What defines 2020s Visual Kei as genre and scene

Japanese Music
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So I am curious if there are any new changes of the meta of genres and aesthetic in the scene. We definitely have now very recently a rise in “Visual Kei idol” but that is really everything I noticed

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The cutesy, saccharine singing voice.

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i feel like metalcore is more and more prominent
also i’d say there’s been a resurgence? definitely not as big as it was in the early-mid 2000s but much livelier than it was in the years after. talking about the western scene here of course, don’t know if much has changed in japan

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yeah i think 2020s vkei is just imitating western metalcore (and only a few bands wearing costumes, as everyone else is wearing street clothes) and vk idol being a thing (btw girl idols are bringing back og vk aesthetics and sound, while the boys just look like regular boy bands and are mostly hosts LMAO), with tiktok helping out with the overseas fanbase, woof…

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core

mid

AI if Kyo has his way

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Much more usage of filters and face altering make-up.

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I’d take that over more metal core any day :smiling_face_with_tear:

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Age of Inroads

Vk has become more receptive to digital distribution, vertical-format/SNS video, global audiences, etc. which has largely been concentrated post-pandemic, as the original profit model took a hit. There’s more curiosity and initiative to appeal to netizens outside the “bubble”. Could also explain a bit of the metalcore/deathcore shift given how it appeals to the West.

At the same time it also feels a bit confused. A mixture of bands that harken for the past and ones that sit at the edge of what we consider vk (idols and the like.)

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Negativity aside, a bright sound imho. That’s the single biggest difference in pre-2018 & post-2018 vkei for me…

-low mids much less prominent

  • low freqs living in a “bass island” sub-200Hz
  • guitars scooping the mids and even losing a good deal of their lows
  • bass guitar rolled up on trebles, more jangle, slap, or distortion depending on the band
  • much more compression on all instruments, not pumping but aiming for consistency and fullness
  • extreme high shelving on the vocal sub, so it “cuts through the mix” - bands don’t bury their vocalist anymore

Overall a greater emphasis on “this needs to read on iPhone speakers on first listen”

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And then RENGEKI comes to please neither of us.

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It’s all metalcore now with scooped mids, although a few bands here and there buck the trend. The alt metal/metalcore sound is common and arguably more accessible for a mainstream audience.

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Whenever i record covers, I make sure its audible on my phone since thats where everyone watches stuff now

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oh for sure… i’m trying to talk as non-judgementally as possible, like “what’s the change and why’s it done, for what reason”, not inject a sense of value

That’s a bit impossible since i love the 2000s, and think ナイトメア & Diru’s first three albums defined Good Music, at least to my ears

But i’d rather not be a boomer & appreciate new music for what it is - actually i think Ashmaze did incredible at making vkei that’s “bright” by all these standards, has a super crisp and modern sound, but has all the emotion and intrigue from the old 2000/2010s kei i love

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