The Rise & Fall Of Malice Mizer

[@graymads]

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[@KichirouTakahiro]

Thanks for telling about my favorite VK band!! Waiting for Dir en Grey history!)

[@pangkamotegames]

thank you ❤️ can you do l'arc en ciel ? because they are the first one listened to and the rest is history 💪🙏

[@mermorte3026]

Merci je me doutais bien qu'il y avait un parallèle entre Mylène Farmer et Malice Mizer. Thanks

[@ramudaamemura_]

@@pangkamotegames he's gonna pronounce it "ark in seal" 😭

[@robingort444]

Le seel? Try it in French, common!

[@mariefurukawa2627]

Mana has quite a storied career after Malice Mizer! His band Moi dix Moix is still active, and he's Kanon Wakeshima's producer. Mana isn't dressed 'in character', just wearing alt fashion. He's mostly known now for his work as a fashion designer and being an icon in the alternate fashion industry! He's the founder of the EGL (elegant gothic lolita) style and his fashion brand Moi Meme Moitie is credited with popularising the Lolita fashion movement in general.

[@60311]

I love him

[@Keurlock]

HE'S KANON'S PRODUCER? OMG NO WONDER CAUSE aI FOUND OUT HER SONGS 3 YEARS AGO AND LOVED IT CAUSE IT GAVE OFF LIKE VISUAL KEI VIBES 😭

[@zepolcin2412]

Mama-Sama is best

[@magicalenby23]

YUP

[@nicholesnow]

the work i used to have to put into finding moi dix moix things online in the early 2000s was astronomical. I' glad people still talk about it :)

[@darakuron5833]

Ahahaha I remember crying in the bathroom at school when I found out that Gackt left, and then again when Kami died, and then again when they disbanded... Malice Mizer and Plastic Tree were the first bands that I really connected with, and I'm still a fan now. Thanks for reminding me that I'm due for a full re-listen of their discography!

[@graymads]

Glad I could help. 😜

[@thegothgoat5353]

If gackt were to say that to them I’d call him a bitch, while their looks are very inspiring to me as a young goth especially mana it’s still so sad a member died. I’m going to fucking cry

[@shiftybat7318]

Klaha is still one of my all-time favorite vocalists. They were all obviously talented but I wanted to BE him.

[@kirablackstar6130]

@@shiftybat7318 I wanted another record with Klaha so bad 😞

[@auburn_and_cordsdude7415]

How old where you when they split?

[@emilysplingaire.]

After Gackt had left MM and Kami died he actually wrote a song for him, and it explains how Gackt had felt about his passing. It’s titled “U + K” which are Kami’s entails. Here are some quotes from it that make me wanna cry; “Inside of the dream Inside of the memory, we'll definitely meet again if you can regain your smile If your laughing slf returns Sadness will turn into kindness” “If the magic of the moon vanishes Because goodbyes are visited again If we can follow our feelings right now I want to join hands with you and dance” “Inside of the light, the place we should return to Because I'll meet you again somewhere” Literally the sweetest thing.. And the song sounds light and uplifting, which I think fits the lyrics well.

[@ElectricShark]

Kami is still one of the best drummers I have ever heard. It is truly fucking sad he died so early in life. He was truly a talent.

[@thegothgoat5353]

I know I just got into malice mizer two days ago but they’ve already crawled into my heart. It’s such a tradgedy

[@hugonubario]

strangely he died at 27

[@Beyond1904]

@@hugonubario so is he a member of the club 27 now?

[@hugonubario]

@@Beyond1904 I would say yes

[@Spagnolero]

Sometimes I think what would have happened if he was still alive like would he start a solo career a new band or just start a family. I wasn’t even born but it’s so sad

[@aanya-tl9pl]

Klaha is an opera singer, his voice isn’t going to be eccentric like gackts, its going to be calming and pleasing to hear. It isn’t flat, just different from Gackts and Tetsus. Like in Bara ni irodorareta- his voice is nice even when hes speaking.

[@fomorians]

Gackt's voice isn't eccentric, it's pretty conventional even.

[@35mm21]

Is this guy talking shit about Bara no Seidou? That album is iconic and the look defined an entire fashion subgenre...

[@RM-qr7xo]

Which albums are in the Klaha era?

[@blackxprice]

@@RM-qr7xo Bara no Seidou

[@seraphoftheend5768]

@@fomorians Gackt's voice is very eccentric and unconventional in late 1990s and early 2000s. I remember the first time I heard his voice in 1999, I was surprised on how deep his voice was compared to other j-rockers in that era. Most of them were tenors or baritones trying to sound like tenors. Gackt made baritones mainstream in jrock.

[@its_venezianotvenice]

it's funny how mana going on to become a staple in lolita fashion was completely ignored. i actually discovered malice mizer through mana's contribution to lolita fashion. live laugh love mana-sama

[@zoedub6444]

Dude same!! I was researching my AP Seminar project on Lolita fashion and came across Malice Mizer and it all went down hill from there.

[@libraelementia2023]

I have always gotten the impression that Klaha was actually very shy and that the hurtful comments about him (especially when he went solo) are the reason he disappeared. It makes me sad because he was and still is one of my favorite singers of all time, and it makes me sad that people criticize his era of MM so much.

[@rosesrose4364]

Fr he ain’t deserve the hate

[@TheRubyJustin]

It's unfair to him that mm disband. He just joined the band and they did this.

