over a year. Basically he's in existential crisis right now. Here's a brief translate(Sorry for my bad English): -Why name this album [Today] Chiaki: How to get through [Today], to me its really difficult for past year. I have insomnia for over a year, can't sleep, don't wanna go out. I know there is no answer but I'm keep searching by hang out with members and go on tour(That explained why their last tour name is"Please save/help chiaki"). Sometime I get a little realization but mostly don't. So it's really difficult for me to live through everyday. Although you might think:"Even though you depressed before bed, you just close your eye and today will end, right?" . The answer is no, it doesn't. Because there are no ways you can experience tomorrow, you can only live in "Today". I wanna get an answer, otherwise there will be no inner peace in my mind. In order to move forward from this restless state, from now on I will create songs on this premise. I'm not trying to deny our past, I will still write heavy songs when I'm angry, but right now this album is my state of mind. I know a lot of people will think:"wtf are you guys doing, you changed so much", I don't expect this album will reach to everybody, it would be great if I can create something everybody like, but I cant. If there is one moment in the album that can resonate some of you, for me right now, its the happiest thing ever. I expect a lot of backlash, I will take full responsibility, that's how important this album to me.
  2. 5 points
    Zeus

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    | What do we say to the god of death? I'm listening to history repeat itself. A heavy visual kei band is a dime a dozen, but one that can do the gritty D'espairsRay x MUCC x KoЯn sound justice is rare. DEZERT was one of those bands I kept in my rotation off the strength of how well they paid homage to what's becoming an increasingly rare style, but I also felt that there was more room to evolve. DEZERT hasn't really innovated on their previous style since 2011, and if they were going to stamp their legacy on the scene they needed to create a groove all their own. My guess is that they suspected this, and took a huge gamble in changing their sound. The risk in changing your sound is threefold. The first is that you always risk alienating some of your fans. The second is that once the direction changes, bands rarely course correct. The third is that preserving the identity of the band - or the identity the scene has ascribed to you - is nigh impossible, so in some respects it's like starting over. TODAY is the day I relive the nightmare that was 12012's MAR MAROON, when a core band decides to go pop rock. This sudden stylistic shift swings in out of nowhere to blindside even the most ardent fan. I suppose we should have seen it coming since they've been going soft since their second album 最高の食卓 (Saikou no Shokutaku), but it's one of the few times the virulent outrage of the international scene has some merit. The fact that it came without warning adds insult to injury, although one can argue if a band actually owes their fans an explanation for the type of music they want to create. This is the textbook definition of "gunning for the charts", a switch in direction more drastic than D'espairsRay's REDEEMER, and while listening to this album I find myself traveling down a familiar road once more. Notice that I haven't talked about the music yet; that's because, at a primal level, it doesn't really matter.TODAY is musically competent, coherent, and well put together when taken at face value, but I do not find it compelling, interesting, or memorable. I simultaneously respect their musical chops and ability to compose music in a new style while rejecting this style entirely. I am not able to separate old DEZERT from new DEZERT. If I want pop rock, I'll find a pop rock band. If I want metal, I'll find a metal band. When I want messy metalcore, I come to DEZERT. With how fragmented the scene is, there's very little overlap between the fans who would enjoy タイトルなし (Title Nashi) and the fans who would enjoy TODAY. There are songs that hearken back to the old days, such as "普通じゃないIII" (Futsuujanai Ⅲ) and "蛙とバットと機関銃" (Kawasu to BAT to Kikanjuu), but they feel halfhearted, and they are nowhere near as heavy as many fans would want. There's not even a single use of harsh vocals on the entire album! Seeing them leaving their roots, substituting harsh growls and vocal fry for oohs and aahs and abandoning the low end almost entirely, hurts at a deeper level than I'd like to admit. Who is to say if this is the music that DEZERT wants to make, or if they feel pressured to find success, but I'm certain they just lost a lot of fans with this move. I won't be surprised if they drop the visuals entirely, or at least tone it down, since they sound like a totally different band. Perhaps they can come out of this with more fans when they lost and end up better off for it, but with how many times I've seen this scenario play out, I can verify that it rarely ever works. TODAY marks the day that DEZERT disbands for a lot of fans, as they retreat into their back log and stick with cuts such as 「特製・脳味噌絶倫スープ〜生クリーム仕立て〜」 (「Tokusei・Noumiso Zetsurin SOUP~Sei CREAM Shitate~」) and 精神科医(拒食症)のスナッフフィルム集 (Seishinkai (Kyoshokushou) no SNUFF FILM Shuu). It's an incredibly difficult pill to swallow, but that's probably for the best. They aren't going back, and to hold out hope for otherwise is foolish. For those that found a new band to love, I hope they find enough success to deliver more. Even if I take it for what it is, TODAY doesn't do anything for me, and it's a shame because I can sense the band put a lot of energy into this. From now on, I'll be watching out of pure interest, but from a very, very far distance. If this marks even the halfway point of their career, I'll be impressed. All I can say is that it's a blessing in disguise that I never got more invested into this band.
  3. 5 points
    deadman

