Sukekiyo

So, decided to make a whole post about this, because of the amount of stuff that's already come from them. Gonna go through basics though for them that aren't familiar to the band from before though, and no wonder, because they only started last autumn, and made themselves noticable around December. So, first things first:

Sukekiyo is a band started by Kyo from Dir en Grey as a solo project, and has members from other bands that come to form something quite interesting. The band started out with a website with only the name, but not giving out the official band members from the start, leaving everyone guessing until the first live shows, that had people guessing about whether or not it was actually Kyo singing. Later on, it was made official, Kyo had started Sukekiyo. The first lives were low-key, and didn't make much of a fuzz about them, and anything official only came after the first live. And during these two first concerts, they sold their first  "EP", The Daemon's Cutlery, which was in fact an LP containing one song from whence the title came.
The song was recorded in studio, all at once with the whole band as an attempt to capture the essence of Sukekiyo, and the sound was very rough still at that point, not giving a clear idea of what the song in the end would be on the upcoming album. From what I managed to find audio clips of the song, with not having an LP-player, I remember the song sounding something like the Egnirys Cimredopyh +) An Injection, by Dir en Grey. The EP came available online because of the big interest for it, and was made in a limited stock for Kyo's online store, from which Neo Tokyo managed to grab a few for sale in Europe which was lucky for me, because it gave me the chance of getting my hands on it.

At the start of the year, it then became known that Sukekiyo would release their first full-length album, IMMORTALIS, only 6 months after their first concerts, and it would hit stores at the end of April. The album was to be released in a total of 4 different editions, two hitting general stores and the remaining 2 being available online only through Kyo's website again. Here, Neo Tokyo came in handy again, getting some of all versions of the album available. I got the online only limited edition, and really happy about it, because it is a very beautiful book with a blu-ray with the bands first live performances recorded on it, making it a great look into the beginning of the band. The photography is very good, and the remixes found on the second CD are very interesting, concidering I normally dislike everything that comes to remixes of songs. The tracklist for the album is as follows:

CD 1:
1. elisabeth addict
2. destrudo
3. latour
4. nine melted fiction
5. zephyr
6. hidden one
7. aftermath
8. 烏有の空 (uyuu no sora)
9. the daemon's cutlery
10. scars like velvet
11. mama
12. vandal
13. hemimetabolism
14. 鵠 (kugui)
15. 斑人間 (madara ningen)
16. in all weathers

CD 2:
Bonus CD of collaborations with and remixes by artists including SUGIZO (LUNA SEA / X JAPAN), HISASHI (GLAY), HITOKI (KUROYUME), SHUJI ISHII (cali≠gari), TK (RIN TOSHITE SHIGURE), and more. Also included on the bonus CD is a collaboration featuring KIRITO (Angelo), vocalist of PIERROT, an overwhelmingly popular band and rivals when DIR EN GREY debuted.

Blu-ray:
Live Footage
Music Video: ｢aftermath｣ (IMMORTALIS Ver.)
Music Video: ｢in all weathers｣ 

 Overall, the whole album has a very rich feeling to it, painting dark and melancholy pictures for the listener. It has a great feeling of a whole, and can be even disturbing at times with Kyo's voice making the an eerie atmosphere. I was so excited when I first heard that the band would release an album, and couldn't stop listening to the song Aftermath when it was released as a music video back in January. The songs give a wholely different feel from the harsh and aggressive sound that is Dir en Grey, and shows what more Kyo is capable of as an artist. Though I'm glad Kyo hasn't dropped his harsh vocals for Sukekiyo, because I really like them in slow songs. There isn't a single song that I dislike on the album, although there have been a couple that have grown to become favorites. Namely Elisabeth Addict, Aftermath, Scars Like Velvet, and Vandal. The last one being my favorite for getting out crap from my system and really lashing out with music, because it just goes to outright crazy at times, vocals and all.

