JRock suggestions

[Janebond136]

What are some good bands of JRock to listen to?



I know about Dir en Gray and that's about it .

;)

[Twisted]

A lot of good JRock bands broke up in the last few years. There's a good piece of history for you to catch up with bands like X-Japan, Luna Sea, Siam Shade and Oblivion Dust.

Current good rockacts are f.i. Pierrot, B'z, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Rize, Dope Headz and Cune.

One band that i really think is good and promising is Fake? (the questionmark is part of the name). The band is made up of guitarist Inoran (formerly of Luna Sea) and leadsinger Ken Lloyd (formerly of Oblivion Dust).
Their second album will be released on the 23rd of october.

[Namashibori]

Don't really know much about rock bands, just that band Rize that was mentioned already. I've been to a few underground hardcore, metal gigs while in Japan. They were very cool. The bands, don't remember names, were very professional on stage, they kicked ***. At this one place the crowd was nuts, doing kung fu kicks and ****. There were naked people as well!

[Ahmed.M.K]

if u like heavy songs u can hear this bands ..
Sex Machineguns , Concerto Moon , X japan

more rockish :D
Glay , Janne Da Arc , Luna Sea , Dir en grey , L'arc-en-ciel

Romantic JGothic .lol :) (indies bands)
Malice Mizer , Madeth gray'll , Due'le quartz

there is much more but ive catogrized some. :)

[Janebond136]

Thanks for all the great suggestions :cool:

[SaigO]

dir en grey :cool: :love:

[moyashi]

SaigO,
Welcome and yoroshiku!

[SaigO]

Thanks ^_^

[Clownfish]

i highly recommend L'Arc~en~ciel~~
Their songs Rock >___<!!

[Hoyu]

I agree with any suggestions to check out "Luna Sea"

Buy the double CD set entitled "Never Sold Out"

[Twisted]

Good suggestion. I've got that one as well. They're live every bit as good as in the studio.

[Hoyu]

I also have the "CAPACITY INFINITY LIVE!" video...

Absolutely Brilliant!

[Kiyotsuki]

Dir En Grey... I couldn't think of anything better (guitar-music-wise).

The only other Jrocks I've heard much of are Dasein (may have forgotten the correct spelling), T.M.Revolution and Kids Alive. There are a lot others (duh), but I just need to wait for another pay period to explore :D ...yeah, I know I'm missin out.

[moyashi]

Hotei or Tak Matsumoto for guitar!

:D

[midnitestar7]

Dir en grey, dir en grey and dir en grey. <laughs> Sorry, they just rock so much they had to be added multiple times.

Quick question though, what other jrock bands are there out there that are like Dir en Grey. Most of the others I've heard are a little.. well wussy! I've spent from about age 13 listening to HEAVY music.. for the last couple of years I've been mad on dir en grey. Have tried a couple of tracks by gackt and malice mizer and even luna sea but they're all quite mellow and tame. Luna sea rock mind you, they're just not in the same genre I think.

Any ideas?

xxStarxx

[Twisted]

Dir en Grey are weird. They take elements of different genres and mix them up resulting in music that's quite unsettling. That's why they're so hard to compare with other bands. They have that common rock feeling but they often play hardcore punk parts through their songs which seems completely out of place. And they make it work very well.

I'm detecting a difference in their more recent work. Their latest album Six Ugly resembles the music of The Mad Capsule Markets. Noise punk with surfcore influences. I think this is a marketing trick. They've seen that the Mad Capsule Markets have become popular worldwide and i think they want to achieve the same.

[midnitestar7]

Mmm.. Mad Capsule Markets rock. I've actually seen them at a festival (Ozzfest) here in the UK and then their own headlining gig. You can buy their CD's easily here now. And yes, I did hear their music in some of Dir en Grey's later stuff especially Child Prey - it could in fact be MCM.. just better I think.

So its unlikely that I'm going to find another band as heavy as them?

xxStarxx

[PinkSpId3r]

Go for Hide~ Though his dead but he still ROCKS~

[Twisted]

Yeah, hide rocks, but it's not really the same as Dir en Grey. You could go for his work with Zilch. That's also pretty heavy.
Otherwise you'll end up more into the noise and hardcore punk scene. Melt Banana or Guitarwolf are way louder then Dir en Grey but not as smoothly produced.

