Definitely one of my favorite songs..I was just diving into Babymetal when I found this group and all the others in the early-mid 2010's....so much fun!!
DOLL$BOXX (pronounced "Doll's Box") are a side project with four Gacharic Spin musicians: F Chopper Koga (Bass), Hana (Drums, Vocals), Tomo-zo (Guitar, Vocals), Oreo Reona (Keyboard, Vocals) + Fuki from Unlucky Morpheus. The guys in the audience aren't gangsters, just Idol fans. There are official music videos for every DOLL$BOXX song. The videos for the songs from the 'Doll's Apartment' album (like this one), are all connected with a "to be continued…" on all but the last video. The 'Doll's Apartment' songs are in this album/video order: Loud Twin Stars, Merrily High Go Round, Take My Chance, monopoly, ロールプレイング・ライフ (Roleplaying life), fragrance, KARAKURI TOWN, おもちゃの兵隊 (Toy Soldiers) (Omocha no Hetai), Doll's Box, and ヌーディリズム ($ヴァージョン) (Nudierhythm ($ version)).
If you want to see Doll$Boxx perform live, this, to me, is the best video out there. It is long at almost 14 minutes but well worth it. The best way to see how great the Gacharic Spin core four are as musicians and vocalists. And of course Fuki as lead vocalist, nothing more need be said - ruclips.net/video/EOLZ2gLGwL4/видео.html
Not gangsters. Just your typical Pop idol-worshiping fans. There’s a great documentary called “Tokyo Idols,” if you’re interested in exploring this strange subculture of adult/middle-aged men devoted to their favorite idols, as parodied in this video. When the original GACHARIC SPIN vocalist ARMMY fell ill, FUKI (currently with UNLUCKY MORPHEOUS) stepped to support the band during a tour. They hit it off so well that they formed the DOLL$BOX side project. Notice how in the DOLL$BOX videos, the ladies wear all-black outfits, in contrast to the garish colors they wear when on stage as GACHARIC SPIN. Kudos for the Ulysses reference. I’ll think of that whenever I see the amazing FUKI.
The idol thing is important in understanding Japanese music industry. it's a bit like disney stars, but both worse and better. kinda like a scene of uncles all cheering for their nieces to (hopefully) show improvement. but also leads to decent pop (boyband style, or destiny's child), and then huge breakouts like babymetal. Doll$Boxx was basically a concept album mocking this. Yet Gacharic Spin use the cultural hooks, like by each having a constant/favorite color, individualizing themselves for fans to pick a fav & discuss/compete... Tough to get the subtleties, applies to tons (most?) japanese music, especially (but not limited to) the female scene which is so strong.... Applies to Band Maid too, they're here to serve, MC sessions during shows give each girl a chance to speak individually to the audience, etc...
Great reaction and since you already did "MIndset" , you've seen Gacharic Spin. back in 2012 when their original singer left due to illness and they were getting ready for a tour, they brought in powerhouse singer FUKI to fill in and it worked so well they decided to do a side project called "DOLL$$BOXX" They released an album called "Dolls Apartment" which was a sort of concept album, about a band getting started and the issues they run into. This song was about trying to get an audience playing small venues where they are unknown and blowing the doors off. There were videos for each song, but hard to find now.
Ok, you seem committed to the J-Rock vortex, so 1) I'm subscribing and 2) here is your cheat sheet for tracking bands you should check out (just skip the ones you've already seen): Japan has had an active all-girl metal scene since at least 1981. This is a starter list of all-female (or in eight cases, mixed gender) metal, punk, hard-rock and post-rock bands, with founding dates where I know them. It's alphabetical, except for the first three, which are at the top of the list for historical reasons. They set the table for the explosion of Japanese female hard-rock, punk and metal bands. Note: I have tried to pick clips that are reactor-friendly because they are high quality and are representative of the band's style. You are likely to get suggestions mainly for Band-Maid, Babymetal, Lovebites, Nemophila, Unlucky Morpheus and Wagakki Band. You can’t go wrong with any of those, but I hope you will find time to check out more of the bands on this list. They are all worth the time and deserve the love, and many will really surprise you. My personal favorites include Asterism, Bridear, Doll$Boxx, existTtrace, Hagane, Hanabie, Mary’s Blood, Sokoninaru and Tricot. Ok, the list: Show-Ya (1981 The original female J-metal band, founded before Metallica-this is from their 24th (!) anniversary concert-and they are still touring) They belong in