[@tpgggg]

I never understood the klaha hate. I thought he was so cool, his voice is so powerful and smooth and his appearance fit the band perfectly. I feel like the Gackt elitists seem to forget Gackt wasn't MM's original vocalist either lol

[@Yuunjae]

Me too his voice is so beautiful and that album was awesome don’t know why it got so much hate 😭💔

[@TexasWench]

I always tremendously enjoyed the Klaha era, as well. I think each singer really brought a different flavor that I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, I got into Malice Mizer very late, but thanks to 4chan, when I was introduced to VK MM was said and done and I had a whole discography to listen to - which I did, but not chronologically. Having done it this way I could tell from the dirtier production that Tetsu was first, but didn't have a preference based off that for the other two, and I'm glad it went that way.

[@Anna-wo9gb]

Mana’s concept for Malice Mizer was ahead of it’s time. They were huge in Japan, but if they released music now, they would be so much more popular since Japan has been more open to exporting music to the west. GACKT is such a legendary person. His look in Bel-Air (ver-ere) is unbeat and the energy he brought to live performances is unmatched. As a kpop fan, I’m convinced someone at SM decided to make Taemin their own GACKT because they are so similar (as music performers Idk either personally to state whether they are alike in that way). GACKT recently recovered from an illness affecting his vocal chords so he should be back to music within the next couple years. Ma cherie is an incredible softer song for people who don’t like the heavy songs.

[@Okayme8080]

As a Taemints yes SM did that for sure I see some similarities

[@felzito]

Specially in MOVE, Taemin could pass as Gackt's son

[@clau6023]

yess i've always thought they look similar!!

[@handsomeprince]

@@felzito Gackt's actual son lives in america 😄

[@felzito]

@@handsomeprince man I keep forgetting that man has a child lmao

[@marianix1591]

I adored Khala’a era. Yes, I got into Malice Mizer because of Gackt but Khala brought a very unique sound.. the last few minutes of this video made me so sad. Their final album is hauntingly beautiful. So different from anything else they produced.. I love this band so much!

[@xxshamoneyxx0650]

Same I wished they stayed together longer because I wanted more of Khala's vocals and inspiration

[@floating_spoon]

YESS klaha era is so underrated it's literally amazing

[@checkeredbandana5013]

Absolutely!! I feel like people really pay attention to only the Gackt era of Malice Mizer, but I really love the Klaha and Tetsu era.

[@Castlemaster.]

Au revoir is so nostalgic to listen to, but the most lamentful sounding track they have made is my favorite, Aegen both sung by Tetsu and Gackt.

[@jesuscordova3235]

My favorite one :) and apres midi a Paris.

[@peytonn5528]

Literally, he has so much talented, my heart still aches for him

[@07xGH0ST]

Aegen, au revoir, and le ciel are my favorites. Something nostalgic and existential about those songs.

[@bloodclot]

I gotten into Malice Mizer by accidentally downloading Illuminati when trying to download 2-PAC - Hail Mary (in his lyrics he says Illuminati) when I was younger. Here I am now, 16+ years later, with my insane indies / old school obscure visual kei collection and I owe it all to MM

[@miyooo00900]

Big upgrade

[@mizerbrise]

i miss klaha so much; i hope he is well wherever he is

[@DocHolliday1851]

Same

[@libraelementia2023]

Klaha's was by far my favorite Malice Mizer era and I even have all of his solo releases. I miss him and wish we knew what happened to him.

[@shiftybat7318]

I still think Shiroi Hada ni Kuruu is one of, if not their best, songs (and Very fun to sing). His solo song Marchen is also incredible.

[@PrinceDuCiel7]

I mean, Mana never stopped making music, designing clothing and generally being a staple in the gothic scene in Japan and for overseas fans. And some how I’m only JUST now being told he has a cooking channel? o_o

[@handsomeprince]

he used to cook during the pandemic, now he's stopped, a true tragedy for the humanity bc I feel like this was his comedic calling that man is HILARIOUS

[@Angelica_Darkheart777]

What’s the name of the channel I need to see this

[@ColorMeHoppy]

Wtf? Anyone has the channel name?

[@iforgotmyusername11]

@@ColorMeHoppy it's moi-meme-moitie, it's an official channel for his fashion brand

[@Charles-qx6yz]

@@Angelica_Darkheart777 moi-meme-moitie

[@W3S3333]

The Lair of Madame Tarantula Blog has translations for every song from Malice Mizer. Their lyrics are filled with truth about this reality. It's truly a world of lies and suffering. To be a human here is to suffer in misery from the malice of reality.

[@graymads]

I am going to need to check that out!

[@scarredpuppets6032]

You almost said it in just like the band when they were asked about their name🖤

[@erie499]

I love how mana's classical music training transcended when it met gackt's and it created an amazing characteristic style for the band

[@GACKT_Archive]

Mana has not received musical training, he prefers to create sound through sequencing (打ち込み), but you could be right that his style meeting Gackt’s classical training lead to this unique sound on Merveilles in particular (also, Shimada Yohei’s arranging)

[@XiuFeanaro6]

Mana had classical training? Since when?

[@erie499]

@@XiuFeanaro6 didn't mana go to school for music? Also it's obvious from his way of composing songs and the references he uses in songs that he at least knows his way around classical music

[@GACKT_Archive]

@@erie499 No he didn’t, it’s been known for many years that he can’t read sheet music for example

[@Keo_X]

@@erie499 I believe manas parents were both music teachers which is how he learned abt classical music, though I don't gave a credible source on it.

