Traxan

Most folks have already covered the major issues. Just to add a few things:
 
1) I don't think most bands want it. They can have a good career in Japan, making it in America and Europe would require a major effort that they don't want. And why bother? Japan is the size of California and most of the shows are around Tokyo. Why live out of a tour bus for 5-6 months when you can do a tour in 3 weeks and go home most nights?
 
2) I wonder if the lack of English is an issue. Look at Rammstein. They tour arenas in the US and they are singing in German. So a non-English band can make it. But in general the lack of English probably hurts.
 
That's why Lovebites have gained so much momentum and blown past Mary's Blood to be the top girl metal band. They all speak English, their lyrics are in English, and they openly say they want to play the US and Europe. They said they wanted to play Wacken, the biggest metal festival in the world. And they are on the bill this year. I know Dir En Grey played WOA and one or two other bands have been on as well but I've seen no such ambition out of Aldious, who are supposed to be the leaders of the girls metal movement.
 
3) The labels are no help. Sony and Victor block their videos outside of Japan. You can get around it if you use the Opera browser with its built-in VPN turned on but that's a headache.  Add to it the lack of promotional material in English, and you really have to make an effort to be a fan of JRock. And I'll tell you one of the biggest pissers to the guys on the Japanese Metal Forum: multiple versions of live DVDs. I've seen it several times. The basic DVD comes with X number of songs. Then there's the deluxe one, some times twice the price, with about a half dozen more songs. That's fucking greedy and no western band pulls that.
 
4) Japan's public image. Japan has a well-earned reputation for utter nutttiness. I think it was pro wrestling commentator Bobby Heenan who said of Japan "Either we bombed them too much or not enough." So then casual fans see a random VK band, or Babymetal, roll their eyes and think there's Japan being Japan. Channeled in the right direction and goofiness works. Maximum the Hormone have proved that.  Gacharic Spin are sorta gaining traction as well and they are fucking nuts.
 
5) I hate to say it but I suspect that racial ignorance plays a part. The fact is this is a white, English-speaking country and it's not very good at accepting foreigners, especially non-Europeans. Look at the trouble KPop artists have, and they WANT to make it here. SNSD, Psy, HyunA and 2NE1 all tried. BTS are running into all kinds of headwinds. It's not just music. Look at all the Asian actors who tried their luck in Hollywood and returned to China. Hate to say it but America just isn't very Asian-friendly.
 
6) I can't claim to understand the VK scene very well but I do know that in the metal scene, the anti-image tends to dominate. Just plain looking guys in tees and jeans. VK emphasizes the visual when that's the area of least emphasized element of metal today

Most folks have already covered the major issues. Just to add a few things:
 
1) I don't think most bands want it. They can have a good career in Japan, making it in America and Europe would require a major effort that they don't want. And why bother? Japan is the size of California and most of the shows are around Tokyo. Why live out of a tour bus for 5-6 months when you can do a tour in 3 weeks and go home most nights?
 
2) I wonder if the lack of English is an issue. Look at Rammstein. They tour arenas in the US and they are singing in German. So a non-English band can make it. But in general the lack of English probably hurts.
 
That's why Lovebites have gained so much momentum and blown past Mary's Blood to be the top girl metal band. They all speak English, their lyrics are in English, and they openly say they want to play the US and Europe. They said they wanted to play Wacken, the biggest metal festival in the world. And they are on the bill this year. I know Dir En Grey played WOA and one or two other bands have been on as well but I've seen no such ambition out of Aldious, who are supposed to be the leaders of the girls metal movement.
 
3) The labels are no help. Sony and Victor block their videos outside of Japan. You can get around it if you use the Opera browser with its built-in VPN turned on but that's a headache.  Add to it the lack of promotional material in English, and you really have to make an effort to be a fan of JRock. And I'll tell you one of the biggest pissers to the guys on the Japanese Metal Forum: multiple versions of live DVDs. I've seen it several times. The basic DVD comes with X number of songs. Then there's the deluxe one, some times twice the price, with about a half dozen more songs. That's fucking greedy and no western band pulls that.
 
4) Japan's public image. Japan has a well-earned reputation for utter nutttiness. I think it was pro wrestling commentator Bobby Heenan who said of Japan "Either we bombed them too much or not enough." So then casual fans see a random VK band, or Babymetal, roll their eyes and think there's Japan being Japan. Channeled in the right direction and goofiness works. Maximum the Hormone have proved that.  Gacharic Spin are sorta gaining traction as well and they are fucking nuts.
 
