Archive

Leetspeak monsters haunts Katsucon 2025 for US debut

15 January 2025

The East Coast’s most vibrant celebration of Asian pop culture is getting a monstrous twist—Katsucon returns to National Harbor, MD, from February 14-16, 2025. Among the exciting lineup is the visual kei band "...

Azavana’s fiery music video brings intensity in “Haiiro no Umi wo Oyogu Hotaru”

Sizergyia

10 January 2025

Music Video, New Look, Releases

Azavana will release their first single, Haiiro no Umi wo Oyogu Hotaru at a yet-to-be-announced date. However, to tide fans over, the band has revealed the fiery music video for the title track. Furiously da...

lynch.’s 20th anniversary project celebrates with re-recorded classics in “GREEDY DEAD SOULS / UNDERNEATH THE SKIN”

Sizergyia

10 January 2025

New Look, Releases, Videos

lynch. has announced, as part of the fourth act of their 10 act, "lynch. 20th ANNIVERSARY PROJECT", that the band will release a retake album titled GREEDY DEAD SOULS / UNDERNEATH THE SKIN, on April 16. The ...

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...

Top 10 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2024

Erica, NBT, Nori and Jack

2 January 2025

Entertainment

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...

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

Erica

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...

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

Zephyr

30 December 2024

Report and review, Tour and event

BABYMETAL, a metal phenomenon whose name at this point needs no introduction, brought heavy metal chaos upon the crowd in Des Moines, Iowa on November 27 as a stop on their 2024 World Tour. Leading up to the sh...

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

NBT

26 December 2024

Entertainment

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

Erica

22 December 2024

Music Video, Releases

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

Erica

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

Erica

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”

Erica

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”

NBT

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...