perjantai 31. joulukuuta 2010

GxSxD - Death Metal

Last update for this year is GxSxD - God Send Death which ishigh quality death metal from Fukuoka.

Fast, Raw, Heavy and Melodic. Just another prove there are masters in every single metal genre in Japan if you just want to find them.

perjantai 3. joulukuuta 2010

Darkness Rose - Females in Japan metal XIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXI

Japans Goth metal promise Darkness Rose is fairly new band. I have known them from very first days of the band. It was started by their bass player Erica who is former member of Sincerity Green. Erica has also done the awesome background of this blog so I'm very thankful for her!

Darkness Rose is Gothic Metal and active in its own scene in Japan. Their first demo is really promising so I hope to hear good news from this band in future!

keskiviikko 1. joulukuuta 2010

lowit

I found this 5 man band of Nagoya via twitter today. It has been useful media to find new interesting bands. lowit says that they are Loud Rock but this sounds very american metal for me. Well done music with good production. Not the most favourite genre but worth writing to this blog. Their newer song sounded realy good though.



This next clip rocks even more. I wish there would be full version of it uploaded.

lauantai 27. marraskuuta 2010

Vagerke

Just read at mixi that Vagerke is disbanding and having their last live 5th Dec. So I thought I could put their music here too. One kind of Japanese thrashy melodeath. Thrash elements are really nice in every song I know ^_^

tiistai 16. marraskuuta 2010

Survive - some thrash for wednesday

Since loving that one drumming pattern often used in metal and especially Thrash Metal Survive makes me wanna mosh right now! Just one more quality band from Japan. what can I say more than excellent playing and singing in this video:


maanantai 15. marraskuuta 2010

New Breed

Today I have had lot of different kind of band for BGM but New Breeds PV was the jackpot for my monday feeling = (x_x).

New breed is some kind of core with enough metal to be published here. I love the energy of young generation of musicians. This simply made me happy:



And two really cool news. First - Inhale has announced that their new singer! He is Jeff Allen from The Fall Conspiracy Read the full news here: http://www.inhale-web.com/index-j.php

Second great news is that there is lot of happneing in BSC camp right now. According to Ryuichi's blog they are attendind A-KKON 2011 in the USA. Great! And some rumours tells about Europe too.

perjantai 12. marraskuuta 2010

Demetori - more doujin

This is just one more amazing doujin circles in the touhou scene. Nothing more to say.



torstai 14. lokakuuta 2010

6 ft. down

I knew already bands 6 feet under and 6 feet deep. Maybe not the most original band name but their style is rare in Japan metal. Good slow metal with nice groove and elements taken from various other styles. Female singer Nao has very unique tone in her singing.


This song has so cool c-part in middle:


keskiviikko 13. lokakuuta 2010

Pay money To my Pain

I was 100% sure that this is not Japanese band. It seems to be. Excellent stuff. I don't know if this is Emo or Post Hardcore or what but it can't be better quality.
I managed make quite a contrast with these last two nikkis. From Corrupted to Pay money To my Pain is huge step from extreme to mainstream.

Pay money To my Pain - Pictures.

tiistai 12. lokakuuta 2010

Anthem

Anthem is heavy metal. Old school band but really good one. This band is top quality in every way! They have done music over decades so its time to give them some respect. I have been noticing that nowadays I like more and more "old" music that I used to skip as a kid. Anthem is one of those bands. Their musicianship and level of professionality is just amazing and I finally understand it partly.

This is newer stuff



And this is little bit older music from golden 90's

sunnuntai 10. lokakuuta 2010

J-Doom/J-Sludge

Its quite hard to get information or good youtube clips of extreme metal styles. Even Extreme metal means usually more death/grind/black music I think slow music is extreme too. At least in Japan where it is so much more underground compared to any other metal genres. Therefore knowledge of these bands might be bigger in other parts in the world than in Japan.

As a good quality deathdoom/sludge I present Corrupted. Wikipedia had very interesting stuff about them. Very interesting band. At least this is totally different side of Japan metal as usually in my nikkis.

