Snowflake 2026 #6
Jan. 13th, 2026 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
visualjyushiTop 10 Challenge. The category(ies) you choose are up to you.
Ah, an excuse for me to talk about my top 10 visual kei bands! (As of me making this post at least.)
I added three songs I enjoy from each if you want to listen to something new in the realm of j-rock. I did not feel like trying to embed 100 videos, so I just have Youtube links. Sorry. Half of these bands are quite popular if you're into j-rock/vkei, but listen, they get the attention for a reason. Some music videos require some warnings, so look for those in bold if certain subjects upset you.
1) Plastic Tree
くちづけ | ザザ降り、ザザ鳴り。| Slide.
They snuck their way into first place for me over the past year. There is something so calming and nostalgic about Ryutaro's voice. I could fall asleep listening to him (and I have). Their lyrics feel very poetic, and I like the imagery Ryutaro tends to use in his writing especially. It's not often that I get instrumentals stuck in my head but it happens quite often with their songs. Plastic tree is not really a band that can be concretely tied to one genre, so their sound tends to change from album to album.
2) DEZERT
遮光事実 | Call of Rescue | 君の脊髄が踊る頃に
I think it's been... three years now? Since I really dug into their discography. I've been listening to them religiously ever since. Their sound used to be heavier, but I'm not upset about the direction they've gone. I love Chiaki's vocal range because he can scream or sound like an angel. The other members—Sacchan, Miyako, and Sora—are also incredibly talented. I've seen at least one video of a live where Chiaki (vocalist) and Sora (drummer) actually switched places, so Sora could sing a cover and Chiaki played the drums for that song. They all seem so fun in the videos I've seen of their lives. (FYI: If you like a more vkei-influenced sound, you should listen to the old version of 遮光事実. I just love how Chiaki's voice is much clearer in the re-recorded version.)
3) BUCK-TICK
MOON LIGHT | Trans | ROMANCE
I started listening to them during the pandemic, and they became a big comfort for me. Unfortunately, it's been hard for me to listen to them consistently (without crying) since the sudden passing of their vocalist Atsushi a few years ago. Their music is still really important to me. They will probably be the most well known in this list, but they're famous because they're good.
4) the GazettE
REGRET | Dripping Insanity | 千鶴
Yet another band that I find hard to listen to lately because of the recent passing of their beloved bassist, Reita. They were one of the bands that got me interested in visual kei, so I won't lie, this is a nostalgia-based placement. However, I don't think these guys are capable of making a bad song. I also really enjoy watching or seeing reports of their lives. I've heard they've been putting Reita's amp where he'd usually stand and leaving a spotlight on it during what would be his bass solos...
5) lynch.
DEVIL | IDOL | BRINGER
Some might think all of lynch's songs sound too similar, but I tend to not always mind that. (It's probably my 'tism.) Hazuki doesn't scream quite as hard as some other vocalists out there, but the passion is there. And, he has a solid voice in my humble opinion.
6) Versailles
MASQUERADE | The Revenant Choir | VOGUE
Their vocalist has an amazing voice. I would kill to see them live because their songs are just so powerful. It would probably be a religious experience. I've had the chance to meet Hizaki, one of the guitarists, for like five seconds while he was signing a photo for me at a con before. He seems really nice! Very professional but not afraid to crack a joke here and there.
7) XAAXAA
コワイクライ | カミソリ | Love Letter
They caught my attention recently because their visuals are just so cool, and their vocalist has a pretty unique voice. Their songs are so catchy and get stuck in my head frequently. It's worth noting that their songs often focus on mental health topics, so the second video I've linked has a (fake) depiction of self harm.
8) DIR EN GREY
かすみ | 予感 | Cage
I really enjoy Kyo's lyricism and voice, but for anyone who doesn't already know DEG: their lyrics and music videos can be quite edgy at times. In the Cage MV, there is A LOT of gore, and there are people in BDSM gear on all fours and eating out of dog bowls so... approach that as you will. Also, arachnophobia warning for like the first few seconds of かすみ (it's just a spider walking up a pole, don't even know why they included it). Click on the middle song if you want a more neutral intro to them lol. That being said, I do like the more artistic approach Kyo takes with music, basically putting on an acting role for some songs and videos.
9) Matenrou Opera
桜 | Anomie | honey drop
I found them because they came up in a radio/as a suggestion since I listen to Versailles. Some of their songs are just as cool and powerful honestly. They have pretty simple visuals in comparison to other tanbi kei bands, but they still give me elegant vibes. 🤔 Overall, another band filled with very talented members.
