Press Release: FLOW Releases Their Ultimate Anime BEST Album!!!‏

Known for their many anime themes, 5 piece rock band FLOW releases their second and the ULTIMATE anime best album!

This album, “KIWAMI” (meaning “ultimate” in Japanese), includes songs from popular anime series, plus their newest song “AWAKE”, “Bluebird” (a collaboration cover song with Diana Garnet) and a remix by DJ Kazu!

Also this summer, FLOW will also be embarking on their first ever world tour titled “FLOW WORLD TOUR 2015 KIWAMI” which will hit up 8 countries that include Japan, Taiwan, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Canada, and the U.S..

Their stop in the U.S. will be on June 12th, at the largest independently organized anime convention in the NY/NJ area, Anime Next 2015!

Stay tuned for more details on their world tour.....

Jrock Radio AWARDS 2014

SOON!

On Sunday December 14 the Jrock Radio AWARDS end! Fans have been voting for the 10 best bands of 2014. If you tune in to: www.jrockradio.net/player you can listen to the special live broadcast!

Also! They will be giving away (5) Posters 60×90 cm and (3) CDs. To participate check out the Facebook Event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/279337158857204

So get sharing, and get voting!!! Good luck to all the bands!

Band Feature: Spacetime And Streams

Formed in February 2010, Spacetime and Streams is a band inspired by a variety a music to create their own grunge alternative shoe-gazing style. Ever chasing after their inspiration, they have carved their own path and seek to free you from everyday, and introduce to you their unique creation of space.

Vocalist: carlos
Birthday: Sept. 11th
Favorite colour: Yellow
Favorite food: Japanese noodles
Most known for saying/catch phrase: Nothing's real anymore.

Lead Guitar: bancho

Birthday: May 5th

Favorite Artist: 3 Doors Down

Instrument brand of choice: Altero Custom Guitars

Favorite colour: Black

Favorite food: Japanese food

Most known for saying/catch phrase: Nobody is perfect.

Bass: masashi
Birthday: March 20th
Instrument brand of choice: FODERA、MOON
Favorite colour: Blue
Favorite brand of clothing: ZARA
Favorite food: Curry
Most known for saying/catch phrase: Treasure every meeting, for it will never recur.

Drums: taka

Birthday: August 17th

Instrument brand of choice: I use ALL USED or ALL REMODELED drum parts.

Favorite colour: Blue

Favorite brand of clothing: Adidas Originals

Favorite food: Italian

Most known for saying/catch phrase: Don’t think, feel.

Though busy with new PVs and member changes, the guys of Spacetime and Streams squeezed us in to talk a bit about what inspires them and the dreams they are chasing. 

Hey, Do You Know: THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S?

Hey everyone, my name is Iris and I will be introducing bands that I have been listening to or have come across and enjoy. I try to keep up to date with what's happening in the world of Jrock/VK. This is my first time writing for a blog so please bear with me, I will improve with time!

The first band I'd like to introduce is...THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S!

Announcement: X Japan To Play Madison Square Garden

Amazing news for fans of classic metal band X Japan!  Drummer Yoshiki just announced at his classical show in Sacramento, California that X Japan will be playing Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 11.  There aren't a lot of details as of yet, but if you have even the slightest inclination to go, you will definitely want to keep an eye on their homepage and keep your finger on the trigger.  These tickets are sure to sell out almost instantly.  I also suggest joining Team Yoshiki, the special street team he set up to promote his classical tour.  He has given out some cool freebies in the past, like invites to his private show at SXSW, so who knows.  Maybe he'll do something cool for this show, too!

ICE ELEMENT Teaser 'ENEMY' MV

Check out ICE ELEMNT's new preview of their upcoming MV 'ENEMY'. Not familiar with them? Check out their official links below. And also keep an eye on our blog, something may just be coming your way!!

Official Website

http://ice-element.jimdo.com

Official Twitter accounts

Vo:SYOGO → https://twitter.com/iceSYOGO

Gt:SYOTA → https://twitter.com/iceSYOTA

Ba:YU-SUKE → https://twitter.com/iceNOMUNII

Dr:YU-YA → https://twitter.com/iceYUYA

Miyu, Rock'n'Roll Witch From Japan Returns To The US!

My friend Miyu returns to the US, this time hitting up Lancaster, PA!!! Frontwomen and vocalist of Roundface, she'll be performing solo at the Launch Music Conference in just a few weeks. Details can be found at the link below! 

April 19th, 2014

Launch Music Conference2014 in Lancaster,PA.