[midnitestar7]

I've heard of Melt Banana.. and yeah, not as smooth as Dir en Grey for sure. And of course I know Hide.. so I'll have to check out some of his stuff.. thanks!

xxStarxx

[ETERNAL]

I KNOW, BANDS LIKE:
-DIR EN GREY, DUE LE QUARTZ, KAGRRA, SYNDROME, JANNE DA ARC, SIAM SHADE, LUNA SEA, VELVET EDEN, MALICE MIZER, GACKT, PERSONA, LAMIEL, LA MULE, LACRYMA CHRISTY, LAREINE, ZIGZO, CHUCKY, ALIEN MARRIAGE, ETC...
-THIS IS MY SUGESTION.

[midnitestar7]

Yay! Lots of bands to look out for now. I'll let you know what I think once I've checked them all out.

xxStarxx

[Twisted]

Most of these bands mentioned by Eternal are typical Visual Kei bands who have Malice Mizer as their great example. Only few of them are up to the high standard that Malice Mizer portrayed.

Mana has started a new band now which is called Moi dix Mois. They released their first single "Dialogue Symphony" last week and i think this band is the only one deserving to be named the true follow up of Malice Mizer. You also might wanna check out a band called Schwarz Stein. They are also produced by Malice Mizer. Same high standard. The classic baroque meets industrial kinda thing.

Another band you should really hear is Fake? (Questionmark is part of the name). This band consists of Ken Lloyd (former vocalist of Oblivion Dust) and Inoran (Former guitarist of Luna Sea). Search for their single "Taste Maximum". Brilliant stuff. They've released their first album "Breathe in" this summer and their second album should be out on the 22nd of januari.

[midnitestar7]

Malice Mizer wise, I've just downloaded Regret which is just a piano solo, but its so beautiful its definately given me the insentive to download more of their stuff. I love well written piano pieces.

I'm currently searching around for tracks by Moi dix Mois, Schwarz Stein and Fake?. You can't get much Japanese music in the UK (the Japan centre sells a little, but only the most recent stuff a few months later than its release in Japan I think). Most of the time I have to look out for things on ebay. I don't have a credit card so I can't buy things off hmv japan or cdjapan or anything like that, so I'm stuck with downloading tracks. I only just managed to get all but one of dir en grey's albums in the last month so it might take me a while to get real versions of these bands.. so mp3's will have to do for now.

Thanks!

[Twisted]

I do have a credit card, but even then it's just too expensive to buy everything i like. I also download as much as i can and when i really really like something then i will buy the original.

In regard to the Merveilles album, i suggest you check out "S-Consious", "Brise" and "Le Ciel" to get a good idea how diverse that album is.

[midnitestar7]

Well I have Six Ugly anyway (1st press.. <laughs>) If anyone wants a.. ahem.. copy of either Missa, Gauze, Macabre, Kisou or Six Ugly by Dir en Grey, or Limit Control or Beat Rip by Aucifer and a couple of others by Glay and Luna Sea who's titles I can;t remember right now because the boxes are at my other house and I never memorized them in the first place.

I'd love to help!

xxStarxx

[JIRENMA]

Theres a new alt. rock group called Road to Major (ro-doobumeja-). They may have one song, but its a best seller in Japan now :D. Try their debut single Taisetsu na mono. Very catchy song

[Janebond136]

:blush: Dir en Gray is good, and I also think that Luna sea is a little tamer, but non the less good too. Malice Mizer was a goth band so that explains a lot.

The lead singer of Dir en Grey just seems to pour himslef into every song that he sings. :love:

[Pink Spider]

Gackuto isn't J-Rock anymore. He's only considered so b/c of his former position in Malice Mizer

Ooooo I lurve hide. and Dir en Grey. *snurggles Kyo* and Aliene Ma'riage is really good too. and Siam Shade, Plastic Tree, Pierrot, Orivia, Skull, Due le Quartz (they broke up 'cuz Kikasa left the band >.<), Miyavi (formerly "Miyabi" - DLQ's guitarist), many many more..!

