About 3 weeks ago before my exams ended, I ordered Girugamesh's CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY DVD from CDJapan for my birthday [sweet sixteen =D]. As my holidays were only 3 weeks long, I was really anxious for it to arrive and visited the post box more than was necessary. XD Fed up with the disappointment of opening an empty post box, I finally decided to call the tracking number I was given when I last went to visit on Saturday and oh the irony, it arrived that day but after I had checked. So I happily went to the post office today with the reference code only to find there was a long line that practically lead out the door. I was little phased at how long the queue was but I don't really mind waiting in lines so the 15-20 minute wait wasn't really so bad.
It was what came after that that ticked me off. I told the postal lady that I'd come to collect a package and gave her the reference number and saw her disappear into the parcels room. Several minutes later I saw her emmerge empty-handed and begin wondering round the back-area looking under files and stacks of other stuff before she disappeared out of my line of sight. At this point, I thought, "Oh my gosh...they've lost my package! >_<" For some obscure reason, she was gone an over the time you'd normally give someone to look for a parcel and I'd been stuck at the post office for almost 40 minutes. Finally she came back but then told me that I needed to get the actual slip from my post box which is several floors down. -_-; After a brief panic that the box keys were left at home when they weren't, I got the slip and went back up to the post office....only to be met by another out-the-door queue! DX
...Eventually...I got my package and once I had it in my hands, all my annoyance disappeared and I was really excited when I got home and opened it! =D
When I saw the, "Are you crazy?" sticker I couldn't help but laugh since it really seems like something the guys of Giru would think of putting in but also because of all that I'd been through to acquire the DVD! XD [Seriously, I've never had so much trouble trying to get a package from the post office...afterwards, my mom told me to never order anything online again. XD]
One thing that struck me as strange about the DVD was that while the sticker, DVD cover and DVDs all have the logo featured on the MUSIC album, the spine has their old regular logo. I suppose the use of the new logo is to show a link with the MUSIC album.
The DVD features two discs: the first is the concert DVD with super-cute, anime-styled character designs of the band members looking sullen and the second is footage documenting the nationwide tour as indicated by the yellow design of Japan. ^_^
I've already watched the DVD once and am happy to say I'm quite satisfied with my purchase despite all the craziness involved. ;3
After almost a year-and-4-months of on and off painting, I finally finished my first canvas piece!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you vocalist Ruki from the GazettE as seen in the COCKROACH PV! (*＾▽＾)／
- Time: Unknown
- Medium: Oil paints on canvas, blue bejeweled gem, pointed studs
- Reference: Ruki - The Mad Hatt
Overall, I'm really happy with the way it turned out since I was stressing a little. Having painted the suit and hat first, I was afraid I'd mess up my painting when doing the face and hair but that seemed to turn out alright...although both could do with a little more work
At first, I wasn't sure whether I was going to use the blue sequined gems I had for the eyes or the pointed studs for the jacket but once I stuck the gems down I thought I might as well finish my painting to the last very detail and so used the studs. I didn't want to cut into my canvas to screw them in in case I made a mistake so I glued them on instead. Haha, I had so much fun putting in these details! I think they really tie the painting together! (^.^)
I'm really satisfied with this painting and will be more than happy to have Ruki hanging on my wall ♥! :3
P.S Everyone refers to the subject matter as a "she" whilst I automatically say "he". XD
I bought a new pair of headphones...（＾▽ ＾）
I've been wanting to buy a pair like this for ages and today I finally gave in and bought myself a pair! They are iFrogz' Ear Pollution Nerve Pipe headphones aka. the cheaper alternative to Skull Candy headphones. XD They come in a number of different colours with various designs but in the end the two that caught my eye were a red pair with black widow spiders and a pink pair with a flowers. I'm so ambivalent! XD And so deciding to go with something different for a change [usually I wouldn't buy something like this... a bit too girly for my tastes...], I bought the latter. XD
