10 posts tagged “nightmare”
Track list
1. Parade
2. Can you do it? [PV]
3. Mr.trash music
4. NAKED LOVE [PV]
5. MASQUERADE
6. MELODY（original ver.）
7. Cynical Re:actor
8. ジャイアニズム究 (Djaïnism Kyuu)
9. Nothing you lose
10. Lost in Blue [PV]
11. シンプライフ (Simple Life)
12. クロニクル (Chronicle)
Hand on heart, I have heard a lot of Nightmare songs and almost all of their albums and I have really endured and toleratet their frequent lack of originality and innovation in some of their songs, especially choruses, but I've never had such an URGE to erase each and every chorus like I've had on this album, I don't even want to start commenting them because it always goes down on one: repetition, same progressions, same melody patterns, same singing style... How much you'll enjoy this album depends on how much recycling you can handle and how hardcore of a Nightmare fan you are.
The album starts with the unexciting rock'n'roll march named Parade, pompous on each step, stretching way too long to be an effective intro, but being too short to be an actual full-blooded song. Can you do it? comes along shimmering, bursts with a mass of trembling riffs (the ones they pull off the best) tensing up to the chorus that tries to burst but doesn't and leaves a "this is familiar..." feel that will haunt you on every chorus. Mr. trash music is actually Nightmare? Right? Right? Because the jumpy, distorsion, horrid trash fest will make you smash your CD player onto a wall.... horrid...
NAKED LOVE gives a better impression here than it does on the same-titled single. The slow-tempo, funky guitar flaired, seducive piece hits the sexy mood right in the middle, subtly crawling under your single until you're struck with the usual, but passable chorus. Wish they did something else, a bit less explosive there, but it works and passes, unlike the most choruses on this album. The funky feel on MASQUERADE is actually really fun and I could easily imagine this track as a great, energetic summer hit, yeah if it wasn't plaqued with THE GENERIC CHORUS. The jazzy-breakdown-switch of this song is really cool and another plus.
Melody brings some beautiful acoustic guitar melodies but that is almost all that is to this lovely, half-melancholic piece. The deep-rooted genericness can't be overshadowed, not even by the amazing guitar that stroll around this album. Cynical Re:actor is a very interesting blend of harder guitars and english female talk set in the foreground that reminds on End of Sorrow by LUNA SEA... when I think about it the guitars DO sound like a harder version of LUNA SEA. I could even close an eye on the chorus cause it doesn't beat the song to the ground like the rest of the chorus-gang. Djaïnism songs are almost a standard sure-hit on each Nightmare album, and Djaïnism Kyuu isn't an expection, though slightly weaker than the rest of such songs because of the generic and predictable elements. I'm really glad to hear Ruka smash that double bass for once.
Nothing you lose glove-slaps the GazettE for a ballad duel, but doesn't really stand up the fight because of the lack of deeper expression, more tension and slight originality. They could easily be head-to-head with the GazettE in popularity if they'd just be a bit more versatile, original and not killing themselves with generic melodies, progressions, choruses and similar. Lost in blue brings a reminiscent and melodic feel, excellent bass-lines but turns a bit bland halfway, but is overall a tense and pretty expressive song. Simple life is a lazy lying in the grass staring in the sky on a sunny day, progressing slowly, without any sudden nor strong jumps, but lives up to the carfree, unexciting mood. Chronicle is a bit more present than Simple life, but is just as light, hitting a hrad not here and there but being overall slight reminiscent and relaxing.
Fact is Nightmare haven't managed to top their previous album Killer Show, but frankly not even any other of their albums, making majestical parade their weakest long player. The sadest thing about it, as mentioned on the start, are the generic choruses that basically and reservelessly water down every song, giving them a generic and unmemorable seal, even though some of the songs like NAKED LOVE, MASQUERADE and Cynical Re:actor as well as Nothing you lose aren't that half bad and have really great instrumentals. I wonder do these guys ACTUALLY listen to their songs because the repetition of certain elements is obvious even to half-deaf people. And it's more like their aiming for quantity rather than quality.
