PV Analysis: Black Gene for the Next Scene - 'DDD - Dead Devil Dancing'

Regular readers of Project: Lixx will surely know Black Gene for the Next Scene (abbreviated as BFN / Black Gene) as previously featured in PV analysis with their single 'Welcome to Monster World'. Formed in 2011 by Ice on vocals, Toki on guitar, Rame on bass and Sala playing drums, their 5th maxi-single released in July 2014 features 'DDD - Dead Devil Dancing'. The PV shows off a demonic aspect and threads a short and fractured narrative with swaths of performance.

PV Analysis Plus: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - 'Kira Kira Killer' + How-to, Hosting and Hanging with Pikachu

If you're a regular visitor to Project: Lixx or looking around for the first time, you've surely noticed the focus on J-Rock and Visual Kei in the content here. While I enjoy heavier music, the pop fan in me finds the work of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu compelling on a number of levels. After seeing her live at Sound Academy in Toronto earlier this year (see my report here) I've kept up with her output as it never fails to lift my mood and heart. There's an evolution of the artist happening along the way, not only musically but through expansion to a number of arenas. Since my last look at her PV output she's released the album Pika Pika Fantajin and the video for single Kira Kira Killer provides more candy-flavoured visuals with a streak of darkness beneath.

PV Analysis: DaizyStripper - 'G.Z.S.K.K.'

DaizyStripper was formed in Tokyo circa 2007. Made up of Yugiri on vocals, Nao on guitar, Rei playing bass and Kazami on drums, they performed earlier this year at Anime North, as covered here at Project: Lixx, The band has released 6 albums, the most recent bearing the song I'll be looking at the PV for today, their 17th single, G.Z.S.K.K. While they've recently announced the return of Mayu this clip is conspicuous in their output with his absence to be sure.

PV Analysis: jizue - 'Shiori'

Formed in 2006, jizue is a jazz/post-rock combo with a unique, energetic sound. Made up of members Inoue Norimasa playing guitar, Katagi Nozomi Yori on keyboard, Yamada Tsuyoshi on bass and drums by Kokawa Kokoro, they toured Canada earlier this year to spread their sound to an international audience. Their albums have a literate bent in their names, "Bookshelf," "Novel" and "Journal" being the first three, followed by their latest "Shiori". Looking up the word I find translations as 'guidebook' and 'bookmark', both themes present in the titular video from the album, a moving instrumental piece.

PV Analysis: nano - 'Sable'

The artist called nano first came to public attention in 2006 via YouTube under a few other names, impressing listeners with her distinct vocals. After a number of years as an artist on video sharing sites, she signed with a label in 2012. She has released 2 albums and a number of singles since then, the latest of which is mini-album 'Infinity≠Zero / Sable', an emotional call to personal revolution. The video includes some jarring effects shots to match the anguished lyrics, and imagery made more clear after some research.

PV Analysis: ONE OK ROCK - 'Mighty Long Fall'

Formed in 2005, ONE OK ROCK describes their style as a fusion of sorts, bringing emo, rock and metal together to create a new sound. Made up of members Taka (vocals), Ryota (bass), Toru (guitar) and Tomoya (drums), the band recently wrapped a North American tour with the Warped tour '14, and are heading off for Europe and South America in the fall. Their ninth single, 'Mighty Long Fall', theme from the live action movie "Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno", features a PV depicting some massive destruction and beings of mythical proportions.

PV Analysis: Neverland - 'Escape Land'

The band called Neverland came together in mid-2012, bringing a strong speed-rock sound with effective use of distortion. Comprised of Ryota (vocal), Kazuki (guitar), Temple (bass) and Amber (drums), the band is rather active as of late, releasing a 5th single the day I write this. I'll be looking at their 4th single's PV, “Land Escape” - presenting a variety of performance shots and a crime tale told with bizarre technique.