This intro riff is so catchy...

torstai 7. lokakuuta 2010

Takamiy

Actually I never have listened Alfee but I know Takamiy from appearing in many TV shows. And I knew his angel guitars from guitar catalogs. I have to admit he is not very good singer. He is old school guitar player and I mean that todays kids are faster and far more technical and "better" players. Still you can hear that he has skills to make music. Takamiy learned his skills back then when playing and learning to play instrument were so different compared today. So its sad to read comments bashing his skills on the yotube videos. There are still some very nice compositions and arrangements that needs much more than technical playing skills.

He has also some cool old-school metal attitude on the next video. Outfits, guitars, huge Marshall wall,...And Luke Anchan on guitar is big + for me. Who is the 4th guy? Even the singing is not good it makes me hilarious. So this is funtasy metal for me ^_^

anison

My first touch to jrock and hard rock was animes which I watched from TV back in 80's 90's. Animes I did watch were Lupin III, Uchuu Senkan Yamato, Kinnikuman, Babylon 2nd, Bakabon, Arare-Chan, Cat's Eye, City Hunter, Saint Seiya and later Dragon Ball and DBZ. Others too but that is quite close to arranged them onto timeline.


If band like Angra performs Pegasus Fantasy it must be the first to mention. I like the original more.



Angra Version is good too since Edu is great singer


But this is so good that I can' t put into words. TM Network song Get Wild. Its more jpop but best anison made ever IMHO.



Sex Machineguns - Illusionm City is good one too also featured in City hunter as Get Wild was.

keskiviikko 6. lokakuuta 2010

Takayoshi Ohmura

Liv Moon has started their succesful tour and I promised to put some stuff about this guitar hero so its time for Takayoshi Ohmura.

Ohmura plays in various projects/bands including activity with Marty Friedman (ORZ). He also makes his own music and is well known guitar teacher at least in Japan. His own music is more to poppish Hard Rock but its really good in the genre.
And if you like guitar hero music then this is must for you.

Here is some live material to show what kind of playing and performance skills I'm writing about:

maanantai 4. lokakuuta 2010

Area 51

After some really busy days and weeks here is a short update: Area 51. One man band plus excellent female vocals and lot of neoclassical shredding. My type of music made with very high standards.

And cool news but also bitter is that Ankimo (Unlucky Morpheus) is going to perform live in November 5th and in two other events. Its really cool but what makes it bitter is I have no chance to go to see that happen. I hope that someone puts live videos online.

But here is some Area 51:

torstai 23. syyskuuta 2010

† † †

keskiviikko 22. syyskuuta 2010

Females in japameta x xx xx x

Exist†Trace - nice rock/metal band and females members only. Well known band at least in Europe since they have toured here few times. They sound is quite modern with variety of influences from different genres. Some times they are sound agressive but still not very extreme. Sometimes I get Luna Sea vibes from their songs which is always good. My friend once told that it's because other guitarist is huge LS fan.


maanantai 20. syyskuuta 2010

Females in Japameta part xxxxx

Onmyo-za is so famous band that it doesn't need any representing. Or it shouldn't have. If you haven't heard anything of them then it's time your homework right now.

I can't decide what I think about them. Partly they are great and partly I don't like them and I don't know the reason. That's also why I wait until this to write something about them. Maybe I just need to listen them with right timing.

But here is a good song of them with really cool male-female harmonies in chorus!!!

perjantai 17. syyskuuta 2010

females part xxxx

Back in the days before Youtube or Myspace it was pain in the ass to find Japanese music legally or unlegally or even information via various sites (like Japanese Channel by Pam chan). Thos times therewas bands and getting fonts to get read most sites was so cool. But mp3's or samples were hard to get and todays blogs Ancient Myth has something to do with that.

Nope, not me telling ancient myth even I could tell too long about stuff like listening my favourite J-music on casette tape!