[luzie]

hello.
I recommend Jeni-Jeni 4 u.
perhaps you don't know about this band and I've just knew this band recently.
they're still indies band so i think it's hard to get their CDs.

and another!
I highly recommend ONMYOUZA.
they say it's heavy metal band.
ONMYOUZA has twin vocalist and twin guitarist.
its lyrics are based on Japanese traditonal cultures.
and some songs, their musical scales conform to Japanese scales.
the members wear kimono at live stages.

attachment image is the latest album of ONMYOUZA,
鳳翼麟瞳(HOYOKU RINDO)

[midnitestar7]

Wow, onmyouza sound like just the kind of band I need to start listening to - I'm studying traditional Japaese music as part of my reasearch postgraduate degree and love to listen to what other people are doing with it. Any ideas where I can download some mp3's (I very much doubt my little London shops will sell the CD's.. they only have X Japan, a little Dir en Grey, Ayumi.. that kind of thing!)

[luzie]

>midnitestar7 san
hello!
Are you a student of music school??
that's great!:love:
you should listen ONMYOUZA!
because...Kuroneko(ONMYOUZA vocalist) sing some songs
like Japanese folk songs or like she were an enka (Japanese ballad) singer
though ONMYOZUA is heavy metal band!

I have some ONMYOUZA mp3s but I don't know how to send you
these files...:sorry:
I would like to know what options are available to me...
(if you know the way.)

well,I know these sites. you can listen to some part of their early works here.
1st album
http://www.cdjournal.com/guide/BECB8/BECB8B32.html

2nd album
http://www.cdjournal.com/guide/BEBDF/BEBDFA0E.html

*caution!*
you need Real Player and song titles are all written by Japanese!

[midnitestar7]

Hey there luzie! Thanks for all the information.

I am a research postgraduate student which means I've already taken my first degree in music and am now taking a second (kind of an extention) which specializes in whatever I want it to. I'm doing musical composition and japanese ethnomusicology. This basically means what I'm doing is composing music, but I'm studying Japanese traditional music and incorporating it into my work. In fact, all my pieces put together form all the music for a computer game I've designed in my head (if I don't get to sing for a career, I want to compose for japanese computer games!). Studying what other people are doing with Japanese trad music especially jrock bands is just the kind of thing I need to research so I'm really glad of the advice.

Okay, to send mp3s you can either e-mail me no more than 1 or 2 a day (my e-mail serve may die if theres more than that!) or you can streambeam them to me. If you have no idea what that is, go to www.streamload.com. You can set up a free account and 'streambeam' files to my account which means I can then download them from the net myself. You'll have to upload them to your account first but its all pretty simple. Private message me your e-mail address and we can talk more about it over e-mail if you need any help getting it sorted!

I can handle all the song titles being in Japanese. I'm learning right now so I might just understand something! <laughs>

[gundamv3]

for me i liked:
Malice Mizer
Dir en Grey
X Japan
Animetal

[luzie]

I love unfinished, too!!
Oh I'm looking at you
can't control myself
nothing but Pain for me......

and I love "Crucify my love"

[Lyn]

hmm I like Lｴarc en ciel, x, malice mizer, gackt, klaha, miyabi , and janne da arc the best but you also have dir en gray .... so many ^_^ if you like the rock gothic stuff go for malice if you like J pop Larc is always a good start ... ^_^ try honey (as first song) and then .... Sell my soul is good :D Kimi wa mamoru (Lyn hime? well ... she was a princes I gues... ｬｬ)

[Xciel-shade]

the best band i japan is siam shade cause x japan dont exist anymore but u should listen to hide,larc en ciel, x japan, dir en grey, glay,b'z and dope headz.
by the way does somebody know about a site where i can download dope headz songs?

[luzie]

I'm sorry but siam shade was disbanded too.

[Xciel-shade]

:0 what? :0what?
(dragon ash song : deep impact)
i didnt know that.........when thats happend?
by the way do you website where i can download dope headz songs?

[ninthsaphir]

Here's what I've heard so far. I'll try to include as many bands, even a couple I don't like, to be fair:

Gackt - J-Rock/J-Pop. As his songs can be diverse, I can only say that his vocal range and strength is extremely fine-tuned. The general atmosphere is mysterious, moody, or fun, or somewhere in between. His instrumentals are wonderful (freesia op. 2; sekirei, instr. ver). Recommended song: seki-rei, birdcage.

