#best of...

Hello guys, I know that is weird to see this post only now, but it was queued after all the previous ones you have seen here, so I decided to put it out anyway, but in a double format, so here we will cover the charts of October and November 2018, while December is made directly in the Album Selection of the past year. And now... let’s start the countdown!

OCTOBER

5) Zonbi - We are Zonbi!!/Kurenai [Crimson red] (24.10.2018)

The young and freaking visual band shakes the things up with a new single, featuring two different and really interesting lead songs.

Why they are here: The Halloween single of this band is composed by two tracks; the first one is a pure and all-rounded exaltation of their extravagant concept, a well made one, while the second is a cover of one of the most famous songs by X Japan, here revisited in a macabre but really efficient style; this single definitely puts Zonbi under the spotlight.

TRACKLIST

We are Zonbi!!

Kurenai

4) Diaura - Malice (24.10.2018)

After almost one year, Diaura gets back to their own roots with a new and energetic single.

Why they are here: Following the short old-school phase (Unmei Kaika), Diaura reprise their own path with a strong and dark single, built on engaging tones and dynamic rhythms, showing how the band has never lost their own appeal.

TRACKLIST

Malice

Resonance

Human Noise

3) The Thirteen - Lament (24.10.2018)

The visual metal duo continues their brilliant career with the third EP, being always better and better.

Why they are here: In each their release, Mao and Mizuki have always brought forward an obscure and provoking image, making each song more pleasant than ever; in Lament, which sees the presence of musicians, like Kazu from Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy and the former Awoi drummer Ryo, we see a major emphasis of the aggressive side of their sound, but unexpectedly united with a poetic shade, compared to a more adrenalinic work, as seen in Urge, confirming the duo’s unique and versatile talent.

TRACKLIST

Angelic Grief

Rhapsody in Blue

Lament

The Depths of Despair

Erode

Umbrella

2) Mai Yajima - Vampiress (17.10.2018)

The young gothic-metal singer finally releases her first full album, after four years of career.

Why she is here: An album made of powerful and really fascinating sonorities, driven by Mai’s charismatic voice and an instrumental work worth of respect, bringing life to a really incredible product, which will get more people close to this rising star of the Japanese metal scene.

TRACKLIST

Hakoniwa (Box garden)

Velvet Rose

Inferno

Second Dead

Senkou no Overlord (Modern overlord)

Stargazer

Chi no kyouen (Blood feast)

Aoiro shinju (Blue pearl)

Requiem of Silence

Lunatic Isolation

Twilight

1) Madmans Esprit - Conscientization of Unconsciousness (01.10.2018) *already reviewed by me*

The best release of October 2018 is, surprisingly, not Japanese, even if they seem to be; the South-Korean metal band Madmans Esprit releases their second album, the first work of their coming out worldwide.

Why they are here: Even not being Japanese, this band has a strong link, in terms of style and sound, with the rock scene of the Rising Sun (not by case they recently signed under Gan-shin Records, the German label which has always promoted visual kei bands in the West); the genre they propose is a complex metal, made by dark and chilling tones, unpredictable and thrilling vocals and compelling compositions; this album is a bold and dim product and it hints that we will hear more from Madmans Esprit.

TRACKLIST

Eine alte dunkelheit (An old darkness)

From the Nothingness

Parade of Extinction

I Planted You

Incompleteness

Life, Thus Pain

Falling Star

Drowning and Burning, Empty

Ball of the Devils

You Don’t Allow Me

A Day in Black

I’m Horrified by the Thoughts of Losing You

Gyedan (Stairs)

NOVEMBER

5) Trnty D:Code - [HELL]hound. (28.11.2018)

The young visual band delivers the second single, becoming more suggestive and interesting than expected.

Why they are here: This band’s line-up is made by members of the unlucky band Killaneth, which they share some musical element with; in fact their sound is adrenalinic and well managed, with rap influenced which are well fit in the respective melodies; another good rookie from the visual kei scene.

TRACKLIST

HELL[hound].

inside.

steep.

gone.

4) D - Deadly Sin (14.11.2018)

D goes on with their new and fresh path, releasing a new single, five months after the fascinating Revive.

Why they are here: This band continues to surprise with the several influences they have in each work and this time they choose to make a relevant use of electronic notes, well fit in the energetic melodies, driven by Asagi’s powerful voice; it’s impossible to not love D.

