Early on, the band embraced the VK penchant for Androgyny (or full-on crossdressing in Mana's case), before shifting, with the arrival of Gackt, to a look inspired by 1700s-Europe period dress. The general styles of these costumes can be roughly divided by singers' tenures. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Visual Kei band, Malice Mizer were just as famous for their elaborate costumes and onstage theatrics as their musical output, and encompased a vast array of different looks throughout their career. For the subsequent tour, the band recruited session vocalist Klaha as their new official frontman, and he took on lyricist duties for the four non-album singles that would be Malice Mizer's last original releases before the announcement of the band's indefinite hiatus in late 2001.
Then, still lacking a singer or drummer, production began on the band's fourth (and to date, last) album Bara no Seidou. Reduced to just two guitarists and a bassist, the band went quiet until the new millennium with the release of EP Shinwa, featuring songs written solely by the late Kami. This forced the group to leave the Nippon Columbia label, but there was worse still to come, with the sudden death of long-time drummer Kami from a brain hemorrhage in June that year. On January 1st, 1999, Gackt announced his departure from the band. Alas, what looked to be the fairytale beginning to a long (and lucrative) career wasn't to last. Their 1998 release Merveilles peaked at #2 on the Oricon Albums chart, spawned a run of hit singles, and a sold-out national tour, including a two-night run at the legendary Budokan arena. Their breakthrough album Voyage ~Sans Retour~ followed in 1996, released through Mana's own Midi:Nette label, and landed them a deal with major label Nippon Columbia. Founded in the summer of 1992 by guitarists Mana and Közi, they languished in relative obscurity until 1995 when recently-departed frontman Tetsu was replaced by a little-known singer named GACKT.
For a band that were active for just nine years, Visual Kei outfit Malice Mizer endured a rather turbulent existence.
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