Fashion Fraction: Focus On [Visual Kei]

Welcome to the second "Focus On..." article for the Fashion Fraction here at Project: Lixx!

As previously mentioned on the past few FF articles, today we're going to be focusing on my favourite fashion genre: Visual Kei!

X Japan

Now, before people get their panties in a twist, Visual Kei can be perceived as both a fashion and music genre. This is dependent on a person's interpretation. That is the true beauty of Visual Kei!
The basic, easy-to-Google definition of Visual Kei as a whole is "a Japanese music movement and subculture that has been popular since the 1980's. The artists wear makeup, have elaborate hairstyles and costumes, usually coupled with androgynous aesthetics." (according to the Visual Kei Wikipedia entry). As it is with every large generic genre, there are many subgenres that branch off with a basis in the large idea but a compilation of other ideas that make it what it is.

The subgenres of Visual Kei that we will be talking about today are Kote Kei, Angura Kei (eroguro/chikashitsu), Tanbi Kei, Nagoya Kei, and Neo-Visual/Soft Visual.

The Weekly Quickie: MeteoroiD, The 3rd Birthday, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, MORRIE

It's not unusual in the visual kei scene for a band to make drastic changes to their image, but few are as drastic and complete as the recent reboot of MeteoroiD.  If you follow the band, you already know that their guitarist, Yutori, left the group back in September and was replaced by Mikado.  It seems the change in lineup has inspired a change in...well, everything else.  The technocolored, electropop band, METEOROID has become the dark, metal-inspired MeteoroiD.  They are so committed to the change that they have even removed their previous discography from their ohp and set any previous PV releases on their YouTube channel to private.  They have also announced the release of three consecutive singles:  Sokubaku on January 23, Fukushu on March 11, Kuroshoubi on May 13.  Check out the preview above to get a taste of their new sound.

Review: The Black Swan - The Hopeless

About the Band:  The Black Swan, founded by ex-NEGA frontman, Jin, officially started activities in March of 2014.  He is joined by guitarists Itsuki and Makoto, bassist Rena and drummer Len.  Their homepage describes them as a group that "...are sure to cause a sensation even in the scene where the true meaning of Visual Kei is dead."  With a dark look and violent sound that sets them apart from the crowd, I can't say they're wrong.  Released October 15, The Hopeless is their first single.

Hey, Do You Know: ARVISE?

As I was looking around for bands that have the 'umph' factor that I like, I stumbled across a band called ARVISE. Though they are fairly new from what I see, I was caught by their sounds. I LOVE  the roughness in Sho's voice in their demo video #2. They have me so hooked on this song, that I'm listening to it while writing this! I would love to hear more from this band because they have so much potential. This is one to watch! I'll leave you with that, so give them a listen and let me know what you think! 

-Iris 

Press Release: SCANDAL Releases Newest Single and Announces World Tour!‏

SCANDAL releases newest single “Image” AND SCANDAL WORLD TOUR 2015 "HELLO WORLD" announced!!

Today the 20th single by SCANDAL has been released via iTunes and is also available worldwide for international fans as well. This catchy new song was written and composed by MAMI (Guitar & Vocals) and depicts the bands’ current “image”.

Check it out on 

Also for next year SCANDAL has officially announced their first ever world tour, SCANDAL WORLD TOUR 2015 “HELLO WORLD”!

SCANDAL will start their tour in Japan with a historical 31 live shows, which is the most shows the band has ever played during a single tour, and then go out to perform in five international countries including the U.S., U.K, France, Taiwan and Hong Kong!

Stay tuned for the dates and location updates through SCANDAL’s “HELLO WORLD” tour special site!

http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/scandal/worldtour2015

Official website

http://www.scandal-4.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/scandalofficial

Twitter

https://twitter.com/scandal_band

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/scandalSMEJ

Blog (Japanese only)

http://ameblo.jp/scandalblog-4

Press Release: EGOIST, New Single “Fallen” Now Available!‏

Featured as the ending theme song for the anime series “PSYCHO-PASS 2”!

