Yukami

Paranoid≠circuS new single "ENIGMA" will be released at 2017/03/15 (1512yens).
 
TrackList:
01. ENIGMA
02. Contradiction
03. 籠女
 

The new artist is SUI solo project "David"

http://chateau-agency.com/david/

session band "ノスタルジック・アナーキー(NOSTALGIC x ANARCHY)" will perform at Shibuya REX at 2017/01/30
 
"ノスタルジック・アナーキー(NOSTALGIC x ANARCHY)" members:
Vo.陽(you) (ex-レトロ。(retro)-->レインマン(rainman), コワレモノ(kowaremono), now in チョコレエトホリツク(chocolate holic))
Gt.幸(yuki) (ex-Artemis)
Gt.宵知(yoichi) (ex-芒命少年(boumeishounen)-->forCroiX-フォークロア-)
Ba.竣(shun) (ex-ZAKLIA)
Dr.ぞおい(zoe) (ex-Artemis)
 

Paranoid≠circuS new single "ENIGMA" will be released at 2017/03/15 (1512yens).
 
TrackList:
01. ENIGMA
02. Contradiction
03. 籠女
 

2017/03/09(Thu)池袋Cyber
『K.A.Organizer-39』
 
モンゴリアンチョップ
Vo.暦(ex-Lydiar)
Gt.雲雀(ex-MALISEND)
Gt.未来(Vexent)
Ba.ルシ(ex-KILLANETH)
Dr.或(ex-MALISEND)

I did not see any topic about them so here I go.
 
Lugnarock has hold its first live on 2016.12.04 ( as it is the first live that appears on their Twitters). 
 
Members :
Singer : 藍(Ai) (https://twitter.com/Lugnarock_ai)
Guitarist : 紅(Krena) (https://twitter.com/Lugnarock_krena)
Guitarist : 翔(Shô) (https://twitter.com/Lugnarock_sho)
Bassist : リク(Riku) (https://twitter.com/Lugnarock_riku)
Drummer : 玲(Rei) (He does not have a Twitter) 
 
Official Twitter : https://twitter.com/Lugnarock
 

 

new unit "Cassis&Orange" will hold their first live at 2017/02/22.
 
"Cassis&Orange" members:
Vo.零蒔(reiji) (ex.Lieselotte)
Ba.姫紀(himeki)
 
Support members:
Gu.冬真(touma) (ex.the Dice)
Gu.kz (ex.[Rem]-->Philter(support)-->7even'∽Resist(support)-->Nobady)
Dr.CeleNa (ex.Revolt-->demitAsse-->NovA(彩斗/ayato))
 

エスケープ(Escape) first single "DANCE IN DUNGEON" will be released at 2016/09/17  (1,200 yen)
 
TrackList:
1. DANCE IN DUNGEON
2. Cyber World
 
 

Ex-LAREINE members MAYU and EMIRU are collaborating with Azusa Kobayashi on her new mini-album "Blue".
MAYU composed and plays guitar on all songs. EMIRU plays bass and also works as recording engineer, manipulator and arranger.
The album also features covers of LAREINE's "Darkness" and "Sakura" (both music and lyrics by MAYU).
It looks like EMIRU is closely working with MAYU on his new recording studio METAMORPHOSE.
MAYU will also play guitar on Azusa's oneman live on January 29th as a guest. The album will be sold in advance there.
 
3rd Mini Album「Blue ～光と闇の中で～ (Blue ~hikari to yami no naka de~」
Release date: 2017/2/14
Price: 2,000 yen

Tracklist:
1.Blue
2.Jealousy
3.Darkness *LAREINE cover
4.月が照らす欠片 (Tsuki ga terasu kakera)
5.藍のワルツ (Ai no waltz)
6.さくら (sakura) *LAREINE cover
 
Btw while being an (almost 40 year old) idol, Azusa usually collaborates with visual kei artists. Her backing band included Naoki (Kaggra), Kyoki (Secilia Luna), Setsuna (Metis Gretel),  Mataro (from kozi's solo band) and others.
 
More info about the release is on her blog: http://ameblo.jp/kobayashi-azusa/entry-12234614680.html

live-distributed demo single release "Incomplete" will be released at 2017.01.07
 

 
 

TOP 10 NON-REGULAR RELEASES
 
 
 
#10

 
アルカネット / Answer
 
I’ll be the first to admit that the recording quality is somewhat dreadful, although that takes nothing away from how wonderful they are live. Sora is such an endearing vocalist (and one of my favorite guys to bug on Twitter). I’m so glad I decided to drop by Hokkaido en route to a conference last year just to see them <3 This band has an amazing exuberance about them that I hope they will never ever lose.
 