L'arc en Ciel - J-Rock/J-Pop. Somewhat more diverse than Gackt, mostly because they have 10 or so albums to his 3 1/2. Can range from bossa nova-ish (nemuri no yosete) to dynamic (finale, forbidden lover) to grunge (Shi no Hai), to pop-rockish (most of the tracks from Clicked Singles Best), and much more. Recommended song: forbidden lover, finale.

Nobuyuki Hirakura - Did you like L'arc en Ciel? Nobuyuki isn't really in a band, but he did do some nice solo acoustics for L'arc en Ciel. Recommended song: forbidden lover.

Hyde - He is the vocalist from L'arc en Ciel. He only has had one full album out (two actually, but the second's the english version of the first), but that album is well heavily orchestrated. I expect he won't stick to one style, however. Recommended song: Shallow Sleep.

Luna Sea - They have three phases: Lunacy, pre-Shine and post-Shine (that's my own unofficial designation). Lunacy (indies period) is very heavy and dark, very angry. Pre-Shine is very innovative but still has the roughness of Lunacy. post-Shine might seem poppish as others have said, but to me it seems more like a more refined rock. In the latter they use more effects. Recommended song: Genesis of the Mind (pre-Shine); Breathe (post-Shine)

Lareine - Romantic rock. You would think it's french in atmosphere. Recommended song: Emeraude

New Sodmy - vocalist the same vocalist as the one for Lareine. Romantic rock. Unfortunately, I believe they've disbanded, but what they have is good. Recommended song - Romantic Season.

Buck Tick - Think Euro-Goth; although I think some might disagree with me. Recommended song: In heaven

FAKE? - The vocalist is half-british, so the english lyrics aren't as accented. Seems very similar to more Western modern rock. Recommended song: Eternal Satellites.

Lastier - I seldom see their music around, which is unfortunate. Most likely disbanded. I always think U2 when I hear them. Recommended song: SkY, for lack of knowing many other songs.

Hope that helped.

[luzie]

Originally posted by Xciel-shade
:0 what? :0what?
(dragon ash song : deep impact)
i didnt know that.........when thats happend?
by the way do you website where i can download dope headz songs?

March 10th 2002.
They did final concert at Tokyo Budokan.
They pursue solo stuff now.

Daita
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SMER/Daita/
Kazuma
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/vork/

sorry I don't know where you can download dope headz songs
:sorry:

[blue flame]

these are the jrock bands that i listen too;

Miyavi
Due le Quartz
X-Japan
hide
Dir en Grey
MUCC
L'arc en ciel
Lareine
Kagrra
GLAY
Gackt
Psycho le Cemu
Malice Mizer
Moi Dix Mois
Duel Jewel
Pierrot
Luna Sea
Phobia

but i think most of them has already been mentioned...so yeah...:o

[Tare. Aura Violette]

these are the j-rock groups I enjoy:

GLAY
Malice Mizer
X-Japan
Gackt ((Gackt is rock right?))
ShakkaZombie
Klaha

I like J-Pop a bit more though

[Xciel-shade]

does anybody know a website of a jrock artists where i can send massege to the artist?
(very important)

[KlahaXGackt]

Glay, Lareine, Larku, La'Cryma Christi, Gackt, Glay, X-Japan, TM Revolution, B'z...I can think of many more...more to come later

[KlahaXGackt]

Okay Iceman and Access (Axs) Kotani Kinya's good if you're in for more of the sugar pop type of thing, Kra's good if you can find anything by them...Psycho Le Cemu is really good, of course the classics like Malice Mizer...and Moi Dix Mois is great as well

[kaijuu]

what is the best way to describe gackt is he jrock or more jpop

[Twisted]

Well, that entirely depends on what song of him you listen to. Most of what he did solo is more in the pop-genre then rock.

I don't think it's really fair to put him into one corner or the other. It's Gackt and that's that.

[Jemi]

im still on the group Bump of chicken. but im going to check out alkl these other bands! :clap:

[silver angel]

L'arc en Ciel was amazing, although Hyde also did pretty good on his own but that's more soft rock...>_>