Date released: 13.2.2008.
Track list
1. fiction [Listen]
2. concealment [Listen]
3. the back bottom [Listen]
Siva is a band that I discovered by mistake and that became one of my favorite Visual kei indie band around. wrong of justice is their first single this year (and being on the money taking label Under code by tax-avoider Kisaki I'm sure that they'll release even more singles this year).
So basically there is nothing new to hear in the single wrong of justice, but then again the single brings up the recognizable quality of the band.
fiction is a long song with good passages, a bit upbeat chorus compared to ones Siva makes. The song manages to shine in the instrumental parts, but other than that it is quite forgettable unlike the song concealment which opens with a very interesting and catchy hip-hopish melody and blasts away with heavy riffs. Kairi's present-yet-absent singing gives it all a special flair and the guitar solo in the song is one of the best I have heard recently.
the back bottom is intended as mosh-provoking song although the only thing it'll provoke you to is to bang your head a bit. I'm not saying the song is boring or bad, but it lacks the kick that urges you to break the neck of the next living thing standing to you. Nevertheless, the back bottom has got my favorite kind of sharp and short riff attacks and an interesting funky turn at the ending.
Although this single does have some memorable instrumental parts, most of it is just pure average. But it is still a good start if you haven't ever listened to them. Siva fans probably have. As for others: you won't gain too much by listening the single, but not miss a lot if you don't.
~And from today I will gradually update all the songs from the reviews and add them to the reviews~
Track list
1. fiction [Listen]
2. concealment [Listen]
3. the back bottom [Listen]
Siva is a band that I discovered by mistake and that became one of my favorite Visual kei indie band around. wrong of justice is their first single this year (and being on the money taking label Under code by tax-avoider Kisaki I'm sure that they'll release even more singles this year).
So basically there is nothing new to hear in the single wrong of justice, but then again the single brings up the recognizable quality of the band.
fiction is a long song with good passages, a bit upbeat chorus compared to ones Siva makes. The song manages to shine in the instrumental parts, but other than that it is quite forgettable unlike the song concealment which opens with a very interesting and catchy hip-hopish melody and blasts away with heavy riffs. Kairi's present-yet-absent singing gives it all a special flair and the guitar solo in the song is one of the best I have heard recently.
the back bottom is intended as mosh-provoking song although the only thing it'll provoke you to is to bang your head a bit. I'm not saying the song is boring or bad, but it lacks the kick that urges you to break the neck of the next living thing standing to you. Nevertheless, the back bottom has got my favorite kind of sharp and short riff attacks and an interesting funky turn at the ending.
Although this single does have some memorable instrumental parts, most of it is just pure average. But it is still a good start if you haven't ever listened to them. Siva fans probably have. As for others: you won't gain too much by listening the single, but not miss a lot if you don't.
~And from today I will gradually update all the songs from the reviews and add them to the reviews~
I saw this a few days ago on Batsu (although I seldom go there because of the horrifying amount of fangirls and often lack of common sense; not a big forum fan I suppose), but I didn't post it since I didn't have the matching video clip for it. But anyway I finally found the clip so...
The clip was taken from the J-drama 3年b組金八先生 (San nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei). It portraits Visual kei fans in a bad light, like they are all rabid, anti-social fangirls. I've found some of the snapshots from this series on this Chinese forum.
Although the show did portrait some of the fangirls pretty accurate, but also it was an open attack at all fans even those who don't behave like that. It is simply prejudice towards fans and creation of stereotypes.
But most of all, it was offensive towards the people who actually love Visual kei and to who Visual kei represents much more than just music. I am not going to discuss here what Visual kei means for me (you know that already).
The airing of this episode was announced on the official the GazettE site, but without the knowledge about what the episode was about. After the episode was aired, no one mentioned it again on the web site, except Ruki on his fanclub blog. He apparently expressed his disappointment with the way they not just portraited the fans, but also the way people displayed Visual kei as a mass aimed shallow music trash.
