Mayhem-Online

Archive for September, 2006

There are a few new Visual-Kei bands popping up in Japan lately, and 12012 are one of them. They have been around for a couple of years but more recently their music is getting more and more recognised. Their visual style is changing slightly, but their music is still full-rokku style! I’ve just received my pre-ordered copy of their latest single titled “PISTOL” and I am impressed. There are only 2 tracks on the single, the title track and the b-side song “want, want, want”. Both are good rock songs, though the second song is a bit of a rock-ballad (almost), but it doesn’t detract from the single itself.

The title track is a fast-paced rock song, though its not a heavy song like some of their past songs. In fact they have almost steered away from true heavy style that they had released previously. Their last single “Heart”, released in 3 versions with 3 different b-side tracks, showed them moving away from the heavier style and keeping more in tune with their rock stylings. I enjoy both styles from the band, though I think just this type of rock suits them better. Vocalist Miyawaki Wataru has a great voice, and I love his scream, though I noticed a bit closely that he tends to sing a bit off-key most times. Though this is more of a style for singers like him. It suits the band and the songs they release so its not a bad thing!

On another note, one of my other favourite V-Kei bands The GazettE are about to release two new singles (within a week of each other). The singles are actually due out at the end of October/beginning of November, though the PVs for both songs have already been released. I managed to grab both and I’m extremely impressed! They are both awesome songs though I think out of the two of them “Filth in the Beauty” would have to be their best. I’ve pre-ordered both songs (which both come with a DVD with the PV of each single) and can’t wait until they are released. “Filth in the Beauty” would have to be one of my favourite Gazette songs next to “Nausea & Shudder” and “D.L.N”

This book took me less time to read than the other book did, mostly because I spent almost every day on the bus to and from work reading chapters. I tried to read whole chapters if I could though there were some chapters that were pretty monstrous.

Once again, however, I felt like the ending of this part of the saga had rushed in a bit too quickly in the last few pages. It was all leading up to something and then whoosh! There it was… The story itself is still amazing and I loved it bringing my imagination to the forefront, mostly in the description of the countrysides, the towns and the houses/manors the characters dwell or pass through. The two main characters – Kaede and Takeo – have definitely grown both in their characteristics, personality and temperament. They have seemingly grown up a lot quicker due to the surrounding events and its leading them towards their goal. Though they remain keeping some secrets from one another, they are now preparing for what may be a very short life together. War is on their doorstep, and Takeo is being hunted by the Tribe. He has been shown his future and while it is prosperous and bright, there is also a darker side that will be his inevitable end.

Next up is book 3 – Brilliance of the Moon. On checking out the official site I’ve learned that a fourth installment has been released, though I’ve yet to see it any bookstore here (it could be that it was on the brink of being released though). And there is another book which will be a type of prequel, whereby it follows Lord Shigeru as he grows up, fights at the battle of Yaegehara, sees his father killed and is furious over the betrayal of his uncles. The fourth book is apparently more of a sequel rather than ‘another part’, as the three current books are a trilogy (which is basically one whole story split into three parts). The fourth book is titled “The Harsh Cry of the Heron”.

At the moment the world is still reeling from the tragic death of Steve Irwin often referred to as “The Crocodile Hunter”. We’re all pretty shocked by it, including myself. At the time I was coming back from my lunchbreak when someone in the office mentioned he was dead. It probably took me a few moments to sink in that it was really true and then the news had spread throughout the office. Various reports and rumours were coming out about how the stingray had killed him and what he was doing at the time, but I think most people were still surprised that something like that had actually happened to someone who was such a strong voice for the animals.

A few years back I went to Queensland for a holiday. We have been past the area where Steve actually died on Monday. I also managed to get to Australia Zoo, though I remember that when we arrived there we were told that the liklihood of actually seeing Steve there was pretty low. Regardless, we saw a great deal of his heart and soul that he put into creating such a wonderful wildlife sanctuary. We even managed to catch a couple of the crocodile shows that the keepers put on for tourists.  On TV they showed some footage from Steve’s TV series and he introduced a couple of crocs “Monty” and “Aggro”, both of whom I remember seeing at the Australia Zoo when we were there.

I think we all have come to believe that he died doing what he loved best, working closely with nature and showing their beauty to the world. Unfortunately he leaves behind a lovely family including his adorable two kids. His death has affected so many people around the world and we are seeing images of people pouring into Australia Zoo and placing flowers at the front entrance, just in front of his larger than life portrait. The Queensland government have set up some condolence books for people to write in and donations are coming in to his charities.

Yeah, he was a larrikin, but he was an Aussie larrikin and he was a fair dinkum bloke with a true blue aussie personality. We’ll all miss his famous catch cry and seeing him wrestle all those crocs he loved.