[@makkurakurakura]

I cried a little every time you pronounced it “visual key” 😭

[@SarahRsache6644]

I know…it was a little off-putting

[@Moua]

Very offputting lol

[@kuraha22]

Or the way he pronounces "közi" as /cozy/ or malice "maizer" 😬😬😬

[@LotteReid]

Yes 🥲!! Trying my best to sit through the whole video but damn, it's so off-putting, makes me cringe 😬

[@neongenesis3.0]

@@LotteReid fr

[@fomorians]

One note about Gackt's history pre-Malice Mizer/Cains;Feel, he actually studied Sound Engineering in college while working at the casino, and had prior experience with music both in theatre and classical training as a pianist. As for Klaha, it's worth mentioning he was previously in a synth band called Pride of Mind. Japanese artists are extremely difficult to research due to the language barrier and many translated interviews are hidden in obscure corners of the internet, so well done on this. I also love the way you describe the music and the aesthetic of each album/era.

[@graymads]

Thank you for the info,! Yea researching this stuff tends to be a bit hard since a lot of it is behind a language barrier and its harder to verify what is fact and what is rumor. Either way its fun to do, glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@retroTiko]

malize mizer video on my recommended?? in 2022??? incredible. really liked the video! would love to see more videos covering VK bands/musicians

[@_krbrs_]

I know right? Back in the 2000s i was called the malicemizerologist in the very small vk italian circle. This video made me smile a lot, brought back nice memories

[@MoiDixMiss]

Bara no Seidou is the best album imo. it is almost like a soundtrack of Gothic Lolita fashion that i have been into for more than 15 years. it is less mainstream that the previous albums but is very important. In 1999 Mana created his brand Moi meme Moitie which is very successful in Lolita community to this day as well.

[@GACKT_Archive]

Some of the stuff on Gackt needed fact checking (particularly how he joined the band, I think he was scouted rather than auditioning) but besides that, very well done if perhaps a bit too short to do a real deep dive. I appreciate the attention to the lyrics where possible. Nothing can touch Merveilles but I enjoy Bara no Seido because it executed the gothic aesthetic in a way that vibes more with me than Memoire. I’m always clamoring for an edition of Beast of Blood with Gackt on vocals, he has an amazing lower register and can pack some grit that’s underused in MM ánd his solo work, sadly.

[@shydayz]

This does a great job of touching on Malice Mizer's history! I didn't realize people didn't like the Klaha era, it's one of my favorites with Mayonaka Ni Kawashita being one of my top favorite songs in their whole discography. Love that you're bringing attention to not only Malice Mizer's music but also their backstory. LONG LIVE MALICE MIZER! Edit: Forgot about this but a great song from the Tetsu era is I Know the Reason for Her Sadness, top tier in my opinion. Right up there with some of the songs on Voyage Sans Retour. I think each era had some bangers lol

[@reverendofprimordialvents3985]

I adore I know the reason for her sadness, in general I love the tetsu era because I adore the type of emotion his voice carries and enjoy darkwave a lot as well

[@shydayz]

@@reverendofprimordialvents3985 Exactly! His voice is heavenly. To me, it sounds like he's mourning and he really puts so much emotion into it when he sings. Specifically in that song but even a song like Seraph, that's kind of upbeat, holds emotion in his voice.

[@tofufregit]

Bara no seidou is a brilliant album, it's sad how underrated it's always been for MM fansbase.

[@UtsukushiiTaichou]

Klaha was my intro into MM, his voice was so deep and just reached me profoundly and then seeing them all in Bara no Seidou, it was like the cherry on top for me. I hope he’s well..

[@shydayz]

@@tofufregit It is such a great album to me. I love each album because they each have something special and different about them but I love love love Bara no Seidou with everything from the mixing to the vocals and sounds. It's just so good

[@anastasia4570]

i accidentally deleted my comment but i actually like the Bara no Seidou album, especially Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku. the sounds and choir in it are heavenly

[@EnderTux]

Yes I agree!! Mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku is one of my favorites!

[@anastasia4570]

i literally ascend into a different dimension when i hear the song

[@calliacakess]

me too! klaha era was so magical imo. i love mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku too, but kyomu no naka de no yuugi.. i'd gladly blast my eardrums with that song lmao

[@anastasia4570]

that’s another one of my favs along with Seinaru Toki Eien no Inori. atp i’m just gonna start naming every song on the album LOL. klaha era was incredible, it’s hard to choose an ultimate favourite song

[@DarkwaveMistress]

That's such a good song.

[@masterryoaska]

Really love this video! Rarely see anyone talk about MALICE MIZER these days. Please make more videos on V系 greats or maybe the genre in general :D

[@graymads]

Already planning on it, there are so many great bands that seem to be ignored here on KZbin and in the west.

[@Megrez-Alberich]

Please forgive me if I've already said this before, but Gackt actually gave a reason why he decided to leave the band. He thought that with fame and success came greed and the other members had become more and more obsessed with money, going so far as to mock the fans behind their backs. Arguments got more and more frequent, and after a while he felt totally alienated, as the others would no longer speak to him. He felt extremely lonely and miserable, and when he couldn't put up with it anymore, he just left.

[@Megrez-Alberich]

@w The part about the other members becoming too focused on the money, I don't remember. Sorry ^^; The part about the arguments and him feeling more and more alienated and miserable: in the French fanzine Visual Rock. In 1999, they published a whole article about Malice Mizer after Gackt left the band, and they quoted excerpts from interviews with Gackt published in Japanese magazines...

[@Mlle.Lamarin]

@@Megrez-Alberich I always felt so interesting that knowing that, his first solo debut song was called Mizerable and in the videoclip, he kinda wears the same clothes he used to with MM (very royal french goth if I may say haha) , but there are also shots where he is "normal", like "himself" and this is how the videoclip ends : him, being the "poor" version of him, not the royal French kinda image he used to have with MM, and leaving for a new journey. Brilliant.

[@Mlle.Lamarin]

Et je viens de réaliser que tu parles français haha :)

[@superpanda3857]

​@@Megrez-Alberichlol this opinion is bullshit

[@cyberqueen201]

As a newer Malice Mizer fan: I heard about them having an argument, but the others getting greedy and mocking fans is something I'd never heard of before. Terrible if true, though I hope it's false.

