Angelo to Release Live DVD 5/23

Angelo will be releasing a live DVD and documentary on May 23. The DVD live will feature an October 4th live performance from the band's recent tour and will be called "CORNERSTONE OF THE FORBIDDEN TOWER" LIVE ＆ DOCUMENT - Code -. They are now taking pre-orders until April 23 in the band's online shop.

Angelo OHP news here
Angelo web shop here

SuG Nico Nico Show #12 to Air 4/2

SuG will be appearing in their 12th Nico Nico Live show on Monday, April 2 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The title of the show is 『無修正SuGでShow』.  It is possible that they might air a PV preview of "Howling Magic" during the show. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who are not able to watch the show live.

SuG Show to air here

Called≠Plan Dances on YouTube

Called≠Plan has an official YouTube channel where the members demonstrate dances to accompany certain songs. The CalledPlanOfficial channel currently features dances for "Kimi Piece" and "Dance --> Wing." These tracks are from the band's March 7 release of "NO Yancha!! NO Life!!"

CalledPlanOfficial channel here

Black Gene for the Next Scene on Hear Japan

Global music download site Hear Japan 2.0 is now featuring an MP3 single download by new band, Black Gene for the Next Scene. The song is called "shinjitsunotsubasa." The band, formed in 2011, has recently been featured on Akemi Oshima's Viju☆Love☆Cafe. This digital single is the band's first downloadable track.

Black Gene for the Next Scene OHP here
Download "shinjitsunotsubasa" at Hear Japan here

"Flash of vistlip" Vol. 2 to Air 4/4

The second edition of vistlip's show, "Flash of vistlip," will air April 4 via the musicJAPANplus Ustream channel. The episode promises to celebrate the band's 8th single release, "Recipe." The show will air at 21:00 JST (convert time here).

musicJAPANplus airing details here

Next Nightmare Nico Nico Airs 4/17

Nightmare’s next appearance on their Nico Nico web show, “Bakuretsu! Nightmare,” will be Tuesday, April 17. The show airs at 23:00 JST (convert time here). Nico Nico registered members may time shift if they cannot watch the live show.

"Bakuretsu! Nightmare" airs here

D "Mad tea party" MAGAZINE Vol. 12

D will be releasing a "Mad tea party" MAGAZINE Vol. 12 on April 25. The issue will feature D on the front cover and Versailles on the back. Other guest artists will include Dolly, FEST VAINQUEUR, Awoi, Black Gene for the Next Scent, Lc5, Kaya, Matenrou Opera, Lin, and Kiryu. They will also be issuing a special photo book the same day, featuring the same guest artists plus Ruiza.

D OHP news here

Rock and Read 041 on Sale 4/25

Music magazine Rock and Read announced on its blog that issue 041 will be released on April 25. Cover artist for the issue will be Uruha of the GazettE. Other featured artists will be:  Takeru (SuG), KENZO (AYABIE), Tsurugi (Sadie), Yusuke (lynch.), Nii (girugamesh), YUKI (Versailles), Yo (Matenrou Opera), Ibuki (D=Out), Tohya (vistlip), BAN ( lolita 23q), and RYUICHI (Guild).

Rock and Read blog here

DIR EN GREY to Release Two New DVDs

DIR EN GREY announced that they will be releasing two back-to-back live DVDs of their "Tour2011 AGE QUOD AGIS" shows. Vol. 1, to be released on June 20, will include footage of their Europe and Japan tours. Vol. 2, to be released on July 18, will feature the band's U.S. and Japan shows. The DVDs will be released in both DVD and Blu-ray, as well as Limited and Regular Editions

DIR EN GREY OHP here
DIR EN GREY releases at CD Japan here

lynch. to Release New Album

lynch. announced on their OHP that will be releasing a new album on June 6. The new album will be the band's sixth, and it is yet to be titled.

lynch. OHP here
Album Limited Edition at CD Japan here
Album Regular Edition at CD Japan here