I must admit that I agree with Ruki because I have never been approval of judging people based on their music liking. It is like criticizing someone's personal choice, because music is always a matter of choice and people should not be judged because of that. But yet again such things happen.
I just wanted to show this as one of thousands examples of how Visual kei is treated. Those who think it is different in Japan are wrong, because in Japan Visual kei is also facing the same prejudice, the same taboo theme label just as in any other country.
People just tend to judge things they don't know.
But most of all, it was offensive towards the people who actually love Visual kei and to who Visual kei represents much more than just music. I am not going to discuss here what Visual kei means for me (you know that already).
The airing of this episode was announced on the official the GazettE site, but without the knowledge about what the episode was about. After the episode was aired, no one mentioned it again on the web site, except Ruki on his fanclub blog. He apparently expressed his disappointment with the way they not just portraited the fans, but also the way people displayed Visual kei as a mass aimed shallow music trash.
(Translation taken from Batsu)"It’s impermissible for people to hurt other people who are chasing and striving for the same dreams as us with words like that on their own accord.
Anyone can say things.
Humans must not have the right to intrude, contaminate and criticize other people’s dreams."
I must admit that I agree with Ruki because I have never been approval of judging people based on their music liking. It is like criticizing someone's personal choice, because music is always a matter of choice and people should not be judged because of that. But yet again such things happen.
I just wanted to show this as one of thousands examples of how Visual kei is treated. Those who think it is different in Japan are wrong, because in Japan Visual kei is also facing the same prejudice, the same taboo theme label just as in any other country.
People just tend to judge things they don't know.
Date released:
Track list
1. 紅蓮 (Guren) [PV] [Listen]
2. 傀儡絵 (Kugutsu e) [Listen]
3. 虚無の終わり 箱詰めの黙示 (Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi) [Listen]
A year has passed since the GazettE's last single HYENA. Six months since the release of their third album STACKED RUBBISH which was, hand on heart, stacked rubbish with a handful of shallow songs. Damn, even the GazettE themselves admit that the album wasn't their brightest achievement and not to mention that loads of fans were left disappointed or/and left with a bitter aftertaste. The GazettE were facing a stagnation in their non interrupted series of amazing achievements.
But I must say that my faith in the band and their talent was restored with the Guren single. Guren is a lyrical masterpiece, something like CALM ENVY (without the irritating parts) and Kagrra,'s Irodori no sanka combined into one beautiful and a bit reminiscent song with a constant flow, minimalistic and yet wonderful instrumental parts supported by the beautiful strings in the background. A song to dive into, freed from any aggression but yet strong in emotions, without being too emotional or pathetic. As beautiful as a Japanese lyrical scenery, with some profound feelings which can only be expressed as 物の哀れ (mono no aware).
Kugutsu e may begin calm, with an intro almost identical to Chizuru, but after a few moments it grabs you by the neck with it's distorted guitars, fast beat and heavy bass. A fast, schizophrenic, adrenaline charged ride through the chaos. This song is even for GazettE terms very chaotic, combining elements from nearly every good 2006./07. released GazettE song. Although it doesn't bring anything new, the pure excitement and adrenaline in this song combined with already known elements make this song sound refreshing and dynamic without losing depth, raping STACKED RUBBISH's songs analy. Rocks hard and is extremely addicting.
Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi surprised me with verse riffs resembling those of RED...[em] (just a bit reduced) from Dir en grey. But that is not the only resemblance. I could easily imagine Kyo singing the dark, mysterious, haunting and a bit sarcastic Hydra-666-esque verses. But after the first verse the song erupts in a instrumentally vast and almost apocalyptic epic masterpiece, reminding mostly on a more intense version of Chizuru but with sarcastic bridges and a very intense chorus that prevents the song from becoming Chizuru. Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi is what Apocalypse would sound: angry, desperate, ironical at times, dark and overall filled with emotions.
