Best of 2013 First Half
Here we are, half way into 2013. What a year it's been so far for fans of visual kei and Japanese rock. Here's my top five albums of the year from January to June. Special mentions for singles and mini albums this year go to GALEYD, Signal and UNDIVIDE.
5. Sujk - ARKHELISM 2
This is more of a placeholder than anything else at the moment. I won't actually receive my copy of this album until August, but being such a huge fan of DELUHI and its members, I'm sure it's not going to disappoint. I will probably try and listen to the album before then in order to give it the proper place in this list.
4. ALSDEAD - Separator
This band is new to me, but as soon as I saw the PV for 'Heaven' (the lead track from this album), I was hooked on MAKI's vocals. There's a huskier edge on some of the more powerful choruses that adds a different dynamic to the VK-electronic hybrid. The singles on this album do most of the work but I really enjoyed it overall and I'm glad to have found yet another new band this year. Go do yourself a favour and try it out, this one got a lot of plays.
3. NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST - GRIMOIRE
Continuing the electronic influence, NB turn it heavier. By quite a fair amount. The explosive intro (which curiously enough shares a track name with ALSDEAD's similarly great opener) launches into an epic ride through a forceful album. It also has its softer moments though, with some tracks like Aster doing a great job of breaking up the hardcore pace. Nokubura are also pretty new to me but this album really brought them to the forefront of my attention.
2. 雅-MIYAVI- - MIYAVI
Well known for regularly changing up his style, MIYAVI has brought influence from dance music and some ridiculously catchy choruses to his new album. After a somewhat lacklustre collaboration release last year, this release returns the samurai guitarist to my watchlist. I've been following the man since his hip-hop KAVKI BOIZ era, and since caught up on his varied previous discography, but once again his new album brings us something quite different. Lead track Horizon, along with singles Ahead of the Light and Day 1 are insanely addictive and I've been struggling to keep them out of my head. Add this to tracks I heard when he recorded his live album in London back in 2011 that have finally been recorded, and even a bit of experimentation in tracks like Secret, and it all comes together in one of the most memorable albums of the year so far for me.
1. ONE OK ROCK - 人生x僕=
How could this not hold the top spot? ONE OK ROCK are easily one of my favourite active bands, vocalist Taka vying for the esteemed position of my favourite vocalist alongside such legends as GACKT, Takanori Nishikawa and Signal's Yuri. This album is packed with great tracks, perhaps a little too heavy on the ballads, but overall another fantastic release. The Beginning is perhaps my favourite song the quartet have ever released, and along with some new greats like ONION! and the beautiful All Mine, it makes this album one that has been played on and off ever since its release. I'm gutted to miss the concert the group are finally holding in London in October, but since I'll be in Japan at the time, I can't wait to make up for it!
Well that's it for now. I'd love to hear your opinions - anything that should have made the list?
5. Sujk - ARKHELISM 2
This is more of a placeholder than anything else at the moment. I won't actually receive my copy of this album until August, but being such a huge fan of DELUHI and its members, I'm sure it's not going to disappoint. I will probably try and listen to the album before then in order to give it the proper place in this list.
4. ALSDEAD - Separator
This band is new to me, but as soon as I saw the PV for 'Heaven' (the lead track from this album), I was hooked on MAKI's vocals. There's a huskier edge on some of the more powerful choruses that adds a different dynamic to the VK-electronic hybrid. The singles on this album do most of the work but I really enjoyed it overall and I'm glad to have found yet another new band this year. Go do yourself a favour and try it out, this one got a lot of plays.
3. NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST - GRIMOIRE
Continuing the electronic influence, NB turn it heavier. By quite a fair amount. The explosive intro (which curiously enough shares a track name with ALSDEAD's similarly great opener) launches into an epic ride through a forceful album. It also has its softer moments though, with some tracks like Aster doing a great job of breaking up the hardcore pace. Nokubura are also pretty new to me but this album really brought them to the forefront of my attention.
2. 雅-MIYAVI- - MIYAVI
Well known for regularly changing up his style, MIYAVI has brought influence from dance music and some ridiculously catchy choruses to his new album. After a somewhat lacklustre collaboration release last year, this release returns the samurai guitarist to my watchlist. I've been following the man since his hip-hop KAVKI BOIZ era, and since caught up on his varied previous discography, but once again his new album brings us something quite different. Lead track Horizon, along with singles Ahead of the Light and Day 1 are insanely addictive and I've been struggling to keep them out of my head. Add this to tracks I heard when he recorded his live album in London back in 2011 that have finally been recorded, and even a bit of experimentation in tracks like Secret, and it all comes together in one of the most memorable albums of the year so far for me.
1. ONE OK ROCK - 人生x僕=
How could this not hold the top spot? ONE OK ROCK are easily one of my favourite active bands, vocalist Taka vying for the esteemed position of my favourite vocalist alongside such legends as GACKT, Takanori Nishikawa and Signal's Yuri. This album is packed with great tracks, perhaps a little too heavy on the ballads, but overall another fantastic release. The Beginning is perhaps my favourite song the quartet have ever released, and along with some new greats like ONION! and the beautiful All Mine, it makes this album one that has been played on and off ever since its release. I'm gutted to miss the concert the group are finally holding in London in October, but since I'll be in Japan at the time, I can't wait to make up for it!
Well that's it for now. I'd love to hear your opinions - anything that should have made the list?