GPKISM II

[oasis19]

Here's a new thread. The band announced a new release titled Reliquia. The album will have new songs, and will include songs from previously released EP's and singles.

http://darkestlabyrinth.ocnk.net/product/401

Thought it was worth sharing.

 

[Manneking]

Here's a new thread. The band announced a new release titled Reliquia. The album will have new songs, and will include songs from previously released EP's and singles.

http://darkestlabyrinth.ocnk.net/product/401

Thought it was worth sharing.

Mentioned this in the Kiwamu post. I'm really excited though, mainly because they sound like GPKISM and I like the direction he is taking with his work. If you compare, say, Immaculatus & Sublimis to Immolare & Desiderium there is so much more layering and electronic work in the tracks.

I've been searching everywhere for previews though x_x I wouldn't mind a traditional 7-minute long typical GPK track with his new style though, I actually sort of miss them!

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

I hope he does something more than his usual trance style for this release :O

 

[Manneking]

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B004 ... 290&sr=8-2

Previews are up! Looks like Barathrum, Strages & Angelus have been retaken (shame... I would have loved a better mastering of Iudicium)

Now before I delve in to my criticisms:

- Sound-wise... Its actually really 'cool' sounding. This is the sort of music I think I could safely recommend to a few of my friends.
- His lyric style is slowly developing a bit more & vocal style seems quite interesting, especially Ekstasis.
- Instrumentals sound pretty good.
- NO NEW KIWAMU TRACKS! They're all GPK's!

My complaints are.. well, Kiwamu's guitar just sounds awful as usually. I swear he's actually just copied + pasted the same fucking guitar track on to each song. No clangy guitar though, but it sounds so ridiculous.
He's using the same sort of synthesizers as before so there's not really so much of a progression as well... But in terms of instruments there seems to be a bit more variation (especially with Reliquia). Although I really like his vocals heavily distorted, especially in Decidere & Incarnari actually!

I'm not TOTALLY hyped for this release but I'm happy that A) the retaken stuff sounds good b) its all GPK's stuff & C) He seems to be going in a really good direction with his music. I think I need to wait till post-Reliquia when he's out of Kiwamu's grasp as to whether his solo work IS going to make a leap forward. Actually sod that, I'm really excited for this now!

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

My impressions

The new, heavier tracks (decidere, incarnari) sounds really like European dark electro instead of the Japanese style he's been doing all this while.

I'm glad he stopped using the kick drum sample he in Immolare and the whole of Sanguis Rosa.

The title track, Reliquia sounds really promising. His songwriting has come a long way since Sublimis.

 

[colorsofromance]

- NO NEW KIWAMU TRACKS! They're all GPK's!

Best news ever. Seriously, I enjoyed GPK's pre-Kiwamu work! Then Kiwamu got involved with his shit-guitar and GPKISM dropped of my radar D: But now that things are changing I'm back, baby~~~

 

[Jareth Drakul]

The previews are sounding pretty good, new songs are sounding awesome aswell. His vocals are getting alot better over ever release......and the 'retake' of Barathrum sounds so much better than the original (then I didn't like that song except for the beginning part).

I have to agree with the guitar thing that Manneking mentioned......then Kiwamu's guitar's have always been what put me off being a big fan of GPKISM. I liked the earlier songs were they were less prominent and not so noticeable.

I'm also liking GPK's new look in promos with the red wig:

 

[Manneking]

There's pictures of him live with that look - He's had such an image overhaul with the hair and it really suits him! Kiwamu just looks stupid though

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

UGH GPK is so good looking in that pic i wanna kill some cats.

 

[Manneking]

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=725481215

- GPK's facebook for anyone whos interested, he doesn't seem to post a lot. That avatar he has is absolutely gorgeous though!

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

Manneking posted an interview with Kiwamu on last.fm and I thought I'd share it here

GPKISM is GPK's main Project. So he needs to work hard for GPKISM by himself. But he has own pace. Sometimes he does not write songs when he does not want to work. After 2009, I needed to do many things without him. I wrote many songs and lyrics. I designed websites, flyers and CDs. I booked the tour in many countries. I made the funds for activities. GPKISM became to be KIWAMUISM in fact. It is not good for me and him. So I decided to give GPKISM back to GPK. After 2nd full Album, GPK must work by himself. If he does not write new songs, GPKISM may become extinct. If he works hard, the activities will not stop. It is up to him about this. Oh, some weeks ago, I asked him to make synthesizer part for BLOOD song. He did a good job. I know he has talent. So I hope he will work hard for GPKISM.

