Review by GJ

the GazettE has released a great looking DVD.The anamorphic 16:9 looks crisp and the color and definition are stunning:especially up-converted to 1080i on a 42" TV.The set list is very heavy with the newer dual-release EPs,but the classic track "LINDA"is a great last song.This is the perfect introduction to the new direction of the GazettE:great for new and old fans alike.The visual style and stage presence are good as well, and I am glad that Ruki did not keep his horrible hair-extention/dreads look from the "REGRET" and "Filth in the beauty" PVs.There are only a few negatives, but one automatically knocks a star off from the grade.Once again, the GazettE and PSC do not want/think it is necessary to include a DD5.1 mix with their DVDs. It's late 2007, and Linear PCM original stereo just doesn't cut it on a high-grade, major-like DVD. The other annoyance is the insertion of pre-concert footage inbetween "DISCHARGE" and REGRET". Finally, the long "audience participation" song is cut-out and shown in pieces during the end roll. This is understandable:the item is cheaper as one disc (5800 yen is already steep!)In conclusion, this a great GazettE concert hampered by an O.K. DVD.

After the untimely demise of Psycho le Cemu, I became an active fan of ...NOIZ, and I have to say that this is their best album to date. The overall feel is more guitar-based rock 'n roll than "Zero no Keifu" with just the right mix of electronic synths and backbeats. This combination lends them an unique and catchy sound. As a band, each member has grown more sophisticated musically, and this can be easily heard in "EGO-style's" compositions and arrangements. Outstanding tracks include "CRY", "HERO", "From Skywalker", and my all-time favorite track: "Miracle Rocket G5". I cannot reccomend this album highly enough. Any fan of Japanese Pop or Rock should have this album!

As an ardent, passionate fan of HIZAKI, I was not disappointed with this release. Even though all but one of the songs have been released before ("scarlet-Inst. version-" the lone new track), the music is worthy of a second purchase. "Ritual (Inst. version)", "Lunar Eclipse (Inst. version)", and "Requiem (Inst. version ~ReMix~)" are expertly re-recorded with full instrumentation (that means real drums!). The new arrangements give the old songs added life, greatly enhancing music that was excellent in the first place. Overall, I would have to say that the best part of this release is the lack of vocals. Fu~ki's vocals on the original "Madien Ritual" were weak to be kind; his voice is not that great and could barely keep up with the tempo of each song. HIZAKI's virtuoso guitar skills are at the forefront of each track unhindered by uninspired lyrics and anemic vocals. This is where the album really shines. In conclusion, if you did not purchase the original "Madien Ritual", purchase this album instead. If you have HIZAKI's prevoius release, I still recommend this EP because of the stellar musicianship, full instrumentation, and lack of laughable vocals. Highly recommended!

This CD/DVD collection by SHOXX SPEC is an excellent introduction to the work of KISAKI. The CD is a best-of including "Shoukei", "Aishuu-unrequited love-", and "Garasu no Album". The DVD is of his last show and features Jui (Vidoll) on vocals. The mood is very sober with the track selection close to the CD. This set might be hard to find now, but it is worth the hard effort. I highly recommend this "best-of" collection to all fans of UNDER CODE bands; especially Phantasmagoria and Vidoll.

This is a great first single from the artistic force behind the popular visual band D. ASAGI's songwriting skills and deep, haunting vocals are showcased on two tracks: the eponymous "Corvinus" (also the name of his limited edition eau de toilette) and "Unknown". "Corvinus", the better of the two, is a powerful piece similar to the recent releases from D. The guitar work and "up-beat" chorus give this track a signature feel, whereas the vocal content is typical of ASAGI's work in D. In contrast, "Unkown" has an empherial quality about it with a lighter, airy feel to ASAGI's usually dark vocals. The included PV of "Corvinus" is excellently shot in LA and really suits the song well. ASAGI shines as a true showman. He has now solidified his position as the face of the new visual kei movement in Japan. Overall, this is a great release for both fans of D and visual kei/ Japanese Goth in general. Hope for a second pressing; you are missing one of the best singles of 2006 in any genre. My highest recommendation.

