Touted by many as one of the most influential bands in visual kei history, Malice Mizer is this and much much more...
Malice Mizer went through many different stages as well as band member line up changes. Most notable were their 3 different lead vocal changes starting with Tetsu, then Gackt, and ending with Klaha.
Tetsu era: August 1992 ~ December 1994
Malice Mizer was first formed in August 1992 by Mana and K�zi. The two had previously been in Matenrow together, after which they decided to form their own band. For this they would recruit vocalist Tetsu, bassist Yu~ki, and a drummer named Gaz. With this line up they produced their first demo tape -Sans Logique- which did not include any vocals because it was rumored they could not afford to add them. They would also have their first official release, Speed of Desperate, which would appear on the compilation -Brain Trash-.
Shortly after, Malice Mizer and the band Kneuklid Romance would make a drummer swap. Gaz would join KR and Kami would come on as the new drummer for MM.
This lineup produced the next two demo tapes,
-Sadness- and -The 1th Anniversary-, as well as Malice Mizer's first album -Memoire- in 1994 on the newly founded record label Midi:Nette. Soon after, a reissue of the album was released with a bonus track, now entitled -Memoire DX-. There are a few songs that Malice Mizer played at lives at the time, but never made it on this album nor any other CD.
After a few lives and the release of Memoire DX, vocalist Tetsu would announce that he is leaving the band due to creative differences. His last live took place on December 27th, 1994. Malice Mizer would cease activates for about a year after, until new vocalist Gackt would join the band.
Gackt era: - October 1995 ~ January 1999
Gackt joins the band and they release their first single
-Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo-. After touring for a few months they release their second album -Voyage ~sans retour~- for which a tour followed and their popularity really began to take off. They would soon sign a major record deal with the Nippon Columbia label.
The band became very successful from this point on with tons of lives, events, TV & Magazine appearances and even a weekly radio show. They would release a total of 6 singles, a short movie -Verte Aile- and their 3rd album -merveilles-.
But seemingly at a time when they were most popular, vocalist Gackt would announce he is leaving the band. Reasons unknown until recently when Gackt released an autobiography that still doesn't make the events entirely clear. Creativity differences would probably suffice.
As if things were not bad enough with Gackt's departure, more tragic events would befall the band. Drummer Kami died suddenly from a Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Malice Mizer would then take another small break. They would also revert back down to an "indies" status and return fully to the revamped "Midi:Nette M+M" record label.
Their first release after their hiatus would be in the form of a single called -Saikai no chi to Bara-. The song contained no vocals. They would soon after release a memorial tribute boxset to commemorate Kami's death entitled -Shinwa- which contained 3 tracks that Kami had written before his passing.
Klaha era: August 2000 ~ December 2001
Still without an official vocalist, Malice Mizer released two more singles and their fourth and final album -Bara no Seidou-. Klaha did vocals on the album and one of the singles, but was only credited as �The Fourth Blood Relative� for them. He was first officially �unveiled� to the public on August 31st 2000 at the Nippon Budokan for the -Bara ni Irodorareta Akui to Higeki no Makuake- 2 day live.
With a now official new vocalist, the band commenced on more activities and started to work on the major motion picture -Bara no Konrei ~Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~-.
Soon after, they released 3 singles with Klaha that would be the last of Malice Mizer's original music releases. On December 11th 2001 the band announced that they will cease activities.
DISCOGRAPHY:
ALBUMS:
Memoire
-july-24-1994- cat: M:N-001
Malice Mizer's first album. It contains 6 tracks and is the only official release with vocalist Tetsu. They later released a DX version with an extra picture book and 1 extra track.
-tracklist-
-01- de memoire
-02- Kioku to sora
-03- E-GE umi ni sasagu
-04- Gogo no sasayaki
-05- Miwaku no ROOMA
-06- seraph
Memoire DX
-dec-24-1994- cat: M:N-001
5 months after Malice Mizer released their first album, they went back and reissued it. Memoire DX came in a slipcase that included a "visual story book". It also had an extra track added entitled "Baroque".
-tracklist-
-01- de memoire
-02- Kioku to sora
-03- E-GE umi ni sasagu
-04- Gogo no sasayaki
-05- Miwaku no ROOMA
-06- seraph
-07- Baroque
Voyage ~sans retour~
-june-9-1996- cat: M:N-003
Malice Mizer's second album. First album with vocalist Gackt.
First press came in a box with an extra color booklet. It is very rare ^^;
-tracklist-
-01- yami no kanata e~
-02- Transylvania
-03- tsuioku no kakera
-04- premier amour
-05- itsuwari no musette
-06- N.p.s N.g.s
-07- claire ~tsuki no shirabe~
-08- Madrigal
-09- shi no butou
-10- ~zenchou~
merveilles
-mar-18-1998- cat: COCA-14866
Malice Mizer's third album. This is the first and only major album they released after signing with the Columbia label. It is also Gackt's last album with the band.