So far they've been pretty good: comfortable, adjustable, fold-up-able with relatively good sound quality. This is the first time I've had a full headset with cushioned earphones and I must say they're a different listening experience to the in-ear phones I usually use. With in-ear's all outside noise is blocked out; the music is louder, more direct and sharper whilst the cushioned headphones allow for a least-likely-to-make-you-deaf more unobtrusive listening experience. The only problem is that if you'd really like to pick up those small nifty things in a song, the volume needs to be turned up a considerable amount and thus, the music leaks. I can only imagine the looks I'd get from leaking Japanese music... not to mention I doubt people want to hear me listening to DIR EN GREY'S Obscure. DX
...Haha, other than that, I'm really glad I bought them! （＾ ＾)
FYI: VK the SA Way = Visual Kei the South African Way. XD
South African Anime Lifestyle Magazine, Otaku, has finally launched it's own J-music internet radio show! \(＾∇＾)/
The Otaku Show
- Music: J-pop, J-rock, Anime OSTs, Visual Kei
- Site Stream: Live Radio
- Time: Sundays, 4pm - 7pm +2 GMT (That's 11pm - 2am Japan time XD)
- Host: DaRC
Host of the show DaRC is currently in Gunma, Japan on the JET Programme (Japanese English Teaching) where he [besides being an Assistant Language Teacher and scaring little kids XD] has been attending Versailles, LM.C and D'espairsRay's shows and will be attending Deluhi and exist†trace lives.
An idea of what to expect on the music side:
Saber Rider Opening Theme (Saber Rider)
Nyan Nyan Fanservice Medly by Various Artists (Macross Frontier)
Truth by Arashi
co.no.mi.chi by Buono!
GHOST by Gackt
Ultra Soul by B'z
Iris by Art-School
Vivid by Fairy Fore (Final Fantasy Unlimited)
Shining Collection by Iceman
End-Less by Exist+Trace
Samurai by Danger Gang
HYPER SONIC by BLOOD STAIN CHILD
Ancient Rage by Galneryus
Rosier by LunaSea
Ike Ike by Tri Star
Dancing by Vicky Vale (Initial D 3rd Stage)
Got alot of Love by DJ 10 feat. Flower of Wave
Ageha (Heaven's wire remix) by Mayka
RIDEBACK by Mell
TABOO by Koda Kumi
Honey Flash by Koda Kumi (Cutie Honey Live Action)
Puppy by Koda Kumi
Butterfly by Koda Kumi
Real Emotion by Koda Kumi (Final Fantasy X2)
Ima Sugu Hoshi by Koda Kumi
Cubic L/Rock by Ayabie
OH MY JULIET by Lm.C
Sora Iro no Days by Nakagawa Shouko (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
Winter Game by GIRL NEXT DOOR
Tokihanate (Blue Gender)
Trust (Vandread)
Hollow by D'espairs Ray
Ash Like Snow by The Brilliant Green
So tune in for all the latest Music straight from Japan!
Happy New Year! 2008 has been a year that's flown by and I can hardly believe that it's already 2009...next year is the 2010 Soccer World Cup taking place right here in South Africa! But at the same time [strangely enough] this year has also been a particularly slow and stressful one due to school work what with government CTA exams and the transition into the senior phase of my school career with subject choices for grade 10.
Nevertheless, it's been an interesting and exciting year marked with much good fortune and many more moments both significant and insignificant but memorable in their own way:
- [Jan] Discovered Visual Kei - Perhaps I'm being overtly dramatic but this might possibly be one of the biggest turning points of my life. I don't think I've ever immersed myself so deeply into any interest I've ever had...I
trykeep up with the latest releases;stalkread more than three VK related blogs; my music library probably has more songs sung in Japanese than English; my bedroom wall's are plastered with the faces of J-rockers...I've even come to writing about it daily!VISUAL KEI HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE! DXAnd to think, it all started with a simple yet amazing drawing I saw on deviantArt:
- [April] Started Blogging - I started off with Xanga [after a friend convinced me to join] and spent just the right amount of infrequent time updating and off loading some thoughts to no-one in particular; writing more, reading less. It was fun and still early days of when I was still starry-eyed over how awesome Miyavi, the GazettE and Ayabie were. XD Eventually I discovered the Wordpress blogging platform and found it to be more suited to my needs. I started working on Splice, with my Visual Kei article being my driving point, intended the blog to be a source of information on J-rock/Visual Kei. Then I discovered Rockerica and joined Vox. After a month spent lurking around, I finally decide to post something and amazed at how easy Vox was to use, created Asphyxia. Splice is still running, but is updated infrequently with little activity and will most likely become a J-rock/Visual Kei artist database.
