At this point, I’ve listened to enough Marvelous Cruelty to say I’ve heard all of their songs in my collection once. Here’s my quick list of what to look out for if you’re interested. Because, quite frankly, a lot of it is not worth collecting. Read on and discover why.
Also, to make this really easy, I’m going to separate them into tiers. The tiers should be self-explanatory.
Z’S STAMP OF APPROVAL
This is the tier for the good shit that is worth your time tracking down.
素晴ラシキ残酷 -完売音源集- (2022)
素晴ラシキ残酷II (2024)
貯水槽ノ春 / 針 (2024)
Ballade (2023)
Ballade II (2023)
夜葬曲 (2020)
Z’S NOD OF APPROVAL
Title is self-explanatory. Go here if you’re wanting more Marvelous Cruelty.
セシル (2022)
「 」(2019)
ニードル TYPE A AND B
悲壮ヲ奏デル懺悔ノ十字架 (2018)
インソムニア (2023)
TRIANGLE DECADENCE SERIES
Marvelous Cruelty did some compilation CDs with other revival-kei acts Misanthrope and La’Veil MizeriA. Highly recommend checking these out too (if you can find them…)
METHOTREXATE AND KAIKOROKU SERIES
These are two series of releases (Methotrexate has about eleven, Kaikoroku five) of live recordings. As much as I’d like to chalk it up to a skip, there are a few things worth listening out for. Extended versions of 「・・・cruelty」 are fun, and S15 retains the honor of being one of the only songs available as part of the Methotrexate series. At this time, Methotrexate XI is the only way I can hear grieve as well. I’d put these off until I collected everything else, personally. Some of these, like ×××× off Methotrexate V, can be downright painful to listen to.
THE DRUM MACHINE RUINS THESE RELEASES
Every release in this tier is here because the drum machine sucks all the energy out of the recording. There are a few of them, such as the rendition of “ツルワルデ奏ト君” from 幾何学模様ノ歪人形 is ever so slightly off and it is aggravating to listen to. Once you hear it, you can’t unhear it, so subject yourself carefully. Thankfully, the best of the best get re-recorded on other releases. These are all solid skips.
合ワセ鏡ト影ノキミ (2020)
素晴ラシキ残酷（通販盤）(2019)
幾何学模様ノ歪人形 (2018)
盲目ノ神ト嘆キノ賛美歌 (2019)
空白ノ刻 (2018) (as far as i know, 黒ガ蔓延ル庭 is only on this one release)
禁ジラレタ刻-隷- (2020) (THIS SONG IS DOPE THOUGH)
悲壮ヲ奏デル懺悔ノ十字架 (2018)
涙ト盲目ト (2018)
幻-悲絶哀-影 (2018)
幻-抗鬱剤-惑 (2018)
DEMO COLLECTIONS
The name is deceptive, because while the term “demo” would make you think the songs are unfinished, half of these songs are actually more complete than a lot of their earlier material. Just lacking a bit of polish. Well worth your time if you can track any of these down.
鈴蘭 DEMO COLLECTION 2023
鈴蘭 DEMO COLLECTION 2024
鈴蘭 BEST DEMO selection2023
鈴蘭 BEST DEMO selection2024
魁那 BEST DEMO selection2023
魁那 BEST DEMO selection2024
DEMO ARCHIVE
DEMO ARCHIVE +
DONE BETTER ON OTHER RELEASES
As the label says, these songs are good but better versions exist elsewhere. Track down only if your OCD commands it.
sister (2019)
defect (2024)
破綻 (2019)
素晴ラシキ残酷II 視聴用Sample (2024)
×××× (2018)
「痣(DEMO) / 貯水槽ノ春(DEMO)」 (2024)
defect (DEMO)
貯水槽ノ春(DEMO) (yes, it’s a separate release)
吊サレタ奇形ノ罠 (2018)
「破錠」 (both the live distributed version and the official re-release)
悲劇ノ調ベ (both presses)
陰鬱ト影 (2019)
黒ノ黙示録 (2019)
奇劇ノ終焉（禁断ノ箱 press）(2020)
倒錯ノ部屋 (2022)
罪ト罰 (2020)
夜葬曲 (物販version) (2020)
THE LOOSIES
Now we get to the interesting part. There are a lot of songs here that weren’t released in another form, and many are worth tracking down! Here are the ones I’ve heard and can vouch for. Watch out for anything older than 2020, lest you find a drum machine!
resonance
ラメント
Malformed Psychology
S9
Sabbath
scared
scared -rerecording ver-
下弦 -ballade version-
合ワセ鏡ト影ノキミ
悲哀故ニ・・・ (Unplugged ver.) (both versions)
禁ジラレタ刻
last moment
舞葬
離別
If it’s not listed here, it’s because I haven’t heard it.
