Top 5 Dadaroma Songs

It was recently announced that Dadaroma is disbanding.  I wasn't a fan of this band at first but the deeper I dove into their music the more I came to like them.  They may not be my all time favorite Visual Kei band but I do think they are talented and I am bummed they are disbanding.  In recognition of Dadaroma, here are my top 5 Dadaroma songs.

5.  Romance Gray

This may not be one of the bands most famous songs but it is still a pretty good song.  The melodic guitar work is good and the vocals are spot on.  The taping guitar work during the bridge is also pretty good.  Dadaroma focuses more on the atmospheric end of their sound and it works well.  It may not be the most heavy or eerie song in their catalog but it is still a good song all the same.  

4.  Risley Circus

Risely Circus was the song that I really liked from Dadaroma and made me more curious about the band. The drum work in the opening of the song creates a great instrumental hook that gets you into the song right away.  Then when the main intro gets going, the song produces a great combination of creates a great heavy intro that I rock out to every time I listen to it.   The other great hook in this song is the chorus.  The great combination of heavy and eerie creates a great chorus that is memorable and shows a good representation of this bands style.

3. Dendrobium

This song is another great combination of heavy and eerie.  You get the heavy elements in the guitar playing with the heavy riffs in the intro, pre chorus, and chorus.  You then get the eerie element in the vocals.  The singing in this song gives a very eerie feel that works very well.  Both styles are well balanced and work very together.  

2.  Day By Day

Day by Day has more of an emotional feel to it then an eerie feel.  This is a nice change of pace for this band.  While emotion isn't super uncommon for them, they usually don't make the center piece of what they put out there. Before this song it was usually either eerie or straight up heavy metal that they would release as a single.  However, this song proves that the band was capable of variety and they pull it off very nicely.

1.  Boku Wa Android

Boku Wa Android is one of the bands most well balanced songs.  It is heavy with some great melodic guitar playing and the same with the vocals.  The song structure is also very well written.  They way it transitions from the intro to the verse and then into the chorus are all well done and don't feel out of place.  I also really like this song's message about humanity acting like androids and just doing what they are told without questioning.  With well written music and a good message, I put Boku Wa Android at number 1.

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Top 5 Anime Opening Songs

I've stated in the past that I am a fan of Jrock, mainly because of how diverse the music in that rock scene is compared to the American music scene.  I am also a fan of anime as well.  In fact, it was because of anime that I started to look deeper into the Japanese music scene to begin with.  I didn't pay much attention to anime openings at first but the more I got into music, the more I started to pay attention to them.  In time I would always want to watch the openings while my friends would want to skip it and get straight into the anime. It is still something that they find annoying about me, but I don't care.  So I would like to countdown the top 5 Anime Openings.

5.  Fly High 

Artist: Burnout Syndromes

Anime Haikyuu

Fly High is the 4th opening song for the Volleyball anime, Haikyuu.  Haikyuu has a lot of great openings and to be honest, this one actually wasn't my favorite at first.  However, the more I listened to this song, it really grew on me and has now become my favorite opening for this anime.  The slow intro is the great build up to the intro that really hooks you into the song.  The song lyrics also match the tone and theme of the anime as well.  Basically, the song is about never giving up and pushing forward to reach your goal.  The music and lyrics work well with the tone of the anime and sets you up for a great viewing of this anime.

4.  Gurenge

Artist: Lisa

Anime: Demon Slayer

Lisa first caught my attention with her song "Crossing Fields", used as the opening song for the first season of Sword Art Online.  A lot of people know Lisa for that opening, and while I think that song and opening are both good,  this song has stuck with me more.  Lisa takes a more deeper, darker tone with this song and I think it works better. Considering the tone and plot of Demon Slayer, that musical tone fits it perfectly.  Also, while both Crossing Fields and Gurenge are about over coming weakness, I think that Gurenge is more relatable.  What I mean by that is that instead of saying the pain will fade away, like in Crossing Fields,  Gurenge is more about pain sticking with you and using that to grow.  If we are honest with ourselves, the pain never goes away and we never forget it.  In one way or another, it shapes us going forward and I think this song touches on that pretty well.   Considering what happens in Demon Slayer, I think this is one of the best songs they could have picked for that anime.

