ROCK AND READ Announced 072 Lineup

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 072, due to hit stores June 21. The front cover artist for this issue will be Kyo (sukekiyo), and the back cover artist will be Sakito (JAKIGAN MEISTER). Other featured artists will be: KOHTA (Angelo), Ken Ken (Plastic Tree), KAMIJO (Versailles), Ruiza (D), You (BugLug), Natsu (NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST), Atsuki (Pentagon), Kousuke (LEZARD), Kuga (LIPHLICH), and kyo (D'ERLANGER).

ROCK AND READ blog here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (June 5, 2017)
NO LISTINGS
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (June 5, 2017)
NO LISTINGS

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (May 29, 2017)
#7   Oshimai/ Kizu
#15 Kimi ga Yo wa/ Merry Bad End
#17 kiss me,girl,and your old one/ Merry Bad End
#19 Castrato/ KAMIJO
#20 Frontier/ umbrella

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 29, 2017)
#5   Unlimited Diffusion/ Aldious
#9   GORILLA/ Pentagon
#13 Hayazumi berrys/ Smileberry
#20 Nihon Abnormal Kyoukai/ R-Shitei

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

i.Rias New Single Release 9/6

i.Rias has announced that they will release a new single on September 6. The new single will be titled "SWIMMY," and it will be released in two types. Track details aren't listed yet, but the band has added a PV spot to their OHP.

i.Rias single release page here

Rayflower New Single Release 7/19

Rayflower has announced that they will be releasing a new single on July 19. The new single will be titled "Bloom Moment," and it will contain two songs along with instrumental versions. Track details are on the band's OHP. This will be the band's first single release since "Saigishin" in September 2015.

Rayflower OHP here

ZON New Single Release 8/16

ZON has announced that they will be releasing their fifth single on August 16. The new single will be titled "MR. GONG," and it will contain three songs plus a PV DVD. Track details aren't listed yet.

ZON OHP here

Belle New Single Release 6/21

Belle have announced that they will be releasing the third of three consecutive months of releases on June 21. The new single will be titled "Bokutachi wa Massugu ni Yugande Yuku," and it will be released in two types. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

Belle OHP here

SuG New Document Video on YouTube

SuG has added a new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features nearly five minutes of live footage and document commentary from guitarist Yuji. The video also includes Japanese subtitles.

SuG video on YouTube here

the Raid. Furitsuke Video on YouTube

the Raid. has added another new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features band members demonstrating furitsuke choeography to accompany the song "Ame to Muchi" from their "Gomen nasai" single.

"Ame to Muchi" furi video on YouTube here

GREMLINS New Single Release 7/26

GREMLINS has announced that they will release their fifth single on July 26. The new single will be titled "FLYAWAY," and it will be released in two types. Exact track details for coupling songs aren't available yet.

GREMLINS OHP here

Vexent 1st Album Release 8/2

Vexent has announced that they will release their first full album on August 2. The album will be titled "VICTIM," and it will contain 12 song tracks. Details are available on the band's OHP.

Vexent OHP here

Fixer New Mini Album Release 6/21

Fixer has announced that they will be releasing a new mini album on June 21. The new release will be titled "Libra," and it will be released in two types. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

Fixer OHP here

GE+IM 1st Album Release 5/31

GE+IM has announced that they will release their first full album on May 31. The new album will be titled "Steroid," and it will include 12 song tracks. Details for the release are available on the band's OHP.

GE+IM OHP here

CHISATO Best Album Release 6/7

CHISATO of PENICILLIN has announced that he will release a best album on June 7. The new release will be titled "CHISATO~20th ANNIVERSARY BEST ALBUM 'Can you Rock?!'" and it will be released in two types. The CD will contain 15 re-recorded songs chosen by fans plus one new song called "Can you Rock?!" Track details are listed in the artist's blog.

CHISATO blog here

LEZARD Sinlge Release Update

Earlier LEZARD announced that they would release a new single on July 26, but they had not yet decided on a title. The band has now updated their OHP with news that the single will be titled "Manatsu no Junjo to Revolution," and it will be released in three types. Only the title single track has been announced.