Since their formation, EGOIST, consisting of producer ryo (supercell) and vocals Chelly have been actively touring in Japan and internationally. Their newest single, “Fallen” is featured as the ending theme song for the TV anime series “PSYCHO-PASS 2”, and is a fast beat tune that perfectly matches with the anime series. It has been over a year since their last single release and today they release this new track for the fans that have been eagerly waiting!

iTunes
Canada


USA 

Official HP

http://www.egoist-inori.jp

Twitter

https://twitter.com/chelly_egoist

Facebook (supercell/EGOIST)

https://www.facebook.com/supercell.JPN

The Weekly Quickie: Mix Speaker's, Inc., SuG, Maximum the Hormone, UCHUSENTAI:NOIZ, DOG in the PWO, BABYMETAL

We reported a couple of weeks ago on the addition of vocalist NIKA (ex-MoNoLith Keita) to the Mix Speaker's, Inc. lineup.  On November 14, Mix Speaker's, Inc. released a demo on their YouTube channel of a new song recorded with their new lineup.  They will perform their first live with Nika on December 7 at Shinjuku BLAZE, kicking off a short one-man tour titled "Ghost House."

Dan's Pick "人間椅子 (Ningen Isu)"

Welcome back!

For this month's pick, I've got something a little more in my wheel house, if you know what I mean.

人間椅子 (Ningen Isu) formed in 1989 with their first album, which was self-titled. Shinji Wajima (guitars/vocals), Ken-ichi Suzuki (bass/vocals), Nobu Nakajima (drums/vocals) are a wonderful metal band with HEAVY (Get it? Heavy? 'Cause it's metal??) Black Sabbath influences.

This track, "Namahage," starts off by dropping a massive boulder in your arms and making you trudge through the mud with some slow, heavy guitar and bass, pounding drums, and these demonic growls/moans. Which I find fitting, because the bass player looks like a demonic monk to me. ANYWAY... After that the pace is kicked up a bit more with some slightly faster drumming. I really love the part before the chorus, though. Things get dark! A creepy high-pitched tone starts floating in the song while Suzuki takes up the vocals with some (once again fitting) demonic singing. The riff is HEAVY and you know I loooove when that double pedal starts rolling. After that is the chorus, then it's rinse and repeat. 

In the second go around, though, is when things really pick up. If you're not a fan of the slowness, just give it some time and you will be rewarded. This song really gets kicked into high gear with some good old fashioned metal. Nothing flashy, just fast and heavy playing. After some shamisen-like playing, Wajima starts playing just a bit more furiously and then cranks out a pretty rad solo. After the solo, they go back into the beginning of the song to the mud-trudging boulder carrying. However... Just when you think the song is over, and it starts to fade off...... BLAM! Nakajima starts cranking out some double pedal bass with Wajima and Suzuki following suit with fast fast guitar and bass playing. 

The whole song makes me imagine riding a bike. You start off by going up a mountain at a gruelingly slow pace, like if your bike was stuck in the highest gear. After a punishingly slow ascent, you crest over the top with no time for a break. It's straight down after that, in an insane downhill ride that has you holding on for dear life. BUT YOU'RE HAVING SOOOO MUCH FUN! And there's no boulder or mud to trudge through. That's kinda what this song is like for me. This is definitely a band I might cut off a toe to see live. Preferably not either of my big toes, though. 

- Dan

Visit their website!

http://ningen-isu.com/

Like them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/ninngennisu

Buy their music!

Infuzzion Episode 4: Airing November 15th!

Yes, it's tomorrow!

We're back with our 4th episode - and you know you don't want to miss it!

This month we take a look at the past as well as the present. We've selected a few artists to look at, where they were, and who they are now. Catch some of your old favorites, as well as the new ones to add to your growing collections!

And of course, we'll have some new releases, reviews and updates on happenings in the coming month. 

