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Because I have a mission of getting kyoto-no-hikari into Visual Kei J-rock! It's really tiny, kinda crap, but the best I could come up with with my short attention span. XD I chose 5 bands to go in depth, uploaded a couple of songs for each and linked to their PVs on Youtube. Please try out the songs, you don't even need to download them, just stream it from the site I uploaded it on.
Also, please correct/forgive me if any of the info is incorrect. :3; I'm totally new to the J-rock fandom, only got into it 1 and a half months ago~ XD
So, what is Visual Kei? According to Wikipedia, Visual Kei (ヴィジュアル系) refers to a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of eccentric, sometimes flamboyant looks. This usually involves striking make-up, unusual hair styles and elaborate costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics.
From left to right: Tora (guitar), NAO (drums), Shou (vocal), Saga (bass), Hiroto (guitar).
alice nine. (アリス九號.) has a different mix of music, some songs are softer while some songs are heavier. Recently, their songs haven't been as heavy as their older songs. They also had a more "visual" look a few years back → click. It's much more toned down now, their make up is not as heavy, and their clothes not as "outrageous" → click. alice nine. composes their songs and Shou writes the lyrics. More info here.
Miyabi's Opinion: They're my favourite visual kei J-rock band. X3 I got obsessed over J-rock because of them. I'm not a big fan of songs which are too screamy, which alice nine. actually doesn't have a lot of. I don't even mind their heavier songs. I like Shou's voice, it's deep and it tends to "vibrate" a lot, haha. XD
Song preview:
WHITE PRAYER → This is my favourite song from them. Not a very good song for Shou to sing live though. XD It's not heavy, but not soft either.
Ruri no Ame → My second favourite song, it's one of their much softer songs. Gives off a "melancholy" feeling. I absolutely love the music.
Kowloon -NINE HEADS RODEO SHOW- → Not one of my favourite songs, but I felt I should include here, because it's kind of like their "heavier side".
NUMBER SIX → Yay, I like this song a lot as well~ :3 I love the beginning and the chorus. Somewhat of a "typical rock" song.
THE LAST EMPIRE → One of their heavier songs, but alice nine.'s songs aren't that heavy anyways, so. XD I really like the chorus of this song~
Promotional Videos:
WHITE PRAYER → Also my favourite PV, because I'm biased like that. XD ♥
FANTASY → One of their earlier songs, but also one of my favourites. I love the music, Shou's voice is awesome even when he goes high. :3
Gin no Tsuki, Kuroi hoshi → An earlier PV of theirs, when they were more visual.
Blue Planet → One of their newer PVs. They look like they're having a lot of fun. :3 So cute! I don't like the pink lady DX Oh, and here are the lyrics, just so you can laugh at Shou's Engrish. >3
From left to right: Intetsu (bass), Takehito (guitar), Aoi (vocal), Kenzo (drums), Yumehito (guitar).
Ayabie (彩冷える) changed their music style a bit after their old guitarist Ryouhei left and formed a new band, Megamasso in 2006. Yumehito (ex. Soroban) joined the band shorter afterwards. When Ryouhei was with the band, Ayabie's style was a bit heavier, and he mainly wrote songs for the band. After Yumehito joined, their style became softer, with the band sharing the composing, and Yumehito writing many of the lyrics. More info here.
Miyabi's Opinion: I really, really love Aoi's voice. Especially when it goes high. I definitely like the band's newer style, seeing as how I prefer non-heavy songs. It doesn't mean I don't like Ryouhei's style, I just prefer Yumehito's the band's newer style.
Song preview:
Sakura mau Kisetsu ni → The first Ayabie song I listened to, also my favourite one. Newer Ayabie style.
Heien no Ato, Ame → One of Ayabie's first songs, so older style, but it's not heavy at all. I love the piano part, it's so beautiful.
Atama ga Okashii → It's kind of odd at first, but I got used to it, and I really like it now.
Mimizuku → Older/heavier style, but I like it. Definitely not as soft as their newer style.
Honey Flavor → Newer Ayabie style, soft compared to the last too. I think the music in this song is really nice.
Promotional Videos:
Sakura mau Kisetsu ni → First PV I saw, but not my favourite one. Kind of melancholy, and it's their first PV with Yumehito.
Cubic'「L/R」ock → My favourite PV. Everyone looks like they're having fun, and there's frog!Aoi~ XD Also, Yume is just too cute in this PV ♥
Japanese Low-Res Caramel Town → When Ryouhei was still with the band. Very traditional feeling.
Glitter Tropen → The PV takes on a "darker" approach. Ryouhei was still with the band.
From left to right: Kanon (bass), Yuuki (keyboard), Miku (vocal), Teruki (drums), Takuya (guitar).
An Cafe (アンティック-珈琲店-) is not visual, but an Oshare Kei band. Unlike VK bands, they portray a more colourful and lively image. An Cafe also had a member change this year. Bou, their former guitarist, left in April. Takuya joined as guitarist in May, and it was also then when they decided to add Yuuki into the band as well. Their song style remains the same. More info here.
Miyabi's Opinion: Miku's voice is very unique, and it's not low at all. Their songs are "typical" oshare, and I really like it. :3 None of their songs are heavy, so there aren't really any songs from them that I dislike. My friend says they're very "bubblegum". XD
Song preview:
Kakusei Heroism ~The Hero Without a Name~ → My favourite song. The music is awesome, and Miku's voice really suits their style.