LEZARD OHP here

MORRIGAN New Mini Album Release 5/24

MORRIGAN has just released their newest mini album today, May 24th. The new release is titled "XISS IN THE DARK," but track details aren't available on the band's OHP. There is an album PV spot on YouTube, as well as a sound source video digest.

"XISS IN THE DARK" PV spot on YouTube here
"XISS IN THE DARK" sound source video digest on YouTube here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (May 29, 2017)
NO LISTINGS
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 29, 2017)
#44 Unlimited Diffusion/ Aldious

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (May 22, 2017)
#3   Castrato/ KAMIJO
#5   CIRCUS CIRCUS (Sorrow The CLOWN)/ THE BEETHOVEN
#8   Ikizu LIFE!!/ Kameleo
#10 #CD ga Urenai Konna Yononaka ja/ Golden Bomber
#12 Kono Sekai wa Owari da./ Codomo Dragon
#14 Bakuchi/Sakigake swallowtail/ D=OUT
#17 RAVEN/ Royz

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 22, 2017)
#1   Unlimited Diffusion/ Aldious
#5   SCREAMY/ MEJIBRAY
#17 GORILLA/ Pentagon

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Sick2 Furitsuke Video on YouTube

Sick2 have a furitsuke video available on their official YouTube channel. The video features the furi choreography to accompany the song "Guri x Guri." It includes a slow introduction and description of the moves before members demonstrate the moves with a music track background. "Guri x Guri" is a song that is on the band's newest full-album release titled "ENIACMANIAC."

Sick2 furi video on YouTube here

ZON Full PV on YouTube

Planet Child Music has a full-version PV for ZON available on its official YouTube channel. The upload features the full-version music video for the song titled "check it out" from the band's March 15 release of the same name.

"check it out" PV on YouTube here

Azero Lyric Video on YouTube

Azero has added a new video to its official YouTube channel. The new video features a lyric video for the band's song titled "Raise wa Aisaremasu you ni" from their recently released sixth single of the same name. That single was released on May 7.

Azero video on YouTube here

the Raid. Furitsuke Video on YouTube

the Raid. has added a new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features band members demonstrating furitsuke choeography to accompany the song "Ese Cinderella" from their "Gomen nasai" single.

"Ese Cinderella" furi video on YouTube here

Anfiel New Single Release 8/16

Anfiel has announced that they will release their seventh single on August 16. The new single will be titled "Hotaru no Hitomi," and it will be released in two types. No other details are available yet.

Anfiel OHP here

SID New Single Release 8/2

SID has announced that they will release a new single on August 2. The new single will be titled "Rasen no Yume," and it will be released in three types. Track details aren't available yet. The song has been selected as the opening theme for the anime "Shoukoku no Altair" which will begin airing on TV in Japan in July.

SID OHP here

heidi. New Single Release 7/19

heidi. has announced that they will release a new single on July 19. The new single will be titled "Sunset Blue," and it will be released in two types. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

heidi. OHP here

XAA XAA New Single Release 7/26

XAA XAA has announced that they will release a new single on July 26. The new single will be titled "○と×" ("Maru to Batsu"), and it will include two songs and a bonus DVD. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

XAA XAA OHP here

the Raid. Single Spot on YouTube

the Raid. has added a new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features a PV spot for the song titled "Gomen nasai" That song appears on a new venue-limited single release which will be available during the group's upcoming 47 prefecture tour.

the Raid. video on YouTube here

CLØWD New Video on YouTube

Danger Crue Records has added a new video for CLØWD to its official YouTube channel. The new video features the second episode of a talk series for the band titled "CLØWD Zukan." This episode features bicycle riding with GOPRO cameras.

 
CLØWD video on YouTube here

Versailles DVD Release 6/28

Versailles has announced that they will release a new live DVD on June 28. The new release will feature performances from their "CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES AT NIPPONBUDOKAN" show on February 14. There will be a limited edition and a regular edition release.

Versailles OHP here

LACK-CO. One Coin Single Release 6/28

LACK-CO. has announced that they will be releasing a new one coin single on June 28. The new single will be titled "Dobunezumi Sanka," and it will be released in two versions.