3.  Cha La Head Cha La

Artist: Hironobu Kageyama

Anime: Dragon Ball Z

As a kid, Dragon Ball Z was my favorite animes as a kid.  It is easily one of the most famous anime shows in history and is still watched by many today.  Among many things that stick with me in this anime, the opening theme, Cha La Head Cha La, is one of them.  The keyboards and chorus are great hooks that will stick with you after you hear this song once.  The song title may seem like gibberish, but what is interesting though is that the phrase is an English phrasing for the Japanese word, hetchara.  Hetchara is a Japanese slang for no problem or I can handle it.  A perfect fit, considering the characters and overall plot of the anime.  The lyrics are basically about not letting obstacles bother you and not being afraid of them.  It goes along with the anime very well but the chorus and the music is what people remember most about this song and for good reason.

2. Tank

Artist: The Seatbelts

Anime: Cowboy Bebop

This instrumental jazz opening is catchy as heck and is still one of my favorite anime openings to this day.   Some people have compared this opening to they same style of older spy shows from the 50s and 60s and I think there is a lot of truth to that.  However, I would say that this song is better executed then a lot of those older openings.  The music is much tighter and the many hooks in this song make it much more memorable then most of those.  This anime debuted in 1998 and I still remember it better then most intro songs in general.  Not just in in anime but in most television shows and even movies.  This song is composed very well and while it may not have lyrics, it doesn't need them.  The music carries the anime on its own.

1. Mayday

Artist: Coldrain

Anime: Fire Force

I think that rock and metal music are some of the best kinds of  music to use as openings for a show and the 2nd opening to Fire Force is a good example of that.  The way the music blends with the video is spot on.  The Intro guitar riff in this song is a great hook to get you pumped for the anime, or headbang to.  The Lyrics also fit the anime well and are a little unique for opening songs.  Instead of being uplifting and overcoming obstacles, this song is about tyrants and ignorant people destroying society and I think it works well with the anime.  I actually wish that the first opening had a song like Mayday.  I like the first song fine on its own but I feel it is softer then it should be considering all the action taking place in the opening.  Mayday not only works with the opening but I think it is a better representation of the anime in general.     

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Coldrain Maday Review

When I first started listening to the Side Effects album, I had a mixed opinions on it at first.  I thought that Coexist was good, but I wasn't a big fan of Side Effects and had mixed feelings See You.  The album overall is pretty good, but the song I have come to love from it most is Mayday!

The intro to the song is great and hooked me right away.  The lead guitar is pretty good in the intro, but I personally really liked the rhythm guitar work better.  The lower sounding guitar stood out to me more and is what I remember more in the intro.  The verses are well executed with great melodic vocals that leads into a very heavy prechorus.  That then leads into a very epic chorus that is intense and fun to sing with.  They then end the chorus with the  singer screaming mayday and I think that is a fantastic way to end the chorus. I do wish that there was a little more in terms of lead guitar work.  You can tell that it is there but it doesn't really stand out and I wish it stood out more.  Having said that, I still think the music is very good overall.  

The lyrics are classic angry lyrics that you expect out of Coldrain.  It reminds me of songs like Envy, You Lie, and Runaway, where they are singing about being angry at somebody.  It is within the norm for this band but they are well written and way they are sung proves that they work really well.  While safe, they are written effectively and are executed very well.

This is a very solid song from this band and in my opinion it's one of there best, I have listened to this song many times since it came out and I am still not sick of it.  If you are a Coldrain fan, this song is more of the Coldrain you love. If you are a metal fan,  I highly encourage you to check this song out.  I give Mayday a 4 out of 5. 

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Top 5 Aiolin Songs

If there is one visual kei band that has caught my attention a lot recently, it would be Aiolin.  With good musicianship and a great musician to lead them, this band has put out quite a few songs since they debut in 2017.  In that time, they have put out several great songs.  Here are my top 5 songs from this band.

5.  Breathing

Aiolin does a great job when it comes to ballads and this one of my favorites from them.  I really like how the song has a good slow build and then really picks up in the chorus.  I've always like this set up at the beginning of a song and they pull it off very nicely.  The chorus in this song is also very nice.  it is just the right level o energy but not so over the top that it kills the song.  The violin solo in this song is also very well executed.  He does a good job of adding classical elements to rock and that solo is a good example of that.