PV Analysis: Number Girl - 'I Don't Know'

Number Girl was formed in Fukuoka, Japan, active from 1995. Featuring Mukai Shūtoku (guitar, vocals), Tabuchi Hisako (guitar), Nakao Kentarō (bass) and Ahito Inazawa (drums), the departure of bassist Kentarō led to the band's dissolution in 2002. Their sound was a raw, indie rock style that evolved over the years, similar to the Pixies or Husker Du in western rock terms. A recent 15th anniversary release has brought new attention to the band in recent months. Their final single “I Don't Know” features a PV that appears to be composed of shots from a feature film. Further research indicates the movie is 'Gaichu' (aka 'Harmful Insect') by Akihiko Shiota, a stark coming of age story from 2001. Large portions of Japanese text appear on the screen during the video, seeming to set up or provide further context; lacking translations for these portions the sparse lyrics may provide some further frame of reference.

PV Analysis: Urbangarde - 'One Piece Shinju'

With a sound they describe as “trauma techno pop”, Urbangarde is an act with an electronic sound that delights in skirting genres. Featuring Hamasaki Yoko (Vocal), Matsunaga Tenma (Vocal/Sequencing), Zeze Shin (Guitar/Sequencing) and Kagiyama Kyoichi (Drums), the members draw from an array of backgrounds and influences to coalesce into a distinct and compelling sound. Coming together in the early 21^st century, since their major debut single in 2011 they've released 6 albums total the latest featuring “One Piece Shinju”. The PV is sparing in its imagery, but provides an arresting visual to a track that's unflinching and hauntingly vocalised. As I'm working without lyric translations this will be a less than authoritative look at the piece.

PV Analysis: GOTCHAROCKA - 'Virginity'

GOTCHAROCKA is led by Jui on vocals and completed by Jun on guitar and Toya also on guitar. Active from May of 2012, they've released one mini album and one full length as of this writing, along with 4 singles. Taken from the titular track on their mini-album,  The PV for Virginity is a strange depiction of one man's issues with the cafe he's selected for a post-shopping experience, accompanied by a rocking track that seems to loop itself in a cautionary tone.

PV Analysis: Inshouha - 'BEAM!'

Inshouha is a J-pop group comprised of Mica (keyboard/vocals) and Miu (guitar/vocals), in their own profile formed vaguely in 2010 in Osaka. After a break for a year, they increased activity in 2013 with their first mini-album and more releases. In analysis of their latest PV BEAM! I was unable to get translated lyrics, but the imagery tells a fairly clear story to interpret. In the vein of their first clip SWAP this PV is an animated tour de force, this time dropping the viewer into a story in progress as we open on the remains of a decimated city under the track title – BEAM! - rendered in a stylized logo.

PV Analysis: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - 'Yume no Hajima Ring Ring' / 'Family Party (+ 'Kira Kira Killer')

Over the course of the last few years, Japan's music scene has seen global exposure through an unstoppable solo artist - Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Whether you're into her sugary brand of pop or not, the attention she draws to J-pop is an undeniable force on the worldwide stage. After catching her live in Toronto at the Sound Academy in March, I couldn't help but notice that KPP put out 2 more singles as she wrapped up her Nanda Collection world tour. The graduation-themed 'Yume no Hajima Ring Ring' and movie soundtrack single 'Family Party' offer more compelling PVs to ponder, and the previews of the upcoming 'Kira Kira Killer' show that the maturation and evolution of Kyary doesn't affect her sense of fun in the least.

PV Analysis: Nocturnal Bloodlust - 'Desperate'

Comprised of Hiro (vocals), Cazqui (7-string), Daichi (guitar), Masa (bass/vocals) and Natsu (drums), Nocturnal Bloodlust is a deathcore/metalcore visual kei band formed in September 2009. Their first mini-album Ivy was released in January of 2012, and their singles catalogue features 8 entries with a ninth due out by the end of the month. The video for their current release ‘Desperate’ features some brutal imagery that suitably illustrates the tone and content of the track.

