Traxan

The album is called "We Are" (an interesting choice given X Japan's documentary is called "We Are X") and here is the title track. Nice and aggressive.

Third preview clip. https://www.youpak.com/watch?v=GNnawSVaxGs

A longer preview clip of the music video https://www.youpak.com/watch?v=NczCRSkSSFw

Not sure why shaolan posted the same video I did but whatever.

Preview of their new video. Damn this is aggressive. https://www.youpak.com/watch?v=yiaQvmWRRCY&feature=youtu.be BTW, protip: people have learned a way around the Victor limitations on YouTube videos. Replace the tube part of the URL with pak. So youpak.com instead of youtube.com. That fixes it.

I already have a superband. It's called Gacharic Spin. Pity they lost Nenne though. I also would love to see the original Aldious lineup with either guitarist from Lovebites replacing Toki. That would be something.

Gacharic Spin - Gachatto BEST Lovebites - Awaken in Abyss CyHra - Letter to Myself really looking forward to CyHra. It's by two founding members of In Flames and sounds just like their 90s style when they were at their best.

Well they weren't. The Doll$ Apartment album stiffed when it came out. GS weren't that popular. I think it was immediately after Armmy left. But they have since become huge and that revived interest in the DB project. When they did a reunion show in February it sold out in minutes.

Doll$boxx, the supergroup consisting of former Light Bringer singer Fuki and the baka girls of Gacharic Spin announced a 5 song EP for release on 11/18 Title: "High $pec" Details: 1. Shout Down 2. Sub-liminal 3. HERO 4. 世界はきっと愛を知ってるんだ 5. Dragonet 【初回限定盤(CD+DVD)】 ￥2,593+税（税込￥2,800） / VIZL-1240 [DVD収録内容] “Dragonet” Music Video　　 “Shout Down” Lecture Movie 【通常盤(CD)】 ￥1,667＋税（税込￥1,800） / VICL-64850 Covers: And a very gothic look for the girls. Seems strange on Tomo and Reona.

Just six months after the release of "Unlimited Diffusion," all-girl power metal band Aldious have announced a new album for 11/29 release. Damn that's fast.

Bridear guitarist Misa announced on Twitter she is leaving the band next month following their European tour. She cited musical differences with the rest of the band, which was obvious. She was more metalcore, doing the screams and growls, while the rest of the band took its cues from traditional metal like Iron Maiden. It's a bummer because she is the one member who speaks English. But they are having fun in Europe none the less.

Mi-ya is now a permanent member and they have released a new MV, and damn if it doesn't kick ass.

I wouldn't be surprised if he lurks here and the self-deprication is a response to the hate he generates here. If so, well-played. Anyway, rather than start a new thread, a little Yoshiki news. First up, a European tour to promote "We Are X" Yoshiki Tour Dates on Bandsintown: http://www.bandsintown.com/YOSHIKI Yoshiki Tour Dates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/YoshikiOfficial/events/ Yoshiki Official Website: http://www.yoshiki.net Yoshiki Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoshikiOfficial Yoshiki Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoshikiofficial Yoshiki Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial Yoshiki Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/yoshikiofficial X JAPAN Official Website: http://www.xjapan.com X JAPAN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XJapan X JAPAN Twitter: https://twitter.com/xjapanofficial WE ARE X Official Website: http://www.wearexfilm.com WE ARE X Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearexfilm WE ARE X Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearexfilm On September 9, 2017, YOSHIKI made a special guest appearance during the opening ceremonies of VOGUE FASHION’S NIGHT OUT 2017, sponsored by Condé Nast Japan. The surprise performance was kept secret until 1 hour before the event, when YOSHIKI made the announcement on his official Instagram. More images here: http://jrock247.com/2017/09/yoshiki-makes-surprise-appearance-at-vogue-fashions-night-out-2017/#more-14821 On Saturday, September 2, “EVENING WITH YOSHIKI 2017 IN NAGOYA & OSAKA & TOKYO JAPAN” ushered in its final day at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. The sold-out tour, which began with a first-ever set in Nagoya, moved on to Osaka and Tokyo for a total of 7 shows, including the addition of a last-minute breakfast show to meet the overwhelming demand to witness a rare, intimate YOSHIKI performance. The Grand Hyatt Tokyo Ballroom — having undergone 2 months of extensive renovations — was unveiled for the first time for the YOSHIKI dinner show,where 2,400 pendant LED lights (a first-ever arrangement for a hotel in Japan) glittered brilliantly. Many more images here: http://jrock247.com/2017/09/yoshiki-completes-sold-out-2017-dinner-show-tour-in-tokyo/#more-14787

I think Yoshiki is just fucking with you guys now. Wouldn't surprise me if he lurks here.

http://jrock247.com/2017/09/evening-with-yoshiki-premium-dinner-show-2017-begins-in-nagoya/#more-14752 On Saturday, August 26, 2017, the Yoshiki Premium Dinner Show — “EVENING WITH YOSHIKI 2017 IN NAGOYA & OSAKA & TOKYO JAPAN” — kicked off with a first-time-ever performance in Nagoya. This marks the fourth year of this concert series, offering fans a precious once-in-a-year opportunity to see a YOSHIKI performance in an up-close and intimate setting. Accordingly, tickets for all 7 performances were immediately sold out after becoming available. Because the demand for tickets has been overwhelming every year, additional seating was quickly added to the Nagoya and Osaka performances even after the original establishment of the show layout. The opportunity to see YOSHIKI — who has conquered musical venues all across the world for crowds of over 10,000 a night — in such a rare, intimate setting is a privilege only this premium dinner show can provide. Over the course of three-and-a-half-hours, the live performance was held for 500 lucky guests who were able to acquire the limited edition tickets. Guests were greeted by the sight of an illuminated drum set and a crystal piano. At the entrance to the venue were two enormous panels, displaying an image of YOSHIKI performing at a piano and a towering reproduction of YOSHIKI’s cover image of Vogue Japan, which went on sale August 28th and garnered enormous media attention for being the first time a Japanese male has ever graced the magazine’s cover. From the ceiling, several chandeliers glittered, while the tables were set with a beautiful, finely prepared dinner menu created under YOSHIKI’s personal supervision. The YOSHIKI original wine, several original souvenirs specially prepared for the event, and limited edition dinner show merchandise are always a highlight each year for the fans. Beginning with his masterpiece, “The Last Song,” the performance featured “La Venus” (the main theme of the documentary film We Are X), “Anniversary” (composed in honor of Emperor Akihito’s tenth anniversary), and the “Golden Globe Theme” from the Golden Globe Awards. Accompanied by strings and vocalists Katie Fitzgerald and Ashley Knight from overseas, YOSHIKI also performed “Unfinished”, “Rose of Pain”, and “Longing” for a total of 15 songs.