4.  Ark Night

  

This song was a great song to use as the opening song for their first album (Tear In The Rain).  The high energy in the intro is a great hook that made me want to rock out, as well as look forward to the rest of the album.  I also really like the melodic vocals of the chorus.  It is perfectly balanced with the music and creates a chorus that creates feeling while at the same time making me want to rock out. 

3.  Remember the Name

This is the first song I heard from this band and man did it make an impression.  The taping guitar work along with the violin in the intro hooks you right off the back.  Then there's the awesome guitar solo.  Hikarito bust out a really good fast solo with hints of melody thrown in and it works really well. 

2.  Dusk Reaper

Being this band's newest single, they continue to produce great music.  The melodic vocals continue to serve this band well and it carries throughout the entire song. The best part of this song though is the awesome violin solo.  I've heard a lot of violin solos from Hikarito and this is one of this best.  The great melodic sound with moments of speed work very well together and gives a very epic solo.

1. Stardust Crystal

My favorite song without a doubt has to be Stardust Crystal. I even made a video using this song.  It has a lot going on in it from the piano, to the guitar and violin, yet it all works together.  As far as ballads go, this one does a great job of reminding you it is a rock song while still having that emotional feel that a ballad goes for.  The energy works well with the melodic music and has some of the best instrumental moments I have ever heard out of this band.  As far as guitar solo's go, this is Hikarioto's best, in my opinion.  He does some great melodic shredding in this song and I enjoy listening to it whenever it shows up on my playlist.

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Charamel A Strange Band

I have come across many strange rock and metal bands in my time but few compare to the likes of Charamel.  This band displays what is called a Yuru Chara look. Yuru Chara is basically mascot looking characters except more diverse and can represent anything from video games to corporations to even creatures in mythology.   Another thing that is interesting is how anonymous they are.  There really isn't much info out there about this band other then their character names and the instruments they play.  As far as who they are under the costumes remains a mystery to this day.  The members consist of Nyango Star, the red cat apple on drums, Funassyi, the pear fairy on vocals, Akkuma, the demon bear on guitar, and Kapal, the water goblin on bass.  

This band's story starts when music publicist, Eric Alper, posted a video on twitter titled, "When You're Over Qualified For The Job".  This video displayed Nyango Star displaying some awesome drum skills and as a result, the video wen't viral with tons of retweets thus began Nyango Star's career.  Nyango Star would start a youtube channel covering many metal classics such as "Before I Forget" from Slipknot, "Faint" by Linkin Park, and "Raining Blood" from Slayer.   

Aside from his videos, he would also play at conventions and collaborate with other Japanese rock bands.  He would even gain the attention of X Japan drummer, Yoshiki.  Yoshiki had Nyango Star play some famous X Japan songs for him and Yoshiki was very impressed with his skills on drums as seen below.  

Somewhere down the road he met the rest of the band and they teamed up to create Charamel.  They debuted with their song, " Funnasy" in 2017 and have since gone on to develop a cult following in Japan and thanks to Nyango Star, the bands popularity continues to grow.  They would even get to perform at the famed Tokyo Dome in 2018.  

I must admit that this band has grown on me with time. While I'm not a fan of the look, I have to admit that these musicians are good at their instruments.  I have looked up some of their live shows and I got to say, the fact that whoever is in those costumes and play their instruments pretty well, while in those costumes, is very impressive. Some people complain about the vocals, but that's clearly part of this band's shtick and I have never found it annoying to the point that I had to turn a song off or not enjoy it.

I would also like to point out Akkuma's guitar playing.  Akkuma plays some great rock and metal riffs that I find myself wanting to headbang to.  Even though he is not the most famous member in this band, he is a good guitar player and I think deserves more attention than he currently has in the band.  

Even though these guys are far from the traditional rock band, I still recommend checking them out.  Their music is good and the fact that they can perform as well as they do  in those costumes is something to be admired.  We don't know much about them currently but in time that will change I'm sure. Until then, all we can do is enjoy the music.     

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Dadaroma Dendrobium Review

Dadaroma is a band that is making headway in the visual kei scene.  Forming in 2014, they have developed an image of a dark circus band over the years with songs and music videos like Risely Circus,  The Kinky, and their latest single, Dendrobium.  The singer portrays himself as a dark, scary looking clown and their music sounds like a combo metal and carnival music.  Giving them, one of the more unique styles in visual kei.