PV Analysis: DIAURA - "Menace"

DIAURA was formed in December of 2010, comprised of Yo-ka (ex-Valluna) on vocals, Kei (ex-Valluna) on guitar, joined in March 2011 by Shoya on bass and in April 2013, Tatsuya on drums. Since their formation they've released 12 singles and 2 full albums, conveying a theme of Their latest single as of this writing is Menace, released in March 2014. In attempting to analyse the video, I've consulted lyrics from HipHopVomit, and Google translate has done a number on them so bear this is mind as I refer to the words as I go.

PV Analysis: DEZERT - "Himitsu"

Initially formed as Acid Cherry King in 2011, the Visual Kei band known as DEZERT released their first single in August of 2012. Comprised of Chiaki on vocals, Kira on guitar, SaZ on bass and Sora on drums, the band has released 6 singles to date. The PV for their first single, 'Himitsu' is a dark spectacle of mysterious imagery to accompany a frenetic electro-tinged rock piece.

PV Analysis: Black Gene for the Next Scene - "Welcome to Monster World"

Black Gene for the Next Scene (abbreviated as BFN or Black Gene) was formed in late 2011 by veterans of a multitude of other acts, currently following a theme of "Goshikaru transformer". Comprised of Ice on vocals, toki on guitar, Rame on bass and Sala on drums, they've released four singles and an album to date. Their latest PV for 'Welcome to Monster World' features an array of cinematic recall and considerable western influence in the visuals at play. The band talks about the PV in an interview, where they discuss the track addressing the nature of good and evil as well as the monsters inside us all.

PV Analysis: Sibilebashir - "Nounai Black Doll"

(From left to right: Yuto, Izumi, Marya and Rei)

Sibilebashir was formed in 2012, featuring Izumi on vocals, Marya on guitar, Yuto on bass and Rei on drums. The video for 'Nounai Black Doll' incorporates some elements seen in other Visual Kei offerings, but also pushes the envelope considerably as it challenges the viewer. The band's sense of the grotesque melds with their unique sound to create an indelible assortment of graphics presented at a breakneck pace. With the help of my pause button and screen caps, I've pieced together a narrative from the clip without the aid of lyrics.

PV Analysis: Magistina Saga - 'Shadow Game'

Formed in 2008 as Guild in Japan's Kansai region, Magistina Saga adopted their current moniker in 2010. Signing with Starwave Records in mid-2012 the band has released 3 mini-albums altogether, most recently 'Two-facedness of a Tale' in August of 2013. With vocals by Iori, guitar by Urugi and bass by Kyo (support drums by Takuro) the band's rock sound incorporates themes of magic and fairy tale. These themes are perhaps best personified in the MV for 'Shadow Game', adapting a classic story familiar to young and old alike.

PV Analysis: Mejibray - 'Raven'

Mejibray is a visual kei group formed in June 2011, comprised of Tsuzuku - vocals, MiA - guitar, Koichi - bass and Meto on drums. Initially brought together as support for a solo endeavor by Tsuzuku, they instead formed as Mejibray. As individual members, the group brings much experience from previous bands to their sound here. The band has released 10 singles to date, the latest as of this writing is Raven, just released March 19. The track reflects an act clearly in their element, and the PV presents a dizzying array of images to process.

PV Analysis: llll-ligro - "Higanbana"

llll-Ligro is a visual kei band formed in Tokyo in 2010, most recently comprised of Hinata (vocal), Kazari (guitar), Anki (guitar), Hiro (drums) and Nao (support bass). Their band concept of ‘gloomy salvation through emptiness’ on the ‘mayhem of emotions’ seems to have marked their relatively short career, as 2011 saw member changes following a demo single release as anki and Nao joined the group. Kazari was added as second guitar in early 2012, however the end of 2013 saw more members leave. Anki quit due to 'severe opposing views', following his post of a controversial YouTube video, and Hiro’s decision to quit was apparently led by an increased focus on promotion over music. This has led the band to hiatus. However a month prior to these departures they released their 5th single ‘Higanbana’, accompanied by a visceral PV.