If you're a diehard Nightmare fan or somebody to whom this album is a first contact with this band then you'll probably be pleased with it, while other should rather get ready for a generic-fest if they don't plan to skip this one this time.
Date released: 3.12.2008.
Track list
1. NAKED LOVE [PV]
2. MAD BLACK MACHINE [PV]
Nightmare hit the scene once more with their second single this year named Naked Love.
I must say that Naked Love is pretty neat with it's under-layered, suppressed vocals and whispers packed with dominant basslines and flickering minimized guitars. The overall song mood can be described as sexy and seducing, though the song is being pulled from the domain of amazing by the stuck on, loud, in your face kind of a chorus Nightmare has been doing over and over. Unlike their arch enemy the GazettE, Nightmare can't pull of one and the same chorus and that it sounds awesome. Yomi is a good singer but I really wish that he is a bit more versatile.
MAD BLACK MACHINE is another chunky, rock 'n' roll rollercoster done in the over-pumped, slightly pompous Nightmare way which will only be fun to the diehard fans while to others will be the sign of total uninspiration by this band *sob*.
Sad that this band sinks and sinks deeper into the sea of blandness, uninspiration and dullness, being exciting as window cleaning. If it was only Naked Love (minus chorus) without MAD BLACK MACHINE, I'd say ok, but what is enough is enough. Unless this band doesn't do emergency measures to fix their already way too tasteless and uninspired mass of songs, it's a one-way ticket to oblivion they have earned.
So... hello there. I know it has been a while since my last post, but college has started and I had two really turbulent weeks so I didn't had so many chances for actually writing something. And there wasn't much to write, no releases to review (okay, maybe Nightmare's LOST IN BLUE but I've left that single back here in my house and I was to lazy to download it on my student flat computer...so...).
Well med college is really fiery, you have to be ready for action at all times and work, work and work. We have already written our first exam last Sunday (psychology, really twisted shit but I have passed the pretty confusing exam). This week we had social medicine which was less interesting but a bit relaxed since we managed to postpone the test to Monday (we were supposed to write it tomorrow). So with tomorrow cleared we got one day extra so I returned to my little town today. I've got a nice whole weekend to spend on learning 200 pages of social medicine which is half common knowledge and half facts and pretty much un-understandable text. Oh well, just two more weeks and we'll get anatomy.
And now to the Visual-kei part of the week. ...
My new computer in my flat has got internet and I even think we got 3 months of flat-rate because of some special action from our internet provider. But I'll see that when the bill comes. Still I had enough paid bandwidth to check out some neat Visual kei things and videos....
Most of the time that I've spent learning and driving in public traffic I've spent listening to Sugar's album SWEETEST. And may thunder strike me if this band isn't one of the best Visual kei has to offer. Seriously their music simply takes you to another place, it really makes up a great mood and all of the members are excellent musicians. I can't count the times I've gasped when I've heard a glimmering guitar riff from SIZNA, the brilliant bass lines by Shingo in Blossom (though back then they still had Koto on the bass but Shingo's not bad either, especially if you listen to antlion and ruddy afterglow singles), drummed with pencils on my legs while listening to the addictive drumming by Atsuto or got intoxicated by Loki's wonderful singing. I'm telling you I'll get real diabetes if I continue to listen to Sugar's music as much as I do know.
Dammit just thinking about their album SWEETEST and their wonderful music makes me want to listen to them. What can I say, I'm hopelessly addicted to their music I admit. I even rewarded myself by watching the high quality video of Yokusou. Why don't you watch it also? Though you should be warned of Loki flashing his well built abs in front of us
Okay enough of Sugar before I go crazy!!!!
Oh and I have also watched some other PV's like....
Kagrra's Uzu which is nice and decent and proves my theory that Isshi is in fact an evil japanese Oni demon who uses it's god-given beautiful voice to seduce young girls and later devour them. Soo true....
