Welcome to the premier edition of vkgy's Visual Kei News Roundup!
We aim to provide a one-stop article to cover some of the most exciting - and sad - news in the vkei scene each month. April was a productive month with some greatly unexpected news, so check out below for any news you may have missed.
Banner art credit: OmoideNoKage
Article of the Month
NEGA limited revival
https://vk.gy/blog/nega-limited-revival-oneman/
If you haven't already heard, NEGA will return in 2023 or a limited revival oneman. The live event titled NEGATIVISION~vita brevis, ars longa~, will be held at Shibuya (渋谷) REX on July 31st marking 10 years since their disbandment.
Further, a two-track single will be freely distributed to attendees of the event including with new and re-arranged versions of two of the band's most popular songs - HINDSIGHT and Kabe (壁).
NEGA flyer
New Bands and revivals
Limited-time project Lem announced
https://vk.gy/blog/new-limited-time-project-lem-has-formed/
If NEGA announcing a revival wasn't enough, then how about the announcement of the limited-time project Lem? Some big names in the scene decided to get together for this project, including ex-PUELA (ピュエラ) member Yura and Hitomi of Fatima and Moran fame, as joint vocalists. Check out the blog post for the full announcement and find out the rest of the all-star line up!
New vkei band QJACKTHE (孔雀座) forms
https://vk.gy/blog/new-band-qjack-the-has-formed/
Now for some news that takes nobody by surprise, introducing QJACKTHE (孔雀座), a visual kei band forming with a nonsensical name -- or is it?! Check out the full blog post for the meaning behind the name -- thank you to Seraphim!
Session band Gyu!!!! (ぎゅう!!!!) announced the start of formal activities under their new name, as well as an upcoming first mini-album Daisakkai (大殺界).
- ~Gokusaishoku~ (~極彩色~)
- 929
- Saimin Keihou!!!! (催眠警報!!!!)
- DANCE IN THE DARK
- QUE SERA SERA (ケセラセラ)
- Shoutai (正体)
Disbandments and hiatus
BELLE (ベル) to disband in October
https://vk.gy/blog/belle-will-disband/
Sad news this time around, as BELLE (ベル) have announced they will disband after nine years together. The band will hold a final tour titled Zansho no Epilogue (残鐘のエピローグ) between August and October, with their activities coming to an end on October 29th at Shibuya (渋谷) WWW X.
On the bright side, a new album has been announced for some time in July, so keep an eye out for more details in the coming month.
Waive revival + disbandment
https://vk.gy/blog/waive-announces-revival-and-disbandment-all-at-once/
We've had news of an exiting revival and a shock disbandment, but how about both at the same time?!
Popular soft-visual band Waive who were initially active from 2000~2005 and then again in 2016~2022, along with sporadic revivals, have announced yet another comeback and already-set disbandment for 2025.
The official announcement confirmed that the band are looking forward to their 25th anniversary, so you can be sure that there will be some exciting updates between now and then. Check the blog post for details on what Waive already have already announced!
New releases
PENICILLIN 30th anniversary releases
https://vk.gy/blog/penicillin-new-30th-anniversary-collection-anthology/
Legendary band PENICILLIN, who are currently celebrating their 30th anniversary, released not one but FIVE best-albums on digital platforms in April - the 30 -Thirty- Universe collection. Each best-album covers a period of activity specific to each record label the band worked with.
While this was originally released as a physical collection back in February, now everybody can experience the history of PENICILLIN! If you're looking for some recommedations, Seraphim listed their favorite tracks from each releasse in the blog post.
KISAKI 30th anniversary project
https://vk.gy/blog/kisaki-announces-three-consecutive-full-albums-for-30th-anniversary/
KISAKI is another artist who is celebrating their 30th anniversary.
As announced back in January, with the accompanying blog post by inartistic, KISAKI has three consecutive releases lined up. These releases feature a collaboration of guest musicans.
The first of these, Providence, was released on April 26th includes participating musicians such as band-mate Akira from MIRAGE and Hizaki from Versailles. Be sure to check it out!
- Providence
- Ambroid
- Irreplaceable World
- Innovator
- Mind Collapse
- Nothingness Cage ~New Recording~
- Answer
- Sacred Xanadu ~New Recording~
- Dance Macabre
- Loveless of Earth
ΛrlequiΩ (アルルカン) new album
The ever-evolving ΛrlequiΩ (アルルカン) released their latest album, δυσ-τόπος ~Dystopia~ in three types on April 5th. The album is also available digitally:
- Tebanashite Tsukamu Zero (手放して掴む零)
- LOUDSPEAKER~Tenkara no Sai~ (LOUDSPEAKER~天からの才~)
- Gusha no Koushin (愚者の行進)
- Hanamuke (餞)
- blackboxx
- ALPHA (アルファ)
- PARADISE LOST
- Hello
- Negai (ねがい)
- STIGMAS
- CD
- Tebanashite Tsukamu Zero (手放して掴む零)
- LOUDSPEAKER~Tenkara no Sai~ (LOUDSPEAKER~天からの才~)
- Gusha no Koushin (愚者の行進)
- Hanamuke (餞)
- blackboxx
- ALPHA (アルファ)
- PARADISE LOST
- Hello
- Negai (ねがい)
- STIGMAS DVD
- Tebanashite Tsukamu Zero (PV) (手放して掴む零 (PV))
- (Off-shot)
- (Member solo PV ver.)
- CD
- Tebanashite Tsukamu Zero (手放して掴む零)
- LOUDSPEAKER~Tenkara no Sai~ (LOUDSPEAKER~天からの才~)
- Gusha no Koushin (愚者の行進)
- Hanamuke (餞)
- blackboxx
- ALPHA (アルファ)
- PARADISE LOST
- Hello
- Negai (ねがい)
- STIGMAS DVD
- (Unspecified Live Footage)
Spotify Playlist for new visual kei releases
You can also check out the New Releases Playlist curated by Seraphim to find new releases or those newly added to Spotify. There's something to discover for everyone.
https://vk.gy/blog/new-releases-playlist-april-2023/
Outro
Thanks for reading! If there are any news submissions you would like to see included in future editions, then please let us know on the vkgy Discord #news-submissions channel.
Stay tuned for next month's edition~