10) Diaura
FINALE | Lost November | inner core
I believe yo-ka has stated that DIR EN GREY was a musical inspiration to him, so I guess not surprising that I like them? They are one of those bands for me where I can listen to any and all of their songs. They just have a great sound. I also wish I could do makeup as good as yo-ka's on myself lol.
Ah, an excuse for me to talk about my top 10 visual kei bands! (As of me making this post at least.)
I added three songs I enjoy from each if you want to listen to something new in the realm of j-rock. I did not feel like trying to embed 100 videos, so I just have Youtube links. Sorry. Half of these bands are quite popular if you're into j-rock/vkei, but listen, they get the attention for a reason. Some music videos require some warnings, so look for those in bold if certain subjects upset you.
1) Plastic Tree
くちづけ | ザザ降り、ザザ鳴り。| Slide.
They snuck their way into first place for me over the past year. There is something so calming and nostalgic about Ryutaro's voice. I could fall asleep listening to him (and I have). Their lyrics feel very poetic, and I like the imagery Ryutaro tends to use in his writing especially. It's not often that I get instrumentals stuck in my head but it happens quite often with their songs. Plastic tree is not really a band that can be concretely tied to one genre, so their sound tends to change from album to album.
2) DEZERT
遮光事実 | Call of Rescue | 君の脊髄が踊る頃に
I think it's been... three years now? Since I really dug into their discography. I've been listening to them religiously ever since. Their sound used to be heavier, but I'm not upset about the direction they've gone. I love Chiaki's vocal range because he can scream or sound like an angel. The other members—Sacchan, Miyako, and Sora—are also incredibly talented. I've seen at least one video of a live where Chiaki (vocalist) and Sora (drummer) actually switched places, so Sora could sing a cover and Chiaki played the drums for that song. They all seem so fun in the videos I've seen of their lives. (FYI: If you like a more vkei-influenced sound, you should listen to the old version of 遮光事実. I just love how Chiaki's voice is much clearer in the re-recorded version.)
3) BUCK-TICK
MOON LIGHT | Trans | ROMANCE
I started listening to them during the pandemic, and they became a big comfort for me. Unfortunately, it's been hard for me to listen to them consistently (without crying) since the sudden passing of their vocalist Atsushi a few years ago. Their music is still really important to me. They will probably be the most well known in this list, but they're famous because they're good.
4) the GazettE
REGRET | Dripping Insanity | 千鶴
Yet another band that I find hard to listen to lately because of the recent passing of their beloved bassist, Reita. They were one of the bands that got me interested in visual kei, so I won't lie, this is a nostalgia-based placement. However, I don't think these guys are capable of making a bad song. I also really enjoy watching or seeing reports of their lives. I've heard they've been putting Reita's amp where he'd usually stand and leaving a spotlight on it during what would be his bass solos...
5) lynch.
DEVIL | IDOL | BRINGER
Some might think all of lynch's songs sound too similar, but I tend to not always mind that. (It's probably my 'tism.) Hazuki doesn't scream quite as hard as some other vocalists out there, but the passion is there. And, he has a solid voice in my humble opinion.
6) Versailles
MASQUERADE | The Revenant Choir | VOGUE
Their vocalist has an amazing voice. I would kill to see them live because their songs are just so powerful. It would probably be a religious experience. I've had the chance to meet Hizaki, one of the guitarists, for like five seconds while he was signing a photo for me at a con before. He seems really nice! Very professional but not afraid to crack a joke here and there.
7) XAAXAA
コワイクライ | カミソリ | Love Letter
They caught my attention recently because their visuals are just so cool, and their vocalist has a pretty unique voice. Their songs are so catchy and get stuck in my head frequently. It's worth noting that their songs often focus on mental health topics, so the second video I've linked has a (fake) depiction of self harm.
8) DIR EN GREY
かすみ | 予感 | Cage
I really enjoy Kyo's lyricism and voice, but for anyone who doesn't already know DEG: their lyrics and music videos can be quite edgy at times. In the Cage MV, there is A LOT of gore, and there are people in BDSM gear on all fours and eating out of dog bowls so... approach that as you will. Also, arachnophobia warning for like the first few seconds of かすみ (it's just a spider walking up a pole, don't even know why they included it). Click on the middle song if you want a more neutral intro to them lol. That being said, I do like the more artistic approach Kyo takes with music, basically putting on an acting role for some songs and videos.