I also watched the UNCENSORED version of Dir en grey's OBSCURE which counts as my favorite Dir en grey PV. The uncensored version is really extreme and gross. I mean the censored version was horrid enough, but put even more gruesome and morbid stuff inside and you get total disturbing madness of a PV. I love it.
Baku hits second issue! Yeah!
So again I've had fun and haste in making this issue but I believe it has come out quite well (though a bit compressed in article space and similar). I had to hasten up with this issue, but the next issue will probably be widen up to 3 pages or more. So look forward to it. Right now enjoy Baku!
The boys have not just released a new single this month but they have also toured the world going from Europe all the way up to America. I am certain that some of the Baku readers have been a part of this tour. To support Ayabie and to honor their achievements in this month Baku featured them as a cover artist.
But two more bands made it to the cover. The J-rock stars Kagrra,, who will certainly mark the summer both in Europe and Japan, and the jazz-rockers from Sugar. Sugar turned out to be the discovery of the month and as such they are this month's featured artist in Baku.
This time Baku had even more music reviews that really took the most space out of the mag. But in the next issue I'll make sure there is enough space for everything so the whole magazine won't look as a frontal crash of various articles.
Single: chariots - 独 ☆☆☆
Album: Nightmare - Killer Show ☆☆☆☆
Single: born - [-tHiNk-] ☆☆☆
Single: since1889 - DIABOLOS ☆☆☆
Single: 彩冷える - ミカヅキノキセキ ☆☆☆
RELEASE OF THE MONTH
Single: Sugar - antlion ☆☆☆☆
OHP: Sugar
Visunavi profile
Sugar on Rockerica
Founded: 2005.
Label: Graveyard Records
Status: Indie
Vocal: LOKI; Guitar: SIZNA; Bass: 真悟 (Shingo); Drums: 篤人 (Atsuto)
D'espairsRay - BRILLIANT
Even tough D'espairsRay have said that there won't be a new PV, it looks like they have changed their minds. Partially...
BRILLIANT PV is actually the live footage of this songs performance used as a PV. Though not even half as spectacular as the song itself the PV is still decent and shows how brilliantly D'espairsRay perform and put their heart and soul into it.
I have also reviewed this PV whose review and a few screencaps can be seen here.
Hopefully the guys will make a flashy, hardcore PV for their upcoming single KAMIKAZE. D'espairsRay rarely do have PV's but all of them (except this one) and mindblowing. So I'm wondering which is your favorite D'espairsRay PV? Mine is definitely Garnet :) because the PV perfectly fits the song and shows the disturbing, true side of Visual kei.
Listen to the Top 5 songs of the month
(okay momentary not, because I have got limited bandwidth and I can't upload them all but I will try to upload them on summer one day when I go to my dad's place where there is unlimited bandwidth internet. Sorry)
1. Sugar - Blossom
2. Sugar - Danshou to kuroneko
3. Nightmare - Djainism Batsu
4. Nightmare - TrickSTAR
5. Since1889 - celtic
Get the rest of the Baku here! Just click on the images and view them in original size. You may notice that the images are a bit bigger, I've made them like that so you can read Baku easier. And as always I look forward to your comments, suggestions, feedback, ideas and similar. Enjoy this issue of Baku.
As from today up to 12.7.2008. I won't post anything on Rockerica because I have to learn and I really don't have time to spend here. But after the short hiatus I will post reviews and everything else from this two week period. Thank you for your understanding and support.
And while I'm here please wish me luck in my entry exams for medicine college. If I pass I'll celebrate it, of course, here on Rockerica. I'll make a huge party on this site and you all are invited to party with me.
Till next time! ジャーネー!
Asari.
Date released: 21.5.2008.
