The Rise & Fall Of Malice Mizer

LONG LIVE MALICE MIZER
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#malicemizer #visualkei #japan
0:00 Intro
2:14 Beginnings
4:30 Memoire
8:02 Gackt
9:10 Voyage Sans Retour
13:46 Merveilles
20:47 Bara No Seidou
24:28 Conclusion

[@graymads]

Subscribe for new videos twice a week!

[@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

[@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?

[@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 😬

[@shikiryougi3754]

@@LotteReid fr

[@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?

[@xenithiidx819]

@@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@Littleostrich107]

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

[@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.

[@RairakkuMushi]

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

[@Mistress_Angelica777]

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]

@@Mistress_Angelica777 moi-meme-moitie

[@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

[@emptyheros]

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

[@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🖤

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@ian1953]

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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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-fiction129]

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!

[@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...

[@LamarinIllustrations]

@@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.

[@LamarinIllustrations]

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.

[@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)

[@rem5720]

@@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! 💖))

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@xxpainal69xx31]

Tetsu was super underrated. His Era was super cool

[@35mm21]

IMO Testu's vocals are more interesting than Gackt's. Not that the Gackt era wasn't amazing for its own reasons, because it was.

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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🔥

[@poisonedberries1235]

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

[@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....

[@KatherineOfEden]

A history of Dir en Grey would be amazing. Or X Japan and Luna Sea 😌

[@graymads]

Dir En Grey is my favorite band of all time and I do plan on covering them, just holding off as I get better at this whole KZbin thing. I want to really do them justice.

[@fey_wolf6309]

oh my god, it would be beyond epic!

[@KatherineOfEden]

@@graymads No worries! Take your time!

[@bloodclot]

please don't overlook La:Sadie's when doing dir en Grey. old school vk at its peak

[@wemki_]

history of X would be nothing short of fantastic, my thoughts exactly!!! with all the insane things they went through together but managed to hold on for so long, just out of love for each other...

[@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

[@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! 🤣

[@--baphomet]

Gackt was the main reason, why and how I found MM in the first place. The song ‘Redemption’ is what lead me down to an entire vkei rabbit hole in my younger years and what ultimately ties into my fashion sense exc. I also found it weird, that on the forums a lot of fans did not like Tetsu’s voice??!!!! I loved and still do, love the way he sounded. There’s not an album or song I did not like from the MM saga. Klaha was another voice that I loved, and wished to hear more from. I do hope he’s doing well with whatever he’s doing, along with the other members of MM. 🖤

[@CharlesNotBronson]

That is not weird at all. IDK why he's that hated. Maybe because of his vocal style that somewhat is like a wrecking ball swinging around wrecklessly? Maybe the next 2 vocalist looks better than him? lmao.

[@xfranczeskax]

Tetsu's singing had one mode: loud. There was no nuance, I can barely listen to it. ^^°

[@CharlesNotBronson]

@@xfranczeskax What other vk bands do you listen to? Just curious.

[@tetsutobey]

@@CharlesNotBronson Tetsu having a more boyish tone to his voice really hits home in the soul department. I feel like he's appreciated because of the passion he puts into his music hence why quite a couple people think out of all the three eras, that he's sung Ma Cherie the best.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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...

[@3798penisholder]

finally! theres barely any english vids on malice mizer on this site!

[@graymads]

I was super surprised when I saw no one else had made any.

[@mootroidXproductions]

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

[@graymads]

You win. I laughed out loud to this comment.

[@user-sl2vf7de4q]

yeah that confused me too 😭

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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. :')

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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 💕

[@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.

[@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

[@stevenconrady1990]

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

[@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.

[@bluevacation9075]

KZbin needs more video essays on visual kei bands.

[@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!

[@l3c13l9]

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

[@knotthestate]

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

[@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.

[@justinrgray4979]

Love this band so much. Gackt is an amazing vocalist

[@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.

[@Vampire_Nightshade]

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

[@graymads]

Glad I could help. 😜

[@RagingFairgrounds]

The cutaways to your reading of the lyrics are pretty bad. Sorry :( Also, I'm not sure why you seem to think Klaha sounds flat? He had great bass tone to his voice. I loved the Gackt era of Malice Mizer, but always felt like that era was the least authentic to their image.

[@nesta5538]

This was such a great trip down memory lane and I learned so much, too! Thank you so much for making this video 😭♥️

[@ouriiangel]

this channel is way too underrated

[@graymads]

I agree. 😜

[@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!

[@KeltronZX]

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

[@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..

[@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^_________^

[@marcokingaurelio]

I knew Malice Mizer in 1999~2000, almost at its end, unfortunately. Here in Brazil, specially in my city, internet was not that great and all-things undergrond was so hard to find. I met them because of my interest for japanese culture at that time and my love for music/metal. Don't know exactly how I got into that but I remember downloading Syunikiss in Soulseek and it was love at first hearing. As I was listening, I begin searching the Merveilles album and it became my probably favorite album ever, tied with Blind Guardian's Nighfall in Middle-Earth. Even today, I frequently listen their albums and eps, watch their shows (Merveilles show is breathtaking) and sing their songs (Bel Air, Gekka no Yasoukyoku, Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku, Garnet and Shiroi Hada ni Kurui... are the usual) in shower or karaokes. Malice Mizer has also a deep representation for me as it was also one of my great friend's favorite bands, who unfortunately passed away about five years ago. Illuminatti and Gekka often reminds me of him. More than twenty years later, here I am still listening, watching and talking about Malice Mizer. Malice never dies.

[@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!

[@evfdurs]

You did so much research!!! Def a throwback to the visual kei days I loved.

[@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.

[@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.

[@skeletonkiss1112]

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

[@graymads]

Happy to entertain!

[@TheEvilKingStan]

Thank you for this video. I listened to malice mizer all throughout high school and discovered them through randomly downloading music on kazaa. I've hit a nostalgia streak and have been listening to them again so your video was posted just in time! I'm also loving the discussions in the comments section.

[@baepsae7389]

I would absolutely love to see more videos like this of visual kei bands you're interested in! Malice Mizer was my first VK band before i ever fall into Dir en Grey's grip, it was so nice to hear such old nostalgic songs again after a while. Thank you so much!! 🖤

[@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.

[@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!!

[@sing-sei795]

Thank you so much being so respectful and appreciative of the music and its members! Instant sub

[@crimsonr4in]

as a french person, seeing you kinda butcher the names icked me a little bit, but overall it was a really great video !! live laugh gackt as always

[@atlasanon.2121]

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

[@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

[@eiji.sbrana]

Au Revoir is My favorite Malice Mizer Song as well!!!😌

[@graymads]

Great choice!

[@emptyheros]

Thank you for covering this! Always nice to see more exposure to this now hidden gem of a band :)

[@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.

[@DerSkalde]

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

[@geraldinedamianvasquez]

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

[@Spagnolero]

Thank you so much for explaining I had a hard time understanding the order of events but now I understand im very grateful for this video