Lock on the o New Sekai → It's quite... bouncy? Typical An Cafe song. XD
Snow Scene → One of my favourite songs. Not much to comment about, since An Cafe's songs are quite similar.
Pussin Purin → This song is a little different to their other songs. Not as bouncy as their other songs, and not really a favourite.
Nyappy in the World 2 → Nyappy is a word Miku created, which is happy. The opposite would be unnyappy. XD It's a cute song, obviously. L.O.V.E. Nyappy!
Promotional Videos:
Kakusei Heroism ~The Hero Without a Name~ → First PV with Takuya and Yuuki in it. I want Takuya's tie~ D:
Ryuusei Rocket → My fave An Cafe PV! I absolutely love Takuya's hair there, it made me want to cut my hair like that. XD They dress up as bunnies~
Bonds ~Kizuna~ → I really like this song! I remember downloading this song last year and finding it weird... and then I deleted it. XD Bou is still here.
Smile Ichiban ii Onna → High school cosplay! Omg Bou is so cute here. X3 He makes such a cute girl~
From left to right: Aoi (guitar), Reita (bass), Ruki (vocal), Kai (drums), Uruha (guitar).
the GazettE (ガゼット) has a much more heavy music style, they scream more in songs, and the music is not as "pop". They do have ocassional softer songs. Their way of dressing is not as "outrageous" as a lot of other visual kei bands. ...Okay, I just don't know a lot about GazettE. XD More info here.
Miyabi's Opinion: Ruki's voice is really low, and he is amazing when singing live. I don't like GazettE's older style, way too heavy for me. Occasional screaming is okay though. I prefer their softer songs.
Song preview:
Cassis → I absolutely love this song. It's one of their more softer songs. The first GazettE song I heard, and the one that pulled me into the world of VK.
Defective Tragedy → Not very heavy, one of my favourites. At first I was put off by the screaming but I got used to it. I love it when Ruki sings this live~
Regret → It's catchy, and there's no screaming. :3
Filth in the Beauty → I like this song~ The screaming doesn't put me off, and have I mentioned how much I like Ruki's voice when he actually sings? :P
THE $OCIAL RIOT MACHINE$ → A more heavy song, I guess? Don't like this song at all, haha. Just here to show the heavier side of GazettE.
Promotional Videos:
Cassis → First GazettE PV that I saw. I think it's really nice and it fits the song too.
Chizuru → One of my favourite GazettE songs. :3 The PV has parts of the Korean movie, "Apartment" in it.
Hyena → A little screaming, but I like this song. Chorus = ♥
Reila → A really beautiful song/PV, I love it. Apparently it's about Ruki's dead girlfriend? Someone want to confirm me on this?
From left to right: Nono (guitar), Hixro (bass), Яei (drums), Jun (vocal).
ν (neu) was known as HeaRt before they changed their named after 2 members left, and they got a new drummer. They're an oshare kei band, not visual. They're style didn't change much even after the name change, but it is more obvious that they have taken a more positive and happy approach in their newer songs. Their appearance changed a bit from when they were known as HeaRt. (Compare: HeaRt → click. ν → click.) More info here.
Miyabi's Opinion: Nono is weird. Very weird. But other than that, I like ν's songs. I like their songs from when they were HeaRt as well. They barely have any screaming in their songs, so there's hardly a song I don't like. Jun's voice is very unique. I get annoyed with their name because I don't know where I should type it as ν, neu or ν (neu).
Song preview:
HONEY Bee★ → First song I heard, also my favourite. The tune is really catchy, it's cute. :3
SPLASH! → It's different to HONEY Bee★, but I really like the song.
School Attack Girl → Not one of my favourites, but I do like this song. I just don't like it that much when they keep repeating "school attack girl!" XD
Monster → From when they were still known as HeaRt. One of my favourites from then when they were known as HeaRt.
SHINKAKUKAKAIRO → A little heavy. But that's compared to their usual style so this so called "heaviness" is nothing compared to all the bands above minus An Cafe. XD This song is also from when they were known as HeaRt. It's alright, but not a particular favourite.
Promotional Videos:
HONEY Bee★ → Jun is so cute in this PV! ...and lol, Nono is wearing pink stockings. >>;
Cherry → LOL NONO. Wtf fairy wings? XD I don't like their outfits in this PV, but I really like the song~
Planetarium → The only PV they released as HeaRt.
...and that's all the PVs they have! :D;
Everything that doesn't fit anywhere else. :D; Other bands I recommend, but I got lazy so I'll just link to one of their PVs. XD;
Other Visual/Oshare Kei J-rock bands I recommend:
☆ SuG → Scheat
★ Lolita23q → Siren Blue
☆ Versailles → The Revenant Choir
★ 176BIZ → Aqua
☆ Vidoll → INNOCENT TEENS
★ Soroban → Orange Tegami (They never released a PV before they disbanded so I uploaded a song).
Non-Visual/Oshare bei J-rock bands I recommend:
☆ ONE OK ROCK → Et Cetera
★ UVERworld → Colors of the Heart
☆ Abingdon Boys School → Howling
★ L'Arc~en~Ciel → Daybreak's Bell
☆ SID → Otegami (They used to be VK but have dropped the style).
Recommended Communities/Credits: If you're looking for J-rock music, these would be the places to look. Also, thanks to them for uploading!
★ tonarimachi
☆ jmusic_uploads
★ silvery_night
Did I succeed my mission? Did I get anyone into VK? XD
Want to recommend some VK bands? Please do, I want to get into more~ X3