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    Nice review, this album it's 6/10 for me. Here is some interview translation I did in news thread on why they change style so drastically. "I just read chiaki's new interview on cure, it seems like this album is his answer to this question(why doing music) he kept searching for over a year. Basically he's in existential crisis right now. Here's a brief translate(Sorry for my bad English): -Why name this album [Today] Chiaki: How to get through [Today], to me its really difficult for past year. I have insomnia for over a year, can't sleep, don't wanna go out. I know there is no answer but I'm keep searching by hang out with members and go on tour(That explained why their last tour name is"Please save/help chiaki"). Sometime I get a little realization but mostly don't. So it's really difficult for me to live through everyday. Although you might think:"Even though you depressed before bed, you just close your eye and today will end, right?" . The answer is no, it doesn't. Because there are no ways you can experience tomorrow, you can only live in "Today". I wanna get an answer, otherwise there will be no inner peace in my mind. In order to move forward from this restless state, from now on I will create songs on this premise. I'm not trying to deny our past, I will still write heavy songs when I'm angry, but right now this album is my state of mind. I know a lot of people will think:"wtf are you guys doing, you changed so much", I don't expect this album will reach to everybody, it would be great if I can create something everybody like, but I cant. If there is one moment in the album that can resonate some of you, for me right now, its the happiest thing ever. I expect a lot of backlash, I will take full responsibility, that's how important this album to me. " After read this interview, that explain why they have some thematically change on lyric since live-distributed single ohayou. It changed from grotesque theme to this kind of existential theme. Some of the lyric in ohayou means "I used to be think everything was fine but now every morning I wake up feel like shit,why is that? whats wrong with me? It really suck." "I dont wanna live yet I dont wanna die, I just keep singing" "when can I smile again from bottom of my heart, I wanna go back to that morning" So my guess is his depression start around that time(2016).
  4. 5 points
    Forget the hair, they didn't even iron the shelf folds out of the shirts they bought an hour before the photo.
  5. 4 points
    customer service lady at h&m won't take it back if you bring it ironed and claim you accidentally haven't noticed a c*m stain on the upper-sleeve and therefore have to ask for a refund, and since it's an issei band they know their game well x
  6. 3 points
    ghost

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    D'espairsRay and 12012 being dated my lord what time period am I in. I haven't even begun listening to the album yet. Too scared to find out what horrors await. They should've done something like Inugami Circus Dan and created an alter ego band to go with a different style (how's that for another dated reference). Or maybe start a side project? I'm glad there was a heartfelt reason for this style change according to Chiaki, but he knew there would be consequences. Now, I know going down these routes isn't as simple as "if I can think it, I can do it", but it just sucks to lose another band to itchin-for-a-change-in-direction-itis. P.S. I fully stan heavy comeback 12012!
  7. 3 points
    Do we still get death penalty for sharing the music?
  8. 3 points
  9. 3 points
    chocobuzz

    Show Yourself (again)

    Is camouflage still in?
  10. 2 points
  11. 2 points
    we'll know once they mysteriously retire from activities and tanuki explodes in steaming preggs tea x
  12. 2 points
    I think that's Lyubi in the middle and Airo from UNDER FALL JUSTICE on the right? Would make sense since those three always seem to be so close.
  13. 2 points
    Track list for the new single: 01. ロザリオ (ROSARIO) 02. 陰鬱ノ影 (In'untsu NO Kage) 03. 悲哀故ニ・・・-懺悔ノ十字架ver.- (Hihai Yue ni... -Zange NO Juujika ver.-)
  14. 2 points
    Live-distributed single "オリオン(Orion)" will be released at Ikebukuro EDGE at 2018/09/07.
  15. 2 points
    I really slept on Zig Zag. They're pretty cool
  16. 2 points
    OH MAN I LOVE FAIRY TIMES MOMERY!!!
  17. 2 points
  18. 2 points
    Zeus