Track list
1. パンドラ (Pandora)
2. DIRTY [PV]
3. the LAST SHOW [PV]
4. TrickSTAR
5. メビウスの憂鬱 (Moebius no Yuuutsu) [PV]
6. このは (Konoha) [PV]
7. レゾンデートル (Raison d’être) [PV]
8. WORST
9. ジャイアニズム罰 (Djaïnism batsu)
10. ジェネラル (General)
11. White Room [PV]
12. Cloudy dayz [PV]
13. 夜想曲 (Yasoukyoku)
Over a year has passed since the last Nightmare album THE WORLD RULER and Nightmare have returned with a new, again pretentiously named album Killer Show.
A glimpse at the track list reveals that almost half of the songs present on the album have been released before starting off from the dirty rock'n'roll roarer DIRTY, playful and relaxed ska song Moebius no Yuuutsu, slow and boring ballad Konoha, anthem-like, easy marching Raison d’être up to the over-the-top Cloudy Dayz. Those mostly mediocre songs somehow water down the album, with their similar refrains and sure composition.
Unlike that the rest of the album is pretty stunning compared to previous releases (which most are featured on the album). The album starts with the mesmerizing, almost meditaitive oriental rock song Pandora where Yomi's really good vocals shine with bliss and the guitar riffs sparkle mixing into a transcendental sort of feel. Very nicely done for the start. The playfulness goes even beyond on the swing and rock'n'roll hybrid the LAST SHOW delivering an almost theatrical feel to it because of the piano and horns placed at the front and the glamorous, yet settled refrain. Fun and catchy the LAST SHOW forces you kinda to get up and start dancing.
Another highlight is the excellent and upbeat TrickSTAR, my personal favorite on the album, with it's very singable and catchy refrain that has been brought to almost perfection with a hint of melancholy. Amazing and quite unpredictable for Nightmare. Even WORST is not that half bad with its surf-rock style, crazy riffs and again with an darn catchy chorus. And what would be an Nightmare album without a Djaïnism song? Killer Show's Djaïnism batsu features some really face ripping, alarming riffs and a lot of Ni~ya's slap bass, building up the tension just like in BOYS BE SUSPICIOUS and launching a loud and powerful chorus. And the explosive mass reaches with the probably most GazettE-like song ever not being written by the GazettE: Gerneral. General begins with almost identical riffs to those on the mosh-parts of alice nine.'s -Dice- and riffs of GazettE's AGONY going to the BURIAL APPLICANT like calm and omnious verses and exploding with the powrful and a bit jumpy chorus just like in CIRCLE OF SWINDLER. Surprisingly, Nightmare really manages to give out a good and fitting performance to General.
The last highlight of the album is the melancholic but strong ballad White Room which was released before, but on the live-distributed single. And then again I can't help not to notice the Kyomu no owari, hakodzume no mokushi resembling intro with a lot of dramatic riffs and piano notes. Unlike Kyomu, White Room is less darker and more firmer, though also with too much of a sure chorus just like it's GazettE pandan. The album ends with Yasoukyoku, a dreamy like parting song that you'll likely to forget.
The new songs featured on this album would have made a Killer mini-album, but unfortunately they are stuck together with the pretty mediocre former releases which in a way water down the quality of the new songs. Though this album has got less variety in songs than the WORLD ruler, Killer Show nevertheless has got more exciting songs I'll probably listen to more times. This album is worth checking, primary because of the exciting new songs that somehow return Nightmare to their fierce, dirty rock'n'roll soul. But as always with Nightmare, only fans will enjoy this album comepletely, while others will find their favorite bits.
Welcome to the first issue of the monthly Visual kei overview on Rockerica: 暴~Baku~!
Baku is like a summary of every month's posts and reviews on Rockerica, but it even goes more than a step beyond offering the most notable Visual kei news, facts, announcements and more. So I hope you will enjoy Baku. For those who don't know Baku means outrage, violence, outburst on Japanese, symbolizing the raw energy of Visual kei.
And on the first cover of the BAKU magazine are D'espairsRay! The Visual kei veterans have earned it! Speaking of cover this is actually the first time I have made a cover for a magazine sorta and I'm really glad how it ended up. The purple color scheme really fits the mysterious and serious appearance of D'espairsRay.