[@z0h33y]

"Bara No Seidou" is what really got me into Malice Mizer. Least favorite???? Hate???? That's so unexpected. Looking through the comments i see alot of other people saying how great the album is, or being confused about it having a bad rep.

[@user-ns9uw8zh4f]

Fr its literally my fav album

[@Megrez-Alberich]

French fan here, been listening to M+M since 1996. I remember that when Bara no Seidô came out, some fans thought the album was too dark and depressing, and they missed the lighter, poppier sound from the Gackt era. That's why everybody was thrilled when they heard Gardenia, because they thought that the period of mourning was finally over and that it meant the next new songs would start to sound again like Au Revoir, Ma Chérie, Égée, Bel Air, Gekka no Yasôkyoku, etc.

[@ThereAndBackAgain6]

I'm from Ukraine. I listen MM since probably 14 years old. Now im 26 and i listen them at least once a week. I cant even explain to you how much energy they give me. Its like a portal to another world. Peace, calm, immortal.

[@SymphonicMotion]

OMG, I’m exactly the same, down to the age!! Cheers from 🇬🇹

[@r4v3nzcr0ws]

im 14 and i listen to the lol, im from germany 🇩🇪

[@fan-of-fiction169]

Hello! I'm from Poland and I also started to listen to MM recently. Although I won't reveal my age, I am also still a quite young person so it makes me happy to see someone else who likes MM... And also someone who's from a country that is so close to mine. Sorry if I sound awkward, I'm not really good at speaking. May you have a nice day

[@bug_star666]

Hello I'm from uk i'm 21 and I have been listening to malice mizer for 19 years

[@nothingtotake]

Hi!! I am from Estonia and am 15. I knew about vkei and more about 2 yrs ago, but somehow only now came to listen to vkei (TT) and love Malice Mizer^^ Their music is heavenly!

[@nickfrank7807]

Nicely done. Honestly, there isn't an era of MM I dislike. There is always something brash and beautiful. Thanks for covering a good chunk of musical history!

[@graymads]

Always :)

[@GamingInChina-DanielCamilo]

Bara doesn't have a bad rep. First time I heard this. If anything, it's a fan favorite and a truly unique and masterful concept album that really goes hard on the dark/elegant gothic aesthetic while always remaining genuine and heartfelt. Tastes are subjective and to be respected of course, but one can't ignore how influential and popular Beast of Blood was/is among Jrock fans and for the scene in general at the turn of the century. Plus, imo, the Bara no Seidou live shows are some of the most incredible concerts ever made, in both production values, and musically. I can't even explain how much I would love to be able to watch that live. Having said all this...Merveilles will forever be their peak. Perfect album. Good video! Even if you totally skipped on a lot, mistaken the Budokan for a festival (it's an arena), and got some details kinda mixed up, I honestly really appreciate the work you put into this. Thank you.

[@z0h33y]

I was kind of puzzled when he said Bara No Seidou is the fans least favorite album. To me its their most consistent.

[@35mm21]

Is this guy talking shit about Bara no Seidou? That album is iconic and the look defined an entire fashion subgenre...

[@35mm21]

@@z0h33y I been out of the loop for a long time but it was always my impression that the Testu era was the least popular. Personally I don't think any of the eras are bad -- they are each just radically different. It's like three different bands.

[@ivanmoguel]

Bara no seidou is one of my favorite albums of all time, I guess because it's right off my alley. Also, I feel it really set bases on what Mana did later with Moi Dix Mois. Being said this, nothing tops Merveilles. Malice Mizer will probably always be my favorite band of all time and it's always so cool watching new content that deeps into their mostly underrated gems.

[@graymads]

Bara is no means bad, I just personally am not a fan.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

Same here. It’s very different from their other albums, but there’s something so majestic and otherworldly about it. Like I’m being transported to a beautiful gothic fantasy world.

[@pinkwigs]

@@graymads I'm still watching the video but I didn't appreciate that album until watching it live at budokan. That cathedral with their asthetic gets me emotional every time.

[@mootroidXproductions]

That one-R difference between prostrate and prostate claims another victim.

[@graymads]

You win. I laughed out loud to this comment.

[@cassius-v1g]

yeah that confused me too 😭

[@kittycatakiko9020]

It's all about Gardenia~ Malice Mizer always has a special place in my heart. To this day. I hope that Klaha is okay wherever he is. :/ That era has always been my favorite era of theirs. Glad to see they still get love!!

[@Multirm2]

I swear Gackts voice just makes me feel like I’m in a different world. There is just something magical about his voice, don’t know how to explain it.

[@SkittleWolf]

Would love to see more VK deep dives like this, especially the 00s heavy hitters. I think PIERROT would be a hell of a one to do from their absolute bullshit way of ending it, rivalry with Diru, etc.

[@graymads]

I definitely want to cover more VK groups! Dir En Grey is my all time fav band but idk if I will do them anytime soon because there would be WAY TO MUCH to cover lol. That video would easily reach over an hour if not 2.

[@SkittleWolf]

@@graymads considering they are STILL going too. My oldest shirt I own is a Diru one from their US tour in 2007. I was very excited to see Plastic Tree mentioned (currently wearing a Pura shirt lol). There are so many to cover.

[@graymads]

@@SkittleWolf Plastic Tree is underrated as hell. Their album Echo is pure gold.

