Traxan

Rumor on another board is the bassist has quit over musical differences. New band, same old Mina.

You've all heard about Lemmy's passing by now, I'm sure. Kinda hard to avoid it. They were godly huge in Europe, but I heard very little about Japan from the band and can't remember any tours. Were they popular over there, or was Lemmy a little too, ah, distasteful for the Japanese?

Disqualia has a lot of potential, as does Bridear and BandMaid.

Suzuka, aka Su-metal and the lead singer, is officially not a baby any more. She just turned 18. Fortunately for the gimmick she still looks 12. https://twitter.com/babymetal_japan/status/678228920286752769

I find older metalheads are more accepting than the younger fans. Probably because they have daughters the same age as the BM girls. I do wonder what will happen in a few more years when they start maturing. Will the label do like Menudo, a Hispanic boy band back in the 80s that kept replacing members as they got too old?

As much as I love Gacharic Spin, I have to wonder, WTF IS a Gacharic Spin?

In addition to the labels below, Victor Entertainment is included. Videos from Gacharic Spin and Mary's Blood are now blocked. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/12/04/japanese-music-and-vocaloid-content-disappears-as-youtube-rolls-out-new-paid-service/ Japanese and overseas communities react to YouTube disabling U.S. access to content, as Google pressures Japanese labels and rights-holders to sign up for paid service YouTube Red. In Japan, where copyright laws are much stricter than those of many other countries, it’s not uncommon for new music releases to only get partial airplay on the radio or a short promotional video as a means to prevent piracy. Marketing methods like these, along with including special CD-only merchandise or perks, have contributed to CD sales still making up the majority of Japan’s total music sales, despite the format slowly becoming obsolete worldwide. No doubt this is one reason why the country got off to a much slower start when it came to embracing free online streaming sites, such as YouTube, and capitalizing on the global market the way K-pop set out to do. But just when it felt like more and more Japanese companies were finally jumping on the YouTube bandwagon, the video-sharing behemoth decided to roll out YouTube Red, a premium, ad-free subscription service that includes the ability to view videos offline or download them to your mobile device for up to 30 days. Although YouTube claims that they have 99 percent of creators on board with the new subscription-based system, unfortunately a large number of Japanese labels are part of the one percent that has yet to sign on, and as a result their content is now unavailable to American fans—a development with came as quite a blow to fans of Japanese music in the U.S. While fans have the option of choosing whether they would like to keep watching free videos with ads or upgrade to a more optimized viewing experience, if creators want to keep making revenue from their content, they have no choice but to agree to the new YouTube Red system. Some labels have yet to respond to YouTube’s requests, and until they sign on, their content has been region-locked from American viewers. Here’s an incomplete list of labels that have yet to agree to YouTube Red’s terms: Currently Blocked Nippon Columbia (J-pop, rock arists) Sony Music Japan (J-pop, rock, visual kei artists) AKS (AKB48 and sister groups except NMB48) Up-Front/zetima (Hello!Project groups) Pony Canyon (male and female idol groups, J-pop artists) P-Vine (J-pop, blues, jazz, and punk artists) Teichiku (Japanese enka, kayokyoku artists) Danger Crue (J-rock, visual kei artists) Stardust (J-pop artists, including Momoiro Clover Z) Dreamusic (J-pop artists) Zankyo Record (J-pop, rock, and jazz artists) Dir en grey (and possibly other bands managed by Free Will) Currently Available Avex (J-pop, rock artists) Universal Music Japan TOY’S FACTORY (Idols and J-pop artists, including BABYMETAL) A-Sketch (J-rock artists, including ONE OK ROCK) HIP LAND MUSIC (most artists) This is problematic for Japan, since offering offline viewing and downloading capabilities isn’t something that Japanese streaming services are familiar with, and it makes it harder for Japanese companies to monitor when, where, and how content is being used in accordance to Japanese copyright laws. Unfortunately it not only affects labels that create content, but also labels without license rights, such as Sega’s Hatsune Miku Channel, which posts Vocaloid music owned by Incstoenter. But unlike regular music content, the Vocaloid community thrives mostly on user-created content made from Vocaloid software, and a number of U.S.-based Vocaloid content creators are also suffering as a result. Many fans say they now plan to move over to Niconico Douga, Japan’s leading video-sharing site, to get their Vocaloid fix, but for creators this could seriously damage their viewership numbers. Recently the Japanese Vocaloid community caught wind of the issue, and many of their reactions have been less than sympathetic. “Isn’t this good news for Japan?” “This is great opportunity for Niconico to get more popular in America.” “What’s the big deal? They should just move to another platform.” “This is all the work of other Asian countries that are anti-Japan. They’re trying to get Japanese culture content removed.” “I hope they block more and more anime. They should put a stop to illegal streaming. If they want to see it, they should pay for it.” Because copyright policies are so strict in Japan, it may just be a matter of waiting for labels to sort through YouTube Red’s new agreement before content is restored, like with Victor Entertainment. Still, considering how most Japanese labels are reluctant to sign other similar services such as Spotify, there’s a chance that many will not. For the time being, since YouTube Red is only available in the U.S., and therefore only affects American users, but Google has plans to expand the service to other international markets from 2016. At that point, only time will tell whether Japanese music-related content will still be available in your country or not.

So it seems the look on that book cover is official. First time they've been uniformly dressed in black. Looks like a mature goth look.

Interesting, Marina on one of the covers. This songbook is also coming out on 12/2. I like this look on all of them.

