Yo, dude! Check out my banner! It's a pretty cool banner. How much do you love it?
Okay, enough goofing off. Down to business. Good ol' PSC, the company we both love and love to hate. They've brought us great bands like The Gazette, ViViD, Kagrra, and Miyavi just to name a few. Now, they have created a new label together with Bellwood Records titled "Nouveau Parfum." The concept is creating a 'new scent' within the scene of visual kei. The first release, or rather releases, on this label will be LOTUS' three month "Providence" series. Providence of Bionic releases April 8, Providence of Jesus May 13 and an as yet unnamed mini-album (I'm betting it has 'providence' in the title) in June. I'm curious to see what exactly this new scent entails. I'm thinking....lavender and hairspray.
Speaking of ViViD...kind of...it has been recently announced that the band will be airing it's last live on WOWOW on May 22. WOWOW is a paid cable channel in Japan and new subscibers will receive a special edition ViViD tshirt designed by vocalist, Shin. If you're not in Japan, but want the chance to mourn their disbandment over a pint of ice cream, go ahead and pick up their MV collection, "Recollection Films," that released March 25. It'll take the edge off.
VAMPS are in heavy promo mode for their upcoming US appearances, meaning CONTESTS! Two, so far, have reached my radar. The first being an Instagram photo contest. Post a photo themed around any song from their latest release, BLOODSUCKERS, with the hashtag #VAMPS_BLOODSUCKERS by April 22 for a chance to win an exclusive PC/Smartphone wallpaper. Entries are unlimited, but you must be following VAMPS to be eligible. The next comes from Revolver Magazine who is giving away an awesome VAMPS prize pack including a pair of tickets to their May 1 show in New York City. All you have to do is submit your name and email. It's just that easy.
Our favorite visual kei princess, Hizaki, has announced he will be making a couple of solo stops in Europe. He will visit Cologne, Germany on May 25 and Eragny, France on May 29. The shows will consist of songs from Jupiter, Versailles, and Hizaki Grace Project. Tickets go on sale TODAY and they won't last long.
My favorite super group, Sukekiyo, has announced the release of their first live DVD and I am FLIPPING OUT! Titled 'Persuasio,' the dvd is set to release on June 10 and will be available in both a limited and luxury edition with all sorts of extra goodies. Presale starts April 10, so mark your calendars, kiddies, cuz you're going to want this.
And, a New Band Alert, this time from Starwave Records. The band is called nüe and I really dig their feel. Starwave never fails to deliver interesting bands and, if their first MV is any indication, this one won't fail to disappoint. They release their first mini-album, Siren, on May 27, but you can pick it up early at their live at Ikebukuro CHOP on April 24.
