Review

This is so familiar. But why? The second the intro to DIR EN GREY's latest album PHALARIS kicks in, I feel like I am being ripped back into a better time. For the first time in a while, I can honestly say th...

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

NBT, afaenia, Mazohyst_Kyo and Omatsu

22 June 2022

Entertainment, 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...

Report: Mary’s Blood reign supreme in final show

afaenia

25 April 2022

Bringing a chapter to a close is never easy. How do you adequately convey all that you have achieved during that time? Mary’s Blood has, over the course of 13 years, released seven full-length albums and two mi...

Review: Omnibus album “Chaos Collection” finds harmony in chaos

13 January 2022

In October 2021, Chaotic Harmony set on a mission to crowdfund “Chaos Collection”: a 13-track omnibus album gathering 13 visual kei bands from Japan. While the omnibus includes previously released songs, it als...

Report: MIYAVI storms the State Theatre in Washington DC

1 December 2021

Review, Tour

In June, MIYAVI announced his first North American tour in almost two years spanning 19 cities across the US and Canada. On October 29 MIYAVI played an intimate show near the US capitol at the State Theatre in ...

Report: HYDE creates art in motion at Heian Shrine

7 August 2021

HYDE celebrated his 20th anniversary as a solo artist with a two-day concert at Heian Shrine in Kyoto, on July 31 and August 1. The dazzling event entertained a live audience and was also streamed virtually wor...

Report: PENICILLIN pulls off adrenaline-fueled show for “Atarashii Yado” tour final

3 July 2021

PENICILLIN held their final live concert for their "Atarashii Yado 2021"-tour at Shinjuku ReNY on May 22, 2021. Due to social distancing measures, the live performance was limited to 200 attendees and was also ...

Review: Japanese/Irish rock band Clarity puts forth EP “In the Light of Lies, Pt. 2”

Sizergyia

5 May 2021

Releases, Review

Clarity released their second EP titled In the Light of Lies, Pt. 2 on May 5, a follow-up to their In the Light of Lies, Pt. 1. The tracklist features four songs in total including the previously released True ...

Review: BRIDEAR offers “Bloody Bride” album for metal matrimony

G Andrew White

29 April 2021

Releases, Review

You are cordially invited on May 7 to the wedding of hard rock and prog metal by BRIDEAR with Bloody Bride. The third full album by the heavy metal band proposes a sonically aggressive celebration with you. Lik...

Report: Schwarz Stein sparks fireworks in “Type of another cell” livestream

22 April 2021

On April 16, electronic duo Schwarz Stein held a socially distanced concert Type of another cell at Shibuya Rex. Thanks to the advent of Internet streaming, fans around the world could attend the live performan...

Report: Explosive online live with Roselia and RAISE A SUILEN “Rausch und/and Craziness -interlude-“

NBT

29 December 2020

Two of the most powerful bands from the “BanG Dream!” family (franchise) have once again joined forces, but this time for their very first livestream concert together! The juggernaut show that took place on ...

Report: amazarashi’s depressing livestream brings hope to our future

NBT

22 December 2020