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    While writing this review, it came to my attention by other ORZ members that some of my references are rather dated, and that I can't assume everyone knows what I mean when I reference certain things. Thus, I wrote this section as an extra bit to explain those references in detail, since I think it's important and gives my review and misgivings additional context. What follows is purely my opinion. It all starts with this sentence. To give you a quick history lesson for context: 12012 started out as a hard rock band. Vocalist Wataru ended up getting too drunk one night and beating up a female acquaintance of his, and for that they were dragged through the mud by the media. This was shortly after the release of their second album DIAMOND. As a response to his bad behavior the entire band switched directions completely and released MAR MAROON, a pop album, which I guess was supposed to serve was some sort of public apology and repentance. This marked the point the band would forever change their sound, drop their theme and concept, and not go back to hard rock. For a band whose name is a reference to "kyouki shouji", or illegal possession of a firearm, MAR MAROON flies in the face of that concept. There was a very violent backlash - similar to what's happening with DEZERT right now - and MAR MAROON was not received very well. 12012 backslid into their earlier style a bit with future releases such as SEVEN before going full metalcore with 12012, but they never truly returned to their old style. Eventually the band broke up because they lost their identity, their main composer, and couldn't get enough new fans to make future activities worth it. I've seen the same thing happen with D'espairsRay and REDEEMER. The change wasn't as drastic, but going from the pioneers of the dark and heavy goth sound in visual kei to a slightly heavier L'arc~en~ciel didn't sit well with fans. REDEEMER is by far their weakest album, redeeming absolutely nothing about their sound, and even when they backslid into their earlier sound a bit with MONSTERS, it wasn't a convincing effort. There was more going on under the surface with this band as well, with rumored label debts and Hizumi's illness sealing the deal on this band's legacy. I've also seen the same thing happen with Dir en grey, except these guys went in the opposite direction. It's a long time ago, but I do remember a time in the scene when going dark and heavy was seen as "American metal" and "selling out". Hard to think that was ever the case, eh? But yet again, there was more going on under the surface with Dir en grey that prompted them to switch styles with six Ugly and chase a more mainstream crowd: this time being the American metal scene. They themselves said that they thought they reached the pinnacle of their sound with Kisou, and that there was nowhere left for them to go, and that if they didn't find a way to grow they would have disbanded in a year or two. There was a fissure so loud in the scene that you could hear it crack all the way over here in America, with some fans embracing the change and many other fans denouncing the band and swearing them off entirely. Dir en grey also backslid a bit into their earlier style with single cuts such as OBSCURE and DRAIN AWAY designed to appeal to both the old and new crowds entirely, but once they abandoned their visual gimmicks and visual style after Kisou, they never really went back. I'm sure there are countless other bands that also are great examples of what I'm explaining here, but the point remains. When a band changes their style this drastically at the tip of the hat, there are things bubbling under the surface we can only speculate about, but past bands have shown that when they take this step, it's usually the beginning of the end. Dir en grey is the only exception to this rule AFAIK. That's why I end the review with this snippet: I'm basically saying without saying that I expect disbandment sooner rather than later.
  19. 2 points
    VkBrutaliaN

    Your last music-related buy!

    LUCIFER - 蝕独 アザレア - 「鬱と静 -Melancholy and Silent-」 Marvelous Cruelty - 「狂気ヲ演ジタ操リ絲」
  20. 2 points
    new look individual:
  21. 1 point
    Rosner

    Dir en grey

    Sounds interesting. I like the guitar solo and the ethereal/post-rockish vibe of the song. Reminds me of the calmer parts of 'Different Sense' mixed with one of the most atmospheric songs of 'ARCHE', like 'Tousei' or 'Kaishun'. I just hope that's not the true ending of the song: feels to abrupt (but well, better wait for the full song to judge that). Seems that the song isn't 'Ranunculus', which was reported to be the calmest one on the album. So, one thing for sure, 'The Insulated World' is going to have variety like 'ARCHE'. I was fearing they were going back to a predominance of the 'nu-metal grooves', but seems 'Ningen...' plays the same role as 'Sustain the Untruth' did before. Just hope the singles have at least a better mastering that glues them together to the overall feel of the album. This makes me really excited: whish they could release the samples already!
  22. 1 point
    karai · ebi

    Show Yourself (again)

    decided to start growing my hair out before i'm old and can't anymore...thinkin about going full almost ass length but i don't know if i can tolerate sleeping on that much hair
  23. 1 point
    Ariana is the antithesis of The GazettE because most of her album is lowercase
  24. 1 point
    Thank you for all of the CDs and DVDs. ❤️ I got everything quickly and safely and you were very easy and pleasant to deal with. I'll be back soon for more stuff. Also I will be showing off the subscription box once it comes in on my youtube channel.
  25. 1 point
    platy

    DIMLIM ONEMAN 【THE SILENT SONG】Review

    It sounded awesome and I hope I get to see them live before anything happens to this band. Nice picture btw I bet vk guys are always especially happy when a dude shows up to the gig/in stores /anything really.
  26. 1 point
    Saishu

    THE BLACK SWAN will disband

    All I understood was “kono akaunto” lol
  27. 1 point
    Alkaloid

    DIEALO new look

  28. 1 point
    Str1pped

    Beginning.

