Japanese Goth

viscus · 09-02-2008, 08:08 AM

The purpose of this thread is to share with you what I can find from the small but persistent Goth scene of this island nation in which I reside. Seeking it out isn't very easy for me, since I live in a rather rural prefecture on the island of Shikoku and a trip to Osaka or Kobe is a good 2 1/2 hours, but I endure.

Anyone with anything valuable to add to this thread is more than welcome to do so.

My first find is the latest album from Auto-Mod, named straightforwardly enough: Eastern Gothic. They are the organizers of the Tokyo Dark Castle event and sort of Japan's flagship Goth band at the moment. They were first formed in 1978, were active through Goth's heyday, and claim influence from Batcave acts like Virgin Prunes and Sex Gang Children.

I can definitely hear some Christian Death in their sound, and while they have several melodic moments on this disc, most of the songs have a pretty metallic sound to them, with heavy beats and highly distorted (and often detuned) rhythm guitar, which I'm not crazy about. Whether or not they've always had a Metal bent or it's an "update" to their style remains for me to find out. The first and last tracks are sung in German, and the rest of the lyrics are 50% English (and pretty cheesy, if you can understand them), which kinda irks me, but it seems that most French and German Goth bands sing a lot of English as well.

All in all it's a pretty good album, though. Highlights include "Poison Night," "Majesty," "禁呪" (Kinju, Japanese for "Forbidden Curse"), and "Lucifer's Song." "Devil's Dance" is also a fun, albeit silly, rocker.

Download

Valravn · 09-02-2008, 10:22 AM

I have been listening to some japanese band but honestly I cannot find the voices of the singers attractive.

emoschemo13 · 09-03-2008, 01:49 PM

i like alice 9,gackt,miyavi,some visual kei....but especially miyavi!!! hes got mega skillz on the guitar! evidence:Are you ready to rock?

viscus · 09-03-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emoschemo13

i like alice 9,gackt,miyavi,some visual kei....but especially miyavi!!! hes got mega skillz on the guitar! evidence:Are you ready to rock?

Exactly zero of those bands are Goth, but thanks anyway. O_o

$haDe · 09-08-2008, 11:22 AM

I like their 'gothic' clothes than their songs,you know?

Lolly PopMuzik · 09-12-2008, 06:56 PM

I like how this died out when people realized it wasn't visual kei. :P

viscus · 09-13-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lolly PopMuzik

I like how this died out when people realized it wasn't visual kei. :P

I don't think there was much interest in it to begin with, seeing as it's not Metallica or 'Melodic Death Metal.' O_o

Yesterday a compilation called Tokyo Dark Castle arrived in my mailbox yesterday, comprising songs of artists who've performed at the event of the same name. I was unsure of whether or not it was worth posting, but for posterity sake I've done so anyway. It's a mostly Electro-Industrial affair with a couple Hard Rock/Metal tracks and a token few Darkwave-sounding ones. Most of it really isn't my thing, the only songs I found interesting were the ones from Gadget, Iloy, Aural Vampire, and a baroque number from ~selia~ (tracks 8, 10, 11, and 14, respectively). The closing track in the stupidly infectious "Devil Dance," but that's on the last album I posted as well.

Take it or leave it.

Raptor · 09-13-2008, 07:37 AM

Ah I forgot about this, I tried the Auto-Mod album when you posted it up.

It wasn't my thing really. Some of the music isn't bad, like you said Lucifer's Song, and Kinju are pretty good. But I really didn't like the vocals. Especially on the Devil's Dance track. It was interesting to try though so thank you.

viscus · 09-18-2008, 08:35 AM

Now here's something interesting. Last night on Soulseek, I came across the 1985 album Box with Little Doll by a band called Sadie Sads. Imagine a shochu-soaked combination of Virgin Prunes and Einstürzende Neubauten set in a WSB novel, and you might get an idea of what they sound like. Sound weird? Yeah it is. Definitely a challenging listen, but worth it in my opinion. "Day Dream," "W.S.D.G.," "Skipping K," and "Original Trick" are some highlights.

どうぞ

Draconysius · 09-20-2008, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the downloads. I'll be sure to give them an honest listen.

Draconysius · 09-20-2008, 05:07 PM

The songs do have a metal tinge to them, so much in fact that I'd say that's what they are. The goth moments are few and far between. The vocals annoy the shit out of me though.

viscus · 09-20-2008, 07:53 PM

Yeah, I think Auto-Mod was way more Goth back in the 80's, and they've tried to update their style for a contemporary audience, much like how 45 Grave has done away with their organs, added more guitar, and have generally gotten much harder-sounding at recent performances. And personally I like Genet's vocals better when he sings in Japanese.

Thanks guys for at least giving it a chance though, and not dismissing it outright as a bunch of J-rock, VK, anime fan garbage, as I think a lot of people are wont to do.

viscus · 10-09-2008, 08:56 AM

Yesterday I received a really awesome compilation entitled Selections from Excommunicated Monument. It contains two songs each from Goth Rock bands Auto-Mod, Sadie Sads, Madame Edwarda, and G-Schmitt. Auto-Mod is way more Post-Punk sounding here than their contemporary Metal-tinged incarnation, with some crazy saxophone going on. The Sadie Sads' tracks are a bit more accessible-sounding than what was on the last album of theirs that I posted, but still pretty far out there. But what I've been really been digging are the songs from Madame Edwarda and G-Schmitt.

Check it out, you won't regret it.