Lastly, Sukekiyo will be touring Europe for the first time this autumn, and I managed to score a ticket for myself for the show in Helsinki, which makes me so excited! After only having had one small tour in Japan so far, and already their making their first overseas tour, less than a year from the start of the band. It's quite an achievent, though it was kinda to be expected because of the hype around the band, and concidering how big a name Kyo is in the J-music scene. All in all, a very interesting band that's completely blown away everyone from the very start, and made quite a name for themselves already I'd think. Very excited for September as the concert is then, and can't wait to get to see the band live~

the GazettE live tour 12-13【DIVISION】FINAL MELT LIVE AT 03.10 SAITAMA SUPER ARENA

Been ages again since the last post, sorry about that. Life's been crazy ever since November when life decided to give me the middle finger with everything I've done so haven't had much energy for much more than what really has to get done for school. Besides that, just haven't found the time to sit down and write, so here goes something I should've done ages ago already xD

Ordered the latest live DVD by The GazettE back in November (What a coincidence :'D didn't even remember that it happened to coincide with a lot of my difficult times. The end of the year was such a blur to me now), even though it was released back in June, but because of not having had the money for it then I with-held getting it right away. Luckily for me, Yesasia had it at a reduced price at their end-of-the-year sale, so I had to jump on the opportunity to buy it now because of the lower pricetag.
As with most Japanese artists and bands, this release came in two different editions, and being the collector that I am, I had to get the Limited Edition with all the extras. This time the extras were quite the same as in the TOUR11-12 VENOMOUS CELL FINALE OMEGA release, meaning a lenticular lens on top of the package and a ~100 page booklet with pictures and interviews of the band members alongside a documentary of the live.

The concert itself consisted of a total of 28 songs, and is as follows:

DISC1
01.[Diplosomia～XI］
02.DERANGEMENT
03.GABRIEL ON THE GALLOWS
04.VENOMOUS SPIDER'S WEB
05.VORTEX
06.CLEVER MONKEY
07.THE SUICIDE CIRCUS
08.DRIPPING INSANITY
09.余韻
10.影踏み
11.籠の蛹
12.[Depth]
13.歪
14.ヘドロ
15.VERMIN
16.SLUDGY CULT
17.HEADACHE MAN
18.ATTITUDE
19.REQUIRED MALFUNCTION
20.[Melt]
 
DISC2
01.Ride with the Rockers
02.赤いワンピース
03.Psychedelic Heroine
04.Filth in the beauty
05.COCKROACH
06.LINDA ～candydive pinky heaven～
07.関東土下座組合
08.☆BEST FRIENDS☆

The whole concert starts of with a lot of power, being very strong and fast right from the start, and the visual is just amazing. The intrumental intro used by putting together Diplosomia and XI is brilliant, and the scenes on the screens at the back of the stage look fantastic. A good start for another tour final for The Gazette. The whole setlist really highlights the Division album that was released prior to the tour that ended in this live performance by the band, and being a real showstopper with every single song from the album making an appearence during the live which is a thrill to hear and see. The first seven songs of the list go by in an instant, before slowing down for DRIPPING INSANITY, setting a different mood altogether. The calm song makes for a good change from the headbanging and fast cheering from some of the best songs from both the Toxic and Division albums, and Clever Monkey (a B-track from the Remember the Urge single) also making an appearence. The songs roll perfectly from one to the other without problems, and the band are as good as ever performing their roles to give a good show for the fans.
We get a lot of old classics, and this time around the song LINDA ～candydive pinky heaven～ didn't end the live, which was a surprise for me because they usually play it last. As I said, the whole live is very Division heavy, but for some reason I don't miss other songs on the DVD, because this package is enough. A perfect mix of new and old. If I want to listen to some of their other songs live, I can just pick up another DVD from my shelf. The encore is very simple, the only surprise in the songs being ☆BEST FRIENDS☆ that hasn't been on a live DVD since the 2004 Tokyo saihan ～JUDGMENT DAY～ release. 
At the end of the main setlist, during [Melt] the band really put in everything they had to create a spectacle for the audience. The show came to an end with a bang when a bombs and spraks start flying around the stage and different equipment start partly falling down from the ceiling in mid-air. The visual effect of it all was just mind-blowing. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the whole thing for the first time, because there was no way of expecting it.
During the encore, Ruki made a bold stroll through the crows on both sides of the arena, making for quite a spectacle to see as disoriented fans screamed and tried to reach him from behind the barriers. I'm sure it made the night for many fans that night.
Overall, the whole package is beatiful as always, can't ever expect anything less from these guys. The show and DVD are a pleasure to look at, and Ruki sure knows his stuff when it comes to the visual parts. The releases always stand out from everyone elses in so many ways. Just the box in itself is so beatiful and has that special something that all the releases over here in the western world can just dream of. But for all it's worth, with the amount of money going into buying these releases you really wouldn't settle for anything less. Once again a release by The GazettE worth getting if you have the chance.

