Report and review

Report: STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION and NANO team up in “Dream Big” theme song

Jul 21, 2026

STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION (SDF) and NANO recently performed together in Germany, premiering “Dream Big”—DoKomi’s first official theme song—on May 29, the opening day of the convention. Two days later, on May 31, t...

Review: Maverick Mom’s album “Travessia” takes you on a musical adventure

Jack

Jul 1, 2026

Releases, Report and review

Maverick Mom released their first full album, Travessia, on May 13. Travessia takes you on a journey spanning two discs covering new material and revisiting classics from their past. The title Travessia comes f...

Report: Inside VKNY, New York City’s premiere visual kei event

Rin and Lin

Jun 13, 2026

Report and review, Tour and event

On May 16, 2026, visual kei fans from all over gathered in Brooklyn for VKNY's launch event. Although Japanese artists and visual kei bands have been visiting the US more frequently in recent years, large-scale...

Report: HANABIE. ignites frenzy across San Francisco Bay Area

Nori

May 11, 2026

Report and review

On a chilly, drizzling Friday evening in San Francisco, a sold-out crowd wrapped around August Hall, eager for HANABIE.’s return. The show marked the penultimate stop of the band’s latest U.S. tour, an ambitiou...

Review: DIR EN GREY sinks into despair on “MORTAL DOWNER”

Nori and Erica

May 6, 2026

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DIR EN GREY returned on April 8 with MORTAL DOWNER, the band's 12th studio album and first in nearly four years since PHALARIS. As the band approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027, the release arrives with a qu...

Review: Madmans Esprit’s album “Dandelion; Danjeol” delivers heavier production, dynamic metal compositions

Jack

Apr 9, 2026

Releases, Report and review

The wait for Madmans Esprit's fourth full-length album, Dandelion; Danjeol is finally over. Fans have been on the edge of their seats impatiently waiting for March 30 to see what the band has been concocting si...

Review: BLAZE’s album “DETERMINATIONS.” unleashes sentimental, brutal soundscapes

Jack

Apr 2, 2026

Releases, Report and review

BLAZE unleashed the album “DETERMINATIONS.” on February 18. Previous releases were sold exclusively at live shows in Japan. However, DETERMINATIONS. is the first complete album available to fans worldwide, acce...

Report: HYDE celebrates birthday with “HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL” global livestream

Erica

Jan 31, 2026

Releases, Report and review

On January 29, HYDE celebrated his birthday with a special orchestral performance at Tokyo Garden Theatre. The show was streamed worldwide via Live Viewing Japan and simulcast in theaters across all Japan’s 47 ...

Review: coldrain’s EP “OPTIMIZE” fuses heartfelt lyrics and brutal soundscapes

Jorge M.

Nov 6, 2025

Releases, Report and review

Amidst their ONE MAN JAPAN TOUR 2025, coldrain unleashed their fifth Extended Play, OPTIMIZE. The five-track collection dropped on October 24 and marks the band's debut release under German label Century Media ...

Report: Experiencing the world’s biggest anime song event, Animelo Summer Live 2025!

NBT

Nov 3, 2025

Anime, Report and review

As a big fan of both anime and Japanese music, I have always been interested in attending even more events that fuse these two themes. With Animelo Summer Live 2025 “ThanXX!”, or simply "Anisama", celebrating i...

Report: DIR EN GREY’s first U.S. performance in nearly 6 years, “TOUR25 WHO IS THIS HELL FOR? [mode of VULGAR]”

Erica, Zephyr and Nori

Aug 3, 2025

Report and review

In April of 2025, after nearly six years away, DIR EN GREY made a powerful return to the U.S. with a sold-out, three-night run in Los Angeles and Anaheim, California. Drawing a combined crowd of approximately 6...

Review: XaaXaa’s “Best Album Chuudoku Shoujou San” shares 10 years of darkness, duality and maturity

Erica

Jul 2, 2025

Releases, Report and review

Celebrating their 10th anniversary, XaaXaa released their third greatest hits album, Best Album Chuudoku Shoujou San (ベストアルバム中毒症状〜三〜), on March 30. Aptly titled "Symptoms of Addiction", the two-disc collection...

Report: SiM’s high-energy Madrid debut a total blast

Jorge M.

Jun 27, 2025

Report and review, Tour and event

On Thursday, June 19, SiM held their first performance in Madrid, Spain. The show was part of SiM's European tour, Fests & Chaos Tour 2025, which ended on June 22 in Belgium. Celebrating a 20-year career, t...

Report: Wagatame’s breakout success at Nekocon 2024

Erica

Feb 21, 2025

Report and review

In November 2024, Nekocon marked its 26th year at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, VA, drawing approximately 7,000 attendees. The event, known for celebrating Japanese culture, featured its usual...