So be sure to join us! And don't forget to use the hashtag #jrockradio to chat with us during the broadcast. Otherwise we talk to ourselves....

When: November 15th, 2014; 9-11pm EST

Where: http://www.jrockradio.net/player

Jrock Radio AWARDS 2014

SOON!

On Sunday December 14 the Jrock Radio AWARDS end! Fans have been voting for the 10 best bands of 2014. If you tune in to: www.jrockradio.net/player you can listen to the special live broadcast!

Also! They will be giving away (5) Posters 60×90 cm and (3) CDs. To participate check out the Facebook Event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/279337158857204

So get sharing, and get voting!!! Good luck to all the bands!

The Weekly Quickie: CLOWD, DIV, Liraizo, My Bacteria Heat Island, Shonenki, REIGN

Boy, do I love a mystery.  Word of the formation of a new band has reached my ears, but details are very hush-hush.  The group is called CLØWD and so far, we have nothing more than an official site displaying a teaser video and a countdown clock.  The band image is also quite vague, with each member standing behind bars with covered faces.  Any guesses on who they could be?

PV Analysis: Black Gene for the Next Scene - 'DDD - Dead Devil Dancing'

Regular readers of Project: Lixx will surely know Black Gene for the Next Scene (abbreviated as BFN / Black Gene) as previously featured in PV analysis with their single 'Welcome to Monster World'. Formed in 2011 by Ice on vocals, Toki on guitar, Rame on bass and Sala playing drums, their 5th maxi-single released in July 2014 features 'DDD - Dead Devil Dancing'. The PV shows off a demonic aspect and threads a short and fractured narrative with swaths of performance.

Band Feature: Hybrids

Hybrids are a Jrock-inspired visual band from France who say their interests are music, sex and rock!  These guys bring a little bit of the East to the West with their unique sound and style.  They've toured through Europe with popular Japanese bands such as Anli Policino and Eat You Alive and their first album, Human Paranoid, just released this July. 

Meet the members:

NAO
DoB : 26.08
Instrument brand of choice : gretsch
Favorite colour : purple
Favorite clothing brand : roschell
Favorite food : porc au caramel
Most known for saying / catch phrase : Caaaaat  !!

Yune

DoB : 29.11

Instrument brand of choice : ESP

Favorite colour : red

Favorite clothing brand : Roshell, black baccarat

Favorite food : pasta

Most known for saying / catch phrase : Let's rock !!!

Jay
DoB : 17.10
Instrument brand of choice : Schecter
Favorite colour : yellow
Favorite clothing brand : Carhartt
Favorite Food : hamburger
Most known for saying / catch phrase : I'm too lazy

 

Sae

DoB : 20.04

Instrument brand of choice : ESP, Ampeg

Favorite colour : pearl aqua blue

Favorite food : salmon sashimi

Most known for saying / catch phrase  : what do you think?

 Tatsu
DoB : 05.06
Instrument brand of choice : tama, meinl, vic first
Favorite colour : purple
Favorite food : dairy
Most known for saying / catch phrase : fla ta ta ta tcha ta drag ta fla ta fla fla ta ta ta ta pouf

The Weekly Quickie: GALEYD, The Bawdies, Acid Black Cherry, vNeu, Kuroyuri to Kage, DADAROMA, MIYAVI

 
GALEYD,  a year after their hiatus, is officially calling it quits.  It's not much of a surprise, but heartbreaking nonetheless for their fans that have been patiently waiting.  They do plan to hold a final live in 2015, but the date and venue are not yet set.  We'll be sure to keep you posted.  Until then, you can find drummer, Nikky, rocking out with ALSDEAD, so go show him your support!

Review: REIGN - Kakusei

About the Band: Kakusei is the fourth of a promised five releases from Loud-kei band, REIGN. Born from the session band “Kajikuma” founded by ex-AND members Kaji and Ikuma, REIGN officially started activities November 9, 2013, using the image of a troop of mischievous demons to build upon themes of temptation, greed and death.