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Album Review: D=SIRE — 終末の情景 (Shūmatsu no Jōkei, 1995) Verdict: ★★★★★ (5/5)  •  Style: Dark, atmospheric early Visual Kei  •  Why it matters: A cult classic that shaped the underground aesthetic of 90s VK. 終末の情景 — released in 1995, a milestone in underground VK. Context & Legacy In the mid-90s, Visual Kei was exploding with both mainstream breakthroughs and deeply underground, shadowy acts. D=SIRE belonged firmly to the latter, and 終末の情景 stands as their defining statement. Recently resurfacing on streaming, it’s a reminder of just how experimental and emotionally raw this scene once was. Sound & Atmosphere This record is drenched in despair and theatricality. The guitars cut like broken glass, the vocals oscillate between whispers and agonized cries, and the production has that unmistakable “90s underground” gr...

Album Review: DEXCORE — WE WERE HERE (2025) Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)  •  Style: Metalcore / Deathcore + Visual Kei elements DEXCORE’s 2nd full-length (2025) Context & Release WE WERE HERE is DEXCORE’s second full album, released 7 May 2025. It features 17 tracks including singles like “THE LIGHT,” “Savior,” “SKINDEEP,” and the new single “Trace,” whose PV dropped with the album. The album topped Japan’s metal charts and rock rankings shortly after release. Sound & Highlights DEXCORE lean hard into modern metalcore and deathcore tropes—heavy breakdowns, soaring choruses, atmospheric passages, and clean/unison vocals. There’s a theatrical flair baked in which nods to VK roots. “Trace” (single): standout song with emotional peaks; strong visual support in PV. : Genre fusion: The album mixes symphonic el...

Album Review: lynch. — THE AVOIDED SUN / SHADOWS (2025) Verdict: ★★★★☆ (~4/5)  •  Style: Retake / Revisited Indie VK / Modern polish The new retake double album from lynch. (2025) Context & Release lynch. announced this as their second retake album, reworking earlier indie discography on September 24, 2025. It’s part of their 20th Anniversary Project, revisiting “THE AVOIDED SUN” and “SHADOWS” with new production and a refreshed sound. Sound & Highlights The remakes lean into polish and clarity. Some fans feel the raw edges of the original versions are softened. Others praise clarity in the guitars and renewed energy in tracks like “Enemy” and “Bringer.” “Enemy” / “Bringer”: More punchy than their older takes. Track variety: The double album includes their indie-era tracks plus one new song. ...

Album Review: DIR EN GREY — UROBOROS (2008) Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)  •  Style: Experimental metal / Art-rock / Dark VK  •  For fans of: Opeth, Tool, MUCC (heavier era) UROBOROS - Cover Art. Context By 2008 , DIR EN GREY had outgrown easy categorization. UROBOROS distilled years of experimentation into a focused, immersive statement—layered guitars, intricate percussion, and Kyo’s voice ranging from breathy whispers to inhuman howls. It’s a record that travels: from Japan’s VK roots to international metal press acclaim. Sound & Songs Textural guitars weave in counter-melodies; bass and drums pivot between restraint and eruption. The production prioritizes space and tension , so when the band goes heavy, it hits harder. “VINUSHKA” — a sprawling opener that sets the album’s cin...

Single Review: DIAURA — MADDY CIRCUS (2025) Verdict: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)  •  Style: Upbeat visual kei pop/rock with theatrical flair  •  Why it matters: Their 26th single, carries expectations & shows where DIAURA is headed. Cover art for DIAURA’s “MADDY CIRCUS” single Context & Release DIAURA officially released  MADDY CIRCUS on 1 October 2025. It’s their 26th single, with multiple editions (初回盤, 通常盤). The single includes the title track, JUDAS , and in the normal edition a third track 朽白 (Kuchiru) . Sound & Highlights MADDY CIRCUS leans into a catchy, theatrical rock/pop direction—less heavy than some of DIAURA’s past work, but still with enough punch to feel like a proper VK single. The arrangement is polished, clean, and accessible. Hookiness: The chorus is memorable and radio-friendly with...

Album Review: deadman — genealogie der moral Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)  •  Style: Dark VK / Post-punk / Minimal, moody  •  For fans of: cali≠gari, MUCC (early), Kuroyume genealogie der moral. Context deadman occupy a special corner of Visual Kei: stark, literary, and nocturnal. Rather than maximal theatrics, they lean into claustrophobic atmosphere —close-miked vocals, nervy guitar figures, and a rhythm section that stalks rather than sprints. genealogie der moral captures that mood like a dim bar light: everything is intimate, a little dangerous, and strangely beautiful. Sound & Songs The record anchors itself in tight, skeletal grooves—bass at the front, drums dry and precise, guitars cutting in shards. Arrangements leave plenty of space for breath and tension; when the band does...

Album Review: the GazettE — NIL (2006) Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)  •  Style: Visual Kei / Alt-rock / Heavy  •  For fans of: LUNA SEA, MUCC, Dir en grey (melodic era) the GazettE — NIL (album cover) Context Released in 2006 , NIL arrived as the GazettE were transitioning from rising indies to scene leaders. The record tightened their songwriting and sharpened their visual identity—less maximalist chaos, more deliberate contrasts between heavy surges and emotive, sing-along choruses. It’s a snapshot of mid-2000s VK when bands were pushing for bigger rooms and a global footprint without losing theatrics. Sound & Songs NIL leans on muscular guitar textures, nimble rhythm shifts, and Ruki’s dramatic vocal phrasing. The production strikes a balance between bite and clarity—enough ...