TRACKLIST

Deadly Sin

Star Sapphire

The Secret Rose Garden

Blood War -Instrumental-

3) Razor - Knot Invisible (14.11.2018)

One of the most succesful visual bands of the recent years releases a new and interesting mini-album.

Why they are here: Razor doesn’t change their energetic and pounding style at all in this mini-album, in powerful and freaking themes driven by Ryoga’s unique charisma, in an intense and balanced product, enriched by some technical feat, confiriming the great impact of this band in the scene.

TRACKLIST

Knot Invisible

Namari (Lead)

Keiai naru kimi e (To the honorable you)

Disclosure

Error Brain

2) Dexcore - Brain Washing (14.11.2018)

This new band, featuring as drummer the former Deathgaze member Naoki, is growing more and more, releasing the fourth single.

Why they are here: A young band, but with really clear ideas, at least as showed in the previous singles, and in this latest work, they make a relevant turn musically, introducing a major dynamicity in the rhythms and in the vocal interpretation; Dexcore are really promising and can really go on and on.

TRACKLIST

Brain Washing

HEY!! Cockroaches.

Naked

1) [Alexandros] - Sleepless in Brooklyn (21.11.2018)

The best release of November is the latest effort by the alternative rock band [Alexandros], their eighth full work.

Why they are here: The most important feature of this album is the incredible variety seen inside it, alternating catchy and soft themes with maturer and peculiar compositions, accompained by a distinctive technique and versatile vocals, in a release which shouldn’t be missed.

TRACKLIST

Last Minute

Arpeggio

Mosquito Bite

I Don’t Believe in You

Hana uta (Flower song) -ft. Tahi Sahihate-

Party is over

Milk

Spit

Kabuto (Helmet)

Fish Tacos Party

Your Song

Snow Sound

Ashita, mata (See you tomorrow)

That’s all folks! See you with a new review in “Let’s Listen to”!

Here I am with the monthly top 5 in “Best of... July 2018″! With the Summer which is becoming hotter and Mars being closer than us, the strings and the sticks are blazed and produce energetic and powerful notes, making the Japanese rock scene worth to be enjoyed and tasted in all its shades. Among the many contenders, only five of them won the challenge and took their own spot in the chart, each one for a different reason, between “comebacks”, pleasant confirmations and an unexpected goodbye. And now... let’s start the countdown!

5) Pentagon - Mantra (04.07.2018)

The most extravagant band of the current scene goes back with their best, releasing the 7th single, the second work of this year.

Why they are here: After having experienced a soft pop-ish phase up to the previous single Hankou seimei, the band decided to go back to what was their best style and sound, in a balanced release made of energetic notes, piercing vocals and mature vibes, resulting in a really solid product in its own.

TRACKLIST

Mantra

Mellow sunset beach

Monochrome

4) Razor - Akaku chirabaru hana [Red scattered flower] (25.07.2018)

The band continues to go on strong and bold, releasing their second work of this year, precisely the fourth single.

Why they are here: Even if they change outfits and style, Razor maintains their unique and fascinating potency, expressed in three various, compact and different tracks, where the main highlights are the vocal performances and the technical grace in building compelling themes.

TRACKLIST

Akaku chirabaru hana

Sorrow rain

Ajisai (Hydrangea)

3) Dadaroma - Boku wa android [I am android] (18.07.2018)

The freaking band continues this year releasing their tenth single, unfortunately their last official work before the hiatus.

Why they are here: Coming out from the formulaic approach seen in the mini-album This is “Live”, Dadaroma spits out the best of their sound, with dynamic melodies, unpredictable vocal interpretations and technical feats; the best way for greeting the audience before the hiatus, announced after that Yusuke left the band for health issues.

TRACKLIST

Boku wa android

Yogoreru mae ni watashi wo daite (Hold me before it gets dirty)

Fake

2) Lynch. - XIII (11.07.2018)

For celebrating their 13th anniversary, the metal band comes out with a new release, the 11th album, second work after Akinori’s return.

Why they are here: This album shows how Lynch. can give out so much with few elements, building up a more balanced album than expected, where there’s a uniformity between the single tracks, heavy and soft ones, refined in each detail, even the littlest one, in a release of pure music and energy.

TRACKLIST

Introduction

Thirteen

Grotesque

Exist

Jøker

Renatus

Amble

Sense of Emptiness

Five

Interlude

Faith

Obvious

A Fool

1) Mucc - Jigen Bakudan [Clock bomb] (25.07.2018)

And the best release of the month is the latest effort by Mucc, their 34th single, a pure mix of their essence as band.