Performance at The Lancaster Dispensing Co.

http://www.launchmusicconference.com

You can also check out my live footage of her from her performance at Free Times Cafe here in Ontario during Indie Week last fall. Watch it!

DaizyStripper New Look「G.Z.S.K.K」Revealed!

And I have to say, Yugiri looks far too comfortable in such get-up ;) But loving it! Perhaps this will be the look that accompanies them to Anime North? You are coming right?

Details HERE!

And don't forget your pre-orders!

G.Z.S.K.K [CD+DVD / Regular Edition / Type A]

G.Z.S.K.K [CD+DVD / Regular Edition / Type B]

G.Z.S.K.K [Limited Edition]

PV Analysis: Magistina Saga - 'Shadow Game'

Formed in 2008 as Guild in Japan's Kansai region, Magistina Saga adopted their current moniker in 2010. Signing with Starwave Records in mid-2012 the band has released 3 mini-albums altogether, most recently 'Two-facedness of a Tale' in August of 2013. With vocals by Iori, guitar by Urugi and bass by Kyo (support drums by Takuro) the band's rock sound incorporates themes of magic and fairy tale. These themes are perhaps best personified in the MV for 'Shadow Game', adapting a classic story familiar to young and old alike.

ZEAL LINK Global Twitter Account

Zeal Link, a Japanese music company specializing in visual kei that works promoting and producing lives, bands, releases etc, has launched a new twitter account to reach out to fans on a global scale. Posting in English, this twitter account seeks to connect fans to their favorite bands. And there's the hint of more to come if it's successful. So what are you waiting for? Share and follow! Let's get more JRock around the world!

ZEAL LINK Global

Band Feature: The Mootekkis

The Mootekkis, an east-meets-west Tokyo-based 5-piece rock’n’roll band, were formed midway through 2008 and were featured on the front cover of Japanzine after winning the magazine’s nation-wide battle of the bands. They went on to get airplay on InterFM 76.1 one of Tokyo's biggest radio stations and due to their no-holds-barred, beer-fuelled rock'n'roll they have also been targeted by local drum'n'bass DJ's for remixes.

In August 2012 they embarked on a 10 day tour of New York where they played Manhattan hot spots Bowery Electric and Piano’s as well as New Haven’s Elm Bar and a handful of basement and loft parties in Brooklyn. Earlier in the year they took the stage at Metropolis Magazine's "Saiko" event alongside internationally traveled Japanese bands - Tokyo Pinsalocks and Moja – and there’s no sign of them slowing down.

Brooklyn’s Ishmael Osekre, organizer of the festival Aputumpu and front man of Osekre and the Lucky Bastards, had this to say after seeing the The Mootekkis at a Bushwick loft party: “This was pure rock’n’roll in a way that most people around here haven’t seen for a long time…it was just amazing.”

What’s next for these five brothers from different mothers? What isn’t next?

Meet the members and read the interview after the break!

Band Feature: The Mootekkis Teaser!

Oh yeah, you know you wannnnn'it! Our next band feature is ready to go and it'll be hitting you up in style tomorrow. The Mootekkis may sound familiar if you checked out our recent review of their debut album "Heckling The Dawn". If not, go read it after checking out their teaser comment video above. Then come back tomorrow for the full band feature with interview - look forward to it!

J-rock North Promotions Inc. Presents: DaizyStripper At Anime North 2014

They're back!!! After joining us back in 2012 with the promise to return, DaizyStripper has just announced their return to Canada! This time they will be performing at Anime North, Canada's premier fan-run anime convention in association with J-rock North Promotions and Beyond Max Inc.

If you are not familiar with them, check out their bio below. But I guarantee you, whether you know them or not, you won't want to miss their show. Get your pass now! Concert is FREE for all convention attendees!

Anime North 2014 

Date: May 23rd - 25th, 2014 

Website: www.animenorth.com

Concert Date: Saturday May 24th, 2014

Location: Toronto Congress Centre - Hall C

Doors open 6:30 PM | Concert Starts 7:00 PM | Second act 8:30 PM

Review: REIGN "疑惑"【Giwaku - Suspicion】

They're back! After the devastating news to myself and fellow agents last spring, Ikuma and Kaji announced their formation of a new band, REIGN. Let's just say I was beyond eager to hear what the new sound would be like. Their first single was released 2014.01.31 after a slight delay. Though live-limited in it's release, the admins of the REIGN Fanpage were kind enough to take orders and make sure the fans around the world were able to get their hands on a copy. 

