D is for Peace Maker

Visual Rock band, D‘s newest single “Kaze ga mekuru page” (The wind flips the pages), is also the band’s first drama tie-in to Shinsengumi Peace Maker, will be released 3/10 but is available on rechoku for mobile phone.  They will also release their 2nd major debut album “7th Rose” on 3/24, which will have 3 different versions.

CD Only
Release: 3/10
Cat# AVCD-31839
800yen ($8.69)
Pre-Order: CDJ

CD+DVD
Release: 3/10
Cat# AVCD-31838
1500yen ($16.29)
Pre-Order: CDJ

Title: 7th Rose
CD Only
Release: 3/24
Cat# AVCD-38014
2857yen ($31.03)
Pre-Order: CDJ

ALBUM
Title: 7th Rose
CD+DVD [Limited Edition]
Extras: 1 of 6 trading cards.
Release: 3/24
Cat# AVCD-38012
3619yen ($39.31)
Pre-Order: CDJ

Title: 7th Rose
CD+Photobook [Limited Edition]
Extras: B5-size photo booklet and 1 of 6 trading cards.
Release: 3/24
Cat# AVCD-38013
3809yen ($41.38)
Pre-Order: CDJ

Filed under: Avex Entertainment, Drama, Entertainment, J-Pop, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, New Releases, News, D, kaze ga mekuru page, peace maker, visual kei

VK has another good-bye…

Visual Kei fans of the band Gakido say good-bye to Piyo, Gakido’s vocalist. The singer died instantly in a fatal car accident on Saturday, 2/13, when the band was heading to Nagoya from Osaka to peform. Piyo (real name Yoshiaki Yamada, 28) was thrown from the car and died on impact; one other member was also thrown from the crown but survived. The minivan contained all six members and one staff member. While everyone else was injured only the drummer TOSSY and the staff member are being hospitalized.

All the members have returned to Tokyo and visited TOSSY and the staff member yesterday (Tokyo time), and that they are doing better.

Piyo last blogged on his ameba on 2/12 several times before the accident.
Yohya said, “Piyo loved to laugh,” that “he would tell people to “laugh”,” and that he “loved the snow,” on his blog.

While we never listened to them, it’s never a good thing when someone dies. I won’t say I’ll miss him because I don’t know nor do I listen to the band, I do hope he rests in peace and hope that the other members get well. Also send prayers out to his family, because it’s not easy losing a loved one.

source: tokyograph

Filed under: Events, J-Pop, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, News, Scandalous, accident, gakido, piyo, visual kei

High and Mighty Color “Swamp Man” in USA

JapanFiles will release HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR’s latest album “swamp man” on March 15, 2010 in support of the band’s upcoming live performance at Sakura-Con 2010 in Seattle, WA.

The USA CD release will include the complete Japanese booklet with lyrics. Pre-orders begin today at the JapanFiles store for fans worldwide.

Swamp man will also be available at retailers including Amazon.com, RightStuf.com, and Hot Topic stores.

Formed in Okinawa, Japanese rock band HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR has contributed theme songs for three hit anime series: “Bleach,” “Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: Special Edition,” and “Darker Than Black.” The band has also contributed film songs for “Death Note: The Last Name (tribute album)” and “Anata wo Wasurenai.” In 2009, HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR (also known to their Japanese fans as “Haikara”) returned to their original label Spice Records and released a new album “swamp man” featuring new vocalist HALCA.

source: JapanFiles

Filed under: J-Pop, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, New Releases, News, high and mighty color, japanfiles

Girugamesh is the Hot Topic at HT!

Japanese rock band Girugamesh was Artist of the week over at American store Hot Topic. The four member group has gained a lot of attention after releasing a couple of U.S. albums and now stands as a hot topic.

Girugamesh’s new album “NOW” hits the shelves this week at Hot Topic stores nationwide. The USA release contains the complete 28-page Japanese booklet with lyrics, photos, and liner notes from the band.

In support of the USA release of the band’s new CD, JapanFiles and Hot Topic are giving away free replicas of girugamesh’s 2010 tour poster with the purchase of “NOW.” The 11″ x 15″ full-color poster lists all of girugamesh’s Japan tour dates in support of “NOW,” plus a photo of the band and jacket covers from all 3 editions of the new album.

In 2009, Hot Topic sold over 4,000 combined units of girugamesh’s two prior USA releases – “MUSIC” and “Girugamesh.”

Poster offer available while supplies last. Posters not available in all stores. See your local Hot Topic store for poster availability. Also available online at HotTopic.com.

Download girugamesh’s discography at the JapanFiles Digital Music Store.
http://www.japanfiles.com/girugamesh

We at STC want to say congratulations to ya.. even if the week is over… and we are late in posting this. Hey at least we acknowledged it.

