Debut song of an 80s visual-kei band

GET THE GLORYLAUGHIN’ NOSE

GET THE GLORY

With their distinctive fashion and high-energy sound, LAUGHIN’ NOSE blasted a fresh hole in the music scene of the ’80s.

This track—said to have been born from a melody that came to the songwriter impulsively on a train platform—embodies their very origin.

Its simple, powerful message, “Seize the glory,” strikes directly at the listener’s soul.

Released in December 1983 as the title track of an EP on their own independent label, it paved the way to their later major-label debut album, LAUGHIN’ NOSE, and stands as a true emblem of the band.

The pure energy and passion radiating from this work offer boundless courage—perfect for moments when you want to break through the status quo or share a surge of optimism with friends as you head into the future.

Flowers of EvilMADAME EDWARDA

MADAME EDWARDA – The Flowers of Evil (Les Fleurs du Mal)

This track captivates with a decadent worldview unique to MADAME EDWARDA, cloaked in a gothic, literary aura.

Its complex structure—woven with irregular meters and key changes—surely stood out as something singular even within the scene of the 1980s.

The song seems to portray the uncanny allure that only the forbidden possesses, and the pure emotions that glitter within that sense of transgression.

Zin’s vocals beckon listeners into a world of exquisite, aesthetic storytelling.

The piece appears on the 1984 album The Hysterical Marquise, and brims with the pure energy that could be called the band’s origin point—energy that went on to profoundly influence later scenes.

Why not give it a listen on a night when you want to forget the everyday and sink into a slightly mysterious mood?

The Ugly Ducklingkamaitachi

Kamaitachi – Itachigokko (Full Album)

This is a signature track by Kamaitachi, a visual kei punk rock band formed in Kyoto, often described by the nickname “Hachamecha-kurui” (roughly, “chaotic madness”).

Using a well-known fairy tale as its motif, the song portrays the sorrow of someone mocked and alienated by others, along with a yearning for the beauty hidden within.

Its defiant stance against being judged by appearance and the heartfelt wish to one day be recognized for one’s true self pierce the heart, carried by a raw, aggressive punk sound.

The track was included on their first album, Itachigokko, released in September 1989, and later appeared on the major-label release Hachamecha Kurui as well.

If you listen to it when you feel isolated from those around you, or on nights when you’re determined to stay true to yourself, it’s sure to stir your spirit.

ENDLESS RAINX

X Japan – Endless Rain studio 1989

Released on April 21, 1989, X’s major-label debut album BLUE BLOOD.

Here’s a look at a track from that album.

This song is practically synonymous with X—a true masterpiece.

The album also sold over one million copies and became a huge hit.

Chasing ShadowsASYLUM

ＡＳＹＬＵＭ – Chasing Shadows (1987)

It’s a song that depicts a sense of urgency and emptiness, like relentlessly chasing a shadow that stretches on forever.

Over a hard, tight beat, Gazelle’s vocals—both the purely aesthetic singing and the morose shouts—leave a powerful impression.

This worldview, where punk’s raw impulse coexists with a decadent beauty, may well have been the source of what later came to be called the visual-kei scene.

The track is included on the album Crystal Days, released in June 1987, which was so popular it topped Japan’s indie charts at the time.

If you listen to it while grappling with a nebulous anxiety about the future, its searing passion will pierce straight into your heart.

Honky-Tonky CrazyBOØWY

Honky Tonky Crazy

This is BOØWY’s landmark first major-label single, released in June 1985, by the band that dominated the music scene of the ’80s.

The moment you hear the brisk shuffle beat and Tomoyasu Hotei’s razor-sharp guitar cutting, your body starts keeping time before you can think—an impulsive rock track through and through.

Kyosuke Himuro’s shouts amplify the fleeting rush felt by young people tearing through the city night.

Released following the album “BOØWY,” this single featured ““16”” on the B-side, showcasing the band’s multifaceted character.

When you want to break free from a constricting everyday life, why not surrender yourself to this sound? Its pure energy will set your heart free.

There’s often talk about whether BOØWY counts as visual-kei; while opinions vary, I included them here because I believe they exerted no small influence.

Dark SidePHAIDIA

Phaidia | In The Dark [full]

With a searing vocal presence and a heavy, resonant sound, the music draws listeners in an instant into a dark and beautiful world.

Representing the early days of Japan’s gothic rock scene, PHAIDIA delivers a work that distills the allure of their initial period.

This track appears on the acclaimed 1985 release In The Dark.

Even as it portrays despair and inner darkness, you can feel an irresistible, decadent beauty residing within.

The fact that it was recorded in a Tokyo studio in May 1985 seems to convey the heat of the underground scene at the time.

Put it on at night when you want to forget the everyday and immerse yourself in a beautifully mysterious world, and its decadent splendor will surely resonate in your heart.