Following up my favorite album from 2005, "The name of the ROSE", D has once again produced one of the best albums of 2006, in any genre. It is becoming clear that D is the leader in the next wave of visual kei, and if they continue to mature and release powerful, distinct music, they stand a chance of becoming the next MALICE MIZER and making the major jump. All of this praise would be just hot air if it wasn't for the quality of music created by D. Each song on "Tafel Anatomie" fills a role, performs its duty, and creates an experience greater than the parts alone. Outstanding songs include the single "Taiyo wo Okuru Hi", "Leukocyte", and "Eguru Shoudou": the "power", the "passion" and the "soul". Not to be outdone, the limited edtion book-type packaging is excellently made from sturdy chip-board material covered in book-binding fabric tape. All in all, this stacks up to be one of the best albums of 2006 and hopefully just another step on D's road to visual kei perfection. We are truly experiencing a watershed moment in visual kei: enjoy D for all they are worth. Catch the fire of the next transcendent band. My highest recommendation.

This is a great introduction to the music of D'espairsRay; the selection of music spanning their whole career is great for old and new fans alike. The visual style of the band is great, but the musical/video production of the band signals a downturn in the DVD's quality. The music and vocals are performed well, but delays and mashing/grating between the live and electric/synth parts can be distracting at times along with annoying mic feedback. A stereo-only audio track is horrible and unacceptable! This is the worst thing about Japanese DVD's in general: when will they realize that in 2006 stereo mixes just don't cut it? Also, the 4:3 video is bland and lacks crispness in some places, even up-converted to 1080i, especially when viewed on a large screen. All criticisms aside, D'espairsRay's music and stage presence is enough to overcome the weak audio and visuals. The extra footage of the second free "encore show" is a great addition to a very underwhelming DVD. Special Bonuses for region-free playback, excellent set list, and mid-level pricing. Recommended.

DAISHI's only solo release is rockin' from start to finish, but will forever be marred by his bad choices and current situation. The title track is full of power and emotion, accentuated by Miya's (MUCC) excellent guitar playing. The song really sounds as if DAISHI is doing guest vocals over a MUCC track: very exciting! The standout track, in my opinion, is "I LOVE YOU". This is what catchy rock is all about: great lyrics, great vocals, and probably the catchiest hook to any song I have ever heard. I listen to this song whenever I need a pick-me-up, and it works ever time; it's just that fun! Overall, I am glad that this release is once again available, and I strongly recommend this to all Psycho le Cemu fans, MUCC fans, and fans of catchy rock. I am so sad for DAISHI's future because he had so much good music left to sing.

After enjoying their first three releases, "Justice" just does not impress me. The single "Juliet" sounds rather bland and uninspired, even though I can hear a passionate melody trying to come forth. This pretty much sums up the entire album. HIKARU's vocal talents are many, but they do not seem to mesh with what the band is playing, and the digital drumtrack becomes annoying quickly. The PV is shot in gorgeous anamorphic 16:9, but the direction and acting is so amateurish that it ditracts from an otherwise beautiful video. Overall, I feel letdown by a band that showed so much promise after their first release. Not recommended to anyone but their most diehard fans.

D's most recent release builds off their dark, theatrical sound perfected in last year's "The name of the ROSE". An up-tempo track, "Taiyo wo Okuru Hi" contains everything you love about D: great duel guitar passages by Ruiza and HIDE-ZOU, timely, melodic bass by newcomer Tsunehito, a hard-driving back-beat by HIROKI, and soul-stirring vocals by ASAGI. The coupling track is a mid-tempo ballard with more outstanding vocals by ASAGI. Finally, the PV is perfectly matched to the source material; looking dark and stunning. Overall, an excellent release and highly recommended for all visual and rock fans!

"CORE ~Selections~" along with "CORE ~editional selections~" are two great releases from Syndrome. From ASAGI's deep vocals to KISAKI's driving bass, each track shows the best that the band has to offer. "Desperate night" is full of pure energy, feeding off of ASAGI's manic voice with KISAKI and the rest of the band's thunderous drive. At the opposite end of the spectrum, "SAD MASK" is a delicate mix of soaring guitars and high octave singing; at least as delicate as a dark ballad can be. Overall, "CORE..." contains some of Syndrome's best tracks with a line-up that fully plays off of each other. Highly recommended!

This is my favorite EP from Syndrome, and includes the great vocal presence of a young ASAGI, frontman for D. While only three songs, this release really shows where ASAGI's powerful vocals would go. The title track remains in my top visual kei/rock tracks to this day. Highly recommended if you can find it!