Ancient Myth's singer was in the scene already then with her band Mandylion. I didnät ever get any music of them I think so it was interesting to getting into know what knd of music it might have been with this band. Ancient Myth is something gothic and melodic metal with neoclassic elements. Good combination.But it would be better to my ears wihtout autotune effect (yeah I'm 100% sure there is some used in some parts or some other method with same results). But back to the good sides. also like bands that has no or just little "Yoshiki drumming". BTW I think that quite popular in Japanese metal scene. Of course not in every genre... I'll prove that later (maybe not).

torstai 16. syyskuuta 2010

I've ignored this one too long

Back to normal nikkis for at least a day.

Was it KRANK amplification doing some metal music contest or big promoting in Japan somewhere around 2003-2004?!?!?! + - few years?? Correct me if I was wrong but Metal Safari was the band that won the competition or was in the main part. Why? Simply because they are GOOD!

That time I had different kind of music era going so I didn't listen them so much. Even I kept all these years eyes on them. Or should I say that you can't get into Japanese Metal scene without hearing name Metal Safari soon in a way or another.

They are releasing a new CD within few days so this is perfect timing to bring them to the wider audience. <- I hope you got the joke ^_^ CM:

And then full old song. Metal Safari comfirms the fact t if bands guitarist plays with the Caparison it is good band ^_^



Remember to check out their official samples for the next album!!

keskiviikko 15. syyskuuta 2010

Next = part xxx

Jikuu Kaizoku Seven Seas. This is more traditional extremely melodic heavy metal. I really like seeing females playing other instruments than keyboards even its nothing bad with that in any way. Eita is good example and she nicely guitars in Jikuu Kaizoku.

This band is for you if you like happy music, not too heavy stuff, melodies, "normal" singing, lot of twin leads or simply good music.

The band can't ever be bad if you get Paul Gilbert+Hellween+Iron Maiden vibes during the first 20 seconds!

females+j-metal part xx

Today I'll introduce Shadow. Very Swedish (and that southern city which name starts with letter 'G') sounding Japanese melodeath band. Swedish sound is a big plus for me! It means nice harmony leads and long solos! Female part of this band is Vocals by Tokiko Shimamoto. Her 'desuvoisu' (Death Vocs) are sung well so Shadow is a perfect band for this series of females in Japan Metal Bands. I like that I can post also other genres bands than just heavy metal and gothic ones. Unfortunately Shadows is inactive. Hopefully they make comeback or at least continue making music in other bands.

maanantai 13. syyskuuta 2010

BSC news + females in Japan metal part x

                                            ( pic from www.bloodstainchild.com )

So now its official. Blood Stain child announced their new members when opening their new site. And it may come to big suprise that SadeW was replaced with Greece singer Sophia. Huge level up for Blood Stain Child because they also became female fronted band. And after hearing one new BSC demo with Sophia singing in angelic voice I can't wait to hear the release. Ryus lates blog tells interesting things about her so definately check it out: Ryu's official Monochrome blog (Japanese)

Drummer Gami comes from Youthquake so there is only small pressure how well he fills Vios boots. Since he was one of my favourite member. Its obvious that  I miss Vio but at least he visited in BSC recording sessions and is doing fine.

 There are not yet new video material from BSC so lets put something nice to the end from band called Alhambra. They are one of my favourite power metal bands from Japan with really nice arrangements and unique compositions that make them into top of the scene.

 

sunnuntai 12. syyskuuta 2010

Female power

I thought to present few female fronted band in the next posts since there is small active scene doing such music.

First one is Liv Moon which is not very familiar to me but I heard the name in other occasion which I'll explain later. After few spins of their songs this is gonna be one of the top bands in the whole genre and not just in Japanese scene making symhponic gothic metal.

Liv Moon is one women band and what a band it is! Akane Liv ( Okamoto Akane ) has interesting roots and she was born in Gothenburg Sweden. She has already made a career in the famous Takarazuka Opera and now having a very bright metal debut done. And fun fact is that the reason that Liv Moon exists is the song Phantom of the Opera from Finnish band Nightwish.

