THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S New Vocalist & Single

THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S have just announced that a new vocalist has joined the band since Ricky's departure. The band's new vocalist will be Nimo, formerly vocalist for A(Ace). In a member statement, Nimo says that he's excited to be part of the future of this band and is excited to work with these members. Nimo will debut as vocalist on October 10. In a new video announcement, the band also says they will be releasing a new single sometime before the end of the year.

THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S new and video here

Nimo 1st Solo Album Release 3/18

Nimo, formerly vocalist for A(ace), will be releasing his first solo album on March 18. The new release will be a cover album titled "RHAPSODIA ~Dolce Vita~," and it will include 11 song tracks. A video including samples of the songs is currently available on YouTube, and a track list is displayed in the video description area.

Nimo Official Facebook here
"RHAPSODIA" on YouTube here

Visual Kei Anime Cover Album Release 10/2

Tokuma Japan will be gathering together a variety of visual kei bands and artists to create a second visual kei-anime cover album release. This collection, titled "V-ANIME ROCKS evolution," will hit stores on October 2, and it will feature artists like AYABIE, WING WORKS, A(ace), Kaya, GALEYD, Juri (ex-DELUHI) feat. Leda, Souiumono, SEX-ANDROID, DaizyStripper, THE BEETHOVEN, FEST VAINQUEUR, Megamasso, and Royz. The first collection, "V-ANIME ROCKS!" was released on August 1, 2012. That album is available to download from iTunes.

"V-ANIME ROCKS evolution" site here

Viju☆Love☆Cafe Airs 7/14

Viju☆Love☆Cafe #25 will have its next webcast on Sunday, July 14 at 14:00 JST (convert time here). This month, Akemi Oshima and Biju-tan will host interviews and comments from:  Jupiter; Nimo, Toshi & Rookie Fiddler (A(ace)); seek & S (Mix Speaker's, Inc.); Kon & NAO (CELL); Kaya; DaizyStripper; D=OUT; SCREW; Moran; JILUKA; HYBRIDS (from France), and a round-table discussion of the new hide. Tribute albums. The show's ending theme will be performed by NINJAMAN JAPAN.

Viju☆Love☆Cafe airs here

hide Tribute Albums Released 7/10

Two new tribute albums are in the works to commemorate the 20th anniversary of hide's solo career. The albums will be titled "hide TRIBUTE II-Visual SPIRITS-" and "hide TRIBUTE III-Visual SPIRITS-," both featuring established bands covering several of the artist's hits. Don't miss songs covered by bands like Sadie, DaizyStripper, Kiryu, BORN, and more.

hide TRIBUTE II at CD Japan here
hide TRIBUTE III at CD Japan here

DaizyStripper, A(ace), FEST VAINQUEUR on Nico Nico 5/8

Members of DaizyStripper, A(ace), and FEST VAINQUEUR will appear in a web talk program on the Nico Nico Live website on May 8. The regular "DaizyStripper x A(ace) x FEST VAINQUEUR 3 Band Taidan Vol. 5" will begin airing at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico site users who cannot watch the live show as it airs.

Web show airs here

3 Bands Featured on "T's Project Channel" 4/15

Three visual kei bands will be featured on the next "T's Project Channel" program airing on the Nico Nico Live website on April 15. The featured bands will be DaizyStripper, FEST VAINQUEUR, and A(ace). The program promises to include a variety of talk and activities including the bands. The "T's Project" program will begin airing at 18:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered members who cannot watch the show as it airs.

"T's Project Channel" special airs 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- (Apr. 15, 2013)
#13 CHIMERA/ vistlip
#17 Everyone!!/ Dog in the PWO
#26 Haru no Hi/ cali≠gari
#27 TASTE OF LIFE/ DIV

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (Apr. 15, 2013)
#3   THE UNRAVELING/ DIR EN GREY
#7   Nonfiction/ baroque
#37 Recreation 3/ Acid Black Cherry

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (Apr. 8, 2013)
#2   Soukoku no Tsuya/ Sadie
#4   Memeshikute/ Golden Bomber
#9   Dance My Generation/ Golden Bomber
#10 MANIC PIXIE/ LIPHLICH
#16 Etsu to Utsu/ Kiryu
#17 ~Phantom of the Snow~/ A(ace)
#19 SAKURA/ A(ace)

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (Apr. 8, 2013)
#8  The Golden Best ~Pressure/ Golden Bomber
#19 Golden Album/ Golden Bomber

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

A(ace) to Release New Singles 3/27

A(ace) will be releasing their fifth and sixth singles on March 27. The two releases, titled "Shiroi Akuma ~Phantom of the Snow~" and "SAKURA," are being called a "split single" that together form a concept of "winter" and "spring." Check out the band's OHP for a video preview of "Shiroi Akuma" and read a description of the band's concept.

A(ace) OHP here
"Shiroi Akuma" at CD Japan here
"SAKURA" at CD Japan here

SCREW & A(ace) on dwangya Live 1/29

SCREW and A(ace) will be appearing as featured guest artists on the next "dwangya Live" show on the Nico Nico Live website. The program will air on January 29 at 20:00 JST (convert time here). MC Takuya Hoshino will host the show. Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs live.

SCREW & A(ace) show airs here

A(ace) New Single Release 11/21

A(ace) will be releasing their fourth single on November 21. The new single, titled "ELEMENTA ALCHEMICA," will be released in two types.

A(ace) OHP here
"ELEMENTA ALCHEMICA" Limited Edition at CD Japan here
"ELEMENTA ALCHEMICA" Regular Edition at CD Japan here

Viju☆Love☆Cafe #14 Will Air 8/5

Viju☆Love☆Cafe #14 will have its next webcast on Sunday, August 5 at 14:00 JST (convert time here). This month, Akemi Oshima and Biju-tan will host interviews and comments from:  D=OUT, Ninjaman Japan, SHUSE & TERO (†яi￠к), Keiichi Miyako (SOPHIA, Rayflower), Nimo, Rookie Fiddler & Toshi (A(ace)), Jin Machine, HERO, THE KIDDIE, Awoi, AND, Keritsu (from Portugal), and Grieva.

Viju☆Love☆Cafe airs here

A(ace) Comment on YouTube

musicJAPANplus has just uploaded a comment from Toshi (ba.) of A(ace) on their official YouTube channel. A(ace) will begin a European tour in July, and they plan to issue individual member comments via musicJAPANplus. The comments will be subtitled in English for fans.

Toshi on musicJAPANplus here