The main intro to this song is pretty cool, the guitar in the intro  is a great way to get you hooked into the song.  The verse takes a little more of a darker feel, with the mysterious sounding vocals coming in to play.  This leads into a heavy pre chorus that makes you think you in for a big chorus.  However, this is where the songs gets weak for me.  They have this big build up that makes you think your in for a loud, big chorus and instead they drop the energy in the chorus.  It doesn't sound bad, but the way the energy drops hurts the chorus for me.  I do like the way the bridge plays out though.  The vocals sound great in that section and the combination of eerie music and heavy guitar sounds pretty cool.  Overall, the music is solid, but not great, certainly not the best this band has done in my opinion.

The lyrics in this song kinda play out like a love song. It seems like the message is about love being more of a necessity of life rather then a feeling.  This would make sense, because the title of the song, Dendrobium, is a flower that is attached to trees and needs trees to survive and when they bloom it is beautiful.  I have heard some people say that the song is actually about wanting sex but no relationship.  Given some of the bands other songs, I can see why people would interpret that but I don't think that is the case with this song.  The lyrics do flow pretty well but they are repetitive at times.  For example, the entire bridge is just one line being repeated, "She's a girl who wants real love song".  It is sung differently so it doesn't sound overly repetitive but I would of added one more line to the bridge.  Overall though, the lyrics work well.

The intro and verses to the song are great but the lower energy chorus hurts the song a little bit.  The lyrics are a little repetitive, but the flow is good and message is very interesting.  While I don't think it is this band's best song, I do enjoy listening to it and recommend checking it out.   I give Dendrobium a 3.5 out of 5.  

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Alia Hide and Seek Review

Alia a new band to the JRock scene, debuting back in July 2018, this band is a little less then a year old.  However, they are gaining traction and are starting to get more global attention then most bands this young do.  This is partly due to some well placed advertising. They put out an add to promote themselves on Instagram and that surprisingly got them a decent amount of attention on a global scale.  However, their single, Hide and Seek, is also a pretty good song.

One thing I really like about this song is how well all the instruments blend well together in this song.  You got guitar, violin, and keyboards all doing their own tricks and lead lines through out the song, yet nothing is overpowering everything else and the instruments all work well together. This is mainly due to Okamua Eren who handled the composition for this song.  He clearly did a great job and paid great attention to detail.  I like the melodic violin playing of Rina in the intro of this song.  It has nice melodic feel to it that really works well with the keyboarding of TKT.  His playing in the intro and verses is constant and flows very well.  He's playing a lot of notes but it's not over the top and works very well with the tone of the song.  I also like the guitar solo that is played by Okamura Eren.  It isn't the most technical solos I have ever heard, but his execution is well done and his playing is very solid.  The vocal work of Ayame is very impressive.  Her melodic, yet energetic voice is perfect for this kind of music.  Her singing works hand in hand with the music to a degree I haven't heard that often in a lot of my favorite music. It is really interesting to me how much is going on and nothing sounds out of place, very impressive.

  The lyrics are uplifting and about finding yourself and not being ashamed of it.  The lyrics flow very well and really do a good job of getting it's message across.  This is mainly due to TKT, who wrote the lyrics for this song.  He clearly put a lot of work into how these lyrics would sound and play out, even to a point that Ayame could execute these lyrics very well.  I get a sense that he spent a lot of time making sure that these lyrics fit well with her singing ability and that isn't easy to pull off.  

Alia is off to a great start with this song.  They are clearly very talented and have a great chemistry as a band.  If they keep this up, I can see them having a very successful career.  Hide and Seek has great music, great vocals, and great lyrics.  I give Hide and Seek a 5 out of 5.  

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The Winking Owl Try Review

I consider The Winking Owl as a band of constant improvement.  While not the biggest band in the JRock scene, they are one of the most solid.  Their music gets better with with each album and you can tell that they put a lot of work into their music.  They continue to show that with one of their latest singles, Try.