5) I hate to say it but I suspect that racial ignorance plays a part. The fact is this is a white, English-speaking country and it's not very good at accepting foreigners, especially non-Europeans. Look at the trouble KPop artists have, and they WANT to make it here. SNSD, Psy, HyunA and 2NE1 all tried. BTS are running into all kinds of headwinds. It's not just music. Look at all the Asian actors who tried their luck in Hollywood and returned to China. Hate to say it but America just isn't very Asian-friendly.
 
6) I can't claim to understand the VK scene very well but I do know that in the metal scene, the anti-image tends to dominate. Just plain looking guys in tees and jeans. VK emphasizes the visual when that's the area of least emphasized element of metal today

Most folks have already covered the major issues. Just to add a few things:
 
1) I don't think most bands want it. They can have a good career in Japan, making it in America and Europe would require a major effort that they don't want. And why bother? Japan is the size of California and most of the shows are around Tokyo. Why live out of a tour bus for 5-6 months when you can do a tour in 3 weeks and go home most nights?
 
2) I wonder if the lack of English is an issue. Look at Rammstein. They tour arenas in the US and they are singing in German. So a non-English band can make it. But in general the lack of English probably hurts.
 
That's why Lovebites have gained so much momentum and blown past Mary's Blood to be the top girl metal band. They all speak English, their lyrics are in English, and they openly say they want to play the US and Europe. They said they wanted to play Wacken, the biggest metal festival in the world. And they are on the bill this year. I know Dir En Grey played WOA and one or two other bands have been on as well but I've seen no such ambition out of Aldious, who are supposed to be the leaders of the girls metal movement.
 
3) The labels are no help. Sony and Victor block their videos outside of Japan. You can get around it if you use the Opera browser with its built-in VPN turned on but that's a headache.  Add to it the lack of promotional material in English, and you really have to make an effort to be a fan of JRock. And I'll tell you one of the biggest pissers to the guys on the Japanese Metal Forum: multiple versions of live DVDs. I've seen it several times. The basic DVD comes with X number of songs. Then there's the deluxe one, some times twice the price, with about a half dozen more songs. That's fucking greedy and no western band pulls that.
 
4) Japan's public image. Japan has a well-earned reputation for utter nutttiness. I think it was pro wrestling commentator Bobby Heenan who said of Japan "Either we bombed them too much or not enough." So then casual fans see a random VK band, or Babymetal, roll their eyes and think there's Japan being Japan. Channeled in the right direction and goofiness works. Maximum the Hormone have proved that.  Gacharic Spin are sorta gaining traction as well and they are fucking nuts.
 
5) I hate to say it but I suspect that racial ignorance plays a part. The fact is this is a white, English-speaking country and it's not very good at accepting foreigners, especially non-Europeans. Look at the trouble KPop artists have, and they WANT to make it here. SNSD, Psy, HyunA and 2NE1 all tried. BTS are running into all kinds of headwinds. It's not just music. Look at all the Asian actors who tried their luck in Hollywood and returned to China. Hate to say it but America just isn't very Asian-friendly.
 
6) I can't claim to understand the VK scene very well but I do know that in the metal scene, the anti-image tends to dominate. Just plain looking guys in tees and jeans. VK emphasizes the visual when that's the area of least emphasized element of metal today

It just comes naturally. There is a live video of them playing "Kiss in the Dark" where she wears a tight little dress and she just couldn't sell it. Likewise, I once saw Hana from Gacharic Spin, who is almost as butch, try to look girly and it didn't work.
 
Some women just have a masculine quality to them, just as Miko has a very feminine quality.

Why is Yoshiki considered a great drummer? All he does is sway in his seat like he's drunk.
 
Chargeee is 100x more entertaining and talented.

12 posts in and no mention of Exist Trace? Wow.

It just comes naturally. There is a live video of them playing "Kiss in the Dark" where she wears a tight little dress and she just couldn't sell it. Likewise, I once saw Hana from Gacharic Spin, who is almost as butch, try to look girly and it didn't work.
 
Some women just have a masculine quality to them, just as Miko has a very feminine quality.

Let the bitching commence about how they lost it.

The all-girl power metal band Cyntia announced an "indefinite hiatus," which is basically another way of saying they are breaking up.
 
https://natalie.mu/music/news/262817
 
It seems guitarist and band leader Yui has suffered from focal dystonia, a neurological condition, in her arm. That's about the last place a guitarist needs a problem. If she can't recover, then the band is definitely toast.
 
As it is the band has been largely inactive, mostly due to Yui's condition. Some bad career decisions didn't help. They made a great metal album in 2014, called Limit Break. Then they went total pop in 2015 with Woman, a total misfire. They tried to bounce back last year with Urban Night but the damage appeared to be done. They have yet to replace drummer Kanoko, who left in 2015.
 