[@SkittleWolf]

@@graymads Legit one of my favorite bands. Like, they're only second to MCR (and I have 5 MCR tattoos so I REALLY like MCR lol)

[@REMspEEDfreaxx]

@@graymads and uh… 😅 hey!! Sorry to Hijack this conversation, but I would absolutely LOVE to see a video covering BUCK-TICK’s history/discography, ((since you mentioned their name within the Video, which BTW- love that! 😆💖 I’m a HUGE BT fan! 💖))

[@beep7434]

Glad to see some Malice Mizer content! I started out as a die hard solo Gackt fan back in middle school, but over the years my tastes shifted towards his very early solo career (Mars, Rebirth) and eventually I got into his MM era, too. He is an amazing vocalist. Tetsu era was very nice, too. I never got to grow up with the band but I really miss them. I wish they were on Spotify...

[@YumeGt]

Mana do the right thing by killing band, Malice Mizer have no bad era. A 4th cycle would be a really decay. Malice Mizer will be allways remember as the greatest VK band off all time. Something Yoshiki never learn..

[@poisonedberries1235]

im so happy this band is starting to get more attention, they're so underrated

[@suedeheadd]

every era drags a similar feel yet its so different... and i think thats what makes them so fun to listen to. am i feeling like listening to some romantic pop? BOOM, gackt. are we feeling like listening to darkwave? POW, tetsu. do u wanna listen to something that makes you feel like a vampire? KACHAW, klaha is there im just so glad i know about these dudes' existence. definetely my fav band ever... their music is just so inspiring, i love them so much

[@atlasanon.2121]

Awesome video! Love these guys and always will :))

[@spookymarirev]

Begging and on my knees for more visual kei deep dives, this was right off the bat a very entertaining video ^^

[@graymads]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@knotthestate]

This was a really fun deep dive. i really enjoy the lyrics you chose to highlight in this video

[@autreelodia3456]

Bara no Seidou is my really favorite album of them. I think, it is very important to share it here, cause there always will be a grateful drinker for absolutely every cup of tea. Thanks a lot for the video! :-))

[@graymads]

Thanks for listening

[@smfaceHUN]

I'm so surprised yet so glad to find something like that on youtube oh my. You need to make more. I've fell in love with jrock and visual kei while I was in high school and bands like Versailles and Dir En Grey were one of the main reason I became a musician, which is by far the most important thing in my life. Documenteries like that are so rare and so badly needed by the western fanbase, you cant even imagine. Seeing things like this properly researched, documented and presented so well is truly a heartwarming feeling. Amazing video!

[@graymads]

Thank you! As others have pointed out I got a few things wrong here and there, but my ultimate goal with these videos is just to bring attention to bands I like and have an excuse to talk about them.

[@smfaceHUN]

@@graymads Its still very well researched and the community has some absolute vkei SCHOLARS who probably know more about bands than those guys themselves do, so getting something wrong here and there is perfectly fine!

[@SkittleWolf]

Beast of Blood is their absolute best song. Absolute fucking banger.

[@graymads]

its good but honestly I think Garnet is my favorite from the Klaha era

[@bellac.8895]

Good song but definitely not their best

[@ry_katherine]

yep.

[@dddmn]

ive always thought Aegen is straight up from another dimension, its so good and my fav. but beast of blood is great too!

[@diana7261]

@@dddmn Bruh aegen straight up came out from the sky

[@Vampire_Nightshade]

I've been looking for a video like this for some time now. I really appreciate this!

[@graymads]

Glad I could help. 😜

[@pochen23]

I have to disagree on Illuminati, it remains my wife's favorite Malice Mizer song. It is so different and still so unique and brave. I think it is one of their masterpiece if not the best they ever produced.

[@dasmurf9226]

I think it would have been nice to go deeper in the importance that Malice Mizer had on future VK and their importance in the fashion department as well as talk a bit more about the individual membres since ppl like mana and kozi alike have really good songs and music they helped create after malice mizer. However, I really liked the vidéo and I think je te veux is a work of art🔥

[@saigonotsuki]

I was craving for VK content in KZbin. It's weird how hard it is to find videos about it. And, well, you got a new subscriber :') Malice Mizer is one of my favourite bands of all time and it's good to hear about them again.

[@graymads]

Welcome aboard!

[@IgorBilis]

^this!!

[@Mariooo57]

I wonder if it is a generational thing, considering how the internet used to be pre-social media or even in KZbin's infancy, in the sense that a lot of stuff didn't get archived properly over the years. I remember when VK exploded in my country, all the discussion about it back then was contained into now inactive or long gone forums and magazines. Even looking up certain acts that used to be so hyped back in the day, like Kagerou, seems tough nowadays. I don't know if I would go as far as to claim "lost media", but it seems close to me. Makes me think we're long due for a nostalgia craze about VK.

[@soloscape3]

Would love to see a video like this for Buck-Tick (although idk if they're considered a vkei band or not, either way it would be cool af) like a deep dive into their discography and such

[@vale.v0id]

Le Ciel gives me the chills even to this day. It's such a beautiful, melancholic song. I love it. And I know it hasn't aged that well, but Illuminati is still in my top tier list of visual kei songs, it's just too fun to dance to. And Gardenia makes me feel like a victorian lady going to a masquerade LOL so I guess these are my top 3 Malice Mizer songs

[@hauntedlunchable2121]

I am so glad this was in my recommended, I absolutely adore Malice Mizer and I'm so glad I can find more people talking about MM. It isn't often that I find people still talking about them besides about Mana or remaking their looks

[@bluevacation9075]

KZbin needs more video essays on visual kei bands.

[@angeldust5702]

MM was my favourite band when i was around 13~14, so over 10 years ago. Its so nice to hear about them. MM shaped my teenage and adolescent years. Listening to MM brings back memories and sadly my teenage years were difficult so many memories are painful but MM was my escape and i am thankful for that. I absolutely adore MM, their music is on the next level, i can feel my soul elevating when i listen to them.