- [June] Received a super cute [VK themed!] birthday card from a friend ^_^ :
- [July] Visited Tawain and went to my first J-rock show --> Miyavi @ The Wall Live House, Taiwan 09/07/08
- [September] A drawing of mine was published in the local newspaper - I came second in the "Design an Ad Competition" and won lots of prizes including stationery, gifts vouchers and cash. :3
- [October] Won a free PSP! - I still can't believe how lucky I was to win a PSP without even having to even enter a competition. It was a free give-away and all by chance. In the end I decided to sell it and now I have money just waiting to be spent...
- [November] Learned to Play Guitar - This is in fact a lie because for the 2-3 weeks I had a friend's acoustic guitar within my possessesion, I did not learn to play a single song. DX But I am grateful for being able to have to have held one in my hands. XD It was a real learning experience.
I finally understand how a guitar works now. XD
Over Christmas I went to the Drakensberg [huge mountain range in SA] with my family and on Christmas eve the place we were staying at had a lovely, themed Christmas dinner where you had to dress in gold. There was plenty of good food to choose from, a live musician playing saxophone and overall it was all very festive and Christmassy.
My body has this nasty habit of contracting illnesses on any special occasions I look forward to [my own birthday, friends' parties and Christmas included] and unfortunately, along with a headache; I was feeling so sick that I really wasn't well enough to enjoy the dinner. At least the table my family was at was situated in the corner so if I passed out no one in the dining hall would see me. >_>; I spent Christmas day lying in bed and worst still there were no gifts.
Besides money and clothing, I also received some bath stuff and i-Pod accessories from my dad from Taiwan: a blue silicone cover and non-in-ear headphones for those times I don't want to drown the world out. They double-up as a lanyard and are blue too - matches my i-Pod. ^_^
So that's it for my Christmas. How was yours? Receive any exciting gifts?
...a really, really, really cool one. XD
ARENA37°C SPECIAL had a special in their 50th, November 2008 issue with Reita, bassist of the GazettE.
I don't have the magazine but judging from the cover, there are 40 pages dedicated to him and as expected, an interview which is said to be veeery long...20 000 characters worth in fact. @_@ [A translation can be found on the Gazerock Live Journal Community.]
It's interesting to read that he first started playing acoustic guitar but because he didn't understand what was going on changed to electric, soon gave up on that too and lastly tried bass. And as they say, the rest is history.
Being a bassist, Reita's someone who lingers in the background but when he gets the chance to show off his skills, it's amazing...watching his bass solo in the Miseinen PV is absolutely jaw-dropping while his performances in the GazettE's exclusive live song, Ride with the Rockers along with drummer Kai are nothing less than spectacular. He also has this unnatural ability to create some of the most infectious basslines I've ever heard demonstrated in songs like SILLY GOD DISCO and Bite to all but more recently HOLE off the LEECH single. Ever since discovering Visual Kei with the GazettE being one of my first bands, I've had a soft spot for Reita. He is my favourite bassist and it's because of his talent that I took an interest in bass guitar.
1.Bandanna-covered
...I just had to squeeze this in before I left. And is it me or does it seem like a bandanna-wearing, sledge hammer-carrying guy would make a good psycho killer for a horror movie? XD
Starting tomorrow, right up till the first day of school next year, I will be gallivanting about the coast. First, I'll be staying with some school mates at my friend's beach house located in a small town after which I'll be going to the seaside city of Durban; then to the Drakensberg Mountains [Drakenberg = "Dragon's Mountain" in Afrikaans; a South African language similar to Dutch...I learn isiZulu instead of Afrikaans...XD] for Christmas and lastly a school tour to private beach resort/camp, Sugar Bay for the start of next year.