    Hi everyone. I've been into vkei for a long time now but just found out about this awesome forum. It has been my little secret world so I haven't researched that much about different communities/forums or even talk to people about it (at least not alot). Other than vkei I also listen to alot of different music and music genres and always open for exploring something new. First time I was introduced with vkei was when I was 11 years old when I first seen Hide - Light My Fire cover on youtube (that exact video from 2006 is still up on yt) and since I am from small EU country I've never seen anything like that so I was very curious what is that all about and why is that guy wearing weird fashion and rest is history which changed my life forever. I am not a big fan of modern vk but I don't hate it and I listen to it a bit. I am mostly fan of 90s-00s stuff like Pierrot, Kuroyume, Luna Sea, Piass,Baiser and my favourite X-Japan and then later bands like Kagrra, Gazette, Mucc, D'espairsRay, Plastic tree, Nightmare (which is heavily underrated imo) etc... From newer bands I really dig Jiluka,Archemi, the Raid. and many more. Don't know what else to say, thank you for reading this squeezed and messy text, looking forward in meeting some new people here! (and sorry if I posted this in wrong part of the forum im still trying to learn how things work here ><)
  29. 1 point
    Node of Scherzo -Star Wave Ver.-
  30. 1 point
  31. 1 point
    God, this wait is already starting to kill me. We're getting so close and yet it feels so far away. I was pretty hyped about the GazettE's "NINTH"; but that was nothing by comparison. Russia, if you're reading this, I hope you're able to leak The Insulated World. You'd be doing a great service to the people of Monochrome Heaven, and the world.
  32. 1 point
    Awesome live report! I have never had the nerve to venture to the lowest section of AREA as a similarly tall dude. (though I've never been to a show there that had 50% boys...) Amazing.
  33. 1 point
    I just realized that the album is close enough that the leaked section could be from a press copy of the album (they tend to be distributed pre-mastering). In that case though, the person is in big trouble since you have to sign very heavy contracts to get access to those things, and leaking could result in having to pay large amounts of money, not to mention no one in the industry will provide you with copies again.
  34. 1 point
    Str1pped

    Beginning.

    Gotcha! I don't mind any vkei, oldschool or modern it doesn't mind, if it's good it's good, but me personally prefer older sound more just like non vkei music I also listen to oldschool stuff more from 60s-00s it's just me I might be wrong but I just have a feeling like it was more honest, had more heart, more emotional and was pushing the boundaries much more (talking about rock/punk/metal music mostly) and I feel it's like that in vkei too! But as I said it's individual and everybody has its own opinion as long as vkei is not dead I am happy! ^^
  35. 1 point
    filth_y

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    @deadman Thank you very much for the short translation, it explains a lot and changes my view a little of what he said before! However i do still believe the major label etc. had a do in the change of style too. Contrary to what i expected before - i really like this album. Since the release of the album im actually listening to it non stop and cant remember when i last enjoyed an album this much. I even stoppped listening to DIMLIMs really good album because i listen to this. I was really dissapointed of the samples and after loving their early stlye i hated they would become another MUCC. But as with MUCC i might tread them just as 2 different bands old DEZERT and "J-Pop" DEZERT (as their label put them in a J-Pop Playlist). What i like is that it still sound very "depressive" for me. Interestingly, the song most sounding like their old style (for the guitar), 蛙とバットと機関銃, is my least favorite, because it sounds so forced. Favorites: 沈黙, Hello, オレンジの詩, TODAY. Rating: Something between 8 or 9/10 (so better than their 2nd album for me). I will enjoy DAMY and DIMLIM and the likes as "heavy" bands and will enjoy this new DEZERT as something different. However always: the intro bass riff on their first album (that one they took from DAMY) : best things they've ever done. (+ that short eroguro style section in 飼育部屋 (01:03-01:18)) Offtopic: I actually dont want to go further into the 12012 discussion (i remember 10 years ago or so i was 1 of the 2-3 people on here defending the position 12012 actually didnt change their style (against a "massive" hating crowd), just developed (you can see this when playing their songs on guitar etc. (they changed for their self titled tho, not returned to old style!)) - however im not sure i would have the same position today). But if you want to see a cut it is after their first album and best of with orion and not because of the scandal if it was after their 2nd album (i dont remember when the scandal started). I split them into 4 playlists having similar sound: 2003-2006 (best era for me), 2006 (orion) - 2009 (mar maroon), 2009 (薄紅と雨) - 2010 (SEVEN), 2012-2014. I saw them once live at an event and they played songs from all eras while looking like normal dudes (no makeup costumes). So they didnt ignore their old songs or anything. Oh and they had like no fans caring for them at that live.
  36. 1 point
    Jigsaw9