Why they are here: Mucc never miss an hit, especially in this single, where they confirm their unity and cohesion as band; in fact each track is written by a member and fits perfectly with the release’s structure, with unpredictable and refined melodies, where the band brings out the best of itself.

TRACKLIST

Seitoshi to kimi (Life, death and you)

Timer

Magenta

Requiem

That’s all folks! See you next Wednesday for the first post of August in “Let’s Listen to”!

Thanks for the reading!

Here I am with the monthly chart in “Best of... June 2018″! The Summer is closer to start and the visual kei scene is going to heat up itself, with new and intriguing content. So between awaited comebacks, new confirmations and rising promises, we have chosen the first five hot bands of this warm month, whose results have been fascinating and fitting all tastes. And now... let’s start the countdown!

5) Reign - Shigoku [Extremely]/Hakuda [A snake] (20.06.2018)

This young visual band splits its essence in two parts for their newest work, respectively the 12th and the 13th single.

Why they are here: During their path, the band didn’t make to deliver something relevant, apart from their early singles. Following up a quite decent album like Belial, they divide their style in two parts; the first one has an experimental vibe, with Middle-Eastern influences and the darkest notes possible, while the second goes closer to their heaviness, with a more rough and traditional touch, for two interesting and various singles.

TRACKLIST

Yurari (Swaying)

Wedding of Death

TRACKLIST

Kanzen muketsu zetsutaikeki Ruler (Completely absolutely ruler)

Shuusoku no freesia (Freesia at the end)

4) Darian Marian - Poison (06.06.2018)

The visual band which already caught us last February, continues their path with their second single.

Why they are here: After having introduced themselves in a dynamic and energetic style with the debut work Loveless, the band improves their own level offering an heavier and engaging metal sound, with good industrial influences and a good vocal versatility, making this band more and more promising.

TRACKLIST

Poison

Uso ni nuritakurareta yasashii uso (A gentle lie who was lying about a lie)

3) Matenrou Opera - Invisible Chaos (13.06.2018)

Matenrou Opera continues to be strong and compelling, with a new single, which confirms JaY as official guitarist of the band.

Why they are here: The single shows that the band has come back to exalt their own sound with powerful and piercing notes, with a peculiar focus to Sono’s vocal range, arriving even to clear and crystalline tones, a thing which improves him as singer, without forgetting the technical work of the other musicians, a strong feature even in this really good work by them.

TRACKLIST

Invisible Chaos

Kodoku wo shiru ni wa ichibyou mo nagasugiru (A second is too long for knowing loneliness)

It’s you

2) D - Revive -Kouhaitoshi- [Revive -Devastated town-] (27.06.2018)

Once again the surprising visual band D brings us back to their best shades, with a brand-new single.

Why they are here: With the mini-album Orokashii ryuu no yume, the band showed that they have never lost their own powerful and enchanting style and following up the solid Narrow Escape, D brings their style to a more aggressive level in this single; adrenalinic notes, a strong techinique and Asagi’s incredible performances are the key ingredients of a great visual kei release.

TRACKLIST

Revive -Kouhaitoshi-

Next Generation

Etoile -Shiroko itansha- (Star -White heretic-)

Diamond Shape -Instrumental-

1) The GazettE - Ninth (13.06.2018) *already reviewed by me*

And the best release of this month is of course the new creature of The GazettE, their ninth full album, one of the most awaited things of the year.

Why they are here: After three years from the dark masterpiece Dogma, the band made the smart decision to retake the things they can do best in this album, maintaining their strong sound, the vocal depth and an astonishing technique, synonym of a great musical maturity, resulting in a sober but incredibly awesome album.

TRACKLIST

99.999

Falling -Ninth Mix-

Ninth Odd Smell

Gush

The Mortal

Utsusemi (Empty)

Sono koe wa moroku (That voice is frail)

Babylon’s Taboo

Uragiru bero (Treacherous tongue)

Two of a Kind

Abhor God

Unfinished

That’s all folks! See you on Tuesday for the final part of the themed week in “Lyrical Love”!

Thanks for the reading!

*Sorry for the delay*

Here I am with the monthly chart in “Best of... June 2017″! As the first summer month is going to end, you are planning to go on seaside or on the fresh mountains. And as here we deal with good quality music, this chart can be defined as an advice list for your days under the umbrella or during your workout, it doesn’t matter, because the best thing of good songs is that they are never on vacation. And now... let’s start with the countdown!