While having four holidays in one trip is going to be a total blast, it means that things are going to be pretty neglected around here...again. It's not that I'm going to some remote part of the world or even traveling away, just that finding the time to write won't be easy and I'm already behind on all November's big releases due to exams and some of December's early offerings. I tried to squeeze Girugamesh's MUSIC review out of me but it just ain't happening...D'espa's Spiral Staircase #15 really took up all my time. XD But I'm determined to get all my backlogged reviews done before the end of the year...they're all lined up, just waiting for me to fill them in!
20070513 Shibuya-AX Japan
Release Date: 05/09/2007
Length: Approx. 118 minutes
- DAMNED
- Angeldust
- MIЯROR
- in vain
- SIXty∞NINe
- PIG
- Lost Scene
- Closer to ideal
- TRICKSTər
- SCREEN
- Squall
- Kogoeru Yoru ni Saita Hana (凍える夜に咲いた花)
- Reddish -DIVA ver.-
- DESERT
- Hollow
- Fuyuu shita Risou 「浮遊した理想」
- Kaleidoscope
Encore 1:
- BORN
- Forbidden
- #14
- facism ファシズム
- murder freaks
1. TATOEBA KIMI...GA...SHINDA...RA (タトエバ」キミ...ガ...シンダ...ラ)
So one Friday night, I took over the downstairs of my house and after having warned my family of the little rock concert I was conducting in the lounge, was free to turn the volume up for maximum enjoyment.
The first thing I noticed about the DVD was the sound quality. Shibuya-AX has great acoustics and I say this as it seems like they kept the original sound from the live, indicated by the slightly echoing quality the sound has and in the way the guitars are toned down with vocals and drums more prominent in the songs. I'm glad they didn't fix it up as it really makes you feel like you're right there being moshed to death with the crowd. Not only does the sound transport you to the live but also captures the energy of the band and even listening to it without visuals has you feeling pumped and ready to bang...it would make a damn fantastic live recording CD. XD
There's not much MCing between songs and it seems like the longer sections where HIZUMI spoke where cut - obviously, though not abruptly, in some cases. However, this allows for almost 2 hours of non-stop, power housed rocking.I've heard D'espairsRay get up to some mischief at theirlives, not to mention they have some really interesting and intelligent discussions
Again on editing, something particularly useful is that the song titles come up on screen just as they are about to be played...even though HIZUMI does announce some of the songs...but just in case you missed it
Quite literally, a spiral staircase was constructed for the live, serving as a simple but highly effective backdrop to the band. It's rigged with lights and occasionally illuminates making for a spectacular sight.
Generally there's not much movement amongst the stage from the band.
Rarely does anyone interact with any
other member and it seems like each performer has their own portion
of the stage designated for only them to move in: Karyu
constantly has his foot on the amp, head-banging to the right; ZERO's
pulling some twisters to the left while HIZUMI jumps about
centre stage and TSUKASA...he's the drummer. ().o It's filmed very much to suit this and a lot of the
focus is on individual members rather than the whole band. However,
despite this separateness, D'espairsRay still very much are one and their performance is far from boring.
The majority of songs are off their
Mirror album (released earlier in 2007), promising a power-packed performance which is exactly
what D'espairsRay deliver. Kickstarting the show is DAMNED,
thundering in like nothing you've heard before with TSUKASA
pounding away on drums. Despite all this, HIZUMI
manages to remain still, concentrating and compressing the energy
from the deep booming during the verses into slow and controled hand
gestures, before letting it all loose during the chorus using nothing
but his voice. It's incredible.
As I said before, due to the live sound quality of the DVD, bass and guitar aren't as distinctive or clear as the drums and vocals but during in vain ZERO and Karyu really stand out. Not to mention Karyu does this neat trick where he tilts his guitar right over...
After TRICKSTəR comes the, so to speak, “interlude” with
lighter songs of SCREEN, Squall and Kogoeru Yoru Ni Saita Hana marked
with HIZUMI removing his pimping fur-lined jacket much to the joy of fangirls.