 
#9

 
FeniX / Rebirth
 
FeniX was the new band of Lieluck’s vocalist You that somehow managed to last even shorter than Lieluck. I don’t have much to say about this band except that I love them while they lasted and if/when You decides to return with a new band he can be sure to count on my support.
 
 
#8

 
Parxias / Ark Night
 
Hikarito can’t seem to decide on the name of his band haha – Parxias was something like the 3rd of 4 names he has cycled through in 2016 alone. Before forming his first proper band AsteL, he was a roadie together with shun (vocalist of the unit Kakumei no Jouken) for vistlip and it isn’t hard to discern vistlip’s influence on his songwriting. I have absolutely zero doubt about his talents (he plays 5? instruments) and with time he will only become better.
 
 
#7

 
Rides In ReVellion / Another…
 
I always know what I’m going to get from RiR. Taji’s compositions are perfect for Kuro and this is no exception. A wonderful ballad that befits the occasion of their 1st anniversary oneman live.
 
 
#6

 
アタック！アタック！ / JUST A Virgin!
 
First thought: Pretty sure Taku wrote this… I might love it. Second thought: I love it. Third thought: I really love it. The perfect song for everyone to sing along to at the Goemon summer event where Attack!Attack! was the opening act. My guess is that they will continue to play this at their label’s 2-man lives in future as a theme song of some sort. Even for a distro I wish the production had been better – usually when I say this it means that it’s pretty bad because I simply don’t care about production as long as it doesn’t get in the way of listening.
 
 
#5

 
篠突く雨 / 葵
 
They already have like 4 distributed CDs since they formed but 葵 was by far the best of the bunch for me. A solid melody with the usual Japanesque elements you’d expect from Shinotsuku ame, it’s dramatic without being either brooding or cheesy. In truth, this isn’t even my favorite song from them – that would have to be 月光の檻, the B-side of  輝夜-kaguya-, their very strong debut release that I unfortunately couldn’t accommodate into my singles list above.
 
 
#4

 
-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ / 悪いのはバンドマン
 
Honestly I still can’t warm up to 80% of zigzag’s discography. I also don’t find their bangya jokes particularly amusing. My opinion might change if I see them live… we’ll see. But this song has such a strong tinge of Ray℃ (dat chorus…) that I can’t help but love it. I can go on and on but it would be about Ray℃ rather than zigzag so I’ll spare you all of that.
 
 
#3

 
FoLLoW / シアワセノカタチ
 
FoLLoW performed this for the first and last time at the final oneman, so this song has the same kind of emotional gravity for me as SINCREA’s RED. I feel that this might not be the strongest melody that Masashi has written in his career, but that’s an extremely trivial and nitpicky point when weighed against the occasion and what Masashi had clearly wanted to convey through their last song. He definitely succeeded; and one might argue he succeeded a little too well. I cannot.
 
 
#2

 
アンフィル / アクア
 
アクア is kind of a companion song to ラヴァ and it was given out at their 3rd oneman. Shogo said in an interview that this song could only have been written at a precise point in Anfiel’s career and that they could never do a song like this again. You can probably understand why that’s the case if you listen carefully to it. I love how forward-looking Anfiel is and the fact that they’re never content with status quo. Also, Shogo’s vocals <3 Have I told you that I love Shogo??
 
 
#1

 
THE SINK. / Snow fall season
 
THE SINK. has topped my ‘non-regular releases’ list for the second year running and I don’t know if that’s something I should be delighted or exasperated about. At this point I’m like 90% certain My Fairytale won’t be back anytime soon and I’m already bitterly resigned to that fact. The only silver lining is that neo is still sporadically writing new songs for Kate and THE SINK. is a semi-regular session (though for how long more… I’m unsure, after a grand total of FOUR people went to see them last month). I can’t remember the last time I’ve followed a session this closely. Give me more of this combination of Tokyo-Shitei-esque R&B beat with Kate’s soaring vocals taking flight, and I can only love them more (if that’s possible?)..
 