Viju☆Love☆Cafe Will Air 4/1

Viju☆Love☆Cafe, hosted by Akemi Oshima and Biju the cat, will air episode number ten on Sunday, April 1, 2012. The program airs online at Visu-a-land.TV and starts at 14:00 JST (convert time here). The episode will also be rebroadcast at 24:00 JST on the same day, and an on-demand digest version will be available on Saturday, April 7 at 21:00 JST. Guests will include LM.C, Inzagi (Megamasso), You (Matenrou Opera), Daiki&Dye (Lost Ash), HIKARU.&Kouichi (Kamereo), vistlip, Awoi, AUBE, PENICILLIN, Scarlet Valse, Nana:[shi] (Germany).

Viju☆Love☆Cafe will air here

AUBE to Release First Mini Album

AUBE will release their first mini album on March 28. The new album will be called "Chemical Circus," and it will be released in two types.

AUBE OHP here
"Chemical Circus" Limited Edition (w/DVD) at CD Japan here
"Chemical Circus" Regular Edition at CD Japan here

Poltergeist to Release New Single

Poltergeist will release their fourth maxi single on March 28. The new single will include two tracks, and it will be called "Holic."

Poltergeist OHP here
"Holic" pre-order at CD Japan here

Update: YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz DVD Releases

Back in January, we brought you news of two new live DVD releases from YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz. Since that report, the release date has changed to April 18. The two DVDs will feature different live performances from the "World Tour *SHOW UR SOUL. I*" tour through Japan and Europe. One DVD will include the band's November 6, 2011 Japan Tour Final at Makuhari Messe, and the other will feature the August 3, 2011 European Tour Final in Berlin, Germany. Both sets will include 13 tracks.

YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz will also be appearing on Fuji TVs 「もしモシアーズ」(Moshi Moshi Azu) on April 7 at 18:30 JST (convert time here).

YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz OHP here
Japan Tour Final DVD at CD Japan here
European Tour Final DVD at CD Japan here

exist†trace Interview at JaME

Japanese Music website JaME is currently hosting an English interview with exist†trace featuring comments about their recent U.S. East coast tour and their upcoming "Virgin" album. The interview was conducted before the band began their tour, and it includes comments from all five members.

JaME interview with exist†trace here

SuG Creates Official YouTube

SuG has created an Official YouTube Channel. The channel is called "SuG Official Channel" under the user name "39official". They have already uploaded two videos to promote the band's new live DVD release and linked to 10 full PV videos (under the "ponycanyon" user account). Don't forget to subscribe to be notified when new videos are posted!

SuG OHP news release here
SuG Official YouTube here

DecoLa Hopping to Release New Single

DecoLa Hopping will be releasing a new single on March 28. The new release will be called "Bon Voyage!" The special single will commemorate the band's first anniversary and comes with a DVD including live footage from their December One Man Live at Holiday Nagoya.

DecoLa Hopping OHP here
"Bon Voyage!" pre-order at CD Japan here

ISK;M to Release New Single

ISK;M will be releasing a new single on March 28. The new single, the band's third, will be called "U&D M.C-+P". The band's OHP states that the single will be released in two types, but many online retailers advertise only one.

ISK;M OHP here
"U&D M.C-+P" pre-order at CD Japan here

Avidit. to Release New Single

Avidit. will be releasing a new single on March 28. The new single will be called "Psalms of Planet," and it will be released in two types.

Avidit. OHP here
"Psalms of Planet" Limited Edition (w/DVD) at CD Japan here
"Psalms of Planet" Regulare Edition at CD Japan here

Update: Lc5 Album Titled

Earlier we announced that Lc5 will be releasing a new album on March 28. At the time, the album, the band's first, was still untitled, but since then the album has been titled "Lchronicle." This album will include the band's latest single release, "Only You - Kimi tono Kizuna."

Lc5 OHP here
"Lchronicle" Limited Edition (w/DVD) pre-order at CD Japan here
"Lchronicle" Regular Edition pre-order at CD Japan here

One★Star to Release New Single

One★Star will release a new single on March 28. The new single will be called "Magical Misfits Fantasy" and will be released in three types called Magical, Misfits, and Fantasy.