The live is slowed down, giving the audience a chance to take a
breather from all the crazy rocking and admire HIZUMI's nice body.
HIZUMI is absolutely mesmerizing in SCREEN and it's not because he's shirtless. At the beginning of the song, his voice is soft; a gentle whisper strung with pain before bursting through the haunting moment with powerful vocals filled with sorrow. From here on, every line is sung with all his heart, his passionate vocals drawing you in. I've always found SCREEN to be a beautiful track particularly because of HIZUMI's vocals which are so rich in emotion but in this performance it's even more powerfully moving.
Squall brightens the mood significantly and the whole band can be seen giving it their all at the climax of the song while Kogoeru Yoru Ni Saita Hana subtly eases everyone back into the rock side of things, the audience singing to the band when all but the drums falls silent. Then it's back to the madhouse with the loud and outrageous Reddish -DIVA ver.-, the lighting as trashy as the song itself and everyone really starts getting into the swing of things.
HOLLOW is the 3rd last song of the main set list and it's here that the energy is really running high both from the D'espa and audience. All hell breaks loose. The opening guitar riff of the song has the crowd pumping their fists and shouting, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" and ZERO jumping around the stage and Karyu (now without his purple trench coat) briefly swaps sides with him. And then just as you expect the guitar solo to come in, the unexpected happens. Mid-performance the footage starts fuzzing like a disrupted transmission but rest assured [I was an idiot didn't read it until later] as the enclosed booklet tells you to note, this is all part of the producer's intention. One has to wonder what the guys are up to under all that static...>_>;
After a while, things return back to normal, picking up in the middle of one of choruses after which HOLLOW'S guitar solo comes in. The improvisation that the live has been so desperately been missing now comes into play. D'espairsRay continue to excite the audience, extending HOLLOW's charged guitar solo. Everyone on stage looks like they're having a good time with all their hand banging, ZERO and Karyu even having the chance to encourage the crowd by throwing their arms in the air. There's no doubt how the audience feel about this with their continual shouts.
Compared to their limited and stiff stage movement of before the guys are literally going crazy - Karyu and ZERO jumping around and spinning and even HIZUMI finding the time to head bang while walking round stage and telling everyone to keep it up. Eventually it becomes too much for Karyu to take and after a dramatic strum, he stumbles back like he's drunk before walking to the side of the stage where he holds on to the top of an amp and start's pelvic thrusting it.()_() He recovers from his orgasm energy high after a while but now it's HIZUMI'S turn to completely lose it.
During the live HIZUMI hardly head bangs but now he's buckled over at every chance he gets, his whole body heaving as he bangs like a maniac. And oh my gosh, there's even more movement from D'espa with HIZUMI, Karyu and ZERO completely swapping places and moving all over the stage - now everyone can enjoy what they each have to offer to the performance. Further more this movement sees some stage interaction between the guitarist and bassist *gasp*. Who are you people and what have you done with D'espairsRay!?! Karyu finally acknowledges that ZERO exists (and vice-versa) and that they're performing on the same stage, walking right up to ZERO as the bassist head bangs low down by Karyu's guitar. On seeing the guitarist, ZERO straightens up and...hits Karyu/Karyu's guitar...WTF!? In all honesty I have no idea what happens between them.
But yes, after this, everyone returns back to their designated places and the song starts moving forward again and ends with HIZUMI pointing a finger to his head as he sings HOLLOW's ending lyrics: "I want to see the blue sky,I put the trigger in my hand to my crazed brain." ...This pretty much describes the state of mind of D'espairsRay during the performance of this song. XD The guys really are high on the energy of the crowd, losing all their inhibitions but the sad thing is how it comes so late in the game. Nevertheless, I have never I seen such a psychotic and trashy performance! （゜▽゜）
Although the DVD booklet lists only 4 encore songs, there are in
fact 6, as listed above. Unfortunately
HIZUMI puts on a purple tour T-shirt for the encore and the
rest of the band follows suit in the second one. Karyu adds
his own personal touch by wearing a scarf. ^_^
To say Desupa saved the best for last would be a huge understatement - every encore performance has the band giving their all. The live becomes so much more personal and the guys are happy to indulge the audience. Karyu spits his guitar picks into the screaming crowd, soaking up all the attention while ZERO and HIZUMI shower fans with water from their water bottles.