TOP 10 ALBUMS & MINI-ALBUMS
 
 
 
#10

 
ASTARIA / 未来のその先
 
ASTARIA is one of those bands that had always lingered on the peripheries of my attention, but I’ve definitely got into them more after seeing them live some time ago. The atmosphere their music conjures is pretty special (and has been since Black Klaxon). That said, I still think Rey's vocals are an acquired taste so give them some time to grow on you
 
 
#9

 
CLØWD / TENDERLOIN
 
I still don't get the album's title. But that's a very minor footnote to my favorite release from them to date. Tomorrowland is a tour de force that showcases the range of things Kou is capable of. If Ryohei can continue getting the best out of the rest of the band with his composition they should go pretty far with DC's push.
 
 
#8

 
GARAK'S / 革命
 
I wasn't sure how this band would work out when they formed with Juri as their vocalist (one of the airiest vocals in visual kei, with the possible exception of Rikuto) and syuma as their main composer (who generally excels at harder tracks). It's still early days, and only time can tell if this combination ultimately works, but their mini album was very promising. I hope Juri gets rid of whatever he's wearing on his head in the next look.
 
 
#7

 
DOG inThePWO / Doggy Style 0
 
I wish @Tetora was still around just so that I can tell him I finally fell in love with DOG! For all his relentless promotion it took a Christmas song for them to win me over LOL. I mean, this is only the most fun Christmas song ever <3 Has Haru always sounded this good?? Anyway, DOG is poised to change their concept this year and I'm excited and terrified in equal measure.
 
 
#6

 
Ichiyon / 140
 
Ichiyon's was a particularly painful disbandment for me to take because I always felt that they had the potential to do so so much more. They have a knack for writing melodies that I can't forget even if I tried. It's hard to say what went wrong but I really loved everything they have done. They also had some of the sweetest members.
 
 
#5

 
Luccica / ButterfLux
 
Another short-lived band that bit the dust before more people could get to know them. They didn't last long enough for me to form a strong impression of their band but this album was surprisingly refined and well thought through, especially considering they were newcomers to the scene. Bonus points for the pretty album art. I need Seiya back in a new band T_T
 
 
#4

 
ペンタゴン / 絶叫！
 
My interest in Pentagon took a slight hit after buying their full album (there were nice tracks but it just didn't work for me as a whole) but I'm glad I continued following them regardless because this mini is such a gem. 線香花火 is a perfect ballad and Teenage. is basically the kind of song I live for: autotuned vocals, the gradual buildup, the interruption by Chizuru's falsettos to summon words lost in the depths of memory to force himself to stand up once again... Teenage. sets up the liminal space of adolescence where one is forced to wake into a new tomorrow even as he indulges in the pathos of a backward glance.
 
 
#3

 
FoLLoW / FoLLoW
 
I don't think I need to provide a length commentary for this release since it speaks for itself. FoLLoW is an irreplaceable band for me and Masashi is just one of a kind. He's the sort of guy that draws in everyone around him (I mean, seriously, look at the number of bandmen who love him!!). When he talks/tweets/sings, everyone else listens. The album does a nice job at distilling the 3.5 years of FoLLoW and gives a nice taste of what the band is about, from their energetic rap tracks to heartbreaking ballads. So go listen.
 
 
#2

 
弾丸 NO LIMIT / マズル
 
Everything I've said about Dangan above applies equally here. Miyuu is magical. Every time I listen to him I die a little harder. Something about his voice really gets to me (in the good way). I need to see them live asap. I also need to see Yusuke asap. I hope they can fill O-West for their one-man next month because they deserve it.
 
 
#1

 
叙情四重奏「カノン」 / 写実と空想
 
Probably the biggest surprise all year. I still can't really explain why this is #1 for me but I'll try. Firstly, Kanon's music isn't really the kind I typically get into. Its plodding retro sound is reminiscent of bands like Belle and Marco--music that I don't mind putting on in the background occasionally but hardly the sort I have a great deal of emotional investment in. Actually, I don't even think that You is an extremely accomplished vocalist (he's still a sweetheart though). Yet I can't name another vocalist who can better serve the idea articulated by this album. Just like a classic Bradbury story, 写実と空想 evokes a mood that waxes and wanes through the album, with individual tracks functioning like vignettes through which one glimpses at a totality that actually doesn't exist. The album's title (which translates into 'realism and fantasy' - echoing a famous work by the Surrealist painter Koga Harue) gives us a clue into what this album is about. Its ponderous style invites equal introspection from the listener. If you do just that, you might be rewarded with a moment at the limit of experience - there, one is suspended between past and present, teetering on the edge of fiction and reality, waiting for an eternity to be seized in an instant...