But D'espairsRay aren't only featured on the cover. They're in the cover artist section of BAKU and you can also read the review of their latest single BRILLIANT inside. And if that isn't enough, BAKU also features the lyrics of their recent song BRILLIANT! Ideal for singing along while listening to it here on Rockerica.
Lucy also made it on the cover as the featured artist of the month. This young Visual kei band released their first single this month and have proven that they have great songwriting skills.
Also I have summed up the most interesting news of this month which include big names in Visual kei such as the GazettE, alice nine. and Versailles...
And what would be a monthly overview without some nifty music reviews? The reviews on BAKU have been summarized to bring you the raw core of the single: 30 words and a star-rating system will bring the essence of the reviews to you as fast as possible.
Of course to get a more clearer picture of the single be sure to read the reviews in full: uncut and unabridged.
Full versions of this month's reviews featured in Baku:
Single: メリー -
Midnight Shangri-la/空っぽな唄~final cut~ ☆☆☆
Single: D – BIRTH ☆☆☆☆
Single: ルーシー –
Discord ☆☆☆☆
Album: SuG - nOiZ stAR ☆☆
RELEASE OF THE MONTH
Single: D'espairsRay –
BRILLIANT ☆☆☆☆☆
FEATURED ARTIST: ルーシー (Lucy)
OHP: Lucy
Visunavi profile
Lucy on Rockerica
Founded: 2007.
Label: Unsigned
Status: Indie
Vocal: 榊 (Sakaki); Guitar: 健斗 to); Guitar: 広未 (Hiromi); Bass: 泰介 (Taisuke); Drums: 憐華 (Ren)
EYECANDY PV
Nightmare - the LAST SHOW
A fun PV announcing the great show that will be on their new album KILLER SHOW. And as such the LAST SHOW has made it to be the first EYECANDY PV in BAKU.
I'm not sure if I'm going to do a special PV review for this (though I have the PV; but reviewing PV's is often a time consuming thing because you have to do screencaps and such so...) but I hope you'll watch it and enjoy it nevertheless.
I wonder how their new album is? I haven't listened to it yet.
Listen to the Top 5 songs of the month
1. DELUHI – Vivid place
2. ルーシー - ~歪~ (Ibitsu)
3. D’espairsRay – BRILLIANT
4. D’espairsRay – Cocoon
5. ルーシー – HADES
So this is it for the interactive part that will bring the content of BAKU even closer to you. That is the concept of BAKU. You read the content in BAKU and check the audio and video samples on Rockerica.
Have fun and I await your feedback!
Track list
1. DIRTY
2. メビウスの憂鬱 (Moebius no yuuutsu)
Nightmare is putting up quite a release rhythm. Last month they released Konoha and this months release is DIRTY.
And again DIRTY is a song that is used in some God-knows-which anime (but judging by one of the single covers...). DIRTY is a crazy, mindblowing rock song that is instrumentally brilliant, but spoiled with the ever-the-same style of refrain. The refrain sounds like something we have already heard from Nightmare. If you're into Nightmare's style that won't probably bother you.
Moebius no yuuutsu is refreshingly different and new compared to DIRTY. Although it is fast, with sharp guitars and loud rhythm it doesn't sound harsh, in fact it sounds relaxing and pleasant to listen. The ska and jazzy groove give the song a special atmosphere and the catchy, playful refrain really manages to put up a good mood. Definitely one of the better (and innovative) Nightmare songs.
So overall this single is one of the better releases Nightmare had recently (especially the song Moebius no yuuutsu). If you like Nightmare this single is obligatory. It sounds decent, although there are better singles around, you won't regret giving this one a try.
Track list
1. このは (Konoha) [PV]
2. Cloudy dayz [PV]
4 months have passed since Nightmare's last single, and about a month is left to Nightmare's new single Dirty. Seeing it so, Nightmare has released quite a lot this year. Is it because of creative energy burst or rather money making we'll never know.
But one thing's for sure: Konoha single is heavy average.