One★Star OHP here
"Magical Misfits Fantasy" Magical Version at CD Japan here
"Magical Misfits Fantasy" Misfits Version at CD Japan here
"Magical Misfits Fantasy" Fantasy Version at CD Japan here

Golden Bomber Nico Nico Show Airs 3/27

All Golden Bomber members will appear in their monthly Nico Nico show on March 27. The show begins at 24:00 JST (convert time here). Registered Nico Nico members may time shift for later viewing if they are not able to watch the show live.

Show airs here

Acid Black Cherry Offering Free Single Download

Acid Black Cherry just updated the OHP with information about a free song for download. The song 「君がいるから」(Kimi ga Iru kara) is being called a "0th Single," since it seems to have been produced before debuting as Acid Black Cherry. The download comes with a special jacket image and handwritten lyrics.

News on the OHP here
Download information here

The ViViD Style Nico Nico to Air 3/20

ViViD will appear in their Nico Nico show, The ViViD Style, on Tuesday, March 20. The show will air at 21:30 JST (convert time here). Registered Nico Nico members may use the time shift function if they are not able to watch the live show.

The ViViD Style to air here

SuG Nico Nico Show #11 to Air 3/26

SuG will be appearing in their 11th Nico Nico Live show on Monday, March 26 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The title of the show is 『無修正SuGでShow』. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who are not able to watch the show live.

SuG Show to air here

New Releases for 3/21

Several bands will be releasing new items on March 21 (Band names link to OHPs and release types link to item information at CD Japan):

Singles

OZ / Stigma [Types A, B, and C]
Scapegoat / fantasia
Lustknot / Veronica
Solaris.★ / Tsubasa [Limited and Regular]

Albums

Acid Black Cherry / 2012 [Types A, B, and C]

BORN to Release Another New Single

BORN announced via their OHP that they will be releasing another new single on July 4. The new single will be called "Blasted Animals" and will be released in both limited and regular editions. No further sales details are available yet. This year the band has already released a full-length album, "Vigour," and a new single, "Radical Hysteria," will be released tomorrow.

BORN OHP here

Lolita 23q to Release New Album

Lolita 23q will be releasing a new album on March 21. The new album, "World end's Galaxy," will include 12 tracks and a DVD.

Lolita 23q OHP here
"World end's Galaxy" pre-order at CD Japan here

D Announces Global Fan Club

D recently announced that they will be opening a global fan club. musicJAPANplus will be hosting the fan club, called "Ultimate lover Global." Registration is not yet open, but fans can still sign up for e-mail news alerts to stay up to date with fan club activities.

D's Ultimate lover Global registration page here

Aurora Sannin Musume Airs Video Short #6

Worldnettv has just made a sixth short video clip from Aurora Sannin Musume's Viju☆Love☆Night antics available on their official YouTube channel.

Video #6 on YouTube here

SHUN. Posts New Article on Visulog

SHUN., guitarist from THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S, has just posted the third article in his regular Visulog.jp column, "SHUN.'S FAVORITE THINGS." The articles appear both in Japanese and in English. This time we learn about soccer obsessions and get a sneak peek at bass player ZERO.

SHUN.'S FAVORITE THINGS here

Nightmare's Sakito to Release Book

Nightmare's guitarist Sakito will be releasing a book of his travel articles from BPASS on March 31. The book, titled "Zoku Donkou Ikuno? Gojyuuon no Tabi," is a sequel to the musician's previous book,  "Donko Ikuno? - Gojyuuon no Tabi, " and includes photographs and a DVD.

Book for pre-order at CD Japan here
Book for pre-order at Shinko Music here

Next Nightmare Nico Nico Airs 3/27

Nightmare’s next appearance on their Nico Nico web show, “Bakuretsu! Nightmare,” will be Tuesday, March 27. The show airs at 23:00 JST (convert time here). Nico Nico registered members may time shift if they cannot watch the live show.