Beside good music interesting fact about Liv Moon is that they have just recruited Japanese guitarist Takayoshi Ohmura who is really nice guitarist and solo artist. I should write own post for just him because he plays gigs with Marty Friedman so he really ain't mr. nobody. At least he's got my respect.

But back to Liv Moon. Just one of these amazing band that comes out from Japan.

Enjoy:

maanantai 6. syyskuuta 2010

Cyclamen + some news

Cyclamen is very technical band and so it narrows down the audience from the traditional J-rock/J-metal Fans. But if you are open minded or like more difficult music its really worth checking out. Support members of the band are not Japanese but mastermind of the band is and Japanese lyrics makes this 100% pure J-Metal.

Cyclamen - Never Ending Dreams:



And some really good news. Even Inhale hasn't new vocalist yet they ave released some preproduction material for their upcoming album. They have widened their sound more outside of the metalcore boundaries and it means more "nordic" melodies.
Check the 2 new songs 'Resurgent Threat' and 'Sanctuary' at Audioleaf immediately! NOW!!

keskiviikko 25. elokuuta 2010

Luna Sea news?!!??!?!?

I just read tweet about this and checked the official site but could't read the news because of flash + japanese encoding = "mojibake". Not metal news but since its Luna Sea I needed to write immediately update about it. Their song Slave impressed me long long time ago and since then I've been a huge fan of their art. Comeback news in 31th August?

Their unique style has also got other metal fans to become their fans and this cover is great prove of it:

tiistai 10. elokuuta 2010

Ningen Isu

First post in August - Finally

I've posted quite many faster metal genres. So I started
finding slow stuff since its gonna be autumn soon. So
Doom is todays genre and I find some nice slow stuff
but then found something very interesting and unique.

Japanese Doom metal with traditional music influence.
This is the band I have known from name only but never
heard their music before.
Always cool to find bands with originality and not sounding
too weird or artificial. But Ningen Isu's is much more than
doom. They have lot of different type of songs every one
filled with really nice rhythmic riffs. And I really like tha bass!

Here is some real wafuu metal and skip this if you want to hear modern music:

tiistai 27. heinäkuuta 2010

Some happy emo/screamo

It just fits to summer. No dark feelings for me now on this sunny day ^_^

Not the most original song but if you don't hate this genre this is quite good and singer is nice as the rest of production.

2side1BRAIN - Make your world :


tiistai 20. heinäkuuta 2010

Midnight Circus

Light Bringer relesead a new album  in the end of the May but I haven't have yet bought it. I have listened one song from nikonikodouga and it was quite different to the older songs. Promising but needing more time to get into. Someone had recently uploaded two songs from Midnight Circus to youtube. I really like what I hear. Sounds are great as expected and band has progressed so much from their debut album. I hope to see some live clips too...

perjantai 16. heinäkuuta 2010

Sound Horizon - Fantasy Metal

Japanese music scene doesn't stop suprising me - Always cool bands popping out from nowhere.
Sound Horizon started their career from Doujin circles and they have grown up into really big band releasing many major albums. Their very theatrical live shows are maybe not my facourite thing but it really shows what these bands can do. What amazes me is that Sound Horizon has managed to getso many  good singers into their crew. They are not as metal as many of bands introduced here but their sound have strong gothmetal elements and is very high quality in every aspect.

This is how they do their music live:

sunnuntai 4. heinäkuuta 2010

Girl Power 1

Aldious (Ultimate Melodius) is 5 piece girl powermetal/hard rock band from Osaka. They are releasing their debut album within few days (7th of July) so I thought its good idea to introduce them now. They are signed to Indie label BrightStarRecords so I'm not sure if they are known abroad at all. It's hard to say much of their music because they have only samples available on Youtube and Myspace. But definately strong band in Japans female metal band scene and hopefully they have bright future as their labels name forsees.