any rock or music hall of fame: “I am the Storm” ruclips.net/video/oJ_5Gv3vFjQ/видео.html Shonen Knife (1981 The world’s first bubblegum punk band. They have done several world tours. They also perform as a Ramones tribute band called Osaka Ramones): ruclips.net/video/w9LUlYzOiWs/видео.html Destrose (2005; This band was never stable, but has become almost mythic in Japanese metal history, because so many great bands spun out of Destrose, including Lovebites--you will recognize the drummer and bassist): ruclips.net/video/G1VwEGHPIhs/видео.html Aldious (2008 Glamorous and kick-ass rockers-one of the first generation all-girl metal bands, along with Destrose) ruclips.net/video/sfkJT0rra-8/видео.html Asterism (2013 Not all female, but will melt your face off- the guitarist Haruka Noma is off the charts talented and still a teen-ager) ruclips.net/video/IfxMi0Bx4x0/видео.html Babymetal (2010 The flagship “Kawaii metal” band and the most well-known Japanese metal act outside of Japan. Combining “Kawaii” (cute) Japanese pop tropes over thunderous heavy metal backing) ruclips.net/video/cK3NMZAUKGw/видео.html Band-Maid (2013 OK, there are 130+ great songs by them. Here is a live clip): ruclips.net/video/FHpuEqMAcDg/видео.html Bridear (2011 Heavy, technical-and their tiny bassist also growls): ruclips.net/video/LQIDqudG_DQ/видео.html Cyntia (2011 Second wave, hard, heavy, but with prog and symphonic touches) ruclips.net/video/FnhObh5i_3U/видео.html D-Drive (2009 Instrumental progressive metal and fusion; Mixed gender. Extraordinary, technical dual lead guitars featuring Yuki and Seiji) Here is a lockdown version of their 2009 hit “Cassis Orange”: ruclips.net/video/Mi0ykRvZ1LA/видео.html Disqualia (2015 Destrose spin-out, featuring Narumi, one of the best guitarists of this generation, and Hazuki, then an up-and-coming talent who is now a member of Nemophila) ruclips.net/video/-M5zBKrTJRg/видео.html Doll$Boxx (2012 Wild mix of metal, electropop, and god-knows what else; a collaboration between Fuki and Gacharic Spin) ruclips.net/video/mu2z4Uf9Tgc/видео.html existTtrace (2003: Visual Kei, progressive, technical, some death-metal and goth touches) ruclips.net/video/Oz1Lv8XGBF0/видео.html Fate Gear (2015 Super-group, one of the Destrose spinouts-continually changing lineup built around Mina (g) and (until very recently) Erica (b); I consider this video one of the best on this list): ruclips.net/video/tLQbsoKQN-0/видео.html Gacharic Spin (2009 Founded by two high school classmates, Hana (Dr, Vo, multiple instruments) and Koga (B) who had already been in other bands (and was previously a lingerie model). Everything from punk-pop to heavy metal and progressive; highly technical) Here is their first video, with original singer Armmy (d. 2015): ruclips.net/video/vfzIt20_xXg/видео.html Gallhammer (2003 Black/Death/Doom/Punk; this is from their 2007 UK/Europe tour; co-founder Vivien Slaughter is now making electronic ambient music!): ruclips.net/video/2fTiyOO1nZE/видео.html Galmet (2006 Straight-up death metal, but in prom dresses) ruclips.net/video/PnvrOLeRt-I/видео.html Ganglion (2010 Metal with a hint of electronica) ruclips.net/video/q9j4t3Ms-Sg/видео.html Hagane (2018 Started with Sakura posting blistering metal guitar covers on youtube while in high-school, and the rest of the girls finding her; full lineup came together in 2019) ruclips.net/video/k8NTRJ_yTxY/видео.html Hanabie (2019 Kawaii death metal, deathcore, thrash. Technical. Most frequent comment is “That’s nuts.” One of the bands to watch over the next few years.) ruclips.net/video/G18yyvPCiTM/видео.html Kakumei (2013--see Trident, below) Lisa-X Band (Prodigy 16-year-old guitarist Lisa-X and a rotating cast of fellow bandmembers, often including Hazuki (of Disqualia and Nemophila). ruclips.net/video/mN_oLqTka6M/видео.html Lovebites (2016 Modern Power, Speed, Thrash and Heavy Metal. Already making a global splash. Here is their most famous official MV-it’s even better than Shadowmaker IMO) ruclips.net/video/hLFelI93VkM/видео.html Mardelas (2014 Another spin-off from Destrose; mixed male/female; leader Marina Hebiishi has one of the best voices in the biz) ruclips.net/video/Wd8P7wTnWJs/видео.html Mary's Blood (2008 The first major Destrose Spin-out) Jedi-level lineup. Here, Saki murders her guitar without breaking any nails: ruclips.net/video/MLM2unV0kwU/видео.html Maximum the Hormone (1998 Crazy, chaotic mashups of deathcore, nu-metal, pop and high-speed rapping. Co-founder Nao (drums) is the female member of the band. She has been a major influence on female drummers throughout Japan.) This clip captures just a bit of the madness: 予襲復讐 (Yoshu Fukushu) ruclips.net/video/beN5ep5MrdY/видео.html MergingMoon (2010 Mix