The video for "Thrill" has passed one million views, very rare for a Japanese band. The band tweeted out their thanks. https://twitter.com/bandmaid/status/661725853026418688

Has an official cause of death been released?

Sample of the song "The End." http://firestorage.jp/download/abdc4eb8bcceb48d510fa76794b9efd0ac4c2e30

I thought it was Bright Star.

Album title "Radiant A" is the first time they didn't start the title with a D. It will have 11 songs.

That poor girl. I thought she'd recovered since she was performing again. RIP.

Cover: Info (in Japanese) http://bandmaid.futureartist.net/news/42209 CD+DVD ¥ 2500 ( tax included) [CD] 1. Thrill 2. FREEZER 3. REAL EXISTENCE 4. Price of Pride 5. Arcadia Girl 6. don't apply the brake 7. Beauty and the Beast 8. Don't Let Me Down 9. Shake That [DVD] MVREAL EXISTENCE "Don't Let Me Down" MV

iTunes purchases: Mary's Blood, "Bloody Palace" Shinedown, "Threat to Survival" Children of Bodom, "I Worship Chaos" Communic, "Payment of Existence"

All-girl rock band in maid costumes BAND-MAID® will release a new mini-album titled New Beginning on November 4th. The new mini-album will feature nine songs including a remastered version of Thrill as well as a DVD containing music videos of REAL EXISTENCE and Don’t Let Me Down. BAND-MAID® will have a show at Tokyo’s Shibuya eggman on November 10th to celebrate and promote the release of their new mini-album. http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-118041-new-mini-album-from-band-maid.html ------------ Since when is 9 songs a mini-album?

My hat's off to whoever made this video. They did a really great job by linking the jumps to the songs with that menu on the right. And I am seriously stoked for this album.

UPDATE https://twitter.com/Raglaia_info/status/648899254090534912 The debut album "Creation" drops on 11/11 and a tour starts on 2/20/16. Track listing: 1. Outer Dark (Album Version) 2. Aching Memories (Album Version) 3. Forlorn? (Album Version) 4. Remember 5. Ability 6. Break Down 7. Perfect Half 8. Cross (Album Version) 9. Creation 10. Promises (Album Version) 11. Strings of Fate (Album Version) Not surprised half the album is her first two maxi singles. I wonder if this means the songs will be redone for the album. There will be a limited edition for 3,780 Yen while the regular one is 2,484 Yen. Not sure what the limited edition offers that makes it worth $14 more.

Takae Ashitomi, aka Armmy from Gacharic Spin.

I just got introduced to Communic, a Norwegian band in the same vein as Nevermore. With NM disbanded, this band is giving me a good fix. Bought two of their albums cheap on iTunes.

I'm friends with a Japanese-speaker who very kindly translates lyrics for me. He did the Aldious lyrics I posted some time back. he doesn't mind because it lets him practice the language. But he's getting a little freaked out by Rami's lyrics because they are so dark. I have to admit he has a point. What is wrong with this girl? Anyway, here's three songs: "Forlorn" (I) didn't notice the bright constellation because of watery eyes. The wavering tears prevented me from seeing (the constellations). The cold silence confines my soul to an emotionless dark room. (I) wanted to look up, (I) wanted to put things into action, (I) wanted someone to pull me up, (I) wanted to communicate; but I am always alone and there is only darkness around me. I stood up and screamed subconsciously because of the ever increasing emotion. To enable myself to brighten up, to be able to put things into action, to have someone pull me up; Under the bright light, I cried by myself while I laughed with you. The angel, who is superlative to all others; holding fragments of overflowing emotion while ascending to the sky, then spreads the emotion out through light rays. The scenary here is not limited to a select few people. Enable to create a star brighter than that constellation, light comes out of the forehead to create a sky full of stars and brighten up the ground. The angel, who is superlative to all others; holding fragments of overflowing emotion while ascending to the sky, then spreads the emotion out through light rays. The angel, who is superlative to all others; holding feathers of wish, looking over us from the sky, then sending out wish granting shooting stars to provide happiness to all. ------------ "Outer Dark" In a dark and disturbing world. My heart, which fears loneliness receives no mercy Would you love me if I am someone else? I can't get love as who I am right now. Are those pair of kind affectionate eyes that I have always trusted real? Would you still love me if I am someone else? I can't get love as who I am right now. Outer dark is in my blood The passing of time has stopped for me that I didn't even realize the ruthless words directed toward me and the deep wound that those words left on me. (you) act as if you are touching a swelling wound the fake made up laughter echoing loud around I want to be loved even if I am someone else. I want to be loved as who I am. Outer dark is in my blood I have to live on with never drying tears wounds that I won't be able to tell anyone and a wounded soul ---------- "Cross" (clearly this is about her health) If I can move my limbs freely, I want to overcome the wriggling black body. The only option I am left with now is to live on together with the poison as I can feel the beat. People are always so helpless that we can't get up without help. There is only one thought that crosses my mind "to live" What does those eyes see, and what is the tears for? What food is in that mouth, and how does it taste? Air continues to flow into my lungs as I am hearing stimulation. Amazed at the toughness of the body as it feels like getting sliced into pieces. The sound made by the sandglass in my hand is really clear As I face reality. I will answer my own scream I will do everything to see it come to fruition I will strive toward my goal All my genes are coming together into one. What do those hands want, and how do I get them? Where are those feet headed, as they walk while kicking up the dirt? The strong will that is engraved in my heart will become the key to bright future.

I hope it works out as well as Mary's Blood.