I simply can't express how glad I am that the GazettE have finally made a single to be proud of and most important with depth. I am glad that this songs are the songs you could dive into and feel. And they get better with every listening. For me it is not important how the songs are, if they bring something new or not, but if they don't have a depth, If they can't awake any emotions, then they are not something I would be overall pleased with.
Guren has showed that the boys are capable of making interesting songs that manage to sound exciting, fresh and new, even with combined elements from their previous releases. Although returning to their post-NIL, pre-STACKED RUBBISH state, this returning is not a stagnation, it is a development to more mature sound with more and more improving instrumental and yet still preserving the undeniable energy and chaos the GazettE are so known of.
What NIL is compared to other GazettE albums, Guren is to singles. A masterpiece that stands out with it's quality even with all the flaws and virtues. This single is not just an obligatory to GazettE fans, but also to anybody who wants to hear some quality Visual kei stuff (and not the usual trash). A masterpiece worth your listening (and money).
And I couldn't imagine a better present for the upcoming Valentines day and my birthday. 心からありがとうガゼット様。愛してる。
Track list
1. 紅蓮 (Guren) [PV] [Listen]
2. 傀儡絵 (Kugutsu e) [Listen]
3. 虚無の終わり 箱詰めの黙示 (Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi) [Listen]
A year has passed since the GazettE's last single HYENA. Six months since the release of their third album STACKED RUBBISH which was, hand on heart, stacked rubbish with a handful of shallow songs. Damn, even the GazettE themselves admit that the album wasn't their brightest achievement and not to mention that loads of fans were left disappointed or/and left with a bitter aftertaste. The GazettE were facing a stagnation in their non interrupted series of amazing achievements.
But I must say that my faith in the band and their talent was restored with the Guren single. Guren is a lyrical masterpiece, something like CALM ENVY (without the irritating parts) and Kagrra,'s Irodori no sanka combined into one beautiful and a bit reminiscent song with a constant flow, minimalistic and yet wonderful instrumental parts supported by the beautiful strings in the background. A song to dive into, freed from any aggression but yet strong in emotions, without being too emotional or pathetic. As beautiful as a Japanese lyrical scenery, with some profound feelings which can only be expressed as 物の哀れ (mono no aware).
Kugutsu e may begin calm, with an intro almost identical to Chizuru, but after a few moments it grabs you by the neck with it's distorted guitars, fast beat and heavy bass. A fast, schizophrenic, adrenaline charged ride through the chaos. This song is even for GazettE terms very chaotic, combining elements from nearly every good 2006./07. released GazettE song. Although it doesn't bring anything new, the pure excitement and adrenaline in this song combined with already known elements make this song sound refreshing and dynamic without losing depth, raping STACKED RUBBISH's songs analy. Rocks hard and is extremely addicting.
Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi surprised me with verse riffs resembling those of RED...[em] (just a bit reduced) from Dir en grey. But that is not the only resemblance. I could easily imagine Kyo singing the dark, mysterious, haunting and a bit sarcastic Hydra-666-esque verses. But after the first verse the song erupts in a instrumentally vast and almost apocalyptic epic masterpiece, reminding mostly on a more intense version of Chizuru but with sarcastic bridges and a very intense chorus that prevents the song from becoming Chizuru. Kyomu no owari Hakodzume no mokushi is what Apocalypse would sound: angry, desperate, ironical at times, dark and overall filled with emotions.
I simply can't express how glad I am that the GazettE have finally made a single to be proud of and most important with depth. I am glad that this songs are the songs you could dive into and feel. And they get better with every listening. For me it is not important how the songs are, if they bring something new or not, but if they don't have a depth, If they can't awake any emotions, then they are not something I would be overall pleased with.
Guren has showed that the boys are capable of making interesting songs that manage to sound exciting, fresh and new, even with combined elements from their previous releases. Although returning to their post-NIL, pre-STACKED RUBBISH state, this returning is not a stagnation, it is a development to more mature sound with more and more improving instrumental and yet still preserving the undeniable energy and chaos the GazettE are so known of.