If there is one parts of this song I really like, it is the intro.  I really like the melodic lead guitar playing combined with the heavier rhythm guitar.  Yoma continues to display great guitar work in his playing.  He isn't one of the fastest guitar players I have ever listened to, but his melodic style works very well and delivers guitar solos with a lot of emotion behind them. He is a musician driven more by feeling rather then displaying technique.  The drumming in this song is also very good. Kent keeps a good beat and is very energetic.  Luiza continues to display some great singing in this song.  Her melodic voice is great and works very well with the inspiration feel this song is going for. 

As far as the lyrics go, The Winking Owl continues their uplifting style.  The song is basically about realizing your full potential and pushing to achieve it.  The flow of the lyrics works very well and they communicate their message very effectively.  Some people criticize them for not singing in English more like they did with Open Up My Heart.  I do think that  Luiza sounds good singing in English, but I'm not picky about language as long as it sounds good and is set for a good delivery, vocally.  The lyrics in this songs do just that and it makes the feel of the message really stand out.    

This song is very uplifting and has a good energy to it.  If you are feeling down and need something to lift you up, or you want to feel inspired, then this is a song you need to check out.  It has a good message and the melodic feel will put you  in a good mood.  If The Winking Owl continues to make songs like this, I see a great future for them.  I give Try a 4.5 out of 5.  

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Top 5 Visual Kei Songs

There are several bands and artists that make up the Visual Kei Genre.  Each band has a certain style to them and it has created one of the most diverse forms of rock and metal in the world.  There are a lot of great songs that have come out of this genre and I'm sure there are more to come.  Here are my top 5 Visual Kei songs.

5.  Prey Shadow by Vistlip

In my opinion, this is one of Vistlip's most underrated songs.  The vocals are spot on and there is great bass and drum work in this song.  However, where I think this song shines most is in the guitar work.  The melodic lead work of Yuh is awesome and he starts right out of the gate with it in the intro. He continues it in the chorus and then brings it to a high point in his guitar solo.  He starts the solo with some great melodic playing and then ends it with some great taping.  If you are  a fan of good melodic guitar playing and some great taping.  I highly recommend this song. 

4.  Risley Circus by Dadaroma

This has a cool eerie, yet heavy feel to it.  The heavy guitar and drums gives this song a great metal vibe and then the vocal work and then the vocals come in and give it that eeriness.  The two feels blend together well and give good spooky feel to it.  My favorite part of this song is the drum work.  The fast paste drumming in this song really hooks me when I listen to it at the beginning and then I can't turn the song off.  If you are looking for a good Halloween song, look no further then this.  

3.  Genesis by Nocturnal Bloodlust

Nocturnal Bloodlust is in my opinion, one of the best visual kei bands out there and this is song is one of the best examples.  The heavy vocals of Hiro, the amazing lead work of Cazqui, and the amazing drum work of Natsu makes this not just a great visual kei song, but a great metal song in general.  The guitar solo in this song is an awesome shred fest with Caszqui displaying some of this best playing.  Hiro displays both some great metal growling and melodic vocal work in this song and both blend together very well.  If you are a metal guy, this is the song for you.

2. Stardust Crystal By Aiolin

Aiolin is a band that has mastered the combination of classical music and rock.  The classical violin and piano in this song adds a nice soothing feel while at the same time giving us an amazing guitar solo by Hikarito.  What is so interesting about this song is how the rock revolves around the classical music.  Usually when rock bands include classical into their music, it is treated more as and addition rather then the center piece.  However, with this band it feels like it is the other way around and it actually works.  Out of all the new visual kei bands, I certainly think that Aiolin is one of the best.

1.  Derangement by The Gazette

I was a fan of The Gazette before this song but this song is one of the songs that made them my favorite band.  Sure there is auto tune in this song but it for effect and not to disguise a bad voice and Ruki does display some great vocal work when the auto tune is off.  Kai's drum work is also very impressive, especially during the guitar solo.  However, my favorite part of this song is the guitar work of Uruha and Aoi.  The opening riff in this song is intense and I can't help but to head band to it every time I hear it.  Uruha's melodic guitar solo is great and adds an eerie feel to what is other wise a very heavy song and it works great.  In my opinion, one of The Gazette's best songs!

