Bara no Seidou

Infobox Album
Name = Bara no Seidou
Type = Album
Artist = Malice Mizer


Released = August 23, 2000
Recorded =
Genre = Gothic rock, Symphonic rock
Length = 50:34
Label =
Producer = Malice Mizer
Reviews =
Last album = "Shinwa" (2000)
This album = "Bara no Seidou" (2000)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Bara no Seidou
Type = Album
single 1 = Saikai no Chi to Bara
single 1 date = November 3, 1999
single 2 = Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi
single 2 date = May 31, 2000
single 3 = Shiroi Hada ni Kuruu Ai to Kanashimi no Rondo
single 3 date = July 26, 2000
single 4 = Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku
single 4 date = October 30, 2001

nihongo|"Bara no Seidou"|薔薇の聖堂 is an album released by Malice Mizer on August 23, 2000. It is the group's final full-length record. In February 2007, "Bara no Seidou" was re-released, packaged in both jewel case and slipcase versions, both including an additional DVD, titled "Cardinal". The disc contains music videos for the album's singles, as well as alternate versions of videos for the subsequent singles "Gardenia and "Beast of Blood". The title roughly translates as 'Church of roses' or 'Sanctuary of roses'.

Track listing

tracklist
all_writing = Mana, except where noted

title1 = Bara ni Irodorareta Akui to Higeki no Makuake
note1 = nihongo2|薔薇に彩られた悪意と悲劇の幕開け
length1 = 0:29

title2 = Seinaru Toki Eien no Inori
note2 = nihongo2|聖なる刻 永遠の祈り
length2 = 8:13

title3 = Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi
note3 = nihongo2|虚無の中での遊戯
length3 = 6:38

title4 = Kagami no Butou Genwaku no Yoru
note4 = nihongo2|鏡の舞踏幻惑の夜, Közi
length4 = 3:54

title5 = Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku
note5 = nihongo2|真夜中に交わした約束
length5 = 6:01

title6 = Chinurareta Kajitsu
note6 = nihongo2|血塗られた果実
length6 = 4:39

title7 = Chikasuimyaku no Meiro
note7 = nihongo2|地下水脈の迷路, Közi
length7 = 5:28

title8 = Hakai no Hate
note8 = nihongo2|破誡の果て
length8 = 4:01

title9 = Shiroi Hada ni Kuruu Ai to Kanashimi no Rondo
note9 = nihongo2|白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞
length9 = 5:40

title10 = Saikai no Chi to Bara
note10 = 再会の血と薔薇
length10 = 5:31

Influence for the album

Bara no Seidou is a major change from Malice Mizer's previous albums with less of a focus on the twin guitar sound that was present in their previous discography, but retaining a chameleon trait like artists such as David Bowie and Marilyn Manson. After the death of Kami, it could be argued that the "Funeral Goth" element present in their attire is because of his death, and the song Saikai no Chi to Bara is an obvious reference, and tribute, to him.

The band's sound switched from a Pop rock and Experimental rock sound into a Dark, Gothic one; however, they still continued to use the violins, harpsichords and other instruments present in their older works and also added in the pipe organ and a choir for a haunting, melancholic, and religious feel to the album. For example, the song 'Seinaru Toki Eien no Inori' is based around an organ and the choir but still includes guitars and drums which gives it a Gothic rock feel. Fan favourite 'Kyomu Nakade no Yuugi' is a track that uses organ and harpsichord mixed with synthesizer and drum machine for more of a Darkwave element. This song is influenced by Gothic/Industrial music and features a different image in the video, but still retains the dark themes of the album.

Live Promotion for the Album

The Tour 'Bara ni Irodorareta Akui to Higeki no Makuake', which had a two day live performance at the Nippon Budokan which was very successful. Like their previous tour, Merveilles L'Espace, this tour was very theatrical, having a Gothic cathedral on the cover of the album as a stage prop and a large moon that changed colour several times during the performance. Like the last tour, this tour was not a 'standing live' the entire way through [where the band plays their instruments the whole time] which allowed them to have skits, such as 'Bara no Souretsu' and 'Bara no Senrei'.

Personnel

* Mana – guitar, synthesizer
* Közi – guitar, synthesizer
* Yu~ki – bass
* Klaha – vocals on 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
* Maki Okada – vocals on 2
* Youko Takai – vocals on 7
* Yuichiro Goto – strings on 2, violin on 4, 9, 10
* Motohide Tanaka – director
* Masao Nakazato – mastering
* Teruhisa Abe – art direction, design
* Kenji Tsukagoshi – photography
* Taqueya Yamashita – cover art
* Yukie Itoh – executive producer