I know there might be similar topics but I want this oone to be focused on the current situation.
The only thing people seem to care about is the new DeG album, except that… crickets*.* Sure some new bands pop up here and there but then we never hear about them again. When a band with some “money” releases something it most of the time sucks, take the latest Jiluka single as an example. Mucc’s latest single was pretty lame, Matenro’s latest one was pretty weak as well (they are still an amazing band). What I mean is that there are no real bangers that make people talk anymore. There is no action. Nothing that can go viral. There might be some hidden gems here and there but the “big songs” suck to be honest, at least most of them. It hurts to say. Im not a hater, I want to like the songs. I really do.
So the final question - has it ever been this bad? As a fan for 15+ years I feel worried. It wouldn’t make me surprised if more and more people are losing interest in the scene as well, I mean the people who were around during the peak are getting older and older + nothing new to be excited about. Of course I mostly mean the japanese fans but also the few of us gaijin fans that still are around!
At last… money. There is really no money in VK anymore, the golden years are long gone, and the economy is just getting harsher and harsher. Do you think we ever will see a big band again? Yoshiki is our last hope?
I don’t want to write this really, but once DeG disbands/kyo leaves the scene, do you guys think that will be nail in the coffin for VK as we know it? I mean, already today it feels dead and hopeless.
Honestly I’ve heard this “visual kei is dead” discourse so many times over the last 10-15 years…
I do agree about the lack of interesting music lately,
I only look forward for the new Gazette album and maybe the Kizu one.
But visual kei is not dead, veterans and disbanded bands are reuniting, since 2 years we never had that many bands touring overseas plus that huge vk festival in July !
I mean, VK is and always was incredibly niche, so I think going “viral” is out of the picture anyways.
Besides, I think “viral” is a term (like many others, e.g. “life hack” ) that is used far too inflationary.
A lot of older VK fans got into the scene at the peak in the early 2000s, especially in european and other non-asian regions. Therefore they all (including me) witnessed the popularity decrease but never increase and it is not surprising to draw the conclusion that the scene is dead. But VK existed long before that peak back then and it will always be around, but may change it’s shape or become even less popluar. Or more popular. Who knows?! But one thing is for sure: A subculture does not just go extinct.
Due to various reasons pretty much all scenes who are not mainstream are struggling at the moment.
This forum is only a snapshot of the existing foreign VK fandom. Unfortunately, the majority of the other platforms where VK fans congregate, the conversation doesn’t tend to be as high quality. Whether it’s because of character limits, or the presence of newbies who are trying too hard, etc.
Whenever I see you post or comment on anything, it’s mostly negative. I don’t want to stir anything up, but it’s almost to an obnoxious degree.
The overseas activity in terms of shows and new fans coming in is at the highest point in the last at least 15 years.
You may not like what it’s all evolved into and I understand that. Even my own enjoyment comes in waves, since I don’t find myself listening to a lot of VK in the last couple of months, but that doesn’t immediately spell doom for the scene. The old shit is still there, new bands are gonna keep coming and I hope you’ll regain that spark that made you fall in love with the music in the first place.
It might be best just to disconnect for a bit and come back later.
I appreciate everyone’s reply and, will and want to reply properly later, but don’t get me wrong that I am a hater. I live in Japan and go to concerts all the time or as much as I can, trying to find new bands. When the bigger bands tour I try to go to all shows in kantou-area. What I mean and what I want to say is that, yes, I sometimes sound negative and it is because the stuff I comment on sucks or is generic - and its becaus I love jrock/vk so much and want them to do better, I know they can do better. The music is one of the main reasons I took the job in Japan.
I have gotten many japanese friends through the concerts, so I get to talk/vent with them too and most agree, or rather they often talk about it. And this time I just wanted to hear what western fans think about the current situation.
Peace!
I felt this way, maybe 10 years ago… I don’t share that sentiment anymore.
For better or worse, TikTok and Spotify have given VK an audience of new fans, due to their easy discoverability. So, it’s still niche, but less than ever before.
I think what we’re missing is more flag-bearing frontmen bands for the scene. We have GazettE, DEG, and a small handful of up and comers, but nothing BIG like era’s past.
Instead, there’s a huge amount of new bands that come in, test the waters, and give up pretty quickly if they don’t achieve any kind of commercial success. That seems to be a rising trend, more than ever. Maybe that’s what’s giving you that impression?
Further - The world seems to be suffering from a collective form of brain rot. Remakes, remasters, prequels, sequels, stories about stories and songs about songs.
I think, collectively, these algorithms have done MAJOR damage to humanity’s creativity, and creators are too shy to experiment anymore, afraid of the commercial repercussions of taking a chance with a new style or direction. Instead, they chase engagement and trends, because they’re ‘safe’. VK is not immune to this trend, even as a subculture, and it’s unfortunate.
I see you’re in Japan but I definitely think there are plenty of new fans in western countries! I see so many vk edits on Tiktok (with lots of likes!) and the commentators are definitely teens! As someone who is 33 it warms my heart. Sure it may be cringe but hey I know I was probably just as cringe when I was 12 getting into visual kei.
For as long as I can remember VK has had an ebb and flow, like most of us never lived through the boom in the 90s in any real capacity so other than the whole JRR era I can’t think of any real point where it’s been that high.
For one thing DIR EN GREY isn’t as big or as popular as people in the west tend to think they are, like they’re not on the level of BUCK-TICK or LUNA SEA, I mean hell D’ERLANGER is more popular than DeG and that’s as a fan since 2005, just stating facts. I mean they’ve talked about how they don’t think they’ll stop performing any time soon because The Alfee have inspired them to keep playing until they’re grandpas.
Every counterculture scene will have peaks followed by deep valleys. Hardcore, for example, doesn’t have anything even remotely close to the mainstream awareness of the scene that it did in the 80’s, and likely never will. But Converge has a new album out in a few days and I have tickets to see them in a few months.
Visual kei had a boom, had its moment of international saturation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it never has that sort of peak again. But, in the same way that the existence of pissed off kids who like loud guitars ensures there will always be hardcore bands out there, the existence of theater kids in Japan who like rock music ensures visual kei will likely always continue in some form or another. The looks and vibes will change, but the root of that form of self-expression will go on
And I’m fine if it stays niche. I’m used to the art I enjoy being outside of the mainstream
Kamijo is probably the strongest pulse keeping VKei in my radar. Other than him, I mainly follow the long time bands. Some new bands can be fresh to hear but can feel lacking if you have been around long enough and heard enough bands/artists.
You could also just be maturing and music taste now needs something new. I have had this happen to me in other genres. Love hip-hop but find Kendrick mediocre. Love Latin dance music but found Bad Bunny to be an absolute bore. I would have tired out of japanese metal but Nemophila and Hanabie is keeping things fresh for me.
VK is just too niche. Many bands just want to stay put in their own style and refuse to evolve with time. While those that evolved with larger fan base are too old to attract anymore younger fans. The gazette on the other hand things could have picked up for them but fate decided to slap them with problems and they are not young anymore as they are approaching 50.
i feel like i’ve been hearing about this dying scene for 20 goddamn years lmao who the fuck cares if it’s popular on tiktok or whatever. is a band still making music worth listening to? that’s subjective. i personally don’t care since i listen to old stuff consistently, but i also don’t try and gauge people’s opinions of things on social media and don’t go to shows so lol
And the damn synth aside the chorus is cool at least