I  like  more the other preview video (Defended Desire)  but it was not allowed to embed so I put here the other available song Ultimate Melodious that is more hard rock:

perjantai 2. heinäkuuta 2010

Time flies

But I haven't forgot this blog. I've been just doing much better things like watching Soccer and listening to those infernal Vuvuzelas. Unfortunately Japan lost to Paraguay in PK's. There are many cool mathces to watch = no much updates before world cup is over. I also prepare for acoustic live gig and recording of EP so time is very limited. Just excuses for lazyness ^_^

Band of today is Ancestral. I no nothing about this but music is quite cool basic melodeath.

torstai 17. kesäkuuta 2010

Quest For Blood + teaser

Due to Soccer World Championship I have concetrated on it more than music and one good reason is to support Japan as I do.

I have plan to order some music from Japan since I found that HMV Japan has lot of CD I just need. Unfortunately Euro is too weak compared to Yen these days so I need to postpone the order.

Few days ago I was able to get two demo tracks of new BSC songs and I have to say that despite the sad news I'm really waiting the new CD now. New members makes the music very interesting. Ryu also writed in his blog about guest musicians from abroad and I know they are really cool ones! I wish there will be official information soon available. I'm keeping thumbs up for their tour in Europe!

Few years ago I found Quest For Blood from the guestbook of Finnish "cob" metal band Whispered. Q.F.B. is progressive extreme/black metal combining japanese flute and traditional Japanese vibes to their music.
This is not the most easist stuff to listen but enjoy:






And this is the Whispered -  Japan influenced music mixing it with Finnish melodeath:

 

sunnuntai 13. kesäkuuta 2010

Sad BSC News

Yesterday I read news about member changes in Blood Stain child. Their vocalist SadeW leaving was not that big shock but also Violator leaving was. Reason for that is that in the ancient time Violator was the first contact to the band which I found via Japanese COB band fan page. We exchanged the demo and since then we have been in touch and even met twice at their live. And now those lives becomes more important since my dream of European tour and meeting Violator is gone.



Good thing is that now there are interesting news waiting from BSC. Vio is still playing drums so maybe some new band coming which is not as big as BSC?!?

Blood Stain Child:  Requiem (I didn't find the demo version...):

perjantai 11. kesäkuuta 2010

Japanese Extreme Metal documentary

I found this impressive documentary on youtube when searching some grindcore. This is a mustsee!!! and extremely informative! There are interesting short interviews and some sound samples of some extreme metal bands with English subtitles.

Thank you Visual Justice Films and Mark Kellel!!

I learned some new bands like SSORC and Detritum and as they says in these videos Japan really has high quality bands. One thing that labels Japanese music in almost any genre is the dedication. That is rarely seen in western world. J-rock fans here in Europe (maybe in USA too) had same kind of dedication before it became just another subculture and subscene.

PART 1:


PART 2:


PART 3:


PART 4:


PART 5:


PART 6:


PART 7:


PART 8:


PART 9:

keskiviikko 9. kesäkuuta 2010

Neoclassic

Concerto Moon is the first band of Japan in this genre which I got to knew. But it was in the days when it was impossible to get to hear any music. Also I didn't find their CD's during my Japan trips.

But without hearing any music the genre was clearly neoclassic. Logo with font like they have and band name itself and of course YJM (Yngwie J. Malmsteen) shaped guitar. So what to except. Powermetallish songs with lot of shredding and sweeps. Lot of harmonic minor scale and high tone singning. And that sums up Concerto Moon pretty much. I'd been quite happy about that 15 years ago but its too much these days. And if I want to listen to neoclassic I'd first pick up old YJM CD because some of those songs are epic and have also memory value that Concerto Moon doesn't have.

Still they play really well as you can see:

keskiviikko 2. kesäkuuta 2010

more doujin music!

I was right. Doujin circles makes fantastic music for my taste. Unlucky Morpheus is great example. The ones with the vocals are nice too (its Fuki from Lighbringer singing!!) but these instrumentals are awesome!