- http://www.nipponproject.com/en/article.php?id=246

Ok, so now I have a shred of respect for Kiwamu.

 

[Jareth Drakul]

It's scary how that interview makes Kiwamu in a good light.....I wonder how long it'll be before he's does something....Kiwamu-ish. It's nice though that Kiwamu is taking a backseat and letting GPK take control of the project again......which I think means Ken can take more time working on songs.

On Ken's facebook it seems he's started speaking more since going back to Melbourne. So I take it he's now living in Australia again. I also never knew he made that PVC clothing he wore .....I also like two remixes of Lady Gaga songs he did.

The new songs via the samples on amazon are really growing on me more now.....though the guitar sounds......well basically as Manneking said. It seems by Ken's facebook he's listening more to dark eletro and it sort of shows in the songs in a way (Ah Phantom Pabulum mentioned it too =D).

 

[Koji]

Manneking posted an interview with Kiwamu on last.fm and I thought I'd share it here

GPKISM is GPK's main Project. So he needs to work hard for GPKISM by himself. But he has own pace. Sometimes he does not write songs when he does not want to work. After 2009, I needed to do many things without him. I wrote many songs and lyrics. I designed websites, flyers and CDs. I booked the tour in many countries. I made the funds for activities. GPKISM became to be KIWAMUISM in fact. It is not good for me and him. So I decided to give GPKISM back to GPK. After 2nd full Album, GPK must work by himself. If he does not write new songs, GPKISM may become extinct. If he works hard, the activities will not stop. It is up to him about this. Oh, some weeks ago, I asked him to make synthesizer part for BLOOD song. He did a good job. I know he has talent. So I hope he will work hard for GPKISM.

- http://www.nipponproject.com/en/article.php?id=246

Ok, so now I have a shred of respect for Kiwamu.

You can take your time in producing an awesome and fully worked song or you can release the first shit that comes up to your mind, fuck off Kiwamu! We need more GPK love here!!!
I'm so happy the new songs are sang in english, that's one of the things that attracted me more of GPKISM, the sound is japanese-ish but he sings in a language I can fully understand (although I'm studying japanese, don't take me wrong XD)

 

[Manneking]

So, Reliquia is out now~ Overall, I quite liked it. He's developed more of an electronic style with baroque tinges unlike before. Reliquia, Incarnari & Ekstasis are probably my favourite tracks.

The worst tracks are probably Kiwamu's. Memoria, Barathrum etc. OH and did anyone hear the new Strages? It sounds like all the girls of my town throwing up after their Saturday night out. Angelus is supposed to be retaken and sounds exactly the same as before.

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

So my first impressions:

His songwriting really has come a long way since Sublimis. I would dare to say that his writing in Reliquia is more interesting than Hora/Schwarz Stein in general.

The lyrics are uhm, really cheesy, and the songs sound like they were written for Japanese lyrics, so the English words are kinda awkward in some songs (decidere?)

The previews on Amazon gave me the impression that the new songs were heavier and more "dark electro" instead of "futurepop" (or whatever the genres are) but the melodic aspect that GPKISM is known for is still there.

Overall I liked this album quite a bit, except for the Intro and outro tracks, which are not as good as "cruor" or "la foila".


Now that GPK is not as invovled in Darkest Labyrinth as he was before, I still hope that he continues on as a composing and recording artist cuz he's really getting better at his act as time goes by

 

[oasis19]

The instrumentals are dull. The new songs have a nice melody to them but the lyrics are still overly cliche and a tad boring. But asides from Memoria, the new songs are not bad. The album could have been better if the older songs would have more variation in their arrangements.

 

[Madmoiselle_Silk]

I listened to the record last night and I thought it was quite boring >.> My favorite became Ekstasis

 

[Phantom Pabulum]

So apparently GPK did a remix of Velvet Eden's witch on flames. It sounds REALLY like Nachtmahr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZPTWMa_jkM

 

[Madmoiselle_Silk]

Hehe, Dada uploaded that on his facebook early this week and I didn't like it at all

 

[MissUMana]

It takes getting used to, but I rather like it. Nice tribute. I wouldn't be surprised if Dada was touched by this birthday present. .