On June 13th visual kei pillar NIGHTMARE announced an “Emergency Online Live”, with only hours notice before cameras rolled. On June 15th they took to the virtual stage on Youtube, amassing thousands of viewers from around the globe, and introducing them to a special guest no one saw coming.

The show was hard and fast, clocking in at under an hour total. Headliner NIGHTMARE played only four songs, including their newest single Cry For the Moon, before introducing their secret guest, advertised as “one of this year’s hottest visual kei bands”.

The music video for Ink played as the stage was set to reveal the special guest. We racked our brains wondering which mainstay or new up-and-comers would share the limelight with the legendary five-piece band.

When the camera feed returned, everyone was shocked. The “special guest” was In The BLOOD EYES, a parody visual kei band. They performed their single Crazy Lemon, which was composed to promote the alcoholic beverage Lemon Sour Squad. It was also the ending theme for April’s episodes of the Japanese variety television show “Sukkiri“.

In The Blood Eyes, in the flesh! From the left, Lily, Vader, Lizard, Crow, and Witch.

After their performance, the official video for Crazy Lemon aired. Knowing that they are a parody band, many visual kei fans would find it delightfully tongue-in-cheek. There were nods to classic genre tropes, with everything from black angel wings to cathedral backdrops.

Before you go off criticizing them for advertising though, you should take a look at the official lyrics uploaded with the video. It has a surprisingly anti-capitalist message!

Not only was Crazy Lemon entertaining to watch, but the song is catchy to boot. Seeing as the band has launched several social media accounts and even a Spotify channel, we wonder if more will be revealed!

Members of NIGHTMARE and In The BLOOD EYES convene on stage.

Afterward, NIGHTMARE vocalist Yomi made a rushed MC and announced their final song of the concert, fan-favorite The World. NIGHTMARE performed well technically and emotionally, with the finesse you would expect from the world-famous band.

Overall it was a rapid-fire and dynamic live stream, even pulling a few smiles from this writer. The nostalgia that comes from listening to NIGHTMARE, with the exciting quirkiness of In The BLOOD EYES definitely woke us up despite the early international air time.

Check out In The BLOOD EYES in action below!

NIGHTMARE 緊急オンラインライブにゲスト出演！/ In The BLOOD EYES - Crazy Lemon