LACK-CO. Twitter here

Yoshiki Surgery Successful

Yoshiki, solo composer and drummer for X JAPAN, recently underwent surgery to repair injuries to his spine that were caused by his intense drumming. Today his official website issued a statement that the musician's surgery went well, and he is in stable condition. The statement also warns that Yoshiki will have difficulty using his voice for awhile, but that should recover within a few months. Recovery itself will take up to six months. Against medical advice, Yoshiki persuaded doctors to release him from the hospital only a few hours after surgery, and he returned to his studio briefly before staff and a nurse encouraged him to return home for rest. Fans can find the full statement in Japanese and English on his OHP.

Yoshiki news here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (May 22, 2017)
#13 Butterfly Effect/ SID
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 22, 2017)
#13 Unlimited Diffusion/ Aldious
#20 13/ cali≠gari
#38 SCREAMY/ GOTCHAROCKA

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (May 15, 2017)
#7   Ikizu LIFE!!/ Kameleo
#9   #CD ga Urenai Konna Yononaka ja/ Golden Bomber
#11 Bakuchi/Sakigake swallowtail/ D=OUT
#13 Watashi wa Kirai, Sarugutsuwa no Ningyo/ Kiryu

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 15, 2017)
#4   "SM #2"/ MEJIBRAY
#12 Nihon Abnormal Kyokai/ R-Shitei
#20 HEART/ DOG inThe PWO

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Shellmy 1st Album Release 7/19

Shellmy will release their first full album on July 19. The new album will be titled "Bokura no Zankoku Gekijou," and track details are available on the band's OHP. In addition, there is a PV spot for the song titled "Kanashii Hi wa Itsumo Ame" on the Danger Crue Records official YouTube channel.

Shellmy PV spot on YouTube here
Shellmy OHP here

LEZARD New Single Release 7/26 & DVD

LEZARD has announced that they will release a new single on July 26. The new release doesn't have a title yet, and no details are available. The band will also be participating in a new Resistar Records PRESENTS "Chigaihouken -Shinshun dayo Zen'in Shuugou!!2017-" DVD, featuring Dangan NO LIMIT, LEZARD, Blu-BiLLioN, DOG inThe PWO, and BugLug.

LEZARD OHP here

REIGN New Single Release 6/7

REIGN has announced that they will release a new single on June 7. The new single will be titled "COBALT," and it will be released in two types. A full-version PV for the song titled "VENOM" is currently available on the band's YouTube channel. Track details are listed in the video's comments area.

REIGN PV on YouTube here

SuG Announce New EP Release 7/5

SuG has announced that they will be releasing a new sound source EP on July 5. The new release will be titled "AGAKU," and it will contain three songs and an SE. It will be released in three types. Track and bonus details are available on the band's OHP.

SuG OHP here

Codomo Dragon New Single Release 7/12

Codomo Dragon has announced that they will release their 11th single on July 12. The new single will be titled "Dokumushi," and it will be released in four types. Track details for each type are available on the band's OHP.

Codomo Dragon OHP here

Develop One's Faculties New Single Release 7/5

Develop One's Faculties will release a new single on July 5. The new single will be titled "My World," and it will include two new songs. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

Develop One's Faculties OHP here

MEJIBRAY Announces Hiatus

MEJIBRAY  has announced via their OHP that they will be going on hiatus this year. They thank fans for their support, and they apologize for the inconvenience. They do not announce a specific date or reason for the hiatus, nor do they say when they might resume activity next year.

MEJIBRAY OHP here

Help V STAR PROMOTION Promote Visual Kei

V STAR PROMOTION, an Osaka-based company that promotes increasing worldwide knowledge and access to visual bands, is asking fans worldwide to tell them about the visual scene where you live. V STAR PROMOTION is currently asking fans to tell them about music festivals and conventions that occur near where they live. The company also wants to enlist your help in contacting the organizers of those events to let them know you're interested in seeing visual kei bands from Japan. They list their contact information so that you can share V STAR PROMOTION information with friends and with event promoters who might want to contact them directly. The company currently promotes bands like Rides in ReVellion, Deviloof, Morrigan, ART ELICIA, Azlina, KilloneX, and BLAZE.

V STAR PROMOTION Facebook announcement here
V STAR PROMOTION  OHP here

Anli Pollicino Live Video on YouTube

Zany Zap has added a new video for Anli Pollicino to its official YouTube channel. The new video features a live stage performance of the song "Junketsu CRUSH" from the band's show at TSUTAYA O-EAST on November 20, 2016.