First press comes as a small book with nice larger size pics. The back cover holds the CD.
-tracklist-
-01- ~de merveilles
-02- Syunikiss ~nidome no aitou~
-03- Bel air ~kuuhaku no toki no naka de~
-04- ILLUMINATI
-05- Brise
-06- E-GE ~sugisarishi kaze to tomoni~
-07- au revoir
-08- Ju te veux
-09- S-CONSCIOUS
-10- Le ciel
-11- Gekka no yasoukyaku
-12- Bois de merveilles
Bara no seidou
-aug-23-2000- cat: MMCD-013
Malice Mizer's fourth and final album. Malice Mizer leave the Columbia label and go back to the indies Midi:Nette label. New vocalist Klaha sings on some of the songs. He was not and official member at this point.
First press is a book that has pictures and in the back cover is where the CD sits.
Second press comes in a regular style Jewel Case with slip case cover.
-tracklist-
-01- Bara ni irodorareta akui to higeki no makuake
-02- Seinaru toki eien no inori
-03- Kyomu no nakade no yuugi
-04- Kagami no butou genwaku no yoru
-05- Mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku
-06- Chinurareta kajitsu
-07- Chikasuimyaku no meiro
-08- Hakai no hate
-09- Shiroi hada ni kuruu ai to kanashimi no RONDO
-10- Saikai no chi to bara
SINGLES:
Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo
-dec-10-1995- cat: M:N-002
Malice Mizer's first official single and first official release with Gackt as vocalist. Contains 4 songs plus 1 hidden track.
-tracklist-
-01- Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo
-02- APRES MIDI ~aru paris no gogo de~
-03- Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo (instrumental)
-04- APRES MIDI ~aru paris no gogo de~ (instrumental)
-05- APRES MIDI ~aru paris no gogo de~ (bonus version)
ma cherie ~Itoshii kimi e~
-oct-10-1996- cat: M:N-002
The famous ma cherie single CD was released housed in a large sized 14 page hardcover book.
Contains 3 tracks (one hidden) including "Regret" written and performed by Gackt.
-tracklist-
-01- ma cherie ~Itoshii kimi e~
-02- regret
-03- ma cherie ~Itoshii kimi e~ (instrumental)
(image soon)
Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~ de l' image
-july-19-1997- cat: COZA-31~32
The first release for Malice Mizer after signing with Columbia and going "major" is Bel Air de l'image.
It is a boxset that includes the single, a 16 page booklet and the PV and making of Bel Air.
Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~
-aug-6-1997- cat: COZA-31~32
Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~ single contains 3 songs, including Color Me Blood Red, which was written and sang by Kozi.
-tracklist-
-01- Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~
-02- Color Me Blood Red
-03- Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~ (instrumental)
au revoir
-dec-3-1997- cat: CODA-1376
The single for au revoir contains 3 tracks including the fun ~BOSSA~ version of the song.
-tracklist-
-01- au revoir
-02- au revoir ~BOSSA~
-03- au revoir (instrumental)
Gekka no yasokyoku
-feb-21-1998- cat: CODA-1415
Contains 3 tracks including the de l'image version which sounds like a carnival accordian song which has Kozi whispering the lyrics softly over the music.
-tracklist-
-01- Gekka no yasokyoku
-02- Gekka no yasokyoku de l'image
-03- Gekka no yasokyoku (instrumental)
ILLUMINATI [P-type]
-may-20-1998- cat: CODA-1528
Contains 3 tracks including N.p.s. N.g.s. [N-type] which is more of a rock version of the song rather than the techno-ish original.
-tracklist-
-01- ILLUMINATI [P-type]
-02- N.p.s. N.g.s. [N-type]
-03- ILLUMINATI [P-type]
Le ciel ~kuhaku no kanata e~
-sept-30-1998- cat: CODA-1617
This beautiful single folds out to reveal the band in their Le ciel outfits. It is the last 8cm size single that Malice Mizer released. Le ciel was completely written by Gackt. Contains 2 tracks.
-tracklist-
-01- Le ciel ~ kuhaku no kanata e~
-02- Le ciel ~ kuhaku no kanata e~ (instrumental)
Saikai no chi to bara
-nov-3-1999- cat: MMCD-006
The first release after hiatus and passing of drummer Kami. There was no vocalist at the time as well so this is basically an instrumental track. Contains only one song. The CD comes housed in a mini-book.
-tracklist-
-01- Saikai no chi to bara
(image soon)
Saikai no chi to bara [vinyl]
-nov-3-1999- cat: MMAL-007
Vinyl version of the CD release. The album is printed with a picture of Malice Mizer (seen above).
The first release after hiatus and passing of drummer Kami. There was no vocalist at the time as well so this is basically an instrumental track.
-tracklist-
-01- Saikai no chi to bara
Kyomu no naka de no yuugi
-may-31-2000- cat: MMCD-010
The next single after Saikai no chi to bara was released almost the same way. It has two tracks and the CD is housed inside a mini-book.
