Kote Kei is a label used to broadly describe visual kei bands that emerged in the 80’s and 90’s. Some refer to it as its own subgenre, while others see it simply as a label applied to classic, or ‘old school’ bands. Either way you view it, it is a term that describes the ten brilliant bands I am listing today!
Though there is no set blueprint when it comes to look or sound in regards to Kote Kei, there are similarities between many groups, including the dark, often gothic outfits and androgynous appearance of the members. The main thread that ties the bands I’ve listed here is that they emerged around the 80’s or 90’s, although there are a couple of outliers who still are regarded as Kote Kei despite forming outside of this period. Without any further ado, here is my list of 10 great Kote Kei bands!
10 – Das:Vasser
Song recommendation: 「桜」
Das:Vasser formed in 1997 in Osaka with just two members – vocalist Kyouhei and bassist Hideaki. Over the band’s initial 5 year run, they saw 7 different lineups before disbanding. They released 4 EPs, including their debut EP VASSER. . ., which featured re-recorded versions of songs from their first sold-out demo tape. The song I recommend, ‘Sakura (「桜」)’, appears on this mini-album. The band reformed in 2011, but disbanded a year later. Despite this, their songs still appear on recent omnibus releases from Matina.
9 – Clothoid÷Doll
Song recommendation: Vice Versa
This is one of the outliers on this list, with the band being formed in 2000. The band consisted of vocalist Youka, guitarist Aya and bassist Hikai. Clothoid÷Doll also is different to the others on this list as the vocalist is a woman, which is somewhat of a rarity in the visual kei scene as a whole. The band had a gothic aesthetic that matched well with Youka’s raw vocals. In 2004, they disbanded, after a 4 year run with several songs, including Vice Versa in 2003. The version I have linked is a live edition, which shows Youka’s incredible vocals in action!
8 – La fẽerie
Song recommendation: ~ unfair ~ untruth ~ unrest ~
La fẽerie formed in 1997, comprised of five members – vocalist Aine, guitarists Sana and Shiki, bassist Yuki and drummer Satsuki. The group released only one album, La berceuse, before disbanding. They did perform live and featured in the photo book ‘OLD YOUR KEY Kagi wo Nigire!1999’, but didn’t release any new music besides the one-off track ‘「・・・for lover」’, which featured on the album ‘PS COMPANY presents TRIBAL MILLENNIUM ARIVALL -in memory of AD2000-’. They disbanded in 2000. Though it’s sad they didn’t produce as much music as the other bands in this list, the entirety of La berceuse still stands as an incredible debut album that held lots of promise.
7 – D’ERLANGER
Song recommendation: 1999 ~ SHY BOY STORY ~
D’ERLANGER is regarded as one of the pioneers of visual kei and is one of the oldest bands on this list. Alongside this, they are also still active! The band formed in 1983 with the original lineup of Kaoru on vocals, Cipher on guitar, Seela on bass and Shi-Do on drums. The group saw alterations to the lineup across the years and suddenly disbanded in 1990, much to the public’s shock. However, the group reformed in 2006 and have been active and touring ever since. Their current lineup is Kyo on vocals, Cipher on guitar, Seela on bass and Tetsu on drums. The song I have selected is from their first album, La Vie En Rose, an album which had a punk rock sound that contrasted to the earlier metal sound the band began with.
6 – GARDEN
Song recommendation: Eyes For Me . . .
Another band on this list which formed in the 2000s is GARDEN, who lasted 2 years, from 2000 to 2002. Originally formed of five members – vocalist ShoMA, guitarists Saya and Kaname, bassist Hazuki and drummer Chinatsu, the group released many singles and performed at several lives together. In June 2002, the band cancelled several lives due to ShoMA falling ill, but this turned out to be a cover story to mask the fact that ShoMA and Saya had split from the band, leaving just Kaname and Hazuki. The band continued as a two piece for a short while with Kaname switching from guitarist to vocalist. At this time, the song I recommend, ‘Eyes For Me . . .’, released, showing the band’s talent despite now only being comprised of two members. Of course, this didn’t last long, and GARDEN fully disbanded in December 2002.
5 – glamscure
Song recommendation: Que Sera Sera
In this list, glamscure stands out as the newest band, forming in 2015! The band consists of vocalist CHAOS, guitarist HARUI and bassist Inori, who are joined by support drums in their lives. The group is active to this day and have released several mini-albums and CDs, including my personal favourite of theirs, Succubus≒incubuS. Their gothic sound has sometimes been compared to Malice Mizer, especially in regards to my recommended song, Que Sera Sera!
4 – BAISER
Song recommendation: EN FLEUR
BAISER formed in 1991 and was active up until 2001. The group had a total of 7 lineups, with the only core member throughout the band’s 10 year lifespan being vocalist Yukari. Other members included before BAISER’s disbandment were guitarists MIZUKI and Rei, bassist Shaisuke and drummer Katsura (SHAZNA’s original drummer!). Another of their support drummers was GAZ, from Malice Mizer’s first lineup. BAISER released three full-length albums and three EPS, alongside many singles, including their 1998 single ‘EN FLEUR’, a dreamy sounding track. In 2000, Yukari announced a solo project while Rei, Shaisuke and Katsura’s new band Swallowtail debuted, which essentially sealed the deal for BAISER’s eventual disbandment in 2001.
3 – DIR EN GREY
Song recommendation: YURAMEKI
Yes, it’s that DIR EN GREY! Though they have evolved in sound and style over the 27 years they have been making music, they started as a Kote Kei band back in 1997. The band’s lineup has remained the same since they formed (quite rare when compared to the many lineup changes other bands on the list have had!), with Kyo as their vocalist, Die and Kaoru on guitar, Toshiya on bass and Shinya on drums. DIR EN GREY’s music falls into several genres, such as avant-garde metal and gothic metal. The song I have selected is one of their earlier singles, ‘YURAMEKI’, which was composed by Shinya and produced by Yoshiki from X Japan.
2 – LUNA SEA
Song recommendation: TRUE BLUE
Another popular and still active band! LUNA SEA formed in 1986, originally named LUNACY, with Yasu as its vocalist, Inoran as its guitarist and J as its bassist. The name changed to LUNA SEA in 1990, some time after vocalist Yasu seceded and Ryuichi replaced him. Since then, the lineup has remained unchanged with Ryuichi as the band’s vocalist, Sugizo and Inoran as guitarists, J as bassist and Shinya as the drummer. LUNA SEA did disband back in 2000 but reunited in 2008 to perform at the memorial summit for X Japan guitarist and adored soloist, hide. They officially reformed in 2010 and have been releasing albums and touring ever since, with their latest album STYLE releasing back in 2023.
1 – Malice Mizer
Song recommendation: Baroque
This may be an ‘overrated’ choice to some, but Malice Mizer simply is just that good. The band started in 1992 with Tetsu on vocals, Mana and Közi on guitar, Yu~ki on bass and GAZ on drums. By the time memoire, the band’s first album was released, Kami had replaced GAZ as the band’s drummer and Mana had established his own record label, Midi:Nette, which was the label memoire was released under. Baroque was a new track that featured on the rereleased version of memoire, named memoire DX. The band saw changes to its lineup across the years, with vocalists Gackt and Klaha coming and going before the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001. Though Mana, Közi and Yu~ki have done occasional lives together since 2010, it is uncertain whether Malice Mizer will truly reform again.
