Gathered information from across the internet with multiple verification and sources. It is important to understand that Visual Kei is mainly effected by the aesthetic value in a band. While some genres are based entirely on looks, some genres are based off how the music sounds. Many bands have a history of multiple genres and cannot be placed in one specific genre. Throughout the years of Visual Kei, many new genres have appeared, causing some bands to have an even more checked past. The genres listed below are the ones with the most background and history to validate them as being a genre, please note there are many more types of kei, but are generally created as marketing tactics for sales (cosplay kei, cyber kei, kawaii kei, etc.)
Angura
Eroguro:
When elegance meets grotesque- an adaptation of the Angura genre started by band cali≠gari.
Many bands in the 90's were placed in this category simply for not knowing what other genre to place them in (Velvet Eden, Blam Honey, Twisted Clock -now Calmando Qual- early MUCC, and even Dir en Grey was placed in this category for their Vulgar album).
Goshikuu / Lolita
Gothic rock with classical elements.
Examples: Art Cube, Moi~dix~Mois, Versailles, Lacroix despheres, Node of Scherzo
Iryou
Medical themed. example: Cell
Kote Kuro / Shiro (black / white)
Standard 'Visual Kei' (rock n roll).
Kote Shiro or White Kei is upbeat rock n roll usually with positive lyrics.
examples: Alice Nine, D=OUT, Gayled, Ganglion, Secilia Luna, Sid
Kote Kuro or Black Kei, is heavy Rock n roll with dark influences.
examples: Alsdead, Born, -OZ-, LIN -the end of corruption world-, Diaura, D.I.D
Koteosa
a slightly darker and heavier sound of Oshare Kei.
examples: LM.C, Uchuu Sentai Noiz (select songs), Ayabie, Lolita23-q
Kuraku
Punk! Not mainstream punk but actual PUNK music in Japan. It is difficult to say at which point a punk band is Visual for there is often heavy fashion in the punk scene.
examples: The Piass, G.I.S.M. Anti-Feminism
Kurofuku
Literally meaning "Black Suits" - any band who wears black suits, regardless of sound in music. Most notably in this genre is Buck+Tick, though other bands such as Delacroix, D=OUT, and various Nagoya bands have been known for wearing suits.
Nagoya
The non-visual genre of Kei, based out of the Nagoya Japan region, influenced by western jazz and British pop. The opposite of Oshare Kei. Nagoya tends to focus more on music structure and complexity rather than looks. The style of music is sorrowful, depressing, and has dark lyrics. The genre is composed of a tightly knit community, so often you will see familiar faces in new bands.
examples: Deathgaze, Lynch., Awoi, Cocklobin, 9goats Blackout, Sugar, Deadman, Ambergris
Neo VK
Many speculate this is modern and new Visual Kei. It usually involves electronica sound bites as intros, and various sound clips throughout the chorus.
examples: Wing Works, Black Gene for the Next Scene, 2the DISCOLAND, and various VOCALOID x V-ROCK collections
Nomura
"Normal Kei" is a causal look with pop elements in the music. The closest Visual will get to being 'normal'.
A good example is Gackt.
Oshare
Upbeat and happy songs. Very 'Kawaii'. Often the members of the band will have set character roles (Hero, Heorine, monster, etc. much like in cosplay kei)
examples: An Cafe, SUG, Mixed Speakers Inc., VIViD, BugLug, RonoCro.
Toroteru
A slight glam touch to Nomura Kei, examples are Miyavi and HYDE.
Jrock
Japanese Rock. No visuals. Much like rock music from any country, it has a wide range of sound and covers a vast amount of bands. examples would be X JAPAN, FOR GET ME A NOTS, VAMPS, Girugamesh, One OK Rock, MUCC, older Dir en Grey, and some Nagoya bands such as Lynch. (they usually reach the point of 'Jrock' after many years of success and become recognized in mainstream music). It is difficult to say at what point a band becomes a rock band and fully abandons their Visual roots.
Jmetal is a popular uprising genre in Japan. examples include new Dir en Grey, Dazzle Vision, Cynthia, Crossfaith, Baby Metal.
Jgoth
It is very hard to define at what point a band becomes goth, for it is quite normal for goth bands to have elaborate costumes and theatrics in their shows. Like rock, the goth genre has a vast amount of sub genres- Industrial, darkwave, synthpop, gothrock, etc. Some bands may market themselves as Visual Kei (BLOOD) while others say they are not Visual Kei at all but are strictly goth (Velvet Eden).
It is common for Gothic bands such as Aural Vampire and Kaya switch between the synthpop and darkwave genres often, causing more difficulty to establish categorization.
Industrial examples: 2 Bullet, Eve of Destiny, Gothika, Blam Honey,
Darkwave examples: Kozi, select BLOOD songs, GPKism, Vanished Empire,
Gothic examples: Selia/Seileen, Fiction, Malice Mizer,
Deathrock examples: Auto-Mod, Nerotic Doll, SPEED-iD,
Electronica in Visual Kei
Like with all popular genres, it is difficult to say when a electronic band is Visual Kei or not. It is usually up to the band themselves (or manager) to decide what genre they would like to be placed in, though often it is based on marketing sales.