of prog and melodic death metal. Vocalist U is Japan’s terrifying answer to Tatiana of Jinjer) ruclips.net/video/sIL-vgHNOu0/видео.html Mutant Monster (2008 Punk-pop, really good at it) ruclips.net/video/Fd6ymMR40NU/видео.html Narumi (solo prog-rock and fusion compositions-a change of pace from a master guitarist) ruclips.net/video/cRyCaHjwIgk/видео.html Nemophila: (2019 Supergroup of ex-Mary's Blood guitarist Saki, ex-Lipstick vocalist Mayu, ex-Disqualia guitarist Hazuki, ex-Hölderlins bassist Haraguchi-san, and ex-Soramimi drummer Muratatam.) ruclips.net/video/lh-dVLKP314/видео.html 54 Nude Honeys (1992 Early Japanese punk-they toured the UK and Europe, and reports are that their crowds were as crazy as the crowds at Sex Pistols concerts) ruclips.net/video/jHnJSoGN5Mk/видео.html Otoboke Beaver (2009 in-your-face thrash punk, way out there): ruclips.net/video/fkWfFXnLpYg/видео.html Rie aka Suzaku (instrumental guitar) ruclips.net/video/m6Z2GD5SqNs/видео.html Sokoninaru (2011 Progressive metal, math rock, extremely technical; male/female cofounders) ruclips.net/video/MVxl0zXZBR4/видео.html Sonic Lover Reckless (2018 Special project of Miyako Watanabe, one of Lovebites’ two incomparable guitarists) ruclips.net/video/DXZ-qhxd1VI/видео.html Telecide (2016 Metalcore, aggressive and melodic at the same time) ruclips.net/video/keq-7ZCluFc/видео.html Tricot (2010 Post-progressive math-rock, highly technical with crazy time signatures and polyrhythms) ruclips.net/video/P_B_GalsJrE/видео.html Trident (formerly Kakumei, renamed in 2020 with some personnel changes. Evolved from pop-punk to thrashier hard rock; several lineup changes but the bassist and lead singer have been constants) ruclips.net/video/9k9txMouU34/видео.html Unlucky Morpheus (2008 Female leads Fuki (vo) and Jill (violin). This band is a deep well unto itself, they cross many subgenres of metal; Fuki and Jill also do other projects and Fuki is lead for at least two other bands including Doll$Boxx, above) ruclips.net/video/V8i_QhOgsKw/видео.html Wagakki Band (2012 Folk-Metal fusion band, all jedi-level musicians, half of them play traditional Japanese instruments and the other half play standard metal instruments) This song was originally written for a virtual (AI) singer, referred to as a Vocaloid ruclips.net/video/Q2meWkWqc-I/видео.html Yōsei Teikoku (1997 Rock-Folk-Metal-Electronica fusion ensemble) Set up in a fictional Fairy Empire, led by founder Yui, they have done a lot of anime themes and sound-tracks and also perform original songs live, in character. ruclips.net/video/_EeYxtAeaX4/видео.html There are many more (others that come to mind are BRATS, Drop’s, Stereopony, Scandal, Princess Princess, which all tend more in the pop direction, and the Bang-Dream projects, which are live groups based on Manga series. And of course, there are other female-fronted Kawaii-metal groups like Ladybaby and Ironbunny, to name the two best-known after Babymetal. If you find others you think belong on this list, please let me know. And if you find a dead link, also please let me know so I can fix the list. Thank you!
Oh they have caught you in the Fuki universe xD It's a good ride. I would recommend you a collaboration she did with SYU, a song called Reason. Be careful because that one is tricky with the copyright too. Oh you don't know SYU yet. He is a phenomenal guitar player, that plays in the band Galneryus. For some time in Japan he and Takayoshi Ohmura (guitar player in BABYMETAL) have been considered the biggest guitar virtuosos in Japan, a bit like Malmsteen or Satriani and this kind of performers.
the 'to be continued' thing at the end is serious as the entire cd - doll's apartment - has a video for every song on it. how many bands have done that ? none that i know of. and they also have a video for every song on the 2nd cd 'high spec' that came out in 2018. these are some of the best musicians that japan has to offer. bassist f chopper koga is considered easily in the top 10. guitarist tomo - zo needs more recognition as she could hold her own with midori and miyako of LOVEBITES. oreo reona is a spectacular keyboard player and hana on the skins as well. vocalist fuki started her career with and early metal band called LIGHTBRINGER. the keyboard player for that band was moa yamamoto who now helps with songwriting and backing tracks for LOVEBITES right from their start in 2016. one song you might consider a reaction to from DOLL$BOXX is loud twin stars although every song from both cd's are great : ruclips.net/video/R2itu5KEvG0/видео.html
Joel! Great! Straight from Gacharic Spin to Doll$boxx! Excellent Choice. Hope you've heard about the link now. Doll$boxx a great project and this from a sequence of MVs.