This one has great solo playing and cool references to my favourite Brasilian band Angra:



This one is really cool song too and there are too many left to hear.

maanantai 31. toukokuuta 2010

Gonin-Ish

Progressive metal is music that is really hard to listen for me. Not that its bad or anything. The reason is that it takes too much to listen what there is happening with different instruments. I can't help that I analyze music all the time, sounds arrangement, mixing, tone,... so music like this kinda overflows my brains. Definetely not a BGM for me. What can I say about them. Amazing skills in every aspect as the live video proves. And it does sound really original and nothing like Dream Theater or western progmetal.

torstai 27. toukokuuta 2010

I ♥ Thrash

I remember name Youthquake from many years ago but for some mystic reason I haven't listened their music almost at all.

I still do enjoy some western Thrash/Speedmetal and it was quite big thing in my youth.

Youthquake is cool. Excellent fast riffing and _that_ Thrash drum beat that I love so much.

Remember to visit their myspace too: /www.myspace.com/youthquakejp

tiistai 25. toukokuuta 2010

old hard rock

Maybe not that old but I remember when this single was released and it was 22 years ago. Twin lead from the begining is something I just can never forget. And Kogure is maybe the best heavy metal singer in Japan. Heard that they are reunioning. Ace has nice guitar too as a cool guitarist should have.

perjantai 21. toukokuuta 2010

Crossfaith

I found Crossfaith via Inhale and these young guys must have a bright future. Checkin' every video from youtube showed me that they have very energetic lives and very high level playing skill! It's a killer combination with good songs (if you can stand core \(^_^)/ ).

Check out their official youtube vid:

torstai 20. toukokuuta 2010

Gackt

Now we're in the borderline but some of his songs are hard (and good) enough to be published under J-Metal blog. And another reason is that you'll see Caparison guitars on their PV's and those are very metal guitars. If you play guitar you must at least try one of those jewels. I suggest you to buy bunch of them.

I'm not huge fan of Gackt but sometimes I enjoy listening his music. He's better singer than average j-rock singers and his band is very good and songs above average. So sometimes I let my ears rest with softer ongaku.

This is quite hard-rockish song called 'Jesus':

tiistai 18. toukokuuta 2010

Pizuya's Cell

Yamagen was one of the secondary reasons I started to write blog. I knew I would find interesting new bands but never thought this good bands. Via Yamagen I found similar artist Pizuya. These guys are amazing and it seems that there are lot of bands and music made like this. So I have a lot to learn about circles where some of great J-Metal is made. And second thing is how I can purchase some of these cd's since I have no chance to go events where they are sold.

maanantai 17. toukokuuta 2010

Yamagen

This is the band I didn't know 10 minutes before. Very good sounding modern (lot of synths) melodeath/screamo. I need to get more info about this. Googling gave me an idea that this is one man band. I really like suprises like this.

perjantai 14. toukokuuta 2010

more metalcore!

Her name In Blood aka HNIB. This is one of those good metalcore/screamo bands in Japanese scene. They have released few EP's and they have released first CD in March. I have heard only good comments about it.

This is some live material that shows that they are not just "studio band":

keskiviikko 12. toukokuuta 2010

Inhale vocalist leaving

Just read official statement that Inhale has decided to part the ways with their vocalist after the final show of current tour.

LINK: Inhale official website

I really hope they find new great singer soon!!

maanantai 10. toukokuuta 2010

Versailles

My powermetallish posts continues (there's cool fantasy metal waiting!!).

Versailles. How do I start. I have been dissing this band just for their look. I still don't like the vocals much. It is just wrong style to be my cup of tea Second is their look. V-kei band look makes me usually skip the music because of so many dissapointments. For me music wins look/image of the band.

Versailles is musically quite good. Basic powermetal with some neoclassical melodies, twin leads and good production. Sometimes I get X-Japanish vibes too but that might be almost impossible for any Japanese bands in this genre.

