Top Ten: 2013 Visual Kei and Japanese Rock Albums
The short list:
ALSDEAD - Separator
the GazettE - BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY
Jupiter - CLASSICAL ELEMENT
NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST - GRIMOIRE
ONE OK ROCK - 人生×君=
Sadie - MADRIGAL de MARIA
Sujk - ARKHELISM 2
ギルガメッシュ - MONSTER
マキシマム ザ ホルモン - 予襲復讐
雅-MIYAVI- - MIYAVI
This year has been great for releases. Finalizing a top ten albums was a difficult decision, and ranking them even more so. I’ve discovered some great bands I never listened to before, and bought some fantastic new releases from old favourites. With that said, let’s get into my top ten albums of 2013.
10 : マキシマム ザ ホルモン - 予襲復讐
MAXIMUM THE HORMONE jumped back onto my radar with their first album in six years. Yoshu Fukushuu is another great example of their unique nu metal style. The only real problem I have with this one is that most of the great tracks were previously released as singles, so as a whole the album didn’t bring much new to the table. It’s still a solid release though and well worth a listen.
09 : Sujk - ARKHELISM 2
Sujk’s creatively titled second solo album is, on the whole, not as good as his first for me. It starts out strong and a lot of Juri’s vocals help retain his sound. Obviously the drumming is technically astounding in places, but Sujk’s composition ultimately falls flat to Leda’s superb efforts both in DELUHI and UNDIVIDE. It’s another good effort but lacked some of the replayability that I found in albums that made it higher in this list.
08 : Jupiter - CLASSICAL ELEMENT
What better way to help fans get over the Versailles split than with its ex-members to put out a new album with a new vocalist? Well in my opinion, that’s just the problem with this album. It’s a great listen and on the same epic form as Versailles, but to me a lot of the time Jupiter sound too much like they’re trying to emulate what Versailles had. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, and it’s true that it’s the same composers and instrumentalists, but I’d love to see them experiment a bit more with their own style in the future.
07 : ギルガメッシュ - MONSTER
This year Girugamesh have been developing their sound into a more dubstep-influenced electronic metal hybrid, and I like it. This album’s lead single INCOMPLETE grabbed my attention and the rest of this release doesn’t disappoint. For once I would actually recommend the European edition of the album, since it also includes the B-sides from INCOMPLETE. On the whole the album is at times catchy and at times heavy, and the evolution of Girugamesh is well worth watching.
06 : ALSDEAD - Separator
One of my newest discoveries, ALSDEAD caught my attention with Maki’s somewhat unique husky vocals, and I was glad this album delivered on the style I thought they were displaying. My biggest complaint in fact is that Separator is too short, even with the two bonus tracks on the regular edition. The tracks flow pretty well and have a lot of energy, something I discovered for myself when I had the opportunity to see them live this year. If you haven’t listened to ALSDEAD yet, try this release.
05 : 雅-MIYAVI- - MIYAVI
After his latest stripped-down phase, MIYAVI is another artist to pick up an electronic influence. This self-titled album is full of melodic hooks and catchy slapped guitar riffs. From a technical standpoint the composition is a lot simpler than some of MIYAVI’s earlier works, but this could well be the breakout album for him when it gets its worldwide release in February. It’s the infective dance-rhythm style that kept this album in my head for quite a while after I first gave it a listen.
04 : NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST - GRIMOIRE
Another band I only really started to listen to this year, NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST’s first full-length album is an epic journey through heavy riffs, effortless solos, and a blend of Hiro’s powerful screams and great clean vocals too. I’ve been listening to these guys a lot lately and was also able to see them live. As a pretty recent band, they’re one I’m definitely keeping an eye (and ear) on. At the heavier end of my listening spectrum, they might not be for everyone, but I would heartily recommend this album.
03 : the GazettE - BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY
For me, this is one of the best GazettE albums yet. It has a great combination of their recent electronic inspired sound, some heavy tracks reminiscent of DIM, and catchy vocals from their older era. If they were trying to bring together the real essence of the GazettE’s sound, they did a great job. I know that GazettE releases are always pretty controversial, owing to their huge success as a visual kei band, but I for one will continue to support them through their ever-changing style. If you haven’t listened to them in a while, try out their newest album.
02 : Sadie - MADRIGAL de MARIA
A close call on the top spot, but old favourite Sadie almost took it. This is my favourite album from them since MASTER OF ROMANCE. They’ve gone back to a slightly heavier style, but there’s also a couple of catchy upbeat tracks in there too. The only single from this album is the double A-side Madara/Setsugekka, which is great because a lot more new tracks filled it up. Yes, in places their original Dir en grey influence comes out strongly, but that’s no reason to hate on them. It’s a great album and I’m excited to be going to the tour final in January.
01 : ONE OK ROCK - 人生×君=
In many ways I surprised myself by putting this at number one. Considering that a lot of the albums on this list are closer to the heavier end of the visual kei spectrum, it might be a little strange that this punk rock band beat them to the top spot. The real reason for this is that Taka provides some of my favourite vocals in both catchy rock beats and soft ballads. Perhaps the clincher for me is The Beginning, a track that for whatever reason really touches me and is one of my favourite songs in recent memory. While arguably not as good as their previous album, ONE OK ROCK are on a roll lately and I really want to see them live one day (especially since I missed their London live by being in Tokyo).
Props for top singles this year go to: CodeRebirth, GALEYD, llll-Ligro-, Signal and VAMPS.
Some of the best mini-albums came from: a crowd of rebellion, DOLLARS, MY FIRST STORY, THE TWISTED HARBOR TOWN and UNDIVIDE.
(NB Artists from the albums list are not repeated in singles and minis but may be included).