Filed under: Entertainment, Events, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, New Releases, News, girugamesh, hot topic, japanfiles, visual kei, vk

SUGIZO says DO-FUNK DANCE and hello FATIMA

Rock star Sugizo has finally come back releasing two new singles today, “FATIMA” and “DO-FUNK DANCE.”  The ex-Luna Sea member has done countless side projects and done a few gigs here in the states.

SUGIZO’s cosmic symphonic poetry is an “electro dance groove” born from craving and longing. This song depicts the words of FATIMA, the goddess who weaves all life together.

While it’s taken a while for him to come out with something, it’s been three years since he said he was going to release any solo works… and I love it.

Last December he did release “MESSIAH” and “TELL ME WHY YOU HIDE THE TRUTH?” but it was only available on iTunes download and ranked #1 and #2 on the Electronic ranking charts.

To be honest it’s really awesome rave music. It’s electronic and trance with awesome guitar skills. If you don’t know, this man has mad skills on the violin and guitar.

Listen to the new music of SUGIZO of 2010…

source: official website

Filed under: Entertainment, J-Pop, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, New Releases, News, do-funk dance, electornica, fatima, juno reactor, luna sea, SUGIZO, trance, x-japan

the Underneath give their Thanks

Japanese rock band the Underneath will say their goodbye’s on March 3, 2010. The band has decided to disband but not without releasing one last single for their fans.

The band released a message to all their fans a week ago on their Myspace:

To all the fans and everyone supporting the Underneath

the Underneath will break up on the live show at Shibuya O-West on May 3, 2010. Though the band formed on January 1, 2008.

Thank you for supporting all of our activities lasting for 13 years and the activities of the Underneath up to now.

a final tour will be performed in appreciation for all of our friends of the fan.

theUnderneath LAST LIVE TOUR 2010 ” LAST SCENE “

We are so grateful for all your support and we hope to gain your kind understanding.

I will announce the tour later.
thank you,
the Underneath members
staff

The new suddenly shocked all their fans, making MASATO feel like he needed to say a few words of comfort:

To everyone who supports us,
We, the Underneath, announced the other day that we would break up.
We have discussed many times.

I read the messages from everyone.
I’m so sorry that we disappointed you.
And I’m also so proud that we are supported by such wonderful fans.

We’ve overcome no matter what happened, so if we break up, we’ll never
forget that attitude.
I want to tell you that we never give up whatever we are going to be.

We are grateful to all the fans supporting us through MySpace all over
the world.

Thank you.

MASATO

Their last single will be released 2010.3.17 and is titled “Diamond.” The single will only be available in Japan, no plans of an overseas version has been announced (though I wouldn’t put it past them to make one.)

Diamond
1. Diamond
2. Deep -acoustic ver.-
3. Bite the bullet -re-build ver.-
4. Frontier -re-build ver.-

STRG-0004 / Include：4 songs / 1,500 yen（taxin）
selling agency：STIRRING RECORDS
distribution source：KnowledgeAlliance

I am really sad to this band disband… once again. I love them as Transtic Nerve from years ago and to see them disband is a real shame. They are awesome live and even such sweethearts. At least they got to be on U.S. soil and tour here in 2008. Only a handful of bands can say they really toured the U.S. One of the few Japanese rock bands I really enjoyed. Bye-bye.

If you happen to be in Japan in the next couple of months, I suggest you try and see them before they disband.

the Underneath LAST LIVE TOUR 2010 ” LAST SCENE “

2010.3.21(sun.)
HEAVEN’S ROCK VJ-3 Saitama shintoshin (Saitama)
Open 16:30 / Start 17:00
Ticket: adv 3,150 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen) / ent 3,675 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen)
Information:DISK GARAGE　03-5436-9600

2010.4.10(sat.)
Kobe STAR CLUB (Aichi)
Open 17:00 / Start 17:30
Ticket: adv 3,150 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen) / ent 3,675 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen)
Information:KYODO TICKET CENTER　06-7732-8888

2010.4.29(thu.)
Nagoya ell. FITS ALL（Aichi）
Open 16:30 / Start 17:00
Ticket: adv 3,150 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen) / ent 3,675 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen)
Information:SUNDAY FOLK PROMOTION　052-320-9100

2010.5.3(mon.)
Shibuya O-WEST (Tokyo)
Open 16:00 / Start 16:30
Ticket: adv 3,800 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen) / ent 4,500 yen (tax in・+Drink 500 yen)
Information:DISK GARAGE　03-5436-9600

source: official myspace

Filed under: Entertainment, J-Pop, J-Rock, Japan, Japanese entertainment, New Releases, News, The Underneath, visual kei, vk