To understand Doll$Boxx you need to know the context with Gacharic Spin and Fuki of Unlucky Morpheus. GS started in 2009, with a lead singer called Armmy (Takae Ashitomi). They did a sort of highly technical punk-pop, but crossed genres a lot. They started to have friction between Armmy and the rest of the band, and then in early 2012 she left, officially for health reasons. She died in 2015; their work with her is very much worth seeing-here is an early one: “Setsunaku” ruclips.net/video/vfzIt20_xXg/видео.html The girls were all just out of high school, and you can see they were already very technical. When Armmy left, GS had tours lined up in both Japan and abroad for 2012, and needed a lead singer. For the Japan tour various singers (including Fuki) filled in for different shows, but they couldn’t find someone good enough who could also commit to the band full time For their overseas tour Hana (who was doing drums and vocals and was effectively the co-leader of the band) took the lead vocals on herself. She also happens to play several other instruments. Here is a live performance of their track Across The Now from a tiny venue in France (filmed as part of their 2012 overseas tour-this was Hana's first test at taking lead vocals whilst drumming): ruclips.net/video/_LnVAgqlE8g/видео.html GS had had great chemistry with Fuki when she filled in for them, so while they were figuring out what to do with GS they contacted Fuki about doing a more metal project. This became Doll$Boxx. They wrote and recorded their first album at the end of 2012, then picked up GS again full time in 2013. This remains their main focus, and Fuki is busy with many projects including her main band Unlucky Morpheus, but they occasionally continue to perform together when their schedules permit. So Doll$Boxx can be considered a special project of GS. Core personnel from GS who are members of Doll$Boxx: Hana (Hana Sano): vocals, drums, guitar, keytar, other instruments Tomo-Zo (Tomoko Midorikawa): lead guitar F-Chopper Koga (Michiko Koga): bass Oreo Reona (Reona Suzuki): keyboards, vocals
You were correct it is a comedy video in a way, it's more of a piss/micky take out of some bands and fans. There are bands in Japan that will dress in a cute way to attract fans called "otaku", the one's in the video, who can become very obsessive. The Otaku will send gifts and spend lots of money on bands or members. So the video is a micky take of bands that do it and the fans, and the cut away is what they are really like. If you liked the harmonising in this then try Loud Twin Stars [KilLeR_x_v2] DOLL$BOXX - Loud Twin Stars (high $pec High Return (2018)) ruclips.net/video/Tl4QNXnE-XU/видео.html
This is a matter of "What you see, you don't get!" A humerus take on Band-Maid. It is also a reflection of a female subculture which has its outlet mostly in music. The boys go for sports, the girls go to band practice. (the world's best high school band is Japanese with over 90% of them girls.) There is a network of "otaku" (crazy) but tolerated young female super-musicians that arose out of this highly patriarchal society. It is not like in the West where women go to integrate - here they simply replace the men and largely the media corporations (unlike K-Pop in Korea) with cross-pollinating bands of highest caliber. And it's all about that Gap! Lots and lots to take in because there is such depth that the West just doesn't have anymore. There is now hope.
RE The Humor Behind This Video: I could be very very wrong, but I think they are mocking Japanese idol music culture. Which is super big in Japan, and rarely leaves Japan. I am not an expert on idol music, beyond knowing it exists, but here is an example: ruclips.net/video/5mcD5r9Af9Q/видео.html. Basically the genre is prepubescent and pubescent girls being sweet, cute, and innocent for 20 something fanboys. So DOLL$BOXX comes out dressed as idol girls, talk like idol girls, make cute hand gestures like idol girls, and then blow the fanboys away by being real adult women. Real adult women who rock, rock hard, and have real musical talent. And melt the pathetic fanboys brains.
You might be interested in 'Destrose' as a person in the music industry. ruclips.net/video/zWCXKWAjl_U/видео.html I think their story is very interesting. They are a dead band. They had 20 plus members in 6 years. The interesting part is that the individual members were super talented and their songs are great. Ex members are in a ton of bands. Nemophila and Lovebites for example. I listen to their album quite a bit it's excellent. It seems like the woman who created the band is difficult to deal with. Everyone kept quitting.
The bassist and guitarist are a pair of gentle beast.
Aw, man... I miss this band.
Maybe one day they will get back together and grace us with more fantastic music.
Long live DOLL$BOXX!
Definitely one of my favorite songs..I was just diving into Babymetal when I found this group and all the others in the early-mid 2010's....so much fun!!