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Aiolin Breathing Review

Among the many bands that are trying to leaven their mark in the visual kei scene, Aiolin is one of the bands that I find to be one of the more interesting bands.  With their unique combination of classical music and rock, they are certainly one of the more stand out bands in the genre currently.  With songs like From Here, Stardust Crystal, and Orpheus, they have proven that they are a very talented band that has a lot to bring to both rock and music in general.  They continue this trend with one of their newest songs, Breathing.

Breathing starts out with a soft acoustic build up through out the first verse and pre chorus that sounds very soothing yet emotional.  The acoustic guitar has a nice easy sound to it while Hikarito's voice gives more of a sad, confused feel to it.  While the music and vocals have different tones to them, they actually blend together nicely to give off an emotional feel that expresses pain but with some hope attached to it.  Then once the first chorus comes, the band turns up the energy.

The first chorus takes the song into a more heavier, powerful direction.  The electric guitar, heavier drum work, and the intensity of Hikarito's vocals really enhances the emotional feel of the song.  This tone is maintained through out most of the song from here on out and I think it sounds very good.  The second verse continues the heavier style that leads into a very cool violin solo.  Hikarito has proven many times in this band's discography that he is great at the violin and he continues to demonstrate that in the solo. The solo doesn't sound fast or very technical, but I think that is a smart move.  When you have a song that is driven by emotion, trying to be fancy with the instruments can end up being out of place and just creates a very strange feel. Instead, you should focus on creating a solo that focus's on emotional feeling and that is exactly what Hikarito does here.  Every note he plays has an emotional feel to it that sounds beautiful and somber.  

I've talked about Hikarito a lot so far, as he is the main songwriter and leader of this band.  However, the other three members deserve recognition as well.  Seiya's drum work is very solid and he is able to match to tone of the song perfectly in every section he plays.  Reis plays some pretty good bass hooks through out the song.  His rhythm playing works very well with the drums and the two instruments do a great job keeping the rhythm in place and together.  You also does a great job on rhythm guitar.  People tend to not think much of rhythm guitar because there's not much glory in that roll since there's not much fancy soloing or room for lead lines.  However, rhythm guitar really helps a band sound more full and fills a void that would be there without it.  You is very on point with his playing and keeps the song flowing very nicely.  

Aiolin is known for their love story style lyrics and they continue that trend with this song.  The lyrics are telling the story of a man who is very closed to the world and is afraid to open up to anyone, even to the one who loves him.  As the song goes on he realizes that he is hurting her by being closed off but is still afraid to open up. Then at the end he finally lets his pain out and finally embraces her and in the pain he finds love.  Considering how many love songs and ballads there are in this world, this is one of more unique ones.  Most love song focus on either the good in a relationship or the bad, but this song is able to do both and in a way that is relatable without feeling cliched.  The lyrics are written very well and convey the story that they are going for very effectively.  

Aiolin is a band that continues to impress me every time I listen and discover new music from them.  The music is solid and the lyrics are great.  All the members are talented and constantly bring it to every song they do and this song is no exception.  It really is a shame that they are not a bigger band but I hope that someday they will reach the same level as other Visual Kei bands such as The Gazette, DIV, and SID.  I give Breathing a 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend getting this song.  

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Kelun Chu Bura Review

When most people think of the band Kelun, they think of the song "Chu Bura".  I actually discovered Kelun because of this song myself.  Used as the 8th opening theme in the famed anime "Bleach", this song made the band famous in Japan and the song gained cult success through out the world.  Sadly, the band disbanded years ago, but Chu Bura is still a well known song in Japan and a classic among anime fans.

I actually really like the music in this song.  The guitar intro isn't technical, but the way the chords flow when they are being played makes it sound really good.  The guitar works pretty much has this tone to it in the entire song.  It isn't technical, but it is still catchy and you really enjoy listening to it.  The drum work in this song is very solid.  The drummer is clearly giving his all and he puts out some impressive and fast paced drumming in this song.  The bass playing in this song is worth noting as well.  the bass solo is performed very well and while it is a little short, it still sounds great.  The best part of the song though is in the vocals.  The vocals work very well with the music and uplifting voice the singer has really brings the lyrics to life and makes the message stand out better.  

The lyrics in this song use a story style formula to send a message of hope and not giving up.  It starts out with the verse conveying the pain, the pre chorus talks about hope, and then the chorus gives you the drive to not give up and move forward.  I like lyric writing like this because it is a good way to let out grief and pain while at the same time giving you hope.  It isn't one sided, it isn't just happy, it isn't just sad, it brings both together.  This band executed that very well and it sounds amazing.  

This is a very solid song, the energy is great, the lyrics are great, and the music sounds awesome.  I can understand how this is Kelun's biggest hit.  There is a lot of cool things going for this song that makes it great and unique.  If you are a JRock fan, this is a song you should check out.  If you a rock fan in general, you should listen to this song as well.  I give Chu Bura a 5 out of 5.

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Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas The Sun Also Rises Review

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of the most interesting bands I have ever come across.  They have an interesting sound that I haven't really heard out of too many bands.  Their combination of metal core and electronic music has made them very unique.  While there are elements of this band I don't like, there are elements of this band I like a lot.  Like I said in my review of their song "Let Me Hear" they are overall good musicians with a good sound.  Let's see if their newest song, "The Sun Also Rises" holds up.

Musically, this is not one of my favorite songs from this band.  Usually, this band has a good balance of electronic music and metal, but in this song the metal takes a back seat to the electronic and it isn't as balanced as I like.  While the metal music is there, it is more subtle then most of their other songs.  It only sticks out briefly in a few sections of the song.   The rest of the song is more driven by auto tune vocals and synth. While I am not a fan of auto tune, the basic vocal melody is pretty good and sounds decent.  The band also continues their unique song structure that they use in most of their songs and I really like that about this band.  The way they structure their songs is very uncommon but it still sounds good and it flows very well.  Nothing really sounds out of place and it sounds smooth.  I just wish that they were more balanced like they normally are.  Because certain elements are taking a back seat in this song, it sound more like a generic electronic song then a interesting mixture of genres, which what people like about this band.  Overall, the music isn't bad, but it isn't their best.

Lyrically, this an uplifting song about overcoming obstacles you come across in life.  It is saying that you will have to make decisions to either give in to your obstacles or take them head on and defeat them. While I do think the lyrics could have been written better, they are not all that bad and they are effective at getting the message across.  Overall, the lyrics have a good message and they make it clear what the message is.  The way they are written could be improved but it is a minor problem.  

While I am not a big fan of the music in this song, I don't think the song is flat out bad, it is misguided.  Clearly, the band is experimenting in this song and trying something new.  I give them credit for trying new things, it just isn't my taste.  If you are a big fan of this band then you might like this song.  For me, it is an okay song.  I give The Sun Also Rises a 3 out of 5.  

Mejibray Divergence Review

Mejibray is a band that is a hit or miss for me.  Some songs I love, while others I don't care for.  It isn't because I think they are a bad band, it's just that some of their songs are not my taste. This could be argued as a good thing though because it shows how diverse of a catalog this band has. Some times they are a melodic metal band, sometimes they are an angry thrash band, and other times they are a dark death metal band.  Let's see how I feel about one of their earliest songs, Divergence.

First off, the music in this song is some of their best.  The bass riff played by Koichi at the beginning of the song is very catchy.  It catches your interest and then when the main intro starts, the song really picks up.  That intro riff that Mia plays sounds awesome.  It is a great melodic solo that really sets up the rest of the song very well.  His guitar solo in this song is very impressive as well.  In the guitar solo, Mia plays a solo that combines both melodic and fast playing.  The guy is a great guitar player and he demonstrates that well in this song.  Meto does some good drum work in this song as well.  He is not a great drummer, but he is still pretty good and his drum work in this song is very solid. I don't think that Tsuzuka is that great a singer, but he does have an interesting voice that helps to make this band unique.  I think of him like Geddy Lee of Rush or Vince Neil of Motley Crue.  They are not the best singers in the world but their voices give their bands something that no one else has. As a result no one else can take their places in the bands they are in.  That is what Tsuzuka is to Mejibray, not that great a singer but works very well for the band he is in.

Lyrically, this is a deep song about not settling and wanting more.  Basically, the entire song is about not being happy but not giving up.  It is about wanting to push yourself to become better, no matter what obstacles come your way.  I like songs like this that try to inspire people to want to improve themselves and to keep going to reach their goals.  I do think that the phrases and lines could have been written a little bit better but it is a very minor problem that doesn't turn me off to the song.

