[Music Tip] Visual Bands on iTunes

Some Japanese labels are beginning to test the waters and expand their visual bands' albums into the global market. Today I will share a list of artists and albums that can be found on iTunes in the U.S. Many of these are new releases for 2017 that were released in the U.S. market concurrent with or shortly after the Japanese releases. Today's post will not include links to specific albums; however, I do recommend that if you have a favorite visual artist or band, you should check your local iTunes online to see if that band is available in your country. Be sure to check both the band name and the name of the album, single, or song you want. Sometimes iTunes does not have a proper spelling or catalog listing of the CD or artist, even though they are available through the online store. Checking both ensures you don't miss finding what you want.

Found on iTunes in the U.S.
A9/PENDULUM
A9/Re:Born
AllS/Do or Die
Arlequin/puzzle
BUCK-TICK/BABEL
Chanty
CLOWD/Butterfly Effect
dexcore/The Dead Sea
Initial'L/VISION
lynch./BLOOD THIRSTY CREATURE
MERRY/MOLOGY
MUCC/Coupling Best II
MUCC/Shin Homura Uta
MUCC/Koroshi no ShirabeII This is NOT Greatest Hits
MUCC/Shin Tsuuzetsu
NoGoD/Arlequin
NoGoD/proof
Purple Stone
Rides in Revellion
SHIN/GOOD MORNING DREAMER
THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S/Jougen no Tsuki no Orchestra-Stella Note Magic-

Editor's Note: This list is definitely NOT a complete listing of what you can find on iTunes. Know about more bands? Comment to let me know. Can't find the ones listed here? Comment to let me know and I will find the links for you.

ROCK AND READ 074 Lineup Announced

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 074, due to hit stores October 25. The front cover artist for this issue will be Ken, and the back cover artist will be Issei (BugLug). Other featured artists will be: Miya (MUCC), Gara (MERRY), TAKEO (Angelo), Subaru (Royz), Tomo (DADAROMA), Leda (Far East Dizain), AKI (AXESSORY), Keiichi Miyako (RAYFLOWER), Chiyu, and Ken x KENZO (BVCCI HAYNES, GREMLINS).

ROCK AND READ blog here

MUCC Announce Hiatus & Tribute Album

MUCC updated their OHP with a very brief statement that the band would be suspending activities for the first time in their history. The break will begin in 2018, and will last for about three months. They want to assure fans that they do plan to return in three months' time. In other news, the band will also be featured in an upcoming tribute album to commemorate their 20th anniversary. The album will be titled "TRIBUTE OF MUCC -en-," and it will feature covers from bands like cali≠gari, Kishidan, Sho Kiryuin, THE ORAL CIGARETTES, DEZERT, Plastic Tree, MERRY, lynch. and more. The tribute will be released on November 22, and the complete track list and artist lineup is available on the band's OHP.

MUCC OHP news here

MERRY Video on YouTube

MERRY has added a new video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features a full-version MV for the band's song titled "MOLOGY" from their new album of the same title. That album went on sale on September 6.

MERRY "MOLOGY" video 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- (September 18, 2017)
#10 Ame Nochi Kanjyo Ron/ Wagakki Band
#26 puzzle/ Arlequin
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (September 18, 2017)
#4   NOMAD/ SID
#44 MOLOGY/ MERRY

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (September 11, 2017)
#4   Delivery Mental Health/ Sick2
#5   Miwaku no Summer Killers/ R-Shitei
#16 Uramesha/ the Raid.

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (September 11, 2017)
#15 Good Morning Dreamer/ SHIN

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

MERRY New Album Release 9/6

MERRY will be releasing a new album on September 6. The new release will be titled "M-ology," and it will be released in two types. A 15-second video spot is available on the band's OHP.

MERRY OHP here

D'ERLANGER Announces Tribute Album

D'ERLANGER has announced that they will be featured on a new tribute album to be released on September 13. The new album will be titled "D'ERLANGER TRIBUTE ALBUM~Stairway to Heaven~" and it will feature tracks from artists like ACID ANDROID, Angelo, INORAN, TERU, HISASHI, Kiyoharu, Psycho le Cemu, Justy-Nasty, THE SLUT BANKS, DIR EN GREY, DEZERT, HYDE, MUCC, MERRY, lynch., and Rayflower

D'ERLANGER 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- (February 13, 2017)
#30 Kasa to Ame/ MERRY
#40 Poison Chocolate/ Purple Stone
#46 Garasu no Hitomi/ SID
         
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (February 13, 2017)
#13 Recreation 4/ Acid Black Cherry

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (February 6, 2017)
#1   A Little Picture/ UNiTE
#15 Boku to Kimi, No Shitai/ SCAPEGOAT

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (February 6, 2017)
NO LISTINGS

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

MERRY New Single Release 2/1

MERRY have announced that they will be releasing a new single on February 1. The new single will be titled "Kasa to Ame," and it will be released in three types. Track details are available on the band's OHP.

MERRY OHP discography here

ROCK AND READ 066 Artists Revealed

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 06, due to hit stores June . The front cover artist for this issue will be Kiyoharu (sads), and the back cover artist will be Tatsuro (MUCC). Other featured artists include Ta_2 (OLDCODEX), Umi (vistlip), MiA (MEJIBRAY), Kanna (DOG inThe PWO), Cazqui (NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST), Miyako (DEZERT), minpha (Pentagon), Yuugiri (DaizyStripper), HIRO (Raphael, rice), Ryosuke (Lolita 23q), and NERO (MERRY, special feature).

