Nagoya Kei
Encyclopedia
Nagoya kei is a subgenre of visual kei
, with its roots in the early-1990s music scene of Nagoya, Japan. Often considered darker and gloomier than normal visual kei, nagoya kei takes its musical influences more so from western
(specifically British
) punk rock
bands. The focus of the bands tends to be much less on costume
and makeup in favor of more complex musical compositions and concentration on the music itself. Some of the first nagoya kei bands include Silver~Rose, Laputa
, Fanatic Crisis
, Kuroyume
and Merry Go Round. Other notable bands include Kein, Lamiel, Phobia, Deadman
, Blast, Gullet, The Studs, Lynch.
and Deathgaze
.
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
, with its roots in the early-1990s music scene of Nagoya, Japan. Often considered darker and gloomier than normal visual kei, nagoya kei takes its musical influences more so from western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
(specifically British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
) punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands. The focus of the bands tends to be much less on costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
and makeup in favor of more complex musical compositions and concentration on the music itself. Some of the first nagoya kei bands include Silver~Rose, Laputa
Laputa (band)
Laputa was a Nagoya kei rock band from Nagoya, Japan. The band chose its name from the flying island in Gulliver's Travels and tried to portray a similar unrealistic view of the world with their performance. Musically the essence of the band sound was extracted from the three pilliars of "Dark,...
, Fanatic Crisis
Fanatic Crisis
Fanatic Crisis was a Japanese Nagoya kei rock band active from 1992–2005.-History:Formed by guitarist Kazuya and bassist Ryuji in 1992, they came into the Nagoya kei scene, with other bands such as Kuroyume, Laputa and Rouage, among others. In December 1993, Shun joined on guitar...
, Kuroyume
Kuroyume
Kuroyume is a rock group that formed in Nagoya, Japan during May 1991, currently consisting of vocalist Kiyoharu and bassist Hitoki. They began as a visual kei group and carried similar looks throughout their career...
and Merry Go Round. Other notable bands include Kein, Lamiel, Phobia, Deadman
Deadman (band)
Deadman was a Japanese rock band founded in Nagoya in 2000. The group gained notoriety for popularizing the nagoya kei sub-genre of visual kei, which is a lot "darker" than most and focuses more on musical composition. Deadman also quickly became known for Mako's heavily melancholic lyrical...
, Blast, Gullet, The Studs, Lynch.
Lynch (band)
Lynch. is a nagoya kei metal band formed in 2004. Since their formation, they have been a part of the independent label Marginal Works. On October 11, 2007, the band signed to CLJ Records, a European record label dedicated to releasing Japanese rock artists abroad...
and Deathgaze
Deathgaze
is a Japanese Nagoya kei metal band. Their sound is alternative metal, though more recently they have stepped into metalcore territory.- History :Deathgaze was formed in the summer of 2003 by Hazuki, Ai, Naoki, and Kanna. After releasing their first single, "294036224052", vocalist, Hazuki, left in...
.