Aya

My thoughts too... this feels like an ominous "best of" release

Oh wow... the 7 track mini-album is like the holy grail of CDs O_O Thanks for the link to the 4 track mini-album. I never though to check old posts and it never came up in web searches. Hmm... it seems to be a youtube rip though (their specs are nearly identical to the youtube videos that use to be public). Of course, a youtube rip is better than nothing... but hopefully a direct CD rip will eventually surface (wishful thinking LoL) Those are some very amazing favorite song choices you have too .... it's impossible to pick just one song LoL

Yeah, I found out about HAZZE and Gaku's father when I was searching for more information on Purple Stone (back in 2013). They were so new at the time, most of the information I could find was on HAZZE. And 95% was in Japanese, so I only part-way understood it LoL Didn't HAZZE only release one mini-album when they first formed in 2010? If I remember right, I think it was limited to 100 or 500 copies. I bet that CD is more than impossible to find now .... Oh, and they were also on a Christmas compilation album. Yep, I don't mind having fewer releases if they're quality ones... but it's always in the back of my mind that if a band hasn't released new music in awhile, they're in trouble/going to break-up. It's hard to break that mentality when 98% of VK bands follow that pattern. It's good to hear that CRIMZON bands might be in the minority that don't LoL Hmmm.... favorite song. That's difficult to pick only one.... I'm always partial to the first song that really catches my attention - "Scar" in this case. But I'm also REALLY loving Hysteric Lady from their latest single.

I'm in.... I LOVE Purple Stone. They're definitely one of my favorite new bands. Although, I guess they're not really "new" anymore... has it really been almost 2 years since Purple Stone began?! Time really flies.... plus, since all three of them were in another non-VK band (HAZZE) right before forming 'Purple Stone'.... it seems even longer LoL And I second what paradoxal said - I can't wait for them to announce a new release. I need more new music!!! I hope 2015 will be an amazing year for them since 2014 was such a troubled year (with keiya's throat problems). Fun fact: GAK's father was the guitarist for an 80's Japanese band called MAKE-UP. Their most famous song was "Pegasus Fantasy", which was the original OP for the anime Saint Seiya. Seems like music ability runs in the family and it's definitely in GAK's blood

Bands often give out promo and/or demo versions of singles (or sometimes just the main song) before the release date.... to friends, to other musicians, to news media, to radio, etc etc. If what Floor said is correct, it sounds like a demo version was leaked by someone who got an advanced copy. Or maybe it was a promo copy of the actual single and when she said this leaked version "sounds unlike the real thing" ... maybe she meant the leaked version is a low quality, multi-transcoded poor representation of the high quality CD version.

The title of TMR's new album has been revealed to be 「天」 (ten, meaning heaven/sky). Also, the release date has been changed and will no longer be March 25th. Although the new date has not been announced yet.

So, it looks like there IS going to be a new PV after all... although it's still not clear if it'll be included on the DVD with the others. But it is a new song from the album and its name: エストエム (translation: S&M). Oh Yasu! Also, as of 12/24, the album is about 65% finished LoL

O-EAST holds about 1300 people, but this event is going to be held over three venues: O-EAST, O-WEST (~600 people), and O-CREST (~200 people). All these venues are in the same area... O-EAST & O-CREST are in the same complex and O-WEST is across the street. People who purchase a ticket are able to go freely between the venues.

Which song? INCUBUS? If so, the single was shared here: http://monochrome-heaven.com/index.php?/topic/31164-acid-black-cherry-incubus-20141022-itunes/ And I'm over a month late adding this, but 2012 was also a concept album (i.e., every album has been a concept album). In fact, ABC itself has an overlying theme, so you can say it's a concept too LoL And I'm REALLY looking forward to this album, I can't wait for it to be released. Although, I sorta agree with ishiki about the LE contents. While I wouldn't say I'm disappointed... I just wish the Project "Shangri-La" footage would have been released by itself as a Live DVD set. And the LE albums would have followed the same pattern as his previous albums - Type 1: PVs + Special Edit PVs + off shoot/interview and Type 2: concert footage and sometimes offshoot/special footage. But Yasu seems to be breaking with tradition (a little bit, anyway). INCUBUS was the first single he's released that has included Live footage on the CD+DVD version.

So excited... can't wait for this!!

Actually, a while ago I found a VAJRA live report that pretty much confirms it's true.... http://twistedintokyo.blogspot.com/2010/05/vajra-2nd-oneman-ls-last-show.html I still don't know what to think of Eru. I have to admit, I really enjoy Awake... but this did give me pause. However, in the end, I won't let the past actions of one person spoil a whole band for me. I just hope that whatever issues Eru. has (or if it was just an act taken WAAAY too far)... that he's wised up.

Looking forward to this

I have to agree with ricchubunny. CD sales are NOT a good indication for how successful a band is. To get the most accurate picture, the best place to look is the venue capacity for their one-man lives. I think there's been a couple threads. Although, right off the top of my head is this one that I've saved because of all the live house size information it has: Japanese Live Houses Order To Success.

Correction here. They're not ranked by popularity/success. They're ranked by seniority (i.e., the major artists are ranked in order of when they went major). That's how they've always listed their artists and why ViViD is before D=OUT. ViViD went major in January 2011 and D=OUT in summer 2011.

I'm SO happy to hear this and that he's feeling better