I just can't get over the terrible health of jrockers. So many musicians stepping down from bands due to one health problem or another. Seems we have an announcement every week here.

I think this band is rapidly approaching the point where they need to drop the maid gimmick. The music more than stands on its own and they are a solid, tight unit.

Former Aldious singer Rami is releasing her second "solo" album (I put it in quotes because unless you play every instrument, you aren't really solo), "Reloaded" on January 31. Her band consists of ex-Disqualia guitarists Narumi and Hazumi, bassist Fin, and ex-Disqualia drummer Risa Risa.
 
Track list:
 
01． Reloaded
02． Black Symphony
03． Moonlight
04． After History
05． Never Say Never　
06． Realize
07． Plunder 　　　　
08． Riding the World 　　 　
09． Get Freedom　
10． Reloaded ～Crystal Memory
 
First audio clip. Damn Fin is loud in the mix.
 
https://ramimusic.net/movies/19181
 
Basic CD cover. Damn she looks good.
 

 
CD/DVD combo.
 

 
Her tour is up to four days. Wow!
 
 
2018 /2/3 Aichi / Nagoya
2018 2/4 Osaka · Shinsaibashi
2018/2/10 Chiba · Kashiwa
2018/3/18 Tokyo · Daikanyama
 
 

Former Aldious singer Rami is releasing her second "solo" album (I put it in quotes because unless you play every instrument, you aren't really solo), "Reloaded" on January 31. Her band consists of ex-Disqualia guitarists Narumi and Hazumi, bassist Fin, and ex-Disqualia drummer Risa Risa.
 
Track list:
 
01． Reloaded
02． Black Symphony
03． Moonlight
04． After History
05． Never Say Never　
06． Realize
07． Plunder 　　　　
08． Riding the World 　　 　
09． Get Freedom　
10． Reloaded ～Crystal Memory
 
First audio clip. Damn Fin is loud in the mix.
 
https://ramimusic.net/movies/19181
 
Basic CD cover. Damn she looks good.
 

 
CD/DVD combo.
 

 
Her tour is up to four days. Wow!
 
 
2018 /2/3 Aichi / Nagoya
2018 2/4 Osaka · Shinsaibashi
2018/2/10 Chiba · Kashiwa
2018/3/18 Tokyo · Daikanyama
 
 

The all-girl power metal band Cyntia announced an "indefinite hiatus," which is basically another way of saying they are breaking up.
 
https://natalie.mu/music/news/262817
 
It seems guitarist and band leader Yui has suffered from focal dystonia, a neurological condition, in her arm. That's about the last place a guitarist needs a problem. If she can't recover, then the band is definitely toast.
 
As it is the band has been largely inactive, mostly due to Yui's condition. Some bad career decisions didn't help. They made a great metal album in 2014, called Limit Break. Then they went total pop in 2015 with Woman, a total misfire. They tried to bounce back last year with Urban Night but the damage appeared to be done. They have yet to replace drummer Kanoko, who left in 2015.
 
I just can't get over the terrible health of jrockers. So many musicians stepping down from bands due to one health problem or another. Seems we have an announcement every week here.

The all-girl power metal band Cyntia announced an "indefinite hiatus," which is basically another way of saying they are breaking up.
 
https://natalie.mu/music/news/262817
 
It seems guitarist and band leader Yui has suffered from focal dystonia, a neurological condition, in her arm. That's about the last place a guitarist needs a problem. If she can't recover, then the band is definitely toast.
 
As it is the band has been largely inactive, mostly due to Yui's condition. Some bad career decisions didn't help. They made a great metal album in 2014, called Limit Break. Then they went total pop in 2015 with Woman, a total misfire. They tried to bounce back last year with Urban Night but the damage appeared to be done. They have yet to replace drummer Kanoko, who left in 2015.
 
I just can't get over the terrible health of jrockers. So many musicians stepping down from bands due to one health problem or another. Seems we have an announcement every week here.

Well if you are going to be in Tokyo next April, this will be the show to see. There will be a double headliner show with Gacharic Spin and Doll$boxx both doing a full set next year at the Tokyo Dome City Hall on April 15th, the same location as the last GS live DVD. That's two two-hour sets, although one set is at 2 pm and the other is at 7 pm. But if anyone has the stamina for it, it's the GS girls. I hope by then GS has found a replacement for Nenne. Mai looks lost without her.
 

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.
 
 

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.

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.
 

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.

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.
 
 

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.
 

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.
 

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

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.
 

 
 

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.