I need to hear Versailles more even they are not getting into my top favourites.

If V-kei is something you like this is also musically good so definitely worth checking.

tiistai 4. toukokuuta 2010

Kleza

Kleza is really cool Tehcnila Melodic Death Metal demo band from Kyoto (My furusato!). As you can hear on the youtube link vocals are done very well by female vocalist CHISAKO. Its quite different from Fukiten of Raburii but really good one! But second half of the band is as great too. Compositions are fine and guitar&drum playing of KAN is just excellent. I was really happy to hear they are working on new material.

Kleza Myspace

lauantai 1. toukokuuta 2010

Galneruys

After listening almost one week the songs of Light Bringer its time to move on. Now I just have to wait that their debut CD arrives...and next one is released in the end of the May.

Galneruys is my favourite Japanese powermetal/symphonic metal band. They are just epic. Syu is amazing player as the whole band too. And they have kind of connection to Light Bringer via their Keyboard player which is fun.

maanantai 26. huhtikuuta 2010

Light Bringer

This is very nice female fronted band with some technical elements in poppish power metallish style. I heard this song "Diamond" and it made me smile. Good singing (I don't mind the autotune its used well enough), good playing, guitar solos and simple Dream Theater riffing in some part of the song. Got to hear the CD some day...

Hope you like it too:


torstai 22. huhtikuuta 2010

Some older music

Back in the days when I was a kid Otokogumi was the best. Actually it's not so bad sounding today if listening only one song at time. I think this is from 1988 or something. Hard music "scene" was so nice before grunge ruined everything ^_^

maanantai 19. huhtikuuta 2010

J-Metal and Guitar

I wish there were more j-metal videos like this. But no wonder I like Inhale. We also share many same influences with the Hashimoto and listen carefully for the hardrock influences in their music.

perjantai 16. huhtikuuta 2010

Death I Am - Blues Of Ire

Today I found this band called Death I Am. First Impression is really good. And
my friend said that Hiroyku from Metal Safari is engineering their 1st full lenght.
sounds very interesting!!

Blues Of Ire is their nice song which I'm currently listening:

maanantai 12. huhtikuuta 2010

J-Metal Spring

Japans spring must include Sakura in some form. And a very nice friend of mine helped me to get nice background pic with cherry blossoms too. You'll later hear some of her music in genre of gothic J-metal. Something like Wihtin Temptation.

My sakura song is not Bon Jovis Tokyo Road but Sex Machineguns Sakurajima! I really hope you understand Japanese enough to like these crazy lyrics which is the best part of this band.

perjantai 9. huhtikuuta 2010

Loudness

A Jump from Janne Da Arc to Loundess is quite big but I remember reading somewhere that their drummer idol was Munetaka Higuchi.

I have to say that I haven't listen so much Loudness. Their Hard Rock era must be what they are famous for and it has great moments there. But I really do like the band sound on the newer CD's and especially its heaviness. I wish to hear it once live. I'm sure its music that you can feel.

Takasaki is considered as one of the guitar heroes of Japan but I'm not so into his shredding even it suits perfectlt to their sound. Rythm sound and clear playing is what makes me to listen Loudness. Btw It took some time to find non hardrock Loudness video from youtube.


And please notice cool shirt Takasaki is wearing made by Peacemaker.

lauantai 3. huhtikuuta 2010

Janne Da Arc (indies)

Long time ago I did listen some Janne Da Arc. They were just reaching their major debut then. I liked their indies stuff more because it was not so polished. Along metal I listen rock/hard rock too so there are plenty of reasons to like Janne Da Arc.

First thing that got my attention was good drumming and skillful guitar riffs and unique melodies along with quite loud synths. I can stand the vocals so I listened Resist and Chaos Mode quite much.


Maybe I should check out later their newer music too. Sylvia/Gaia is last I heard from them.