[@lm1276]

sadly i cant say the same since i found them 5 years ago when i was 12 T_T and then forgot, i absolutely love the visual kei genre

[@DarkwaveMistress]

Wow, I had no idea people hated Bara no Seidou. I love that album because it's so grand and goth, and it's also my favorite Mana fashion era. MM is in my top three favorite bands even today, it's crazy that it's been 20 years since I listened to Le Ciel for the first time.

[@ManaBananalicious]

Bara no Seidou is *fantastic* in my opinion. Especially with the death of Kami in mind, the dramatic and dark theme just hits different, also: The vampire-theme with that music just gives me goose-bumps, too. The movie they made during Klaha era, which is basically Dracula made cheesy (lol), may not be that great, but aesthetically it is fantastic and really compliments the music. Generally, i just love how their aesthetic would always enhance the atmosphere of the music - it was always put together so well. Anyway, thank you for this video! It was good, even if some aspects were missing (like the movies. Not that they were so important, but i think it's just so awesome that they made 2 cheesy full lenght movies haha). And: Merveilles is still my favorite, too. :')

[@KeltronZX]

Really nice to see a video about Malice Mizer pop up in my recommended. Really enjoyed it, thanks for this :)

[@Imapeash]

considering visual kei is a fashion/aesthetic based subculture i would've liked for this to touch on the fact that mana is one of the founding fathers of elegant gothic lolita and his contributions with his brand moi même moitié. In my opinion, It's really quite unfair to do a deep dive into this band without any mention of this.

[@soggyworm8054]

i was just going to comment this. while i think this video is pretty good for ppl simply wanting an introduction or basic knowledge on the band, calling Gackt the only member to be successful outside of MM (and the only member fans really cared about) is just really weird and felt poorly researched. especially since many Malice Mizer fans (myself included) can't shut the hell up about Mana Sama, his impact just can't be understated to "having a cooking channel on youtube". and the other members, even if not as successful to levels of Mana and Gackt, are still well loved as well.

[@ghostrabbits]

While Au Revoir & Le Ciel are up there among my fave tracks, I gotta say, Bara no Seidou is my favorite album. Might just be 'cuz I adore Vampiric aesthetic, but it's just so good to me. 😅 I grew up listening to Merveilles, and it will forever hold a place in my heart, but I rediscovered MM a few years back and gave BnS a full listen to. Literally a masterpiece in my eyes!

[@l3c13l9]

Still believe nothing can top Merveilles, that album and with Gackt's voice is just pure gold.

[@zeal00]

Bara no Seidou was exactly what I was looking for when I found MM, and it was devastating to know that there was so little done with Klaha. I had to go back to Pride of Mind to get more of him.

[@prettyhatemachinexoxo]

so sad barley anyone talks about the tetsu era, in my opinion tetsu vocals are one of the best, you can see the passion he puts in his vocal, with his twitches.

[@graymads]

Tetsu deserves much more credit.

[@prettyhatemachinexoxo]

@@graymads really! most people only know mana (when he wears gothic lolita) and gackt, it's so upset.

[@NIGHTBLOODUSAGI]

I would try to know more about each of them but if only I could actually tell them apart from eachother

[@TheRubyJustin]

I thought I read some old info that tetsu left because mm music doesn't suit his taste?

[@reigee2869]

Gackt would forever be iconic if he had aged gracefully. His work with malice mizer and early solo career was next level amazing.

[@Okayme8080]

I think he age fine though

[@assiend]

Yeah. It’s obvious in him the fear of aging/not aging well

[@skeletonkiss1112]

I get really excited when I see videos like this in my reccomendations, you have a new subscriber.

[@graymads]

Happy to entertain!

[@spicymints]

I can't even begin to express how happy I am whenever Malice Mizer gets the recognition they deserve, but the 'fall' section is cut a little short, in my opinion. Because Gackt didn't simply 'leave the band'(like Tetsu); it was a full-blown PR nightmare. It's a little hard to piece together after so long, but there are two crucial interviews about the split: Shoxx 8/1998 (Vol. 66) and Vicious March 1999***. The Shoxx interview is scanned and translated, the Vicious interview I've only ever seen discussed/transcribed in forums, so, eh. But apparently, Gackt had stopped showing up in promotional material in 1998 which started rumors; he gave an interview about his conflict with management and other band members and I would guess a giant shitstorm ensued because apparently no one even knew he was going to do that interview. Keep in mind that this was _before_ he officially departed. In the Vicious interview (if it's authentic), the remaining 4 express basically that they just didn't get it. It's a big, convoluted mess, but reasons were given lel Of course very shortly afterwards, Kami passed. EDIT: ***Got anxious whether I actually got the volume right, and I didn't. It was 2/1999 (Vol. 72). But the info, that he had disappeared and sparked a media frenzy can also be found on Wikipedia: 'In December 1998, he disappeared. It was reported in the media and on TV that he had vanished into thin air'. So, interview was after the official departure, but he had just 'vanished' before. Sorry about that! I don't necessarily agree with characterising Bara no Seidou's lack of commercial success (compared to merveilles at least) as 'the fall', either. Based on Mana, Yu~Ki and Közi's later activities, I don't think they really cared about that. And they still played Budokan with that album, even though they had returned to indie status after Kami's death. Personally, I think after all that happened through '98 and '99, their relationship with the band/name had just soured. They never wanted to replace Kami and you can't really be a full band with that anymore. Just my 2 cents. If you haven't already, I'd also recommend listening to the audio of Gackt's first live. Because it's just a fantastic trainwreck (in parts, at least). Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. Great video.