"Bakuretsu! Nightmare" airs here

Band Feature: BugLug

BugLug is a 5-member band that formed in November 2009 from several ex-members of the band Ruvie. By January 2010, they had released their first mini-album, "Super Nova.” Since then, BugLug has released six singles, including the latest release on February 22, 2012, called “Guillotine.”

Members:

Vocalist: Issei
Guitar: Kazuki
Guitar: Yuu
Bass: Tsubame
Drums: Masaumi

BugLug OHP here
Agency Official YouTube Channel here

Blogs:

Issei Official Blog here
Kazuki Official Blog here
Yuu Official Blog here
Tsubame Official Blog here
Masaumi Official Blog here

Twitter:

Official Band Twitter here

Alice Nine Channel Airs 4/22

The next air date for Alice Nine's Nico Nico program, "Alice9 Channel," is April 22, 2012. The program airs at 23:00 JST (convert time zones). Registered Nico Nico members may timeshift for later viewing.

Alice Nine Channel gate here

SuG #10 Nico Nico Show to Air 3/24

SuG will be appearing in their 10th Nico Nico Live show on Saturday, March 24 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The title of the show is 『無修正SuGでShow』. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who are not able to watch the show live.

SuG Show to air here

HearJapan Hosts Free 3/11 Single

On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered a terrible tragedy when the country experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami. The loss of lives, properties, and security that day--and the days immediately following--was immeasurable. The world mourned with them, as the people of Japan picked up the pieces and moved forward with their lives.

Now, one year later, the musicians we love are finding ways to give back and offer remembrance for things lost that day. Currently, global music download site HearJapan is offering a free download of a song titled "Fuku," produced by i-dep and featuring the English words of Shing02. The song was created to commemorate the tragedy and to spread uplifting feelings of healing. The single will be available only until March 18.

HearJapan Press Release here
Fuku single here

exist†trace Talks about American Tour

Jyou (vo.) and Mally (dr.) of exist†trace released a video comment via the musicJAPANplus official YouTube Channel. They talk about their upcoming U.S. tour, as well as the band's new album, "Virgin." The band will begin touring the U.S. East Coast on March 15, with stops in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburg. The new album will be released May 23.

Official YouTube comment here
Band and tour info here
"Virgin" Limited Edition (w/DVD) pre-order at CD Japan here
"Virgin" Regular Edition pre-order at CD Japan here

SHOXX 231 On Sale 3/21

Music magazine SHOXX will be released on March 21. This month's cover artist will be the GazettE, following their 10th Anniversary activities. Other included artists are Nightmare, Arimura Ryuutarou (Plastic Tree), Shin (ViViD), LM.C., Lolita 23 qu, Lc5, Sadie, Kra, THE KIDDIE, Versailles, vistlip, Kiryuu, and more.

SHOXX 231 web announcement here
SHOXX 231 at JP to U here

UVERworld to Release New DVD & Single

UVERworld will be releasing a new live DVD on April 4. "UVERworld 2011 Premium LIVE on Xmas" will be released in limited and regular editions on April 4. Blu-Ray fans will get the chance to buy on May 2. The DVD features performances from the live held on December 25, 2011, and depending on the edition, there is also footage from the band's July 21 show at ZEPP Sendai or July 27 show at ZEPP Tokyo.

In addition, the band will be releasing a new single on March 28. The "7th Trigger" single--the band's 21st--will be released in limited and regular editions.

UVERworld OHP here
UVERworld items for pre-order at CD Japan here

Screw TV Airs 3/29

Screw TV Vol. 18 will air on USTREAM on Thursday, March 29 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The show airs via the musicJAPANplus USTREAM channel, and they are accepting questions for the band to answer during the show.

Screw TV airs here
musicJAPANplus announcement here

SuG Nico Nico Show to Air 3/12

SuG will be appearing in their Nico Nico Live show on Monday, March 12 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The title of the show is 『無修正SuGでShow』. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who are not able to watch the show live.