    #115: DEZERT - TODAY

    I'm not even all the way through but nothing will change my mind, this album is tragic.
  37. 1 point
    VkBrutaliaN

    Your last music-related buy!

    Sorry after reading my initial reply again i have to admit it sounds kinda harsh which wasnt intended.
  38. 1 point
    Haniel

    Your last music-related buy!

    【denno:oblaat】 ‎– 歪みきった理想 Cradle - トロピカルストロベリィ
  39. 1 point
    whose the midget in the front... too soon for memes?
  40. 1 point
    Okay I gotta admit CHEDOARA slaps.
  41. 1 point
    No way this kusoman feels anything
  42. 1 point
    a video tradeoff sounds really interesting. same concept as the standard mix tradeoff, but your mix is made up of music-related video clips. can be all music videos, or all live bootlegs, or all pro-shot, or anything in between. definitely might take a bit more effort, but I really like the idea of trying to make a consistent theme across a bunch of clips
  43. 1 point
    i bet now he feels stupid for leaving dimlim LOOOLL
  44. 1 point
    I think the concept of this album is Internet, complete with mouse clicking and dial up sounds.
  45. 1 point
  46. 1 point
    The release has been changed to 2018.08.22.
  47. 1 point
  48. 1 point
  49. 1 point
  50. 1 point
    @Yukii_NishimuraKinda late, but in case anyone else wanted a translation of this: Hentai, hentai! Suddenly we’re in the minority now Hentai, hentai! That’s right, you’re also in the minority now Hentai, hentai! Suddenly we’re in the minority now Hentai, hentai! Sooner or later you’ll be in the minority, too Not letting anyone break me down, without getting hurt, nobody can save me from the future where I’ll sing it out Even if it feels like people are walking over me, or that they think I’d be better off dead, I’ll keep on surviving It’s the only true way It’s okay if it’s all a lie, right now I’ll shout it out, “Hentai!” Hentai, hentai! Suddenly we’re in the minority now Hentai, hentai! That’s right, you’re also in the minority now Hentai, hentai! Sooner or later you’ll be in the minority, too So no one can break you down, so you don’t get hurt, I want to protect you Are you still standing there, not moving forward any? You should say it, like this, and do whatever you want until you die It’s the only true way It’s okay if you’re lying, just like this, shout it out, “Hentai!” Even if it’s a lie that spreads across the whole world, I won’t let it phase me, and stand up on this stage Even if they’re spewing enough venom to want to kill me, I’ll forgive them, and stand up on this stage Where’s that long shot of a miracle? I won’t accept anything less I’d rather suffer many times more Look, here it comes again, the sound of those pointless promotions Are you going to keep dancing in filth like that? Without letting them break you down, without getting hurt, in order to protect yourselves you ought to give them a piece of your mind You should say something, just like this, and do whatever you want until you die It’s the only true way A liar like you should embrace this anthem for liars, just like this So all of us liars out there, come on, and dare to shout it out, “Hentai! Hentai, hentai! Suddenly we’re in the minority now Hentai, hentai! Sooner or later you’ll be in the minority, too Notes: I took a few poetic liberties with this song which I thought would capture the feel of it better. This included leaving "hentai" as is. Although most people probably know that often this word means "(sexually) perverted", it can also mean mental perversion, which I feel like the song is likely getting at instead. Especially in (but not limited to) Japan where often any idea or opinion that differs from the group mentality can get you bullied, pushed away, seen as strange, etc. people may have their own opinions that would put them in the minority if spoken aloud, so they might lie to themselves and everyone else to maintain the status quo. I think that what this song is getting at is that, in reality, they're already in the minority just for having these unspoken opinions, so they might as well be true to themselves and embrace their "mental perversion".
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