Examples of bands who are seen in the Visual Kei genre- Floppy, Bespa Kumamero, Aural Vampire, Capsule, SiSen, Takuya Angel, Cibo Matto, etc.
Angura
Focusing on
traditional Japanese beliefs, attitudes, and cultural
values. Bands will often wear kimonos and musically have Enka elements. examples: Onmyouza, Inugami Circus Dan, Orochi, the Sound Bee HD (select songs)
Eroguro:
When elegance meets grotesque- an adaptation of the Angura genre started by band cali≠gari.
Many bands in the 90's were placed in this category simply for not knowing what other genre to place them in (Velvet Eden, Blam Honey, Twisted Clock -now Calmando Qual- early MUCC, and even Dir en Grey was placed in this category for their Vulgar album).
Goshikuu / Lolita
Gothic rock with classical elements.
Examples: Art Cube, Moi~dix~Mois, Versailles, Lacroix despheres, Node of Scherzo
Iryou
Medical themed. example: Cell
Kote Kuro / Shiro (black / white)
Standard 'Visual Kei' (rock n roll).
Kote Shiro or White Kei is upbeat rock n roll usually with positive lyrics.
examples: Alice Nine, D=OUT, Gayled, Ganglion, Secilia Luna, Sid
Kote Kuro or Black Kei, is heavy Rock n roll with dark influences.
examples: Alsdead, Born, -OZ-, LIN -the end of corruption world-, Diaura, D.I.D
Koteosa
a slightly darker and heavier sound of Oshare Kei.
examples: LM.C, Uchuu Sentai Noiz (select songs), Ayabie, Lolita23-q
Kuraku
Punk! Not mainstream punk but actual PUNK music in Japan. It is difficult to say at which point a punk band is Visual for there is often heavy fashion in the punk scene.
examples: The Piass, G.I.S.M. Anti-Feminism
Kurofuku
Literally meaning "Black Suits" - any band who wears black suits, regardless of sound in music. Most notably in this genre is Buck+Tick, though other bands such as Delacroix, D=OUT, and various Nagoya bands have been known for wearing suits.
Nagoya
The non-visual genre of Kei, based out of the Nagoya Japan region, influenced by western jazz and British pop. The opposite of Oshare Kei. Nagoya tends to focus more on music structure and complexity rather than looks. The style of music is sorrowful, depressing, and has dark lyrics. The genre is composed of a tightly knit community, so often you will see familiar faces in new bands.
examples: Deathgaze, Lynch., Awoi, Cocklobin, 9goats Blackout, Sugar, Deadman, Ambergris
Neo VK
Many speculate this is modern and new Visual Kei. It usually involves electronica sound bites as intros, and various sound clips throughout the chorus.
examples: Wing Works, Black Gene for the Next Scene, 2the DISCOLAND, and various VOCALOID x V-ROCK collections
Nomura
"Normal Kei" is a causal look with pop elements in the music. The closest Visual will get to being 'normal'.
A good example is Gackt.
Oshare
Upbeat and happy songs. Very 'Kawaii'. Often the members of the band will have set character roles (Hero, Heorine, monster, etc. much like in cosplay kei)
examples: An Cafe, SUG, Mixed Speakers Inc., VIViD, BugLug, RonoCro.
Toroteru
A slight glam touch to Nomura Kei, examples are Miyavi and HYDE.
Jrock
Japanese Rock. No visuals. Much like rock music from any country, it has a wide range of sound and covers a vast amount of bands. examples would be X JAPAN, FOR GET ME A NOTS, VAMPS, Girugamesh, One OK Rock, MUCC, older Dir en Grey, and some Nagoya bands such as Lynch. (they usually reach the point of 'Jrock' after many years of success and become recognized in mainstream music). It is difficult to say at what point a band becomes a rock band and fully abandons their Visual roots.
Jmetal is a popular uprising genre in Japan. examples include new Dir en Grey, Dazzle Vision, Cynthia, Crossfaith, Baby Metal.
Jgoth
It is very hard to define at what point a band becomes goth, for it is quite normal for goth bands to have elaborate costumes and theatrics in their shows. Like rock, the goth genre has a vast amount of sub genres- Industrial, darkwave, synthpop, gothrock, etc. Some bands may market themselves as Visual Kei (BLOOD) while others say they are not Visual Kei at all but are strictly goth (Velvet Eden).
It is common for Gothic bands such as Aural Vampire and Kaya switch between the synthpop and darkwave genres often, causing more difficulty to establish categorization.
Industrial examples: 2 Bullet, Eve of Destiny, Gothika, Blam Honey,
Darkwave examples: Kozi, select BLOOD songs, GPKism, Vanished Empire,
Gothic examples: Selia/Seileen, Fiction, Malice Mizer,
Deathrock examples: Auto-Mod, Nerotic Doll, SPEED-iD,
Electronica in Visual Kei
Like with all popular genres, it is difficult to say when a electronic band is Visual Kei or not. It is usually up to the band themselves (or manager) to decide what genre they would like to be placed in, though often it is based on marketing sales.
Examples of bands who are seen in the Visual Kei genre- Floppy, Bespa Kumamero, Aural Vampire, Capsule, SiSen, Takuya Angel, Cibo Matto, etc.