The guys really loosen up and their enjoyment becomes clear on their faces. The second encore, #14, is a good example of this. #14 is not an actual song but rather TSUKASA and Karyu having a jam session during which ZERO and HIZUMI energise the audience. Karyu smiles as he starts plays a ripping riff and soon comes to look like he's having the time of his life.
In Facism there's a lot of audience/band interaction. At one point in the song, the crowd crouches down while HIZUMI addresses them and on his screaming word, spring up and start jumping up and down like crazy. There's also a very funny moment, when the bassist and vocalist pre-occupied, that Karyu takes a walk to TSUKASA and points directly at the camera behind the drummer. TSUKASA then turns around and looks oh so innocently at it; very much unlike the serious expression he usually has.
Murder Freaks comes as something similar to HOLLOW's
performance and during this song D'espairsRay's real rockstar
persona comes out: TSUKASA pauses to taunt the crowd with a
finger, asking them to give him more; Karyu shows you what not
to do with your guitar, dragging it by the strap as he spins in a
circle; HIZUMI [the first time I saw this I nearly had a heart
attack] stage dives into the crowd, hundreds of hands holding him up
before a staff member comes to his rescue and ZERO kneels at
the edge of the stage to head-bang for the audience. @_@
Last of the special contents is the "Off Shot" [Off Shoot?]. This is basically an extra that shows some behind the scenes footage of the organisation of the Spiral Staircase #15 Final and all the events leading up to the live starting with the crew building the magnificent Spiral Staircase at Shibuya-AX. D'espairsRay arrive at the venue unmaked-up and casually dressed and then do a sound check. Meanwhile, scores of fans have gathered outside Shibuya-AX, excitedly waiting for the D'espairsRay's big performance and soon enter the venue. Lastly we see the guys fully kitted, maked-up and hair-styled, getting ready for the live. Most of the guys ignore the camera
Besides displaying D'espairsRay's ability to hold an excellent, superb, amazing live show; this DVD also showcases the band's talent as musicians but as you can probably tell from all I've said for the must-watch performances, I was particular impressed with HIZUMI's vocals. I've always thought his voice has a wonderfully rich texture and a nice range but really they are just superb during the live. They sound almost exactly like the recordings of songs meaning there's not much polishing of them in studio. His vocals and growls are powerful and pack a punch and he hardly breaks a sweat for performing any of it live. During Facism with it's consecutive growls, I was amazed at how he was still going strong even after having possibly been singing for 19-songs straight. He also has no problems hitting high notes and nails that tricky one in SIXty∞NINe.
If you enjoyed D'espairsRay's Mirror album then I highly recommend you get this DVD as there are some explosive performances. If you're a D'espairsRay fan then I say GET THIS DVD NOW
Other Reviews:
Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyougi-jou Dai-ichi Taiiku-kan, or Yoyoygi Hall for short. Traditionally used for sports events like baseball, this absolutely giant stadium has a frontal seating capacity of 13 754 people.
The GazettE sold it out two nights in a row.
Looking at the fascinating almost cult-like synchronisation of nearly 14 000 audience members all doing the same movements to the music, it's easy to see how the GazettE's popularity has skyrocketed in the last few years. Their first breakthrough performance with their "Nameless Liberty Six Guns" tour final in 2006 - from that time, they have been selling out even bigger venues like Yokohama Arena...and now, Yoyogi Hall.
The date is 20 April 2008, and it's the second time I see the GazettE live in as many days. During the short walk from Shinjuku station to the infamous Yoyogi Hall, hundreds, if not thousands of cosplayers and fans clad in the GazettE tour T-shirts crowd the narrow streets.