This is one of their older songs. Not the best but this has typical very good ジャンヌ chorus that makes it worth listen it.

torstai 1. huhtikuuta 2010

Smash The Brain

Its sad that I don't own any demos or CD's of this great band! In case of Smash the Brain we talk about very Gothenburg influenced melodic death metal. For me it means cool riffs and lot of guitar melodies and harmonies. This isn't the most original music and genre but who cares if just the right elements are in there and played well.


smashthebrain@myspace

And after little googling I found studio live material from last year. I have to say I like Jeffs singing a lot!  And of course guitar playing...

tiistai 30. maaliskuuta 2010

slipping to emoish world

For the begining I have to tell that I really don't know and don't want to know differencies between different subgenres in core/emo world. I just know that there are plenty of bands relly cool tight bands in these genres in Japan too. I just started to enjoy metalcore music within a year so even Japanese bands might copy some stuff directly from their idols I don't know it and they sound quite fresh to me ^_^.

For those who hates everything that has emo or core words in their style definition please just skip these posts. I want to be open to newer styles because if its crap I don't have to like it and there is always chance to find something interesting.

So the 1st band in this genre to be introduced is 404NOTFOUND. Violator from BSC recommended this band for me in their demo era and I think they have released a full lenght CD and PV. I have heard they are very good live band!



Their myspace is here

sunnuntai 28. maaliskuuta 2010

Some newer music

Japan has maybe thousands of bands from really crappy ones to diamonds including some excellent cover bands. Band culture has its originality and since there are lot of people in Japan every single subgenre has own fans and own active submusic culture. That's one of the reasons I love Japanese music scene. I find always something interesting new bands and songs.

One of the newer bands I've found is My Material Season. This is very yoshiki influenced metal mixed with melodic death metal elements. In my words they took the best of X-Japan and addes new flavours.

My Material Season = speedy drumming, nice melodies, twin leads, pianos and better singing than Toshi who sings sometimes not so well.

It is quite diffucult to find deeper information about My Material Season but at least they have myspace and Nozaki adds sometimes nice samples to youtube too. And his drumming videos are cool too even you need to have access to them in mixi.jp



My Material Season is one of those bands I wish to have bright future!

Check them out at myspace, its an order ^_^: My Material Season@Myspace

perjantai 26. maaliskuuta 2010

X & X-Japan

This must be one of the bands that comes into mind when topic is Japanese harder music. At least for me it is.

The fun thing is that first song that I heard was "Weekend" and later legendary ballad "Say Anything" but they didn't made good impression. About 6 years later one of my friend said to me that I might like them so I asked my sister to send some of their music to me. That was still the era of C-tapes ^_^.

So I got Dahlia on C-tape and that song really impressed me. I repeated the first song many many times after the first listening and it was a must to learn with guitar. Later I got more their music. So I found outthat some songs were extremely good. Usually the fast ones but unfortuntely quite many boring songs too. hide made lot of better stuff on his solo career than not so good rock songs to X-Japan but this is just my opinion.

 So Dahlia is my pick today. It is just pure art from first note to the end!


torstai 25. maaliskuuta 2010

This is it

This is simply the begining of this new blog.

Idea behind this is just to share good songs, bands, albums, videos of  harder music from Japan. I do listen very different genres so in the end this might contain bands from acoustic instrumental jazz to the most extreme metal. I try to limit this Japanese bands only but its just one rule that I can break.

I'm not so much into Visual Kei stuff even I like some bands if just music is enough good. Usually it just isn't my cup of tea.So if you are looking for information about V-kei you propably do not find it here.

Some unuseful facts about me:
* I love Japan and I have been there a while so I know I love that country
* I do play guitar ->  Japanese tend to like guitarist music -> they make music I like
* I do speak some Japanese and it helps me finding new bands
* I'm not native English speaker so my written language is not going to be perfect
* I'm not expert in Japanese music (or music overall) I just post what I like

I hope to find some cool connections by starting this blog and hopefully make some new connections
between Japanese bands and the rest of the world.


As a first band and song I take song TRUTH from great band Blood Stain Child, enjoy:

 
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