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- (February 8, 2016)
#1   G4-IV/ GLAY
#24 NEVER SAY NEVER/ Jin-Machine
#40 Heijitsu no Onna/ MERRY
   
CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (February 8, 2016)
#2   2015 arena tour L-LIVE CD/ Acid Black Cherry
#37 WELCOME TO GHOST HOTEL/ Pentagon

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (February 1, 2016)
#8   Tokyo Scandal/ Gossip
#14 Yasashii Koi/ Chanty

 CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (February 1, 2016)
#4   Saiko no Shokutaku/ DEZERT
#6   -chimera-/ girugamesh
#7   -syojosoushitsu-/ R-Shitei

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

MERRY Announce New Release 1/27/16

MERRY have announced that they will be releasing a new single on January 27, 2016. The new single will be titled "Heijitsu no Onna," and it will be released in three types. Two videos for the release and track details are available on the band's OHP.

MERRY OHP here

ROCK AND READ 063 Artists Revealed

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 063, due to hit stores December 28. The front cover artist for this issue will be Shinya (DIR EN GREY) and back cover artist will be Takeru (SuG). Other featured artists will be:  Mei (Dog in The PWO), Shoya (DIAURA), You (BugLug), Takeshi (Kameleo), mag (Blu-BiLLioN), Chizuru (Pentagon), Yoshiatsu (DADAROMA), Jui (GOTCHAROCKA), Yuki Sakurai (rice, Raphael), and Tetsu (Merry).

ROCK AND READ blog here

MERRY New Single Release 8/5

MERRY will be releasing a new single on August 5. The new single will be titled "Happy life," and it will be released in two types. A PV spot for the release is currently featured on the band's OHP.

MERRY OHP here

ROCK AND READ 057 Artists Revealed

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 057, due to hit stores December 25. The front cover artist for this issue will be Mitsuru Matsuoka (MICHAEL), and the back cover artist will be Ni~ya (Nightmare). Other featured artists will be:  maya (LM.C), Yuh (Vistlip), Yuu (MERRY), YUKI (DUSTAR-3), Tsubame (BugLug), Takashi (Kameleo), YOSHIHIRO (GUILD), Shun (DuelJewel), Cazqui (NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST), and MORRIE.

 ROCK AND READ blog here

MERRY New Album Release 12/24

MERRY will be releasing a new full album on December 24. The new album will be titled "NOnsense MARKet," but no other details have been announced. The band's last album, "MERRY VERY BEST," was released in 2012.

MERRY OHP here

ToshI Live Airs 8/25

X JAPAN vocalist and solo artist ToshI will hold a special live broadcast on the Nico Nico Live website on August 25. The artist will air a"Toshl 'CRYSTAL ROCK NIGHT SUMMER LIVE IN DAIBA'" show starting at 17:00 JST (convert time here). Special guest performers from bands like DIR EN GREY, baroque, MERRY, lynch., and My Fairytale will also appear. Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico users who can't watch the program as it airs.

ToshI live airs here

ROCK AND READ 053 Artists Revealed

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 053, due to hit stores April 23. The front cover artist for this issue will be Sakito (Nightmare), and the back will be INORAN. Other featured artists will be:  Hazuki (lynch.), KAMIJO, Nero (MERRY), Tsuzuku (MEJIBRAY), Mizuki (DOG in the PWO), Kazuki (BugLug), Tatsuya (DIAURA), Mike (Blu-BiLLioN), Kuga Shingo (LIPHLICH), and HAKUEI (PENICILLIN).

 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- (November 18, 2013)
#6   ANNIVERSARY/ SID
#14 Kakumei Dualism/ Nana Mizuki x T.M.Revolution
#23 CAVALCADE/ SCREW
#33 ZERO/ MERRY
#35 DECADANCE -Counting Goats... if I can't be yours-/ MEJIBRAY

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (November 18, 2013)
NO LISTINGS

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (November 11, 2013)
#1   HALLOWEEN PARTY/ HALLOWEEN JUNKY ORCHESTRA
#7   Dominator/ I Don't Like Me/ Aldious
#11 the Carnival/ GREMLINS
#12 Yaritakute/ Igaguri Chiba

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (November 11, 2013)
#1   ZERO ONE/ DIV
#10 Owari no Melody/ Awoi
#11 MADRIGAL de MARIA/ Sadie

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

ROCK AND READ 050 Artists Revealed

Music magazine ROCK AND READ has announced the list of artists who will be featured in volume 050, due to hit stores October 30. The cover artists for this issue will be Kuroyume, with a front cover of Kiyoharu and a back cover of Hitoki. Other featured artists will be:  kyo (D'ERLANGER), HAKUEI x GISHO (Litchi☆Hikari Club) for a special talk session, Hitsugi (GREMLINS), RUKA (The LEGENDARY SIX NINE), Gara (MERRY), Aki (Sadie), Haru (Dog in the PWO), Issei (BugLug), METO feat. Ruana (MEJIBRAY), Ta_2 (OLDCODEX), and Asanao (lynch.).

 ROCK AND READ blog here