In October 2021, Chaotic Harmony set on a mission to crowdfund “Chaos Collection”: a 13-track omnibus album gathering 13 visual kei bands from Japan. While the omnibus includes previously released songs, it also features two brand-new tracks: THE ONE by Initial’L and Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost- by ANONYMOUS. Last but not least, Chaos Collection includes an exclusive remix of Ichibetsu by “heidi.“.
We were even lucky enough to interview Chaotic Harmony founders Haley and Melissa, picking their brains about Chaos Collection and what it was all about.
JROCK NEWS had the exciting opportunity to review Chaos Collection. The range of bands and musical styles shocked us. Like its curator’s namesake, the omnibus album comes together in “chaotic harmony”.
Read on below for the chaotic, harmonic chemistry we found in Chaos Collection!
Why we like it
Chaos Collection is just plain fun. The whiplash of styles is fresh, amusing, and keeps you on the edge of your seat between tracks.
The opening track, “Shock!!” by ZON feels like tuning the dial to a party rock station. ZON has a number of heavier songs under its belt, but Shock!! feels laid back and bubbly by comparison.
It eased us into the album, before completely throwing us off with the next track.
It’s like this: have you ever been bar-hopping, starting off at a totally normal club? Then before you know it, you find yourself in a punk show bathroom wondering if (and for God’s sake, why) you hear bagpipes?
Next comes that perplexing mix of bewilderment and betrayal as it dawns on you: “Yes, those are bagpipes”.
Well, buckle up, because here comes the “chaos” part of Chaos Collection.
Lock up your rum, because THE GALLO is here to ransack your party in the second track Kyoukutou Kaizokudan -Kamui-. We promise not to link the music video for every song on this album, but trust us when we say you’ll want to see THE GALLO on a beach screaming “We are fucking pirates”.
The rest of the album progresses this way, each track vastly different from the one before it. Despite the thematic rollercoaster, Chaos Collection transitions thoughtfully and pleasantly. It’s arranged with purpose, making time for ballad breaks, heavy metal breakdowns, and limitless playthrough potential.
The variety is there, from infectious dance melodies to scorching vocal fry techniques, to—well, pirate sea shanties.
Why it’s special
As we stated above, Chaos Collection is not just any omnibus album—it boasts two brand-new tracks and an exclusive remix.
Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost- by ANONYMOUS was just released on November 9, 2021, on the single HEAVEN. The band itself is fairly new too, only putting out its first album, “WHO?” in 2021. In fact, we snagged an exclusive interview with ANONYMOUS, uncovering the band’s concept and discussing that benchmark first album.
Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost- is a welcome addition to the omnibus because it introduces a generation of visual kei fans to new names in the scene as well as established acts. As for the track, Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost- is well-developed, with equal parts heavy and melodic.
The second new track, THE ONE by Initial’L, stands out from anything the band has put out before. THE ONE blends elements of rap, chillhop, and rock music, blending it into one unique ballad. It surprised us with how contemporary it felt, incorporating recent musical trends while gripping to its visual kei DNA.
Last but not least, Chaos Collection includes an exclusive remix of Ichibetsu by heidi., originally released on their 2019 album Hyouhon. The exclusive remix feels more like a total remaster, with each element vivid and clear. There are some added elements of filters and effects, but it retains its original feel with anthemic vocals and gritty guitars.
Visual kei is not dead
It was a wild, incredibly fun ride reviewing Chaos Collection. What we found was a diverse, approachable, and thoughtfully arranged album that faithfully represents the visual kei scene today. Chaotic Harmony developed this omnibus with the goal of introducing a new generation of fans to contemporary visual kei, and we think it meets and exceeds the requirements.
It reminded us that visual kei music is not dead; in fact, it has a shocking tenacity to evolve.
Chaos Collection: A V-kei and J-rock Compilation Album
1. Shock!! (ZON)
2. Kyoukutou Kaizokudan -Kamui- (THE GALLO)
3. CRAZY TOKYO (Sick²)
4. Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost- (ANONYMOUS)
5. THE ONE (Initial’L)
6. I am your sunlight (Flutter Echo)
7. Gothic (Leetspeak monsters)
8. ReBoRN (THE SOUND BEE HD)
9. BITES THE BLACK (The Thirteen)
10. LIBERATE (LANTANA)
11. Ichibetsu – Chaos Collection Mix (heidi.)
12. Kigan (D=OUT)
13. Hanareta Toki ni Ai ha (DaizyStripper)
- Shock!!
- Kyoukutou Kaizokudan -Kamui-
- CRAZY TOKYO
- Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost-
- THE ONE
- I am your sunlight
- Gothic
- ReBoRN
- BITES THE BLACK
- LIBERATE
- Ichibetsu - Chaos Collection Mix
- Kigan
- Hanareta Toki ni Ai ha
- Shock!!
- Kyoukutou Kaizokudan -Kamui-
- CRAZY TOKYO
- Shitsurakuen -Paradise Lost-
- THE ONE
- I am your sunlight
- Gothic
- ReBoRN
- BITES THE BLACK
- LIBERATE
- Ichibetsu - Chaos Collection Mix
- Kigan
- Hanareta Toki ni Ai ha
- Limited Edition Photobook