Found this band by accident. If you are familiar with the Dutch band Epica, they are quite similar. Except the singer Mizuho Lin is a gorgeous Chinese-Brazilian mix (despite a Japanese-sounding first name) who looks like she's 6' tall. That voice, though, is fantastic.

US distro is August 31. You can see it in the iTunes store and preorder it.

Well after a year of silence the girls are making up for lost time. A four-song EP creatively called "The Lovebites EP" drops on August 31. Video preview here: Then October 25 comes their full length debut album, "Awakening From Abyss." Ok less than perfect grammar there. The cover art is cool. It was done by the same artist who did Helloween's albums. The album will be mixed and mastered by the same team that worked on the band’s debut EP, Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila from Finnvox Studios. The band’s first single from the album, “Shadowmaker”, will be available online September 22nd. The best news is the band is signed to Sliptrick Records for US and Europe release even though they are signed to Victor in Japan. So none of this bullshit where Victor basically give non-Japanese fans the finger (although MB is now with Sliptrick). The EP is already on iTunes for pre-order and you got the video above, which is more than I can say for recent releases by Mary's Blood and Gacharic Spin. And someone from Sliptrick is a regular poster over on the Japanese Metal Forum. So this band has a much more western-friendly representation. And in an interview, the girls said they want to play the US and the big Wacken show in Germany, the first time I've heard a Japanese band express a desire to play that show. And uh, holy shit these girls are gorgeous.

I tend to fall for scenes and when they go stale I lose interest. In the 90s I went crazy for industrial. Then KMFDM broke up and I drifted away. I got into Swedish melodeath for a while but In Flames went to shit and Soilwork got boring. So I moved on to symphonic metal. Eventually I grew bored with Nightwish, and the last album wasn't that good. I discovered Japanese metal by accident. I was reading a Japanese pop culture site called Arama Japan and they had a list on the new Oricon chart releases, which was alphabetical, and Aldious were releasing "District Zero" that week and at the top of the list, so there was an accompanying picture. Well if you remember the DZ era, they looked hot as fucking hell. So that got my attention. Then the dominoes fell and I discovered MtH, Galneryus, and all the girl bands like Destrose, Cyntia, Mary's Blood and Gacharic Spin. I expect in a few more years I will grow bored with JMetal, too. I've soured on Aldious because I don't like the new direction under Re:no and Cyntia let me down. The Japanese don't make it easy to be a fan -- a general lack of interest or support for fans out Japan with a few exceptions, the lack of English and translations, some labels not allowing their videos to be seen (a big fuck you to Victor), lack of iTunes releases, and the live DVD release bullshit (regular edition DVDs of live concerts often have songs cut out. If you want the full concert you have to buy the deluxe edition that costs 2x. Happened twice with GS). Eventually I'm going to get sick of having to try so hard to be a fan.

YOSHIKI Featured On The Cover Of VOGUE JAPAN First Japanese male ever selected for the cover in the magazine’s history YOSHIKI, leader of X JAPAN, graces the October 2017 cover of Vogue Japan, on sale August 28th. He is the first Japanese male ever selected for the cover in the magazine’s 18-year history.

Well as some will readily point out, Exist Trace are hardly VK any more. And there are loads of all-girl bands. Just not VK. I know, splitting hairs.

After months of missed shows, Nenne has announced her departure from the band. It's not clear if her hearing is the issue or if she just wants to leave. I suspected something was wrong when her absence dragged on for months and she didn't even appear at Mai's 20th birthday coming of age party. Her statement is on the band home page, if anyone can translate. http://www.gacharicspin.com/

All-girl metal band (with some metalcore tinges) Bridear just announced an eight-country European tour for the fall, and they did so in English. Guitarist Misa, who studied in the US, speaks very well. Her bandmates? Not so much. For those unfamiliar with Bridear, who are not VK, here's a sample. I think of all the girl bands, they have the best guitar duo. Can't include Mary's Blood because Yashiro isn't really an equal to Saki, she's a support guitarist and not a member.

Vocalist Ibuki has left Disqualia, the all-girl band formed when several members of Destrose left to start the group. In a very long Facebook post, Ibuki seemed to indicate (the translation is not very accurate) she did not want to be the leader of the band, nor did anyone else. The band already lost its bassist, who left because she was suffering panic attacks before shows. With Ibuki gone, the band is effectively disbanded. No word on whether the two guitarists and drummer will continue as Disqualia, or a new band, or go their separate ways. What a shame. They had potential.

Yeah definitely. If they were just Dio, as I mistakenly thought, then they would run into problems. Ronnie's widow would have been all over them. I once saw another band listed here named Heart. Again I wondered how they got away with that one. But I guess if they stay in Japan, no harm.