Anli Pollicino video on YouTube here

the Raid. Furitsuke Video on YouTube

the Raid. has added a new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features band members demonstrating furitsuke choeography to accompany the song "Urameshiya" from their upcoming August 2 release.

"Urameshiya" furi video on YouTube here

KAMIJO New Release Trailer on YouTube

KAMIJO has added a new video to his official YouTube channel. The new video features a movie trailer promoting his new solo single release titled "Castrato." That single was just released on May 10 in three types. Track details are available in the video's description area.

Kamijo "Castrato" video trailer on YouTube here

Esprit D'Air New Album Release 6/30

Esprit D'Air will be releasing their new album on June 30. The new album will be titled "Constellations," and it will include a total of eight (8) song tracks. The band has added a song sample album preview video to their official YouTube channel.

Esprit D'Air OHP and video link here

Yoshiki Scheduled to Undergo Surgery

Yoshiki, leader of X JAPAN and solo classical composer, has announced via his website that he will undergo emergency surgery on May 16 in Los Angeles, CA, to place an artificial disc in his spine. The musician's rigorous drumming through the years has contributed his development of a condition called cervical foraminal stenosis, a narrowing of the cervical disc space that causes pain. Yoshiki's condition has worsened over the past six months, leading to increased numbness and pain in his left arm that has begun to affect his musical performances. After medical consultation, he has decided to undergo surgery immediately to treat the condition. The musician has stated on his Twitter that he is scared, but he's still planning on performing in more upcoming X JAPAN shows. Yoshiki's May shows have been canceled and other X JAPAN activities and solo appearances may be rescheduled.

Yoshiki OHP news here
Yoshiki Twitter here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (May 15, 2017)
NO LISTINGS
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 15, 2017)
#14 J'aime La Vie/ D'ERLANGER
#21 UNDERWORLD/ VAMPS
#42 "SM #2"/ MEJIBRAY
#45 -shikisai-/ Wagakki Band

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (May 8, 2017)
#8   Bakuchi/Sakigake swallowtail/ D=OUT
#10 #CD ga Urenai Konna Yononaka ja/ Golden Bomber
#16 Ikizu LIFE!!/ Kameleo
#18 Reincarnation ~F.A.T.E./Rusty Nail~/ Rides in ReVellion

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 8, 2017)
#3   HEART/ DOG inThe PWO
#16 Nihon Abnormal Kyokai/ R-Shitei

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Royz Video on YouTube

B.P.Records has added a new video for Royz to its official YouTube channel. The new video features an announcement spot for drummer Tomoya's birthday celebration at Osaka BIGCAT on May 11. The musician personally invites fans to come to the birthday festival event.

Royz live announcement on YouTube here

Anli Pollicino New Video on YouTube

Zany Zap has added a new video for Anli Pollicino to its official YouTube channel. The new video features a live stage performance of the song "Peaceful Sleep" from the band's show at TSUTAYA O-EAST on November 20, 2016.

Anli Pollicino video on YouTube here

NoGoD New Single Release

NoGod has announced that they will release a new single.The new single will be titled "Arlequin," and it will contain two new songs and a live sound source song. No release date or track details are available from the OHP, but several online shops list the release date as July 26.

NoGoD OHP here

HIZAKI DVD Now on Sale

HIZAKI, guitarist for VERSAILLES and JUPITER, has a new live DVD that is currently available on the Jupiter official online shop. The DVD titled "Crimson Rose -JAPAN-" is available in two types. Track details are available on the JUPITER OHP.

JUPITER OHP details here

Vivarush Furitsuke Video on YouTube

Kerberos Entertainment has made a new furitsuke video for Vivarush available on its official YouTube channel. The video features members demonstrating the choreography to accompany the song titled "Toushindai Dreamer."

"Toushindai Dreamer" furi video on YouTube here

CLØWD Live Video on YouTube

Danger Crue Records has added a new video for CLØWD to its official YouTube channel. The video features live stage footage of "Noroshi" from their show at Nippon Budokan. The band's recent single "Butterfly Effect" hit stores on April 12.

CLØWD video on YouTube here

DEVIZE Video on YouTube

Double River Records has featured a video for DEVIZE to its official YouTube channel. The video features a full-version PV for the band's release titled "CORE" that came out on January 18, 2017.