DOLL$BOXX (pronounced "Doll's Box") are a side project with four Gacharic Spin musicians:
F Chopper Koga (Bass), Hana (Drums, Vocals), Tomo-zo (Guitar, Vocals), Oreo Reona (Keyboard, Vocals) + Fuki from Unlucky Morpheus.
The guys in the audience aren't gangsters, just Idol fans.
There are official music videos for every DOLL$BOXX song.
The videos for the songs from the 'Doll's Apartment' album (like this one), are all connected with a "to be continued…" on all but the last video.
The 'Doll's Apartment' songs are in this album/video order:
Loud Twin Stars, Merrily High Go Round, Take My Chance, monopoly, ロールプレイング・ライフ (Roleplaying life), fragrance, KARAKURI TOWN, おもちゃの兵隊 (Toy Soldiers) (Omocha no Hetai), Doll's Box, and ヌーディリズム ($ヴァージョン) (Nudierhythm ($ version)).
It is a hard work to educate! *-)
he has no concept of what Japanese idol fans are. Kind of funny how he ended up with gangsters.
If you want to see Doll$Boxx perform live, this, to me, is the best video out there. It is long at almost 14 minutes but well worth it. The best way to see how great the Gacharic Spin core four are as musicians and vocalists. And of course Fuki as lead vocalist, nothing more need be said - ruclips.net/video/EOLZ2gLGwL4/видео.html
Not gangsters. Just your typical Pop idol-worshiping fans. There’s a great documentary called “Tokyo Idols,” if you’re interested in exploring this strange subculture of adult/middle-aged men devoted to their favorite idols, as parodied in this video.
When the original GACHARIC SPIN vocalist ARMMY fell ill, FUKI (currently with UNLUCKY MORPHEOUS) stepped to support the band during a tour. They hit it off so well that they formed the DOLL$BOX side project. Notice how in the DOLL$BOX videos, the ladies wear all-black outfits, in contrast to the garish colors they wear when on stage as GACHARIC SPIN.
Kudos for the Ulysses reference. I’ll think of that whenever I see the amazing FUKI.
The idol thing is important in understanding Japanese music industry. it's a bit like disney stars, but both worse and better. kinda like a scene of uncles all cheering for their nieces to (hopefully) show improvement. but also leads to decent pop (boyband style, or destiny's child), and then huge breakouts like babymetal. Doll$Boxx was basically a concept album mocking this. Yet Gacharic Spin use the cultural hooks, like by each having a constant/favorite color, individualizing themselves for fans to pick a fav & discuss/compete... Tough to get the subtleties, applies to tons (most?) japanese music, especially (but not limited to) the female scene which is so strong.... Applies to Band Maid too, they're here to serve, MC sessions during shows give each girl a chance to speak individually to the audience, etc...
@@timgove5337 B-M speaks to the audience and we all know what they saying all the time 🤣
@@timgove5337 what is interesting: MC sessions during shows are also very common among bands, so it's part of Japanese culture in some sense.
Great reaction and since you already did "MIndset" , you've seen Gacharic Spin. back in 2012 when their original singer left due to illness and they were getting ready for a tour, they brought in powerhouse singer FUKI to fill in and it worked so well they decided to do a side project called "DOLL$$BOXX" They released an album called "Dolls Apartment" which was a sort of concept album, about a band getting started and the issues they run into. This song was about trying to get an audience playing small venues where they are unknown and blowing the doors off. There were videos for each song, but hard to find now.
Ok, you seem committed to the J-Rock vortex, so 1) I'm subscribing and 2) here is your cheat sheet for tracking bands you should check out (just skip the ones you've already seen):
Japan has had an active all-girl metal scene since at least 1981. This is a starter list of all-female (or in eight cases, mixed gender) metal, punk, hard-rock and post-rock bands, with founding dates where I know them. It's alphabetical, except for the first three, which are at the top of the list for historical reasons. They set the table for the explosion of Japanese female hard-rock, punk and metal bands. Note: I have tried to pick clips that are reactor-friendly because they are high quality and are representative of the band's style.