What NIL is compared to other GazettE albums, Guren is to singles. A masterpiece that stands out with it's quality even with all the flaws and virtues. This single is not just an obligatory to GazettE fans, but also to anybody who wants to hear some quality Visual kei stuff (and not the usual trash). A masterpiece worth your listening (and money).
And I couldn't imagine a better present for the upcoming Valentines day and my birthday. 心からありがとうガゼット様。愛してる。
Date released: 6.2.2008.
Track list
1. gaze [Listen]
2. as it is [Listen]
3. advance insane [Listen]
Hey it's been like... a month since the studs last single and they're back with another and not to mention the next month's upcoming first album. Not bad for a band who has released their first release and then disappeared from the surface of the earth for like 8 months? More? Less? Who cares?
Anyway... Compared with the previous single Niji no iro, gaze is a harder, more playful and not to mention better single. Niji no iro was relaxed and decent, but very forgettable (okay this single won't last any longer in your head but at least...). gaze sweeps it's way out with some pretty harder songs.
The song gaze balances between calm and relaxing parts opposed to slightly aggressive refrain. Interesting though that on this single the aggression is expressed in another way, not with Daisuke screaming his vocal folds out (and when mentioning Daisuke he is really getting better with every release), but with interesting and strong riffs and melody and settled but still strong Daisuke's voice. as it is heats up the mood with its catchy and sing-a-long refrain, as well as driving brilliant riffs and playful bass lines, although the song gets a bit off track with a bit clumsy bridges. advanced insane is just the watered down version of the song Thursday, but with a very good riff that outlouds the most of the song, but still remains very catchy.
gaze shows that the studs have really improved and that they get better and more coherent with every single. Although Daisuke isn't the best singer around, still I can't imagine anyone suiting better as the singer of the studs (not even the legendary Mako, it simply wouldn't be the same) than him. But with all the pluses, this single still suffers from the big studs minus and that is the songs are simply forgettable (or politer: they simply need a lot of time to carve their way in your memory) and blur together in something that you know it's the studs, but not what is it from them.
Overall this is a decent single, that will definitely serve as a nice (but not too mild) timeout from your average Visual kei hearing-smasher.
Track list
1. gaze [Listen]
2. as it is [Listen]
3. advance insane [Listen]
Hey it's been like... a month since the studs last single and they're back with another and not to mention the next month's upcoming first album. Not bad for a band who has released their first release and then disappeared from the surface of the earth for like 8 months? More? Less? Who cares?
Anyway... Compared with the previous single Niji no iro, gaze is a harder, more playful and not to mention better single. Niji no iro was relaxed and decent, but very forgettable (okay this single won't last any longer in your head but at least...). gaze sweeps it's way out with some pretty harder songs.
The song gaze balances between calm and relaxing parts opposed to slightly aggressive refrain. Interesting though that on this single the aggression is expressed in another way, not with Daisuke screaming his vocal folds out (and when mentioning Daisuke he is really getting better with every release), but with interesting and strong riffs and melody and settled but still strong Daisuke's voice. as it is heats up the mood with its catchy and sing-a-long refrain, as well as driving brilliant riffs and playful bass lines, although the song gets a bit off track with a bit clumsy bridges. advanced insane is just the watered down version of the song Thursday, but with a very good riff that outlouds the most of the song, but still remains very catchy.
gaze shows that the studs have really improved and that they get better and more coherent with every single. Although Daisuke isn't the best singer around, still I can't imagine anyone suiting better as the singer of the studs (not even the legendary Mako, it simply wouldn't be the same) than him. But with all the pluses, this single still suffers from the big studs minus and that is the songs are simply forgettable (or politer: they simply need a lot of time to carve their way in your memory) and blur together in something that you know it's the studs, but not what is it from them.
Overall this is a decent single, that will definitely serve as a nice (but not too mild) timeout from your average Visual kei hearing-smasher.
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