"STACKED RUBBISH [Pulse Wriggling to Black]" has been the GazettE's largest and longest tour to date, split up into four legs (including one leg in Europe) and stretching over a mind-boggling 9 months. It's been a long road for them, but all the previous shows seem to have been leading up to just one thing: the two finals at Yoyogi Hall.
After what seems like hours, the doors open and we finally shuffle into the hall. The light dies down. At the show the night before, as with all the other shows I have seen, all five members chanted, "HEY JESUS" in their controveresial opening SE, "Art Drawn by Vomit". But on this night, a giant screen is unveiled, playing a short movie done by the members. It shows them arriving at the venue in a Hummer, and entering Yoyogi by a back doorway. In the movie, they reach the end of the hall and open the stage doors, and then the light go on in the all and the GazettE are really entering on stage. The crowd goes absolutely feral, and music finally explodes through the speakers. The new SE, "[R.C.E]" starts playing. One by one, the members walk on stage, and the roar of almost 14 000 people screaming their names almost literally lifts the roof.
The best way to describe the GazettE live would be "power". Unlimited power, energy, and a wealth of emotion, rhythm and blurred colour. It's more than 3 hours of non-stop force, louder than anything you've ever heard and more fierce and violent than any other Visual Kei show you will see in Japan.From songs like the jazzy "SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY", where the furitsuke (synchronised hand movements done in time to the music) is controlled, to uninhibited numbers like "CIRCLE OF SWINDLER", which can be best described as 3 solid minutes of some the most violent moshing ever experienced, the crowd certainly knows how to have a good time, and the band knows exactly how to rile them.In fact, after some of the more aggressive tracks, the officials have trouble taming the crowd back into some semblance of order.
Ruki, on vocals, has no trouble bringing a slow, melodic song crashing into a screaming and thrashing blaze of disorder.His lyrics challenge the rules of society and protest fiercely against conformity. He believes wholly in what he sgings, and this reflects nowhere better than in the mass of people before him, hanging onto his every word.
During the ballad,
Guren (紅蓮),
Aoi plays a double-neck guitar, although both he and Uruha have no trouble switching from acoustic to electric in the blink of an eye, and frequently do for songs like "Filth in the Beauty."I am constantly amazed by the sheer amount of energy that Kai pour into his drumming. Power and vigour flow from him effortlessly without pause for almost 3 non-stop hours of muscle-wrenching play, and at the end of it he still manages to jog off stage with a smile and a wave.
Bringing together the essence of the band and supporting them in all the songs is Reita on bass. He might like to stay in the background, being rather shy and withdrawn, but without his driving rhythm, the band's songs would not sound the same. During his and Kai's rhythm section, "Ride with the ROCKERS", he takes the spotlight, revealing just what a talented bassist he really is, and interacts with the crowd by having us all yell and clap to the fast rhythm set by the straightforward, unadorned sounds of bass and drums.
At the end of the show, I am left breathless and aching, but feeling so pumped up with energy that I could run a mile. It was an unforgettable experience that I would definitely not mind repeating in the very near future.
The limited edition DVD of the finals went on sale on 6 August 2008 and contains 3 discs of uncut footage from both shows. This collector's item will put you back ¥ 9300 (about R700) excluding shipping, but talking from the experience of having been at to both shows personally, it is well worth it!
From Otaku Magazine Issue 19 Oct-Nov 2008
Damn. I wish I'd been there and had R700 to spend on the DVD...
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J-rock music reviews Updated: Oct 19, 2009
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Recent Comments
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Sne-chan said:
Hontoni desu ka???? Seriously if that spare poster came my way, I'd be a happy chappy ^^ Still can't believe... read more
on First Completed Canvas Painting! -
Reitsu said:
Thank you~!Haha, well, I have a poster of Miyavi on my wall from when I went to see him live... read more
on First Completed Canvas Painting! -
Reitsu said:
Lol, CTAs are epic fails! XDHaha, Bryan Habana was my pick! =) read more
on CTAs and Possible Candidates for Role Models
lol, wow- is all I can say, my friend downloaded the album and burned me a copy so SADLY i... read more
on Going CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!