You are likely to get suggestions mainly for Band-Maid, Babymetal, Lovebites, Nemophila, Unlucky Morpheus and Wagakki Band. You can’t go wrong with any of those, but I hope you will find time to check out more of the bands on this list. They are all worth the time and deserve the love, and many will really surprise you. My personal favorites include Asterism, Bridear, Doll$Boxx, existTtrace, Hagane, Hanabie, Mary’s Blood, Sokoninaru and Tricot. Ok, the list:
Show-Ya (1981 The original female J-metal band, founded before Metallica-this is from their 24th (!) anniversary concert-and they are still touring) They belong in any rock or music hall of fame: “I am the Storm” ruclips.net/video/oJ_5Gv3vFjQ/видео.html
Shonen Knife (1981 The world’s first bubblegum punk band. They have done several world tours. They also perform as a Ramones tribute band called Osaka Ramones): ruclips.net/video/w9LUlYzOiWs/видео.html
Destrose (2005; This band was never stable, but has become almost mythic in Japanese metal history, because so many great bands spun out of Destrose, including Lovebites--you will recognize the drummer and bassist): ruclips.net/video/G1VwEGHPIhs/видео.html
Aldious (2008 Glamorous and kick-ass rockers-one of the first generation all-girl metal bands, along with Destrose) ruclips.net/video/sfkJT0rra-8/видео.html
Asterism (2013 Not all female, but will melt your face off- the guitarist Haruka Noma is off the charts talented and still a teen-ager) ruclips.net/video/IfxMi0Bx4x0/видео.html
Babymetal (2010 The flagship “Kawaii metal” band and the most well-known Japanese metal act outside of Japan. Combining “Kawaii” (cute) Japanese pop tropes over thunderous heavy metal backing) ruclips.net/video/cK3NMZAUKGw/видео.html
Band-Maid (2013 OK, there are 130+ great songs by them. Here is a live clip): ruclips.net/video/FHpuEqMAcDg/видео.html
Bridear (2011 Heavy, technical-and their tiny bassist also growls): ruclips.net/video/LQIDqudG_DQ/видео.html
Cyntia (2011 Second wave, hard, heavy, but with prog and symphonic touches)
ruclips.net/video/FnhObh5i_3U/видео.html
D-Drive (2009 Instrumental progressive metal and fusion; Mixed gender. Extraordinary, technical dual lead guitars featuring Yuki and Seiji) Here is a lockdown version of their 2009 hit “Cassis Orange”: ruclips.net/video/Mi0ykRvZ1LA/видео.html
Disqualia (2015 Destrose spin-out, featuring Narumi, one of the best guitarists of this generation, and Hazuki, then an up-and-coming talent who is now a member of Nemophila) ruclips.net/video/-M5zBKrTJRg/видео.html
Doll$Boxx (2012 Wild mix of metal, electropop, and god-knows what else; a collaboration between Fuki and Gacharic Spin) ruclips.net/video/mu2z4Uf9Tgc/видео.html
existTtrace (2003: Visual Kei, progressive, technical, some death-metal and goth touches) ruclips.net/video/Oz1Lv8XGBF0/видео.html
Fate Gear (2015 Super-group, one of the Destrose spinouts-continually changing lineup built around Mina (g) and (until very recently) Erica (b); I consider this video one of the best on this list): ruclips.net/video/tLQbsoKQN-0/видео.html
Gacharic Spin (2009 Founded by two high school classmates, Hana (Dr, Vo, multiple instruments) and Koga (B) who had already been in other bands (and was previously a lingerie model). Everything from punk-pop to heavy metal and progressive; highly technical) Here is their first video, with original singer Armmy (d. 2015): ruclips.net/video/vfzIt20_xXg/видео.html
Gallhammer (2003 Black/Death/Doom/Punk; this is from their 2007 UK/Europe tour; co-founder Vivien Slaughter is now making electronic ambient music!): ruclips.net/video/2fTiyOO1nZE/видео.html
Galmet (2006 Straight-up death metal, but in prom dresses) ruclips.net/video/PnvrOLeRt-I/видео.html
Ganglion (2010 Metal with a hint of electronica)
ruclips.net/video/q9j4t3Ms-Sg/видео.html
Hagane (2018 Started with Sakura posting blistering metal guitar covers on youtube while in high-school, and the rest of the girls finding her; full lineup came together in 2019)
ruclips.net/video/k8NTRJ_yTxY/видео.html
Hanabie (2019 Kawaii death metal, deathcore, thrash. Technical. Most frequent comment is “That’s nuts.” One of the bands to watch over the next few years.) ruclips.net/video/G18yyvPCiTM/видео.html
Kakumei (2013--see Trident, below)
Lisa-X Band (Prodigy 16-year-old guitarist Lisa-X and a rotating cast of fellow bandmembers, often including Hazuki (of Disqualia and Nemophila). ruclips.net/video/mN_oLqTka6M/видео.html
Lovebites (2016 Modern Power, Speed, Thrash and Heavy Metal. Already making a global splash. Here is their most famous official MV-it’s even better than Shadowmaker IMO) ruclips.net/video/hLFelI93VkM/видео.html
Mardelas (2014 Another spin-off from Destrose; mixed male/female; leader Marina Hebiishi has one of the best voices in the biz) ruclips.net/video/Wd8P7wTnWJs/видео.html
Mary's Blood (2008 The first major Destrose Spin-out) Jedi-level lineup. Here, Saki murders her guitar without breaking any nails: ruclips.net/video/MLM2unV0kwU/видео.html