-tracklist-
-01- Kyomu no naka de no yuugi
-02- Kyomu no naka de no yuugi (instrumental)
Shiroi hada ni kuruu ai to kanashimi no rondo
-july-26-2000- cat: MMCD-012
The last single to appear on Bara no Seidou was released one month earlier. It contains 2 tracks.
-tracklist-
-01- Shiroi hada ni kuruu ai to kanashimi no rondo
-02- Shiroi hada ni kuruu ai to kanashimi no rondo (instrumental)
Gardenia
-may-30-2001- cat: MMCD-019
The first release with Klaha as the official vocalist. It began the trilogy of singles that would be the last music releases of Malice Mizer. Contains 5 tracks.
First press: Slip cover featuring the same image see on the back of the CD.
-tracklist-
-01- Prologue ~Kaisou~
-02- Gardenia
-03- Houkai Jokyoku
-04- Gardenia (instrumental)
-05- Houkai Jokyoku (instrumental)
Beast of Blood
-june-21-2001- cat: MMCD-022
The second to the last single ever released, and possibly one of the most popular Malice Mizer songs. Contains 4 tracks including amazing Baptism of Blood and Bara no Souretsu which is a hidden track at the end of the CD written by Kami.
-tracklist-
-01- Beast of Blood
-02- Baptism of Blood
-03- Beast of Blood (instrumental)
-04- Bara no Souretsu (bonus unlisted hidden track)
Garnet ~Kindan no Sono e~
-nov-30-2001- cat: MMCD-022
This single represents the last official music release by Malice Mizer. ;_;
Contains 4 tracks.
-tracklist-
-01- Garnet ~Kindan no Sono e~
-02- Gensou Rakuen
-03- Garnet ~Kindan no Sono e~ (instrumental)
-04- Gensou Rakuen
DEMOS:
Sans Logique
-oct-31-1992- cat:
Malice Mizer's first demo tape was given out at their first live. It contained no vocals as it is rumored they were not able to include them due to equipment (and money) issues.
-tracklist-
-01- temptaion of Widow
-02- Shuumaku e no tobira
-03- Sadness
Sadness/Speed of Desperate
-1993-
This rare and mostly unknown tape was most likely their second demo release, but that is uncertain for the moment.
The two songs included are Sadness and an early version
of Speed of Desperate.
-tracklist-
-01- Sadness
-02- Speed of Desperate
Sadness
-april-5-1993- cat:
This demo tape was given out at their first live in Osaka. It included only one song that was originally on the sans logique demo, except now it has vocals.
-tracklist-
-01- Sadness -I know the reason for her sadness-
The 1th Anniversary [demo tape]
-oct-12-1993- cat:
This demo was given out to celebrate Malice Mizer's "1st" (hehe) anniversary.
-tracklist-
-01- Sadness -I know the reason for her sadness-
-02- Lafflesia (live version)
COMPILATIONS:
(image soon)
Brain Trash
-feb-24-1993- cat:
Malice Mizer's first officially published song "Speed of Desperate" appeared on the omnibus CD Brain Trash.
(image soon)
Shock Wave '96
-1996-
Omnibus CD released by Shoxx magazine in 1996. It featured Apres Midi [e-style] by Malice Mizer. "E-style" is the English version of Apres Midi which appears in its original form on the -Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo- single.
COLLECTIONS:
Shinwa ~Kami's Memorial Box~
-feb-1-2000- cat: MMCD-009
About 8 months after drummer Kami passed away, Malice Mizer released Shinwa ~Kami's Memorial Box~
It includes a short video of unreleased footage (though the video is not focused on Kami as much as you would think), a small photo booklet and a CD with 3 tracks, which were Kami's last works with the band before his passing. Tracks 2 and 3 were composed by him.
-tracklist-
-01- Saikai
-02- Unmei no deai
-03- Mori no naka no tenshi
La Collection des Singles -L'edition Limitee-
-sept-29-2004- cat: XT-1592~3
This box set is limited to 5,000 copies and includes a CD that collects all the Gackt era singles (+ B-sides, but no instrumentals) and a DVD containing the verte aile (bel air) short movie and PV. The extras on the DVD include a slide show of the postcards given with the first pressing of the original VHS version of the movie. Also contains a picture booklet with lyrics.
The box is styled after an old book. When you open the cover you will hear the opening to Bel Air from the built in music box.
-tracklist-
-01- Bel Air ~Kuhaku no toki no naka de~
-02- Color Me Blood Red
-03- au revoir
-04- au revoir ~BOSSA~
-05- Gekka no yasokyoku
-06- Gekka no yasokyoku de l'image
-07- ILLUMINATI [P-type]
-08- N.p.s. N.g.s. [N-type]
-09- Le ciel
*All information taken lovingly from SCAPE*