SuG Show to air here

Alice Nine to Release New Video DVD

Alice Nine announced via their OHP news that they will be releasing a third collection of music PVs. The new collection will be called "alice in pictures III" and will be released on June 6. The last DVD the band produced featuring music video clips was "alice in pictures II," released in 2008. The new collection is expected to include the band's music videos from RAINBOWS forward.

Alice Nine OHP news here

Cheer-UP With Kra TV Airs 3/12

MusicJAPANplus will be hosting the third volume of "Cheer-UP with Kra TV!" on Monday, March 12 at 20:00 JST (convert time here).

MusicJAPANplus announcement here
"Cheer-UP with Kra TV!" will air here

BORN TV Vol 4 Airs 3/9

The fourth episode of BORN TV, hosted by musicJAPANplus, will air Friday, March 9 at 21:00 JST (convert time here) via its USTREAM channel. Follow the @enmjptv Twitter account to get English translations during the live broadcast

BORN TV airs here
MJP TV announcement here

Aurora Sannin Musume Airs Video Short #5

Worldnettv has just made a fifth short video clip from Aurora Sannin Musume's Viju☆Love☆Night antics available on their official YouTube channel.

Video #5 on YouTube here

ViViD to Release First Artist Book

ViViD will be releasing their first artist book on March 15. Titled "Pieces," the book will include photographs, concert reports, interviews, and Budokan details, as well as other information that celebrates the band's career so far.

ViViD OHP here
"Pieces" book pre-order at CD Japan here

D=OUT to Release New Single

On the heels of their MUSIC NIPPON album, D=OUT has just announced via their OHP that they will be releasing a new single. The new single 「あいするひと」* will be released on May 2.

D=OUT OHP here
CD single pre-order at CD Japan here

*Editor's note: The translation of this hiragana title would seem to me to be something like "The Person I Love" or "Loved One," but CD Japan has translated it as "Love Story."

ROCK AND READ Releases First Special Volume

Music magazine ROCK AND READ will be issuing its first ever special volume. ROCK AND READ eyes will be available in March 2012, and it will feature the GazettE, Alice Nine, LM.C, Versailles, vistlip, and more.

ROCK AND READ eyes at CD Japan here

BUCK-TICK to Release Boxed Sets

In celebration of their 25th anniversary, BUCK-TICK will be releasing two boxed CD sets covering the band's career. The "CATALOGUE VICTOR→MERCURY 87-99" and "CATALOGUE ARIOLA 00-10" boxed sets will be released on March 7 in multiple types. BUCK-TICK has also created a special website devoted to 25th anniversary information.

BUCK-TICK 25th Anniversary OHP here
BUCK-TICK items at CD Japan here

MUCC on Nico Nico 3/9

MUCC will be airing another special on Nico Nico on March 9. The show will celebrate the release of the band's new "Nirvana" single, the current theme for the Inu x Boku Secret Service anime. The show airs at 20:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who cannot watch the airing live.

MUCC special aris here

SuG Nico Nico Airs 3/5

SuG will be appearing in a Nico Nico Live show on Monday, March 5 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). The title of the show is 『無修正SuGでShow』. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who are not able to watch the show live.

SuG Show to air here

Nightmare to Release New DVD

Nightmare announced on their OHP that they will be featured in a  new DVD coming out May 25. The new DVD footage is from the band's recent Space Shower TV appearances, and it will be called "Konya mo ○○ Nightmare ~ TV dewa Housou Sare na Katta ○○ mo Haitte Imasu ~". The 2-disc set will include 120 minutes of footage from the show and 70 minutes of other special footage. Further sales details are not yet available.

Nightmare OHP here

Matenrou Opera New Album

Matenrou Opera announced earlier on their OHP that they would be releasing a new full-length album in 2012, but at that time the album was still untitled. That album, now titled "Justice," will be released on March 7. "Justice" will feature 13 songs.

Matenrou Opera OHP here
"Justice" pre-order at CD Japan here