Maximum the Hormone (1998 Crazy, chaotic mashups of deathcore, nu-metal, pop and high-speed rapping. Co-founder Nao (drums) is the female member of the band. She has been a major influence on female drummers throughout Japan.) This clip captures just a bit of the madness: 予襲復讐 (Yoshu Fukushu) ruclips.net/video/beN5ep5MrdY/видео.html
MergingMoon (2010 Mix of prog and melodic death metal. Vocalist U is Japan’s terrifying answer to Tatiana of Jinjer) ruclips.net/video/sIL-vgHNOu0/видео.html
Mutant Monster (2008 Punk-pop, really good at it)
ruclips.net/video/Fd6ymMR40NU/видео.html
Narumi (solo prog-rock and fusion compositions-a change of pace from a master guitarist) ruclips.net/video/cRyCaHjwIgk/видео.html
Nemophila: (2019 Supergroup of ex-Mary's Blood guitarist Saki, ex-Lipstick vocalist Mayu, ex-Disqualia guitarist Hazuki, ex-Hölderlins bassist Haraguchi-san, and ex-Soramimi drummer Muratatam.) ruclips.net/video/lh-dVLKP314/видео.html
54 Nude Honeys (1992 Early Japanese punk-they toured the UK and Europe, and reports are that their crowds were as crazy as the crowds at Sex Pistols concerts) ruclips.net/video/jHnJSoGN5Mk/видео.html
Otoboke Beaver (2009 in-your-face thrash punk, way out there): ruclips.net/video/fkWfFXnLpYg/видео.html
Rie aka Suzaku (instrumental guitar) ruclips.net/video/m6Z2GD5SqNs/видео.html
Sokoninaru (2011 Progressive metal, math rock, extremely technical; male/female cofounders)
ruclips.net/video/MVxl0zXZBR4/видео.html
Sonic Lover Reckless (2018 Special project of Miyako Watanabe, one of Lovebites’ two incomparable guitarists) ruclips.net/video/DXZ-qhxd1VI/видео.html
Telecide (2016 Metalcore, aggressive and melodic at the same time) ruclips.net/video/keq-7ZCluFc/видео.html
Tricot (2010 Post-progressive math-rock, highly technical with crazy time signatures and polyrhythms) ruclips.net/video/P_B_GalsJrE/видео.html
Trident (formerly Kakumei, renamed in 2020 with some personnel changes. Evolved from pop-punk to thrashier hard rock; several lineup changes but the bassist and lead singer have been constants) ruclips.net/video/9k9txMouU34/видео.html
Unlucky Morpheus (2008 Female leads Fuki (vo) and Jill (violin). This band is a deep well unto itself, they cross many subgenres of metal; Fuki and Jill also do other projects and Fuki is lead for at least two other bands including Doll$Boxx, above) ruclips.net/video/V8i_QhOgsKw/видео.html
Wagakki Band (2012 Folk-Metal fusion band, all jedi-level musicians, half of them play traditional Japanese instruments and the other half play standard metal instruments) This song was originally written for a virtual (AI) singer, referred to as a Vocaloid
ruclips.net/video/Q2meWkWqc-I/видео.html
Yōsei Teikoku (1997 Rock-Folk-Metal-Electronica fusion ensemble) Set up in a fictional Fairy Empire, led by founder Yui, they have done a lot of anime themes and sound-tracks and also perform original songs live, in character.
ruclips.net/video/_EeYxtAeaX4/видео.html
There are many more (others that come to mind are BRATS, Drop’s, Stereopony, Scandal, Princess Princess, which all tend more in the pop direction, and the Bang-Dream projects, which are live groups based on Manga series. And of course, there are other female-fronted Kawaii-metal groups like Ladybaby and Ironbunny, to name the two best-known after Babymetal. If you find others you think belong on this list, please let me know. And if you find a dead link, also please let me know so I can fix the list. Thank you!
Oh they have caught you in the Fuki universe xD
It's a good ride. I would recommend you a collaboration she did with SYU, a song called Reason. Be careful because that one is tricky with the copyright too.
Oh you don't know SYU yet. He is a phenomenal guitar player, that plays in the band Galneryus. For some time in Japan he and Takayoshi Ohmura (guitar player in BABYMETAL) have been considered the biggest guitar virtuosos in Japan, a bit like Malmsteen or Satriani and this kind of performers.
the 'to be continued' thing at the end is serious as the entire cd - doll's apartment - has a video for every song on it. how many bands have done that ? none that i know of. and they also have a video for every song on the 2nd cd 'high spec' that came out in 2018. these are some of the best musicians that japan has to offer. bassist f chopper koga is considered easily in the top 10. guitarist tomo - zo needs more recognition as she could hold her own with midori and miyako of LOVEBITES. oreo reona is a spectacular keyboard player and hana on the skins as well. vocalist fuki started her career with and early metal band called LIGHTBRINGER. the keyboard player for that band was moa yamamoto who now helps with songwriting and backing tracks for LOVEBITES right from their start in 2016. one song you might consider a reaction to from DOLL$BOXX is loud twin stars although every song from both cd's are great : ruclips.net/video/R2itu5KEvG0/видео.html
Love this song and the video is fun to watch.