PV Analysis: llll-ligro - "Higanbana"

llll-Ligro is a visual kei band formed in Tokyo in 2010, most recently comprised of Hinata (vocal), Kazari (guitar), Anki (guitar), Hiro (drums) and Nao (support bass). Their band concept of ‘gloomy salvation through emptiness’ on the ‘mayhem of emotions’ seems to have marked their relatively short career, as 2011 saw member changes following a demo single release as anki and Nao joined the group. Kazari was added as second guitar in early 2012, however the end of 2013 saw more members leave. Anki quit due to 'severe opposing views', following his post of a controversial YouTube video, and Hiro’s decision to quit was apparently led by an increased focus on promotion over music. This has led the band to hiatus. However a month prior to these departures they released their 5th single ‘Higanbana’, accompanied by a visceral PV.

*NEW* Rose Noire [Alice] MV FULL

Brand new MV "Alice" from Rose Noire!

Don't forget that YOU have the chance to see Rose Noire LIVE this May in Canada! They will be attending both Otafest in Calgary and Anime North in Toronto. We will see you there!

Press Release: FLOW, Announced As Music Guest Of Honor For AnimeFest 2014!‏

8 years since FLOW’s first ever performance outside of Japan at AnimeFest 2006, FLOW comes back to where it all started as a Music Guest of Honor for AnimeFest 2014!

AnimeFest 2014 will be taking place from August 15th~18th in Dallas, TX and FLOW’s live performance is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 16th !

 AnimeFest 2014

August 15-18, 2014

Sheraton Dallas Hotel

More information @ www.AnimeFest.org

[FLOW]

Originally formed in 1993 by TAKE and his older brother/vocalist KOHSHI, the band was named FLOW in '98 and evolved into its current line-up in 2000, after bassist GOT'S, another vocalist KEIGO and drummer IWASAKI joined the siblings.

In 2003, FLOW made their major debut with the single "Blaster" and followed up with "Go!!!", which was used as the opening theme song for the hit TV anime series, “Naruto”.

FLOW then released "DAYS", which became the opening theme song to the popular TV anime series “Eureka Seven: Psalm of Planets”. These were just the first of many hits to come and many of their other songs are featured in “Naruto Shippuden”, “Code Geass”, “Eureka Seven AO”, and “Samurai Flamenco”.

In 2013, FLOW celebrated their 10th anniversary.

That same year, they arranged and performed the theme song for the anime theatrical movie, “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods”.


FLOW Official Site:
http://www.flow.mu

 Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/FLOWofficial.music

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FLOW_official

 VEVO:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FLOWofficialVEVO

J-rock North Promotions Inc. Presents: Rose Noire At Anime North 2014

Fear not more eastern than Alberta Canadians! Rose Noire has just been announced as a musical guest for Anime North 2014. If you were worried about making your way to Otafest, worry not. You now have a second location to choose from. Gothic/J-rock/Classical Visual Kei duo Rose Noire will be performing this May at Anime North 2014. Please check out their comment video below!

Rose Noire was formed by members Louie (Vocalist) and Jill (Violin) when they were the students of the Tokyo National University of Fine arts and Music. They won the ZOOM at SONY-ZOOM DEMO tape competition in 2007. 

Their music is free from predefined genres and concepts. Composed of their own world, in their own image, of their own existence and music. Classical with a touch of variety like Rock, R&B,Club music, HipHop, Industrial, Electronica and so on. 

Presented by: J-rock North Promotions in association with Darkest Labyrinth. 

Anime North 2014 

Date: May 23rd - 25th, 2014 

Location: Toronto Congress Centre - Hall C

Website: www.animenorth.com

Concert Date: Saturday May 24th, 2014

Location: Toronto Congress Centre - Hall C

Doors open 6:30 PM | Concert Starts 7:00 PM | Second act 8:30 PM

Hoshi Furu & Sol Ardour Announced For Anime North 2014

Hi J-rock Fans!

Finally the first 2 of 4 band announcements for Anime North 2014.

Hoshi Furu (from Toronto) & Sol Ardour (from New York City) will be performing at Anime North. Big thank you to Hoshi Furu for this!!

Date: Friday May 23rd, 2014

Location: Toronto Congress Centre - Hall C

Doors open 7:00 PM (6:50pm) | Concert Starts 7:00 PM | Second act 8:00 PM

See www.animenorth.com for ticketing info.

I hope you have all purchased your ticket to the convention! 

More Anime North announcements coming soon!

via: J-rock North Promotions, Inc. 

Band Feature: Jungles!!! Teaser

Our next feature focus is Jungles!!! They will be touring through your neighborhood as part of the SXSW Japan Nite tour this month. Check out the teaser and watch for their full band feature up tomorrow!