[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/exist-trace-tvt_8295.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Left to right: miko, Mally, Jyou, Naoto, and Omi]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RMMS-exist-trace-2013-02-800_8916.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The band in 2013. From left to right: Omi, miko, Jyou, Naoto, and Mally]]

exist†trace are an all-female VisualKei band formed in Tokyo in 2003. The band was initially a quartet until Mally joined the band in 2004. They started off playing MelodicDeathMetal[=/=]GothicMetal, but [[LighterAndSofter have softened a bit over the years]], with more emphasis on the "melodic" part than the "death" part--although, during live shows, they still perform their earlier [[MelodicDeathMetal melodeath]] songs alongside their more recent HardRock songs.

In June 2012, exist†trace performed a special concert, entitled "JUST LIKE A VIRGIN", which was broadcast live worldwide on Website/NicoNicoDouga; a month later, the band announced that the concert would be released as their first live DVD.

'''Members:'''
* Jyou - vocals
* Omi - lead guitar
* miko - rhythm guitar, backup vocals
* Naoto - bass
* Mally - drums

'''Discography:'''
* ''Annunciation -the heretic elegy-'' (EP, 2006)
* ''Demented Show'' (EP, 2007)
* ''Recreation eve'' (2008)
* ''VANGUARD -of the muses-'' (EP, 2009)
* ''Ambivalent Symphony'' (EP, 2009)
* ''TWIN GATE'' (2010)
* ''TRUE'' (EP, 2011)
* ''THE LAST DAYBREAK'' (EP, 2011)
* ''VIRGIN'' (2012)
* ''WORLD MAKER'' (2014)
* ''THIS IS NOW'' (2016)

!!Tropes which apply to exist†trace:
* AllLowercaseLetters: the band itself and miko.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Omi and Mally, sometimes Jyou to a lesser extent. Naoto can look quite masculine as well, but not in a bifauxnen-type way.
* CarefulWithThatAxe: Jyou's long screams are the defining feature of "RESONANCE".
* ClassyCravat: Omi in the "GINGER" video.
* CoolMask: All the members wear one of these during live performances of "Little Mary to utsukushiki nikushimi no Danube".
* CostumePorn: Not to the extent of some other VisualKei bands, but still present.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome / SplashOfColor: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTC3zoXMrIg The "TRUE" video]], which is entirely black-and-white...except for Jyou's red hair. Ditto for the EP cover.
* DelinquentHair: Omi, Mally, and Naoto.
* DistaffCounterpart: To the traditionally all-male VisualKei lineup. Additionally, unlike other VK bands, where you have [[DudeLooksLikeALady men who intentionally adopt feminine aesthetics]], most of the members of exist†trace are [[LadyLooksLikeADude women who intentionally adopt masculine aesthetics]].
* DramaticShattering: Mally smashes a concrete wall and Jyou smashes a mirror in the "RESONANCE" video.
* ElegantGothicLolita: miko's fashions wander into this territory occasionally, though her current style is closer to ero lolita. Naoto's earlier costumes were very feminine with lolita influences, which occasionally confuses newer fans who are used to her [[LadyLooksLikeADude considerably more masculine]] present look.
* EpicRocking: "Cradle" (6:06) and "Hai no Yuki" (6:31).
* EpicInstrumentalOpener: "Overture" preceding "Ambivalence." It often gets omitted during live performances, though.
* EyepatchOfPower: Mally.
* FluffyFashionFeathers: Omi in the "RESONANCE" video.
* GenreShift: Went for a LighterAndSofter sound because Jyou had damaged her vocal chords due to unclean screaming.
* GratuitousEnglish: Occasionally. Jyou's pronunciation isn't very good.
* GratuitousFrench: "L'obscurité éternelle de l'aube" and "Ciel libre, chant de la terre" from ''TRUE''.
* GracefulLadiesLikePurple: miko in the "RESONANCE" video.
* HarshVocals: Common from Jyou in their earlier songs. Omi and Naoto occasionally provide background growls, such as in "TRUE" and "VANGUARD".
* HellBentForLeather: Mally and Jyou.
* InTheHood: Besides the [[CoolMask masks]] that all the members wear during live performances of "Little Mary to utsukushiki nikushimi no Danube", Naoto also wears a hood.
* LadyLooksLikeADude: In the early days, everyone except the very-feminine miko. These days Jyou is growing her hair out and wearing more feminine clothing, and Mally, while not exactly feminine, is starting to look more tomboyish as opposed to masculine. Recently Omi is also starting to look less like a {{Bifauxnen}} and more like a punky {{Goth}}. (see above, second picture)
* LecherousLicking: In the "RESONANCE" video, where miko licks Omi's neck.
* LighterAndSofter: Their more recent music can perhaps be best described as being HardRock.
* LittleBlackDress: Jyou wears one of these during live performances of "KISS IN THE DARK" and "Anata".
* LuckyCharmsTitle: The band's name.
* LyricalDissonance: Not obvious to non-Japanese-speaking fans, but looking up a translation of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_RbOqW3Pe4 Little Mary to utsukushimi nikushimi no Danube]]" reveals that the song is much, much more disturbing than it sounds.
-->''Hey, Papa, embrace me''
-->''So tight that I can't even breathe...''
-->''You stopped cold like this''
-->''[[PleaseWakeUp Why aren't you waking up?]]''
* MasqueradeBall: During live performances of "Little Mary to utsukushiki nikushimi no Danube", all the band members wear masks, Jyou wears a black robe [[PrettyInMink lined with fur]] and carries a glass of red wine (which she drinks at the end of the song), and miko and Omi or Jyou (depending on the performance; the "JUST LIKE A VIRGIN" concert featured miko and Jyou) waltz together during the violin instrumental section.
* MetalScream: Jyou can pull this off as well as any man can. This is nearly ubiquitous in their earlier songs, but used relatively sparingly in their newer work.
* MinisculeRocking: "-overture-" (1:27) from ''Ambivalent Symphony''.
* NonAppearingTitle: Most of their songs.
* OnlyOneName
* PimpedOutDress: As worn by miko.
* PowerBallad: "Cradle", "NEVERLAND", and "Little Mary to utsukushiki nikushimi no Danube".
* TheQuietOne: Omi and Naoto, who rarely speak in interviews beyond introducing themselves. In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKd18sHszAI one video message]], in which the band members were asked which kanji best described them and why, Omi and Naoto wrote their explanations down on a piece of paper and had Mally read them out loud.
* RearrangeTheSong: ''Recreation eve'', the band's first compilation album, includes [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C547hDR-3Es a re-recording of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epyg2LzGq5s "JUDEA"]], their first big song.
* {{Retraux}}: The music video for "JUDEA" is extremely grainy and looks a couple decades older than it is (and not ''just'' because [[NoBudget they didn't have the money for a better-looking video]]).
* RockersSmashGuitars: In the "RESONANCE" video, where Omi smashes her guitar onto a TV set.
* SignatureHeadgear: Naoto's fedora.
* SmokingIsCool: Mally's and Naoto's cigars in the "GINGER" video. Ironically, Mally doesn't smoke in real life, and actually finds it kind of gross.
* SopranoAndGravel: Jyou does this all by herself.
* SpikyHair: Omi.
* SpiritualSuccessor: They're the Japanese answer to Music/DarkTranquillity.
* StageNames
* SurprisinglyGentleSong: See PowerBallad.
* VocalDissonance: On the rare occasion that she speaks, Omi actually has a surprisingly feminine voice.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Depending on whether you consider women wearing suits to be crossdressing.
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