5) Fixer - Libra (21.06.2017) *already reviewed by me*

The latest arrival of Starwave Records, the metal band Fixer, releases their first mini-album, after a good debut phase.

Why they are here: Starting from the first album, named Fixer, which had thrown a good basis for them, with this mini-album they literally consolidated their own sound, with a really good instrumental emphasis and a relevant vocal talent, improving their status as visual band.

TRACKLIST

Friccion

Asterisk

Utsusemi (Cicada)

Kagerou no yume (Dream of heat haze)

Azalea

Hollow

Ignited

4) Megamasso - Tenshi houkai [Collapsing angel] (21.06.2017)

The notable visual kei trio comes back with their eighth full album, highly anticipated by the single Futon shi/The Second Nimbus.

Why they are here: After the hiatus lasted about two years, Megamasso return to the scene more reinforced than ever; in this album the band plays again with their typical and energetic sonorities, adding a sort of fresh and mature touch, making it more interesting than expected.

TRACKLIST

Cistan

Tenshi houkai

Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai. (Go well well, the return is scary.)

Flowering Pizzicato

Futon shi (Futon story)

Juice

Uiui

Kezurihi ni ama dzura irete (Putting it in sharp ice)

HOOPS

Ichigo samaadeizu tanoshimi sai. (Summer days fun.)

Frosty

3) Ataru Nakamura - Better Half (21.06.2017)

The underrated Japanese pop-rock singer returns with her solo project, releasing her third mini-album.

Why she is here: Following up eleven years of solo career and a brilliant collaboration with the visual kei band Decays, the singer comes back with the most melting and melodious pop-rock sound ever heard in recent times, between incisive tunes and sad ballads, all well made by her distinctive and vibrant voice.

TRACKLIST

Tatoeba boku ga shindara (For example, if I died)

Tanjou (Birth)

Aisaretai (I want to be loved)

Itoshiteru (I love you)

Sans toi maime (Without you my love)

2) Diaura - Noah/Shangri-la (28.06.2017)

One of the best visual kei bands of recent times brings in a new work, precisely their fourteenth single.

Why they are here: Diaura continue their experimental phase, already started with the blasting mini-album My Resistance, bringing out two lead-tracks which are more contrasting than ever; the first one has a melting and gloomy touch, without forgetting the heaviness which characterizes them, while the other one is incredibly influenced by swing, jazz and electronic rock, which seems quite fitting for them.

TRACKLIST

Noah

Shangri-la

Ransei Dystopia (Troubled time dystopia)

1) Acid Black Cherry - Acid Blood Cherry (21.06.2017)

And the best release of the month goes to the latest work by Yasu’s solo project, the fifth full album.

Why he is here: Defined as a “spin-off album”, this one shows an innovative side of this project, darker and grittier (hints have been seen in songs like Incubus); in general the sound is an obscure rock, with powerful melodies and beating rhythms, accompained by a balanced contrast of vocals and elements, without forgetting the illustrious musical guests, such as Leda, for a must listen album.

TRACKLIST

The Ruiner

Bad Blood

Beast

Crimson

Black Out

Sweet dEvil

Forbidden Bells

RIDE into the FATE

Kedamono (Beast)

Guilty Cry

That’s all folks! See you on Wednesday for the second part of June’s themed week in “Let’s Listen to”!

Thanks for the reading!

Yes, it’s nearly the end of July, so we’re well over six months in to the year, but I’m here and I’m using this week’s Recommendsday to shout out my favourite books of the year so far, in no particular order. But I’m going to start with At First Spite, Olivia Dade’s latest novel, which came out in February and which I read basically as soon as the paperback hit my doormat. It’s the first in a…

Because we've still got a few things to come out in our #BestOf2018 series here is a #10Things... on @Awerka's favourite #BritWrestling stars of 2018.

Again, because I want it clear I can not PICK 10 wrestlers without leaving out another 10 that I love, this is in no order. It literally is the first 10 names that came off the top of my head with one or two being changed because I realised that I had named 10 people I’d been watching recently and trying to pull some memories out of the bag from earlier in the year.

If I had to pick one person to…

Because we've still got a few things to come out in our #BestOf2018 series here is a #10Things... on @Awerka's favourite #BritWrestling stars of 2018.

Again, because I want it clear I can not PICK 10 wrestlers without leaving out another 10 that I love, this is in no order. It literally is the first 10 names that came off the top of my head with one or two being changed because I realised that I had named 10 people I’d been watching recently and trying to pull some memories out of the bag from earlier in the year.

If I had to pick one person to…