Overall, this is a pretty solid song.  The musicianship is great and the song writing is pretty good.  I may not be this bands biggest fan but I cannot deny that they are talented and this song proves that.  They play well together and they clearly have a lot of skill.  Mia is without a doubt a very underrated guitar player that deserves more recognition world wide.  The songs message is very good and makes you want to push yourself in life.  I give Divergence a 4 out of 5.    

  

     

The Winking Owl Open Up My Heart Review

One band that is slowly rising in popularity in Japan right now is The Winking Owl.  Recently, more bands have come out of Japan that are using a style similar to that of Paramore.  They have melodic female lead vocalists with rock music that is a combination of hard rock, metal, punk, and pop.  The Winking Owl is one band that is in that category.  While they are not one of the more famous bands in Japan at the moment, they are gaining momentum and their single "Open Up My Heart" paved the way.

While there are things that make this band similar to Paramore, one thing that separates them from Paramore it that they are more melodic and heavy, musically.  This song starts off with a good melodic solo that really sets up the tone of the song effectively and hooks you immediately.  The verse  gets a little bit softer but continues the melodic theme.  Then the pre chorus sets up a chorus that has very high energy.  This set up is executed very well and flows very smoothly to create a great listening experience. The vocal work is impressive as well.  The female singer in this band has a great voice that fits the music and carries the song very well.  I also got to give this singer credit for singing English very well. I have heard a lot of Japanese singers sing in English and many of them have an accent that really stands out at times.  However, this singer sings English very well to the point that if there was no Japanese words in the song I could have mistaken them for an American band.  The one minor issue I have with this song is the chorus.  It is a little repetitive for my liking and I feel it could have been written a little better.  However, it is a very minor issue that doesn't kill the song for me, or the chorus for that matter.

Lyrically, this is a pretty standard song.  It is a song about being in a complex relationship and wanting it to be better.  This is obviously nothing new, we have heard this message many times before.  However, they lyrics are written very well.  The phrases are good, they are catchy and they keep your attention.  I also have to say, I can tell this band has been working on their English because the fact that they wrote the English lyrics this well is very impressive.  While this is becoming more common in the Japanese music scene today, a lot of the musicians who write in English are having a hard time.  You can tell because of how simple the English is in the songs and how some bands have a hard time singing it.  This is a problem that The Winking Owl doesn't have.  While there are Japanese lyrics in this song, it is clearly dominated by English and the English is written very well.

I see a bright future for this band.  They have clearly shown they have potential and this song shows that.  If I am being honest I actually prefer this band over Paramore.  As much as I like Paramore, this band has the better singer and better musicians. If The Winking Owl writes more English songs like this, I can see them having a future in America.  With a great vocalist, great guitar player, and well written lyrics, I give Open Up My Heart a 4.5 out of 5.        

  

Noisycell Lily Review

Noisycell is an indie rock band out of Japan that is slowly starting to gain more and more fame.  They have achieved some success with their song, Last Theater, featured as the ending song for the anime, Death Parade.  Since then, the band has gained a good cult size following.  Recently, the band put out a newer song, Lily.  

Musically, the song is pretty good and energetic.  While it certainly has a ballad feel to it, it is still got a good heavy energy to it.  The fast drum work and fast guitar playing really contribute to that energy, especially in the songs intro.  The verse for the most part keeps that energy going with a slight break in the pre chorus before bringing it back in the main chorus.  It is a good transition to use the pre chorus to get the listener ready for the main chorus and this band executes that very well.  Vocally, the song is very good as well.  The Woo Woo at the beginning of the song gives a very good boost to the songs energy.  The melodic vocals Ryosuke are very impressive.  While I wouldn't say he's the greatest singer I have ever heard, he does a great job carrying the song vocally and the melodic style he uses is very effective.  

Lyrically, the song is basically about a break up in a relationship, and the complex feeling of that.  The lyrics are not bad and the message is good.  However, this is a message that has been done many times in music and every person is sure to have heard it 100 times.  However, the music and vocals communicate the song's message effectively and that is very important and helps to save the song.  

Noisycell is a talented band that looks to have a bright future ahead of them.  This song displays the bands talent very well and shows they got a good chance to make it.  The music is very good and while the lyrics are nothing new, the vocals really communicate the message well and sounds great. For having great music and great vocals I give this song a 3.5 out of 5.