DEVIZE video on YouTube here

ARCHEMI. Video on YouTube

Crow Music TV has added a new video for ARCHEMI. to its official YouTube channel. The new video features a sound source video for the band's upcoming third single release titled "Tenjoutenge." That single will be released on July 19 in two types, and the video features clips from the songs included.

ARCHEMI. video on YouTube here

UNDER FALL JUSTICE New Mini Album Release 6/28

UNDER FALL JUSTICE has announced that they will release a new mini album on June 28. The new release will be titled "Shishuuchaku," and it will contain four song tracks and a bonus DVD. Track details are available on the band's OHP, and a video spot is available on the Starwave Records YouTube channel.

UNDER FALL JUSTICE OHP here
PV spot on YouTube here

MUCC Announces New Releases

MUCC updated their OHP with news of some new releases coming up. There will be two new live-venue releases in the works, "Sin Tsuuzetsu" and "Sin Homura Uta." Both limited-release albums will include two CDs full of the band's prior releases. These CDs will be available for general release on August 9, both coming out as 2-CD sets with special packaging and booklets. Track details for all releases are available on the band's OHP.

MUCC OHP here

Codomo Dragon Fan Club DVD Spot on YouTube

B.P. Records added a new video for Codomo Dragon to its official YouTube channel. The new video features a new fan club DVD spot with live stage, offshoot, and fan club event footage.

Codomo Dragon video on YouTube here

GRIMOIRE New Album Release 6/28

GRIMOIRE will be releasing a new album on June 28. The new album will be titled "Grimoire," and it will be released in two versions. Track details aren't posted yet on the website.

GRIMOIRE OHP here

Drummer Leaves FEST VAINQUEUR

Last week, FEST VAINQUEUR announced via their OHP that drummer KAZI would be withdrawing from the band after their live show on April 22. The statement indicates that the drummer had been suffering from an undisclosed physical ailment, and that he may also have had a differing opinion about the future of the band, both of which led to this decision to leave. The remaining FEST members will continue as a band, and KAZI has also indicated that he plans to continue a career in music. For the remaining live show dates, FEST VAINQUEUR will be inviting a series of guest support drummers to work with the band. Guest drummers will include Ame (Rides in Revellion), HIKO, shion (ex-BIOSPHIA), and Rai (Gigamous). Some live event plans and special bonus offers may still be subject to change. The band apologizes for the inconvenience.

FEST VAINQUEUR OHP here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (May 8, 2017)
#39 Bakuchi/Sakigake swallowtail/ D=OUT
#43 CALLING/VAMPS
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 8, 2017)
#2   UNDERWORLD/ VAMPS
#21 HEART/ DOG inThe PWO

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (May 1, 2017)
#4   #CD ga Urenai Konna Yononaka ja/ Golden Bomber
#5   Jealousy/ Belle
#7   VLACK APRIL/ LIPHLICH
#11 Watashi wa Kairai, Sarugutsuwa no Ningyo/ Kiryu
#13 Ikizu LIFE!!/ Kameleo
#14 Dokudokudoku/ Jack Caper

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (May 1, 2017)
#1   BREAK!!/ FEST VAINQUEUR
#3   dadaism #3/ DADAROMA
#7   not equal/ LSN
#15 IDEAL/ A9
#17 PARADISE LOST/ Anfiel



ORICON STYLE Rankings here

B.P. Records Magazine Video on YouTube

B.P. Records has added a new video to its official YouTube channel. The new video features an onstage competition between the label's three bands, Kiryu, Royz, and Codomo Dragon that took place on March 12, 2017 at Sendai PIT.

B.P. Records band challenge video on YouTube here

Metronome Comment on YouTube

Vif Music has added a new video featuring Metronome to its official YouTube channel. The video features the band talking about their new album, "CONTINUE," out on April 29 and their tour final show.

Metronome comment on YouTube here

Yusai New Single Release 7/26

Yusai has announced that they will release their second single on July 26. The new single will be titled "Ame," and it will be released in two types. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

Yusai OHP here

New Single Release for D on 6/28

D have announced that they will be releasing a new single on June 28. The new single will be titled "Dark fairy tale," and it will be released in four types.

D OHP News here