Like the other pre-ASAGI Syndrome releases, "Nostalgia" suffers from bad vocals. From having an overly whiny voice, to limited range, I cannot bring myslef to like the vocalist. Both tracks have good guitar parts and competent bass by KISAKI, but I just can't get past the vocals. Overall, better than "...if ~reflect yourselves~" but only recommended to KISAKI/Syndrome fans.

KISAKI seems to have a golden touch when it comes to visual kei, but this EP is just average rock very typical for the time. The first track, "Search for..." is a mediocre slow-tempo tune that is dragged down by bad vocals. The next two tracks, "affected you", and "~...Last child~" fare better but still suffer from poor vocals. Both songs are uptempo and have good guitar and bass parts, but compared to KISAKI's better work, these high-points cannot save the EP. Overall, I can only recommend this to Syndrome fans.

Even though the vocals leave much to be desired, "Namida no Kagen" is the best EP of pre-ASAGI Syndrome. The title track features great synth parts as well as guitar and bass lines. The other two tracks are a down-tempo ballard and an up-tempo "metal" track respectively. Overall, I can recommend this to anyone who would like to hear the early Syndrome along with KISAKI's usual fans.

"The Aishiteru" signals a new sound for hard rockin' KISHIDAN: dance pop! This might sound crazy, but the title track has all of the fun and energy KISHIDAN fans know and love. It's a great song full of their signature hooks and lyrical style. "NEVER LAND" has the knights from route 127 back to traditional rock 'n roll with great dual guitars and a driving back-beat. Overall, "The Aishiteru" is a fun CD and highly recommended for all fans of rock as well as the KISHIDAN faithful.

Having been a fan of Kamikaze Shonendan (Boyz) since Heisei Junrenka Shu, their first full-length album shows musical maturity but still manages to express their wild, fun music. Fans of punkier visual kei acts such as bis as well as fans of more pop-flavored acts such as AILE will find plenty of good music to enjoy. Stand out tracks include Kusatta Mikan, Dearest, and my personal favorite Bonny & Clyde. Bonny & Clyde has great lyrics that any L'arc~en~Ciel fan will immediately recognize and enjoy! The PV for Sakura Shinjuu features the band playing at a small club and is enjoyable to watch, if only to mate instrument to band memeber. My only complaint musically is that overall, the album feels uneven; swinging from hard, up-tempo rock to ballads without a lot of middle ground. This is most likely due to the inexperience of the band. Finally, like all indie releases, it does not enjoy the economies of scale that the majors present. I enjoyed this album thoroughly, and only see a bright future ahead. Very recommended!

Having not released any new music since 2004, the end of PIERROT seemed more of a formality than a shock. The final single from one of Japan's most popular bands is a good purchase, but do not expect anything spectular. Having almost the same construction and sound as "Mycloud", "Hello" is a forceful track with a catchy chorus. This is either due to a fondness for this type of composition or the quick cash-out of an uninterested band. While a solid performance, the guitar solo seems tacked-on and Kirito does not/cannot display his wider vocal range. The coupling track, "Utopia", while not a bad song, is easily forgettable compaired to the much catchier "Hello". The inclusion of the PV to "Hello" is a great addition and gives the viewer a good sense of the last days of PIERROT. The mood evokes the end with the audience never seeing Kirito's face. In conclusion, I am sad to see PIERROT disband for they have provided me with much enjoyment over the past four years. If I seem overly critical it is because I hold PIERROT to such a high standard. This is a must buy for fans, and I highly recomend it to anyone as a gateway to the rest of their excellent work. A great value!

This is an absolutely great release, and by far my favorite since XII dizzy. Tonarimachi no Kanojo is a straight-ahead, four-on-the-floor rock tune. Not so much avant-garde as Western-style rock: good ol' fashioned rock with a distinctly Japanese energy. A much appricated depature from thier last album (at least in my opinion) the simple, percise guitar and bass, along with a driving drum-line perfectly complement Daisuke's powerful vocals. This new style sounds all the more fresh and exciting when coupled with Kagerou's emotional, dark underpinnings. Just on the title track alone, I cannot recommend this release enough. Tonarimachi no Kanojo is on my short-list for song of the year! Kagerou are pearched to ascend to the highest level, eagerly filling the vacuum left by all of the break-ups this past year. I can't wait for the top...