Omatsu, Author at JROCK NEWS

Interview with DEVILOOF: Fulfilling a long-awaited promise to overseas fans

Oct 11, 2025

After years of anticipation and overcoming many hurdles, Japan’s brutal metal band DEVILOOF is finally heading to Europe for a tour! With the tour "properly" kicking off next month, we took the opportunity to c...

Interview: SiM vocalist MAH talks evolution, identity, and international success

Erica, afaenia and Omatsu

Jun 26, 2024

Interview, Tour and event

In a crimson-red graffiti-tagged room at The Fillmore Silver Spring, we caught up with SiM’s charismatic vocalist, MAH, just before their electrifying headlining show. This gig was part of SiM’s "PLAYDEAD" worl...

Interview: Kiyoharu makes Australian debut on “Heavy Rock Breakfast” tour

Erica and Omatsu

Feb 15, 2024

Interview, Tour and event

In 1994, the music realm witnessed the explosive debut of Kiyoharu (清春), the vocal maestro behind the famed bands Kuroyume (黒夢) and Sads.Undoubtedly, Kiyoharu has made an enduring impact on Japan's cultural...

Interview: HANABIE. rampages across US

Nori, afaenia, Jonathan Lane, Omatsu and Zephyr

Nov 16, 2023

Interview

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...

Interview with Kouki: Bridging cultures through music and passion

Erica, Omatsu, afaenia and Nori

Sep 20, 2023

Interview, Tour and event

Meet Hanamizakura Kouki, a star in the visual kei scene dedicated to promoting Japan's distinctive culture to global audiences. With a Tsugaru-jamisen guitar in hand and a resplendent folding fan, he embarks on...

Interview with JUNNA: The powerful voice making waves in anime!

NBT, Erica, Narine, Omatsu and Peertje

Jun 2, 2023

Interview, Releases

JUNNA is an emerging prodigy making waves in the world of Jpop, Jrock, and anime music. This extraordinary talent burst onto the scene at a mere 16 years old, captivating audiences with her commanding and soul-...

Interview: Artist Naofumi Yonetsuka defines generations of visual kei

Erica, Nori and Omatsu

Mar 18, 2023

Interview

As written in the name, the Jrock subgenre visual kei is founded on just that—the visuals. Often otherworldly yet at times macabre and downright bizarre, the elaborate garbs and set designs on visual kei music ...

Cult favorite band gulu gulu ceases activities after final performance

Erica, Nori and Omatsu

Feb 1, 2023

Disband/Hiatus/Revive

On January 30, the band with a cult following "gulu gulu" announced it will cease activities following a final performance on March 17, 2023. You can apply for tickets for their final live performances beginnin...

Interview with LYNCS: Shedding light on the darkness

Bri, afaenia and Omatsu

Jan 30, 2023

Interview

LYNCS is a cyber gothic metal band that formed in Japan with roots in China. Exploring themes of darkness and night, vocalist Noctis Zang and guitarist LIN don’t shy away from heavier themes and emotions in ord...

Interview: Kouki and HIZAKI’s philosophies of visual kei

Erica and Omatsu

Dec 8, 2022

Interview, Tour and event

Musicians Kouki (D=OUT) and HIZAKI (Versailles, Jupiter) rocked Nekocon 24, held from November 5-7 in Hampton, VA. After a hectic weekend of autograph sessions, a Q&A panel, and no less than three live conc...

Interview with Sick²: Diving into the pure chaos of digital rock

Erica, Dorian and Omatsu

Oct 30, 2022

Interview, Releases

Digital rock band Sick² is a band of duality. They're instantly recognizable by their flashy, eye-catching costumes and upbeat melodies. Yet when you dive deeper into their lyrics, you're often met by darker th...

Review: Is Yoshiki’s energy drink “Real Gold XY” really revolutionary?

NBT, afaenia, Mazohyst_Kyo and Omatsu

Jun 22, 2022

Entertainment, Report and review

Back in May, the legendary drummer and leader of X Japan, Yoshiki, teased and claimed that with the Coca-Cola collaboration project, we would allegedly be able to witness something "revolutionary". A week later...

Author Omatsu