Joel! Great! Straight from Gacharic Spin to Doll$boxx! Excellent Choice. Hope you've heard about the link now. Doll$boxx a great project and this from a sequence of MVs.
To understand Doll$Boxx you need to know the context with Gacharic Spin and Fuki of Unlucky Morpheus.
GS started in 2009, with a lead singer called Armmy (Takae Ashitomi). They did a sort of highly technical punk-pop, but crossed genres a lot. They started to have friction between Armmy and the rest of the band, and then in early 2012 she left, officially for health reasons. She died in 2015; their work with her is very much worth seeing-here is an early one: “Setsunaku” ruclips.net/video/vfzIt20_xXg/видео.html The girls were all just out of high school, and you can see they were already very technical.
When Armmy left, GS had tours lined up in both Japan and abroad for 2012, and needed a lead singer. For the Japan tour various singers (including Fuki) filled in for different shows, but they couldn’t find someone good enough who could also commit to the band full time For their overseas tour Hana (who was doing drums and vocals and was effectively the co-leader of the band) took the lead vocals on herself. She also happens to play several other instruments. Here is a live performance of their track Across The Now from a tiny venue in France (filmed as part of their 2012 overseas tour-this was Hana's first test at taking lead vocals whilst drumming): ruclips.net/video/_LnVAgqlE8g/видео.html
GS had had great chemistry with Fuki when she filled in for them, so while they were figuring out what to do with GS they contacted Fuki about doing a more metal project. This became Doll$Boxx. They wrote and recorded their first album at the end of 2012, then picked up GS again full time in 2013. This remains their main focus, and Fuki is busy with many projects including her main band Unlucky Morpheus, but they occasionally continue to perform together when their schedules permit. So Doll$Boxx can be considered a special project of GS.
Core personnel from GS who are members of Doll$Boxx:
Hana (Hana Sano): vocals, drums, guitar, keytar, other instruments
Tomo-Zo (Tomoko Midorikawa): lead guitar
F-Chopper Koga (Michiko Koga): bass
Oreo Reona (Reona Suzuki): keyboards, vocals
You were correct it is a comedy video in a way, it's more of a piss/micky take out of some bands and fans.
There are bands in Japan that will dress in a cute way to attract fans called "otaku", the one's in the video, who can become very obsessive. The Otaku will send gifts and spend lots of money on bands or members. So the video is a micky take of bands that do it and the fans, and the cut away is what they are really like.
If you liked the harmonising in this then try Loud Twin Stars [KilLeR_x_v2] DOLL$BOXX - Loud Twin Stars (high $pec High Return (2018)) ruclips.net/video/Tl4QNXnE-XU/видео.html
Fuki🤘🏻🔥
This is just a side project for members of Gacharic Spin and Fuki...
This is a matter of "What you see, you don't get!" A humerus take on Band-Maid. It is also a reflection of a female subculture which has its outlet mostly in music. The boys go for sports, the girls go to band practice. (the world's best high school band is Japanese with over 90% of them girls.) There is a network of "otaku" (crazy) but tolerated young female super-musicians that arose out of this highly patriarchal society. It is not like in the West where women go to integrate - here they simply replace the men and largely the media corporations (unlike K-Pop in Korea) with cross-pollinating bands of highest caliber. And it's all about that Gap! Lots and lots to take in because there is such depth that the West just doesn't have anymore. There is now hope.
"A humerus take on Band-Maid."
Not really, as BAND-MAID didn't exist when this music video was created.
RE The Humor Behind This Video: I could be very very wrong, but I think they are mocking Japanese idol music culture. Which is super big in Japan, and rarely leaves Japan.
I am not an expert on idol music, beyond knowing it exists, but here is an example: ruclips.net/video/5mcD5r9Af9Q/видео.html. Basically the genre is prepubescent and pubescent girls being sweet, cute, and innocent for 20 something fanboys.
So DOLL$BOXX comes out dressed as idol girls, talk like idol girls, make cute hand gestures like idol girls, and then blow the fanboys away by being real adult women. Real adult women who rock, rock hard, and have real musical talent. And melt the pathetic fanboys brains.
You might be interested in 'Destrose' as a person in the music industry. ruclips.net/video/zWCXKWAjl_U/видео.html I think their story is very interesting. They are a dead band. They had 20 plus members in 6 years. The interesting part is that the individual members were super talented and their songs are great. Ex members are in a ton of bands. Nemophila and Lovebites for example. I listen to their album quite a bit it's excellent. It seems like the woman who created the band is difficult to deal with. Everyone kept quitting.