[@sacreddolls]

Where can I listen to the audio of gackt's first live?? I must hear!

[@spicymints]

@@sacreddolls It's on YT! Not sure how graymads feels about linking other channels, but the live is called kareinaru fukkatsu geki; shouldn't be hard to find

[@sacreddolls]

@@spicymints ahhh I found it, thank you!! :D

[@bishulover]

I wish i had this video when i first got into the band! I love seeing informational videos on jrock bands, i hope videos like these will get more young english speakers to be interested in malice!! I love this band and wish more people knew them!

[@Kim_W]

Love seeing people still talk about Malice Mizer, I've been a fan for over 15 years and got my friends, parents and some of my dad's coworkers to be fans too, we still independently listen to the Klaha era music regularly. Overall great job, the pacing and editing were well done! Only wish you had taken a little bit more time for the Klaha era for the people that clicked on this not knowing much. Won't harp on the things others have already mentioned like the pronunciations and that the title felt a little misleading since it ended up being more of a 'my opinion on the albums' than really a rise and fall kind of documentary. I know some titles attract more clicks. I'm subscribed after watching another video, will be watching a lot more, and hope to see this channel grow!

[@kopokopu]

I still wish they had release a full or best of album before Klaha left the band for good. Instead we only have like 3 singles to represent his era....

[@Pchan1609]

My favorite Band in Highschool. Malice Mizer ignited my love for Visual Kei and (to be cheesy) made me the person I am today and after almost 20 years I still enjoy their music. Really good video!! Thank you very much for this trip of nostalgia

[@robertorban3730]

MM songs tended to be in triple meter and multiple minor keys, with fairly simple dominant-tonic modulations between one key and another. MM used this formula repeatedly. Gackt's writing was more harmonically sophisticated. Le Ciel, which the author considers the pinnacle of MM's songwriting, was clearly a Gackt creation--Gackt is credited with both lyrics and music, and stylistically it falls outside of the MM formula. Le Ciel points forward to the songs on Gackt's solo albums, starting with Mars, Moreover, Gackt's spectacular entrance in the live DVD (flying on wires from above the stage while costumed as a "destroying, vampiric angel"), looks forward to the same technique he used in many of his early lives.

[@chickennuggets8429]

Watching this video feels like when I first google Malice Mizer history, it still feels like going in a walk for fresh air! ありがとう^_________^

[@Charnel_Heart]

As someone who got into Moi Dix Mois first through Maximum the Hormone (specifically people giving wrong answers to ID the visual kei band in the zetsubou billy mv), and learned of Gackt through final fantasy 7 spinoff, this was both informative and overdue. Thank you.

[@yumallah]

I'm so happy someone made a video like this about Malice Mizer. My absolute favorite VK band of all, by far.

[@frankdelgado8534]

I remember downloading this along with Dir en Grey back on Napster (I'm too old). They are easily still one of my favorite bands ever. I'm also from Latin America (Puerto Rico) and in more than 30 years I've only known a handful who legit knew about them around here

[@oAPXo]

Yu~ki and Kami were the best. Just hearing Bel Air from their concert video is AMAZING, just pay attention to the bass and drums of that track and enjoy.

[@meatballhead15]

There was a time in the early 2000s when myself and a group of my friends ADORED Malice Mizer. We even bugged a clothing company into re-creating Klaha's coat from the "Beast of Blood" video. It was my intro to the band, and I knew Gackt was more popular, but wow. Since the bad HAD split up and all they sort of fell off my radar but this video has totally given me the inspiration to go find their discography and re-discover them! I stand that Klaha's songs/time/aesethic was GOOD, but it was also my honeymoon with the band. Also I LOVE Mana, how he dresses androgynously had and he had a lot of success in the fashion/clothing area, I remember seeing him constantly in the "Gothic and Lolita Bibles" that I endeavored to collect.

[@ShiroVK870]

wow great video. u really give a timeline of their "rise & fall" of the band. Makes it a bit sad. but as a fan and many friends that still listen to malice mizer. we listen to malice mizer as a timeless band that had so called "ERAS" meaning all the vocalist that. sing in the band. and i listen to Malice mizer Mixed with Moi dix mois Band with most members from Malice mizer. So its a neverending joy of music completely uninterested in time and popularity. I didnt knew the last album was unpopular. nor i was sure it was his last album. I listen to it in the car often. Iv listen to malice mizer so much that my braind is coded with its music. I wake up with a song in my head from them. but from many Romantic Japanese music from the late 90's As visual kei fans we are very used to listen to music from disbanded/hiatus bands meny dead members It honestly adds to the bleak and dark feeling about the genre thank u for ur tribute Iv really enjoyed it

[@stevenconrady1990]

It seems that Gackt’s lyrics were completely in-depth when it came to Malice Mizer’s catalog.

[@iamlucidess]

I loved Malice Mizer just as much as Dir en Grey, just as much as Gackt, just as much as The Pillows, etc. I loved many j-rock and j-pop bands, so thank you for covering this beautiful band! You deserve way more subs dude, your overall quality of the video and audio is top notch quality compared to other popular youtubers out there.

[@graymads]

Thank you so much!

[@DerSkalde]

Malice Maizer was a great band. Outfits, Music and more - perfect combination. Your background music is very good. :)

[@meowtrox1234]

Thank you Graymads. I sub to your CH . Nice video project of Malice Mizer . Tc! Best of luck!

[@graymads]

Thanks for the sub!

[@Rumi1_]

WOAH never thought someone was gonna make a video of malice mizer. I was surprised when I saw it 😭

[@graymads]

You thought wrong. ;)

[@Rumi1_]

@@graymads amazing video by the way!!