As a little sidenote to the DVD, I decided to give my thoughts on the live show The GazettE had here in Finland during their World Tour 13. I managed to acquire VIP tickets thanks to a good friend of mine, and had good places in the venue thanks to that, even though they had sold a ridiculous amount of VIP tickets for the show (possibly 100-200 or over what it felt like at least). A slight misscalculation there, because I think they should be a bit more priviledged, and really get front row tickets or close to. Well, no chance for that during this show. When I got in everyone got a VIP laminate as a gift for the show, and apparently they had special posters too for the VIP ticket holders, but these had ran out already during earlier parts of the tour which was a shame, because early access and a laminate for almost double the price of the ticket felt kinda stupid before the show started, but alas, that's life. But when the concert started, everything just went away for the remainder of the show. 
The setlist went as follows:

[XI] 
01. VORTEX 
02. LEECH 
03. BEFORE I DECAY 
04. GABRIEL ON THE GALLOWS 
05. VENOMOUS SPIDER’S WEB 
06. THE SUICIDE CIRCUS 
07. DRIPPING INSANITY 
08. UNTITLED
09. DERANGEMENT 10. HEADACHE MAN 11. SLUDGY CULT 12. COCKROACH 13. Filth in the Beauty 

ENCORE: 

14. SHIVER 
15. RUDER 
16. Linda ~candydive pinky heaven~

The whole show was a blast, even though the venue was so packed it felt like being crushed part of the time. During the show I had perfect view of Ruki for most of the time, and people were jumping and partying so crazy that I moved around a lot with the crowd during the whole concert. 
Only thing that I found a bit of a shame during this concert is how short it was. I understand that it's tough on the boys during a large tour like this, but 16 songs is a little for these guys, when they easily play 20 songs at concerts in Japan. My personal favourite songs from the live were Leech, The Suicide Circus, Derangement and Headache Man if I have to name the ones I liked best. During The Suicide Circus I actually found myself crying in disbelief because I had waited for this concert to happen for so many years, and finally seeing the band live was such a thrill. 
The merch booth had way too much to offer, and with my little money, I had to go by with just buying a bag with the band's name on it, and then a large towel with the tourdates and a nice skull picture on it. A friend of mine got the hoodie, which turned out to be really nice and I would have liked it, but there was no way I could have afforded it at the time.
My luck was with me though after the live, because when the band threw pics and drumsticks, I managed to get one of Uruha's pics to someone elses disappointment, because I somehow managed to grab it from under her hand apparently making her stare murderously at me afterwards from what I heard ^^; Gomenne, but I had to get it.

The concert ended way too fast, and felt like no time at all. They boys were in top shape during the live, even though it wasn't anything special visually from them. This time though I hope it won't take them seven years to come again for a performance. The concert sold out fast, so they certainly have a good fanbase here. Now to wait for the documentary DVD about the tour that should come out next month~