9) Matenrou Opera
桜 | Anomie | honey drop
I found them because they came up in a radio/as a suggestion since I listen to Versailles. Some of their songs are just as cool and powerful honestly. They have pretty simple visuals in comparison to other tanbi kei bands, but they still give me elegant vibes. 🤔 Overall, another band filled with very talented members.
10) Diaura
FINALE | Lost November | inner core
I believe yo-ka has stated that DIR EN GREY was a musical inspiration to him, so I guess not surprising that I like them? They are one of those bands for me where I can listen to any and all of their songs. They just have a great sound. I also wish I could do makeup as good as yo-ka's on myself lol.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-14 05:12 am (UTC)The GazettE!! I know them from the opening of Kuroshitsuji Season 2. Sad to hear about their bassist but glad that they continue to honor him in their live performances.
I'll really dig into these later, I love j-rock and visual kei (though I mostly just listened to their songs by anime association so I don't get to dabble in the "visual" side of things) :"D
Thank you for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-14 05:28 pm (UTC)Anyway, I hope you find something you like from my list :)
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 02:52 am (UTC)Ryutaro's voice is very nice! It's unique and relaxing, although sometimes I imagine he needs a glass of water. I really need to listen to more Plastic Tree. My fave song by them is 割れた窓... which is from the debut album. I need to go further than that LOL. Also, Ryutaro is fashion goals.
I've never heard DEZERT before! I wonder if this makes me lame, but they're too heavy for my taste, but I can still recognize that they're very good. Like, I can hear what makes the songs great and can completely understand how they'd be loved, but it's not my taste. Definitely something I can play for someone else if I know they like that kind of music though.
BUCK∞TICK SWEEP🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Moon Light is so comforting to me. [10 minutes pass] Actually, all the BT songs you chose to advertise here are very comforting 🥺💜 I wish I knew more about music so I could explain why. They all make me nostalgic for when I would walk alone around the wooded lake (? is that a phrase) at my college at midnight-4 am.
To me, the GazettE is like the quintessential vk band. Every time I look at them or hear them I go hell yeah, now that's visual kei™. I think my fave song by them is reila, but your picks are way cooler.
I've listened to lynch. before, but thanks for forcing me to actually look at them too *adds hazuki to my pinboards quietly*
I wish cons were real; it'd be so cool to meet Hizaki. And hey, if you hang around Los Angeles (I think?) you might bump into Kamijo eventually. Kamijo is real and he's out there. Not sure if you'd recognize him without the wig/extensions, but he's out there for those with eyes to see.
I dunno if this was intended but Love Letter made me start dancing involuntarily 😭
If I didn't already know DEG the trigger warnings would've made me click on their MVs even faster LOL And since I've heard a fair chunk of their discog, I think, I can say you made some good choices of intro songs, because Yokan and Cage are my faves and I like Kasumi after listening to it for my first (conscious) time. I love raion detre a lot too! And other songs. But mostly the ones that aren't so heavy, I suppose <- simply forgot what the heavier deg songs sound like after picking out all the songs he does like. Also the CAGE MV feels like they're trying to brainwash me but idk what for
Matenrou Opera dresses like Tanbi Kei for the Working Man or the like what corp goth is to trad goth or something. I like it, and I will be stealing. Excellent music as well! Tanbi kei is hit or miss for me, I either love a song or think it's 10000 instruments in service of nothing, but the songs you linked were all good and are now in my likes forever.
yo-ka has a great voice! Diaura also looks and sounds like visual kei™ to me ^o^ I feel like I've heard them before... but I can't remember it, so let's pretend this is my first time. I liked the songs you chose, particularly Lost November.
This took like 2 hours and I'm not proofreading it xD Post comment.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 04:26 pm (UTC)Honestly, someone get this old man some water!! I love him, but I think he overworks himself sometimes.
>>I've never heard DEZERT before! I wonder if this makes me lame, but they're too heavy for my taste
So fair! The songs I added to my post are honestly tame in comparison to some of their other stuff LOL. So if you don't like these, then they probably aren't for you. I'm finding that I personally tend to drift towards loud kei when I look for new bands to listen to.
>>*adds hazuki to my pinboards quietly*
REAL. I actually felt called out when I saw Hazuki, because he looks scarily similar to one of my OCs... I have a specific taste and it is unfortunately obvious.
>>I liked the songs you chose, particularly Lost November.
I knew I had to add that one, because every time I've recommended it, I've been told it was a favorite :)