Although Konoha manages to create a certain atmosphere with it's gentle piano intro, that atmosphere lasts until Yomi starts singing in his always the same way (at least for the last few singles).
Don't get me wrong. I respect Yomi as a singer, he has got this beautiful and unique voice. I sometimes even joke that if he ever drops rock he could easily pass as a opera singer. But his singing is always the same, no innovations here. And that is what makes Konoha resemble to a lot of Nightmare songs, especially the ones from the Raison d'etre single and songs like Aquaria from the Ultimate Circus album.
Cloudy dayz is slightly better and more dynamic and has got a very catchy refrain, but also doesn't manage to capture the listeners attention too much. I would even dare to say that the short and yet perfect guitar solos as well as instrumental parts in both songs sound better than the sung parts.
Unless you are a heavy Nightmare fan, you won't be impressed by this single. Nightmare has had better songs. As for others; listen to some previous Nightmare releases or wait to see how Dirty will end up.
Artist and song list
1. アリス九號. (alice nine.) - WHITE PRAYER
2. the GazettE - HYENA
3. シド (SID) - 紫陽花 (Ajisai)
4. jealkb - 黒い砂漠 (Kuroi sabaku)
5. ナイトメア (Nightmare) - the WORLD
6. Plastic Tree - ザザ降り、ザザ鳴り。(Zaza furi, zaza nari.)
7. ムック (MUCC) - チェインリング (Chain ring)
8. メリー (Merry) - 木漏れ日が僕を探してる・・・(Komorebi ga boku wo sagashiteru…)
All in all I think it was a great event and that everybody who participated and watched was probably in euphoria for days. This event has shown that Visual kei is becoming an important movement in Japanese rock music and that it's popularity is not only confined to Japan but is spreading around worldwide.
Date released: 6.6.2007.
Tracklist
1. Raison d’être [PV]
2. 叙情的に過ぎた時間と不確定な未来へのレクイエム (Jojou-teki ni sugita jikan to fukakutei na mirai he no REQUIEM)
3. Criminal baby [PV]
Nightmare was probably the first major (and I really mean MAJOR) band that made an opening (the WORLD) and ending (Alumina) song for an anime (in this case the mega popular Death Note) and became even mor epopular after that. There were bands before that made songs for anime's but non of them was so popular and gaind even more popularity afterwards.
As I mentioned in the review of the Cyclone single by 12012 nowadays a lot of very popular bands make songs for animes (12012, Nightmare, MUCC...) and even movies (the GazettE). It's actually not a bad strategy at all. The fans of the band will pay attention on the anime and the fans of the anime will buy singles from the band. In any case, a very good collaboration.
The song Raison d’être is the ending song for the anime Claymore. Both the songs Raison d’être and Jojou-teki ni sugita jikan to fukakutei na mirai he no REQUIEM are very light and non-aggressive pieces which are very pleasant to listen to. Instead of following the trend of headache-causing-hardcore songs that a lot of Visual kei bands do lately, Nightmare decided to make two very interesting and completely aggression free songs.
Raison d’être features some really good bass lines and interesting singing. Yomi as a unique vibratoish voice that I personally like (although there are people who are irritated by it). It is a light song but yet energetic just like any other rock song.
Jojou-teki ni sugita jikan to fukakutei na mirai he no REQUIEM starts off as a very light piece but develops into a solid rock song. Unlike Raison d’être which has almost fully reduced guitar-work this song delivers some really interesting guitar parts and a decent solo.
Criminal baby is a song which is really unnecessary on the single. I personally don't like recycling songs from previous releases. I somehow understand the conversion single > album, but the album > single (in this case the album the WORLD RULER) I find really stupid.
Criminal baby is unlike the other songs on the album a fast and energetic piece which has got interesting instrumental parts, but that's actually all that is good to it. The singing, especially the refrain is a bit over theatrically sung. The only people that will profit from this song are the ones that don't have the WORLD RULER album.
Overall this single is one of better Nightmare releases to date. Worth listening.
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