JROCK NEWS

Newly dubbed "Harajuku-core" band HANABIE. completed its ambitious run across the US, capped with a finale at the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento on October 6. JROCK NEWS caught up with the women who expertl...

X JAPAN opens up about bassist HEATH’s passing

Nori

15 November 2023

Band status, Lineup change

Heavy metal band X JAPAN released a public statement on November 10 regarding bassist HEATH’s sudden passing. The news of HEATH’s death became widespread throughout Japanese media on November 7. X JAPAN drummer...

Report: HANABIE. lights up Des Moines with hottest show of US tour

Zephyr

15 November 2023

Tokyo metalcore band HANABIE. brought a high-energy show to the small midwestern city of Des Moines, Iowa. Inside Lefty’s Live Music, an intimate college town venue, HANABIE. melted the faces of concertgoers on...

DIR EN GREY’s “19990120” revives three debut singles

Jack

14 November 2023

Releases

DIR EN GREY gives us all a reason to look forward to the new year with the announcement of a new single titled 19990120. It is scheduled for release on January 17, 2024. This year can’t end soon enough! The ...

Petit Brabancon’s “a humble border” digital single sets stage for New Year concert series

14 November 2023

Releases, Tour and event

Petit Brabancon is set to unveil their latest digital single, "a humble border" which will be globally available for streaming starting December 13. This new track, composed by drummer Yukihiro with lyrics by v...

Prepare for Kaya and HIZAKI’s first-ever stage collaboration at Anime Boston 2024

12 November 2023

Excitement awaits Jrock fans in the northeast United States next spring, as the iconic figures Kaya and HIZAKI grace Anime Boston 2024 with their gothic elegance. Anime Boston, scheduled for March 29-31 in Bost...

DAMNED vocalist Keigo exits band after final performance

Erica and Kay

11 November 2023

Band status

Fans of the band DAMNED are in for some bittersweet news—lead vocalist Keigo has shared that he'll be stepping down from the lineup after their live performance on November 22, 2023. Despite this change, the re...

Neko Hacker’s 1st co-written EP project “Neko-Write”, new frontiers in kawaii future rock

NBT

11 November 2023

Releases

The "kawaii future rock" sensation Neko Hacker is back with a new energetic release, its first co-written EP titled "Neko-Write Vol. 1"! Formed in 2018 by Sera and Kassan, Neko Hacker is on a mission "to spread...

Interview: Marty Friedman on gifting Jpop to the world (part 2)

Nori and NBT

10 November 2023

Welcome back to our conversation with guitar legend Marty Friedman! For those who missed the first half, you can find part 1 here. In part 2 on the interview, Marty delves into the prominence of female-led J...

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Recent Releases

LM.C breathes new life into 15-year old song with “JOKER -2023-“

3 November 2023

Music Video, Releases

Visual kei duo LM.C celebrated Halloween in style by posting their new music video for JOKER -2023- on October 31. The song is a new recording of their song JOKER -my Name is- from the album "GIMMICAL☆IMPACT!!"...

NA.NA confronts the challenges of living with back to back digital singles

26 October 2023

Music Video, New Look, Releases

If you've found yourself questioning the meaning of life lately, the visual kei band "NA.NA" is right there with you. NA.NA released two consecutive digital singles Itsuka Bokutachiha Shindeshimaunda and Ikiru ...

XaaXaa plays Russian Roulette in music video “Draw”, for TV anime “Duel Masters”

23 October 2023

Music Video, Releases

On October 8, the visual kei quartet XaaXaa released the music video for their single Draw (ドロー). Draw serves as the outro track for the TV anime series Duel Masters WIN Duel Wars, now airing on TV Tokyo. Th...

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Interviews

Interview with SARI: Japanese artist now living in Sweden

NBT and Kay

24 November 2023

At NärCon Summer this year, Northern Europe's largest anime convention, we had the privilege of sitting down with SARI, the versatile Japanese artist who recently made Sweden her new temporary home. Delving int...

Interview: HANABIE. rampages across US

Nori, afaenia, Jonathan Lane, Omatsu and Zephyr

16 November 2023

Interview: Marty Friedman on gifting Jpop to the world (part 2)

Nori and NBT

10 November 2023

MORE INTERVIEWS

Tours

12012 revives, streams 20th anniversary concert worldwide

28 November 2023

Disband/Hiatus/Revive, Online Concert

Get ready for a comeback like no other! After years on hiatus, the iconic visual rock band 12012 is making a triumphant return to the stage, marking their 20th anniversary in style. On December 12, catch the...

Report: ATARASHII GAKKO! blasts San Francisco with “Seishun” energy

Nori

27 November 2023

Idol unit and YOLO harbingers ATARASHII GAKKO! invaded the historic Regency Ballroom on November 8, turning a Wednesday night into the most unforgettable concert San Francisco hosted this fall. The sold-out eve...

Broken By The Scream and SANA set to rock Anime Los Angeles 2024

22 November 2023

Anime Los Angeles announced that their musical guests for 2024 include the metal idol group Broken By The Scream, as well as the soulful artist SANA, each poised to captivate audiences with their unique sounds....

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New Bands

New enigmatic band Ave Mujica uncovers “Alea jacta est”, 1st mini-album

NBT

14 September 2023

New Band, Releases

Ave Mujica, the enigmatic new band that emerged as part of the "BanG Dream!" project, released the mini-album Alea jacta est on September 13. The band consists of five mysterious masked female members that w...

Countdown begins to Rurunone’s debut at Meguro Rockmeikan, “Hajimarinone”

22 August 2023

Music Video, New Band, Tour and event

In July, the new band "Rurunone" (ルルノネ) burst onto the scene, featuring former members of the special project band YMCP (an abbreviation for "Yamon Company"). Since their sudden debut, the band ha...

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Entertainment

HYDE produces “PSYCHO LOVE” vodka, just in time for the holidays

23 November 2023

Entertainment

Internationally acclaimed rockstar HYDE becomes the latest of Jrock legends to produce his own alcohol, "PSYCHO LOVE"—a top-tier organic vodka. Starting November 22, a limited supply is up for grabs for fans in...

SCANDAL nabs Guinness World Record!

Nori

25 August 2023

Entertainment, Releases

Osaka pop rock quartet SCANDAL made history on August 21 with the Guinness World Records title “Longest running rock band with the same musicians (female)”. The date also commemorated the band’s 17th anniversar...

YOSHIKI makes directorial debut with documentary “YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY”