JROCK NEWS

26 December 2024

It still feels surreal that our beloved bassist, Reita of the GazettE, departed from this world earlier this year. We find comfort in knowing that his bandmates continue to honor his memory on stage, leaving hi...

-SKS- ZIGZAG music video “E.v.e” brings warmth to the heart of winter

22 December 2024

On December 22, the trailblazing visual kei band Shintenchi Kaibyaku Shudan ZIGZAG (commonly known as "-SKS- ZIGZAG") unveiled the evocative music video for "E.v.e". This poignant track serves as the closing pi...

Report: “Inside” HYDE’s world tour finale in Los Angeles

Nori

20 December 2024

Featured, Report and review

Jrock superstar HYDE descended upon Los Angeles on November 30 with his haunting carnival, marking the ultimate stop of the HYDE LIVE 2024 WORLD TOUR. HYDE’s travels had swept him across Asia—to Taipei, Hong K...

DIR EN GREY expands TOUR25 with dates in Anaheim, Taiwan, and Hong Kong

17 December 2024

Tour and event

DIR EN GREY is expanding their overseas tour, TOUR25 WHO IS THIS HELL FOR?, with an additional show in Anaheim, California. The band has also announced their first performances in Taiwan and Hong Kong in nearly...

Matenrou Opera’s “MUTSU NO HANA” album launches nationwide Japan tour

16 December 2024

Music Video, New Look, Releases

Visual kei metal legends Matenrou Opera are set to release their latest album, MUTSU NO HANA (六花), on December 18, 2024. Known for soaring high-tone vocals and intricate soundscapes, the band has teased the alb...

DAMNED’s intense single “ArtrA” features remade track “Shadows”

10 December 2024

Releases

On December 7, DAMNED dropped their latest single, "ArtrA" (アルトラ), delivering a powerful two-track release steeped in raw energy. ArtrA features the title track and its pairing, Shadows, highlighting the dualit...

Review: HANABIE.’s unapologetically fierce EP “Bucchigiri Tokyo”

4 December 2024

Report and review

Today marks the release of HANABIE.’s EP, Bucchigiri Tokyo (ぶっちぎり東京), and we’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into its tracks ahead of its official launch. Our first impression was how the EP offers a more r...

kein’s major debut EP “PARADOXON DOLORIS” marks first new music in 24 years

30 November 2024

On November 20, legendary rock band kein unveiled their major debut EP, PARADOXON DOLORIS, marking their first new release in 24 years. Featuring five powerful tracks exploring themes of paradox and pain, the E...

GUNGIRE debuts hard-hitting music video “Encrypted”, rising force in the metal scene

Mazohyst_Kyo

25 November 2024

On November 23, GUNGIRE premiered their first music video, Encrypted, at midnight (JST). The single of the same title will debut on December 7, coinciding with their first one-man show at the legendary venue Sh...

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Recent Releases

DAMNED’s intense single “ArtrA” features remade track “Shadows”

10 December 2024

Releases

kein’s major debut EP “PARADOXON DOLORIS” marks first new music in 24 years

30 November 2024

GUNGIRE debuts hard-hitting music video “Encrypted”, rising force in the metal scene

Mazohyst_Kyo

25 November 2024

MORE RELEASES

Interviews

Interview: Matenrou Opera’s album “MUTSU NO HANA” explores chaos, hope, and modern metal

31 December 2024

Interview

Matenrou Opera, the genre-defying rock band known for blending modern edge with operatic grandeur, has captivated audiences since 2007. Blending the aesthetics of visual kei with the symphonic depth of heavy me...

Interview: MAN WITH A MISSION shares how “Demon Slayer” shaped their hit “Kizuna no Kiseki”

Erica and NBT

8 November 2024

Anime, Interview, Tour and event

In celebration of their hit single "Kizuna no Kiseki"—the electrifying opening theme for "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc"—the legendary half-man, half-wolf rock band MAN WITH A MISSION ...

Interview with PassCode: Global journey driven by fans’ passion and support

2 November 2024

Anime, Interview

PassCode is known for making waves with their unique blend of EDM, rock, and metal. With an early focus on the international market and having been signed to the UK-based record label, JPU Records, they've buil...

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Tours

NIGHTMARE cancels portions of 2025 Europe tour “The WORLD TOUR Kyokutou Ranshin Tengoku”

Sizergyia

5 January 2025

Tour and event

NIGHTMARE announced on December 22 that, due to "unavoidable production conflicts", NIGHTMARE has canceled the latter half of their Europe tour this January. The canceled performance dates on their tour, "NI...

Report: BABYMETAL expands conquest of the Metalverse with show in Des Moines

Zephyr

30 December 2024

Report and review, Tour and event

DIR EN GREY expands TOUR25 with dates in Anaheim, Taiwan, and Hong Kong

17 December 2024

Tour and event

MORE TOURS

New Bands

Idol goes hardcore with new intense band “Human Error”

Mazohyst_Kyo

15 October 2024

New Band

Japan's underground idol scene keeps laying on the surprises with a new hardcore band debuting alongside an idol's birthday celebration at Shimo-Kitazawa ERA. Human Error (ヒューマンエラー) is a four-piece hardcore ens...

New band sugar debuts under Kizu’s record label “DAMAGE”

24 August 2024

Music Video, New Band, Releases

The visual kei record label "DAMAGE", helmed by Kizu's vocalist LiME, is thrilled to unveil a hot new talent. Prepare to meet "sugar"—a four-piece band that burst onto the scene on August 19. sugar's debut s...

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Entertainment

Top 10 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2024

Erica, NBT, Nori and Jack

2 January 2025

Our 2024 top list honors the visual kei and Japanese rock artists who defined the year with groundbreaking achievements and boundary-pushing creativity. These musicians didn’t just transcend borders—they redefi...

Reita (the GazettE) legacy preserved in his accessories designs “SNAKEDLOWS”

26 December 2024

HYDE and GACKT face off as new characters in fighting game “Tekken”!

Erica, NBT and Nori

1 April 2024

Hold on to your headsets, folks! The developers of the popular fighting game Tekken unveiled an exclusive downloadable content (DLC) collaboration tailored for Jrock fans. This DLC adds new characters to its la...

Top 10 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2023

Erica, Nori, Astrid and Kayla

1 January 2024