Rin & Len - Frienemy / Wreath

Twins attack! The two songs released by NexDart are far from being twin-like identical but both are awesome in their own kind. ‘Frienemy’, sung by Rin, is a jaunty nasty yet somehow enticing piece. ‘Wreath’, sung by Len, is quite a serious, lyrical and deep thing. Why, a smart trick to please every crowd :)

‘Frienemy’ Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm30425588
‘Wreath’ Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm30425671

The producer has released an album not a long time ago, available on Bandcamp. Be sure to check it out!


Sweet child, isn’t she?.. ;)

Art by Takka.

V flower - Coward

NexDart has made another take on his song ‘Coward’, this time employing V flower as vocalist (initially it was Len). I think flower’s version has more character, so try it out!

Youtube (unofficial):

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29972485

IA - Melancholy Dose

While the mood of this hard rock song isn’t exclusively melancholic, there are some certain somber notes around. Anyway, the visuals of ink dissolving in water may just set the right atmosphere… at least if you like to watch dissolving ink ;)

Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29905155

TREASON//REASON

Listening to TREASON​/​/​REASON album by idoyklik. One of the greatest releases of 2016! Atmospheric music with some prog influences. Made with taste and talent. Production is also good. Definitely recommend!

Bandcamp: http://idoyklik.bandcamp.com/album/treason-reason
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/treason-reason/id1161554559
Also on Spotify.

Kagamine Rin - Allow the Revenge

A stylish nu metal piece with excellent mix and lovely Rin vocals by NexDart. For those who prefer Len over Rin there’s version with him singing on Piapro.

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29431393
Len’s version: http://piapro.jp/t/_UO6

Video’s art by Ryou.

IA - 3 minutes to dawn

In case if you’re tired with Miku’s laments, Koke-P can offer you… well, IA’s laments. And no, it’s not simply a matter of personal preferences. ‘3 minutes to dawn’ places IA just in another league of lamenting, so to speak. Because, first, it’s hard rock; and second, it’s stylish hard rock – a beast as rare as a unicorn (and maybe even as a flying pony). Jaunty atmosphere and skillful work with IA’s vocals come as bonus features.

Youtube:

Lyrics (in Japanese): http://piapro.jp/t/lbxO

GUMI - Light and Shadow

An update from Chariot The Tuneful circle, their first in 2016. The guys behind the circle are knot (music) and Meiden (lyrics and visuals). To say the guys are awesome is to say nothing; their previous tracks are among the sickest and boldest the scene ever created!

For now Chariot The Tuneful takes it down a notch. ‘Light and Shadow’ doesn’t dive into the bottomless abyss of ever increasing brutality. Still it boasts exceptional sound with roaring guitars and fast tempo. Chariot’s songs have that subtle (and sometimes not so) feel of madness, and ‘Light and Shadow’ develops it in its own way. Now Gumi takes some part in it too and she does it excellently!

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOAUlj8Mui4
Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm28802556


Can’t say why but I find this vaguely disturbing…

Video by Meiden.

Hatsune Miku - RiA

The first video of KeitA (instrumentals) and T3 (lyrics). The song was released earlier on Piapro, it’s a nifty attempt at grunge being squeezed into post-hardcore shape. The best part of it is juicy sound of guitars, the bass support is particularly impressive. Miku, on the other side, seems to be rather shy…

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm28653397
MP3 download: http://piapro.jp/t/zgF1

A Place Where You Hope - EP review

Yokomin started producing Vocaloid music not a long time ago – only one year has passed since the first his work was published on Nico. But here we are – an EP’s already out, presented at Comiket 86 event August, 17 and sold out the same day. The latter came quite unexpectedly for the producer himself – 80 copies seem to be a horrific amount for the first time :) Well, my congratulations!

I must be a spoiled person, but the EP’s title… Don’t you find it a bit… eh, too customary? Well, perhaps that’s because it’s in English (Yokomin tends to name his songs in English as well). Some “Anata ga kibou suru tokoro” would sound alien enough to pass :)

The cover art, drawn by the expert hand of Gonmaru-san, must’ve contributed to the success substantially. See for yourselves.

GUMI - One Side Lost

Excellent musicpiece from ninigi project! Bold and dynamic hard’n’heavy with some naughty metalcore accents. And Gumi to breath life into this. So don’t be fooled, nothing is lost here! :)


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23625925


Video’s art by Maki.

Yamine Rei - the end

Slow and moody music by Haruki Kuroi. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first original song for Yamine Rei, though the voicebank was created more than a year ago…


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23599403

Lily - Oboe

A masterful and soulful grunge from Reset. Lots of instrumental lines, complicated effects and excellent Lily’s vocals. She seems to be a little off the spotlight, but she rocks anyway!

The title translates as ‘remember’.


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23548932
MP3 download & Lyrics (JP): http://piapro.jp/t/8p6E


Nice bra…

Video’s art by Amakura.

GUMI - Serenity

I can't say that the title says everything about the music, but it suits it undeniably. From tranquil piano intro to the final chords - the song keeps its distinct style. Yunyunsae-san has created compelling atmosphere, and Gumi is one of its key elements. This work is a remastered version of the song that Yun posted a year ago (with Luka’s vocals). Strangely enough, that version has vanished and cannot stand before our critical eye. My wild bet the reason is Yun’s ashamed how’s the old version sounds compared to the new :) Why, perfect always was the enemy of the good :)

The mixing is done by our old friend ensou.


Youtube:

Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/yunyunsae/gumi-serenity



Video’s art by Kirby.

Yuzuki Yukari - Distance

A beatiful song from Yokomin. A bit off his usual style, this sounds more like grunge but still keeps subtle post-hardcore flavor. Low tempo, deep and rich bassu, acoustic guitar and piano entwining melodies make this song distinct and soulful. No need to say Yukari’s vocals add to the sound perfectly, bringing the touch of magic that breathe true life into the work.

The song is from the upcoming Yokomin’s EP. The name isn’t yet defined. The album will be distributed on C86 Comiket event (sometime in August).


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23467773

GUMI - Jishou shousha to soreigai

A beautiful song by ninigi project. The project’s works are rather diverse, this time it’s stylish and jaunty grunge. It’s smooth and fit, and made with such natural simplicity that can only be a sign of great mastery. Easy guitars and bass lines in verses are just made specially for bringing out Gumi’s vocals. And that’s for the good. Because Gumi is striking. Gumi is brilliant. Gumi is out-fuckin’-standing. Why, we need so little to be happy! :)


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SZ7053Y3ik

Lily - save

Nice grunge from gogotea-san. The sound quality is excellent. Lily sounds a bit sub-par compared to it, but she’s V3 at least, and that helps a lot ;)


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23393398

GUMI - traveler

An excellent piece by Jiwataneho. The song will be released on “Honesty Will Never Break You” compilation, of the circle “I DO Loud’, and will be distributed on 28^th Vocaloid M@ster event.
The composition is slow-paced and lyrical. Solid Gumi’s voice and clever guitars’ line with a lot of contrast parts make this song a real masterpiece.


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23364181



Video’s art by Kuensan.

Makimiya Fuuki - Disposed Virtue

A fresh song from Yuto. The producer continues to use Makimiya Fuuki’s voicebank – and continues to work in classic heavy style. “Disposed Virtue” is an interesting low-tempo grunge with pronounced, dense bassu line and some use of lighter-tuned guitar sound. The song has a nice atmosphere. Fuuki is good too, if only Yato hadn’t pitched his voice from time to time somewhere one and a half octaves higher than needed :) Poor UTAUs, a mere toy in hands of blood-thirsty producers :)


Youtube:

Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/rampstudio/disposed-virtue

GUMI & Hatsune Miku - Have a Nice Day

You don’t expect anything worthy from the songs with titles like *that* usually, but the fresh piece from Coralmines is rather interesting. The producer claims it to be progressive rock, but for me it sounds more like grunge, with some prog features here and there. Let’s be just: this is the first producer’s metal song, so there’s nothing wrong in slight genre uncertainties. I must say for the first work in this style it is very impressive! The sound quality is solid, with marked guitars’ character and lavish bass drums. The tempo is a bit slower than most progressive works, which gives additional weight and authenticity to the song.

The less astounding part is vocals. Despite both girls are English variants, their Engrish is sub-prime to say the least. Sad, because the producer has made quite elaborate melodic lines for vocals, fitting the high prog standards. The fine lyrics deserve better treatment too… :(

Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23223867


Two thousand years ago nude statues were the most common thing. Today nudity hides somewhere in deep and dark Internet burrows. What, you call this ‘progress’?.. ;)

Video’s art by Sainker-sama. (btw, what is Chinese for ‘sama’? ;) )

Kagamine Rin - Attack My Angel

…And the second work by Nexx. This one is certainly more evil. Rin slips to distorted vocals from time to time. The song has more contemporary sounding, though it isn’t the edge yet…


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23205506