[@saber0089]

Great video, I ended up liking their last album more after more listenings. Definitely an acquired taste for many. I'm surprised you didn't mention Gardenia or the entire movie they made off the last album. When it comes to this band, I especially respect them for their theatrical live performances which is how I prefer to see them.

[@Kylomew]

I had discovered malice mizer by their song ma Cherie I fell in love and listened to many of there songs I would say it’s probably one of the first times I’d gone so deep into a band/music and as I only discovered them a couple months ago I hope to continue to love malice mizer 💕

[@IiOnna222]

I'm so surprised to see a video about this band. Look, was listening to them since just before they disbanded back in 2001. Can't believe people still listen to them nowadays. Can't deny they were something indeed.

[@tehrube]

absolutely loved this video. I felt like I listened to them in such a vacuum and didn’t have anybody else that knew them so it was very fun to hear you talk about such a wonderful band that means so much to me. I found this band through X Japan and grew up listening to them in the early 2000s and they are so amazingly nostalgic to me now.

[@justinrgray4979]

Love this band so much. Gackt is an amazing vocalist

[@geraldinedamianvasquez]

Thank you so much for covering them I love you so much !!!!

[@hiimbob3650]

I love how you use breakcore in the background like with machine girl it’s great!

[@branny5820]

I was surprised to see this video pop up on my feed. I didn't think anyone was talking about Malice Mizer anymore. Mana-Sama defined my teen years and his body of work still haunts my mind palace. Wonderful video

[@elektricki9258]

Other than your horrific pronunciation of "visual kei", (KAY not KEY) this short doc is pretty great. You clearly did your research! I definitely liked it. **EDIT your French pronunciation is terrible too but the same sentiment.**

[@Maki-00]

How do you mess up something so important? Not to mention the name of the band the video is about! 😫

[@Hellmiauz]

@@Maki-00 yeah... at least learn the name of the band...

[@Maki-00]

@@Hellmiauz The name of the band, the genre of music, the lead singer’s name, EVERY song and album title was pronounced incorrectly. What a mess!

The band stated somewhere that their name came from the French words "malice" and "misère" and should be pronounced as such. In fact in the very beginning of the video there's an advertisement for "Gardenia" where the correct pronunciation can be heard.

[@Maki-00]

@ Correct. I know French and Japanese and those pronunciations grated on my nerves! 🤣

[@cornbreadflapjacks]

It took me so long to watch this video because I knew it would make me cry. I love this band so much, especially the Gackt era but I do love the Tetsu and Klaha eras as well. Malice Mizer was part of the musical undercurrent of my formative years. Thanks for making this video; more people should know about Malice Mizer!

[@JeinNoir]

I was really surprised to see this in my feed & seemingly in isolation on a channel from other vkei content. Thanks for taking and interest and giving MM the mentions they deserve as icons. I see some criticisms below, so I won't be redundant but at a quick passover before watching it all: visual kei is say like Kay, not key. And just in general since I replied elsewhere: They quickly became a favorite at 13 for me since they were so artistic. Mana's lack of smiling & wearing only dresses was so relatable & the old school guitar mixed with various traditional sounds was otherwise hard to find. The only subculture to put every genre on the table really is Visual Kei. Definitely would recommend. Lareine is a spin off in a sense formed by two of their roadies. They were much fluffier than even the Gackt era ever got lol. Also very important for Lolita fashion to keep growing. Today if you want vkei as unique as the 90s you need to listen to old standards like Buck-Tick or go underground. Definitely look into where Közi went, Dalle is one of my favorites.

[@Funkyct]

Never thought I would view one of these videos for my favourite band, you did an excellent job on the research and I found out about some stuff I didn't know before.

[@greentokyo]

Budokan is not a music festival, but the name of the arena where concerts and other activities are held. Its like a smaller Tokyo Dome or Saitama Super Arena which are famous venues for concerts as well. The Budokan seats about 10,000 people and it was the ambition of many indie and visual kei bands to play there as it is considered a marker of success.

[@Nocturnewashere]

It"s also like a very historical venue for japanese pro wrestling! Random fact.

[@myHeartDrawsADream_]

For me the Gackt era was their best era by far . I simply love Gackts voice 💕 sadly their songs aren’t available on Spotify or apple music

[@shortbr3eaf]

if a video has plastic tree and malice mizer in it im instantly liking and saving and subscribing and notifications on and joining

[@graymads]

God bless

[@ouriiangel]

this channel is way too underrated

[@graymads]

I agree. 😜

[@MattalMusique]

imagine having goosebumps for 20+ minutes watching this video, good job! but there are some pronunciation suggestions: - Mizer > M"ee"zer, not M"ai"zer, there's a Kanji name of the band that matches the meaning of Mizer instead of Miser as well - It's G"ah"ckt, that rhymes his real name, instead of G"e"ckt - Merveilles, Le ciel, au revoir are purely French Others: - isn't it having an intro track there before Syunikiss, i.e. 〜de merveilles - Track 6 エーゲ〜過ぎ去りし風と共に〜 is also worth mentioning - to me, it's a perfect album I have ever bought, and it is still with me all these years!

[@kathylingerfield9836]

Malice mizer to me was the missing piece of the puzzle I was searching for. I loved The Cure and Siouxsie but there was a sound missing and the entire compilation of MM was what I was searching for from beginning to end. I fell in love with all their singers and mana and now support Mana with his Moitie brand. I'm so happy I found them, thru made me love music again

[@annemyashea]

Deep Sanctuary VI MALICE MIZER 25th Anniversary Special is worth watching! It’s very well done. I have two favorite performances-Seth from Moi Dix Mois singing Gardenia & Hitomi singing Madrigal.