REVIEW: GALLO - Incubus

I recently received GALLO's newest single, Incubus, and DAMN is it awesome!  Check out the video below to hear all about it!



This is the first ever video review from Project: Lixx, so if you want to see more, make sure to let us know by liking and commenting.  Have a suggestion for my next video?  Let me know that, too! In the mean time, make sure to check out GALLO at the links below.

Official Homepage

Official YouTube

Official Twitter

Review: Matenrou Opera - ether

Taka here with another review- second in a row; not too shabby!

I was honestly surprised when I received this single in the mail... but I was overjoyed! I adore Sono's voice and just the overall dynamic composition style that is Matenrou Opera.

On April 8, Matenrou Opera released their maxi-single, ether. The first thing I HAVE to note about this single is how cool the jacket is. The lyric booklet is actually sitting in the little holster that is the band (as you see above) and there is a moon that also separates and you slide in behind them, building it as a 3 layer pop-up book in a way. Not to mention, the CD is kept iridescent with white printing over the top.

This single features 3 awesome tracks:

1. ether

2. Round and Round

3. ari no koushin

Before I diagnose each song individually, I have to say I unfortunately was unable to find translated lyrics in order to discuss the lyrical content. If you happen to find any, feel free to tell me so I can look into them!

Also, you cannot necessarily judge this single as a whole, since the style changes from track to track. I feel this single has a little something for all of your tastes.

Review: Nightmare - blur

Hello everyone- Taka here with another review on Project: Lixx!

I'm majorly excited to bring this to you because it's on a release from a very special band for me. Nightmare was my first ever Japanese rock experience when I was 13. It started with Alumina, then exploded to me finding as much of their discography as was available at that time on YouTube (which also lead to "recommended artists" and me finding all of the favourites I hold dear today).

On January 7, Nightmare released their 24th single [blur], about 2 and a half months before their most recent album, [Carpe Diem] (released March 25). I have yet to get my hands on Carpe Diem but the title track of this single does appear again on it.
The three tracks for this single are:

1. blur
2. Buddies
3. Such A Nonsense System

It's been awhile since I listened to a full new single from Nightmare. I admittedly haven't been keeping up with them in the past 3 years, but I'm always open and excited to jump back into this band's amazing music to see how they're doing. Without further adieu, my review on each track of this single!

Review: Haruka - ANTHEMS

The Band: If you read our latest Band Feature, then you already know a little about Haruka. As a girl, she started her training in classical piano, but soon realized she wanted something more. In 2008, she released her first single with Pony Canyon, but she found even that too constraining and soon struck out on her own. Last year, she started her own record label, CLUB DISORDER, and released her first full-length album, ANTHEMS, just this October.

Review: liraizo - Himitsu Club

liraizo (リライゾ) (from left to right): Kili (Ex-AND), Yuuto (Ex-Screw), Yuki (Ex-Mix Speaker's Inc.), Touma (Ex-Circus), Suzune (Ex-AND)

A band of familiar faces from AND, Screw, Circus, and Mix Speaker's, Inc., liraizo (リライゾ) began activities September of this year. The band consists of Yuki (v), Kili (g), Touma (g), Yuuto (b), and Suzune (d). Himitsu Club is their first mini-album, a circulated and extended release of a live-only single under the same name and consists of six tracks. Being a fan of AND, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to pre-order the mini-album so I could listen to the full tracks as soon as possible.

Cover for Himitsu Club (Circulated Edition)

Review: The Black Swan - The Hopeless

About the Band:  The Black Swan, founded by ex-NEGA frontman, Jin, officially started activities in March of 2014.  He is joined by guitarists Itsuki and Makoto, bassist Rena and drummer Len.  Their homepage describes them as a group that "...are sure to cause a sensation even in the scene where the true meaning of Visual Kei is dead."  With a dark look and violent sound that sets them apart from the crowd, I can't say they're wrong.  Released October 15, The Hopeless is their first single.

Review: REIGN - Kakusei

About the Band: Kakusei is the fourth of a promised five releases from Loud-kei band, REIGN. Born from the session band “Kajikuma” founded by ex-AND members Kaji and Ikuma, REIGN officially started activities November 9, 2013, using the image of a troop of mischievous demons to build upon themes of temptation, greed and death.

Review: ALSDEAD - IDEA

About the Band: ALSDEAD is an alternative-metal band from Tokyo known for a heavy, melodic sound founded in 2008 by DICE AND JOKER members Maki (v), Shin (g) and Setsua (d) and joined by bassist Reito. Reito departed in August 2011 and was replaced by the young and talented Yosuke and the four would power through the VK scene until the recent and heartbreaking departure of Setsua in January of 2014. Former GALEYD drummer, Nikky, joined the ranks in May, giving us the ALSDEAD we have today. IDEA is their third full-length album.

Review: Moulin Rouge - Kamijo

Ex-Versailles vocalist, Kamijo, has been a busy bee here in 2014! Releasing the mini album, Symphony of the Vampire, back in March; the single, Moulin Rouge, in June; the single, Yamiyo No Lion, in July, and now the newest album, Heart, released a few weeks ago.

For myself... times have made it so my music purchases have to be digital and iTunes takes a bit of time before updating their store, especially when it comes to foreign artists. If you are an iTunes shopper like myself, you'd find that Symphony of the Vampire and Moulin Rouge are available. Even the solo debut single, Louis ~Enketsu No La Vie En Rose~, is available to purchase... but Yamiyo No Lion and Heart have yet to be added. I shall be keeping my eyes peeled to see if and when they get to that...

But for now, with the hype of Heart's release a few weeks back, I felt it a perfect time to review one of the singles that lead up to the release: Moulin Rouge. The title track is even featured on the album along with Louis and Yamiyo No Lion, even an acoustic version of Presto from Symphony of the Vampire!

All of these releases can be bought physically on CDJapan. 

Review: LOG - Brave BLUE

About the band: LOG, comprised of vocalist Vambi, guitarists Narumi and Rumina, and bassist Yuki, is a relatively new band in the Visual scene. Formed in February of this year, they are known for their heavy pop melodies and electronic beats. Brave BLUE, released August 3, is their second single.

Review: G.L.A.M.S. - Under the Moon

About the Band: G.L.A.M.S. is the solo project of BLACKLINE frontman, Mikaru with Tetsuto on guitar and BLACKLINE drummer, Syu, on DJ. Dubbed “synthetic art,” G.L.A.M.S. kicked off activities with a seven day art exhibition in Paris in February of this year where Mikaru himself greeted fans and showcased his paintings in what could be considered the art capital of the world. In July, he announced the release of his first EP, Under the Moon, and launched a 13 stop tour that would take it all through Europe. And, he’s not stopping there. Just this month, he announced a hand-made jewelry line which is up for sale through the G.L.A.M.S. homepage.

Review: REIGN - Kyumei

 
 About the Band: REIGN is a brand-spanking-new Loud-Kei band made up of ex-AND members Ikuma (Vo) and Kaji (Dr), and newcomers Ryuzi (Ba), Nagi (Gt), and Tano (Gt). Their image is that of mischievous demons and their fans are referred to as Koakuma, or Little Devils. Kyumei is the second of a promised five releases.

Review: Mejibray - A Priori Yomi: Josho Counting Goats

The Band:  Mejibray is a four piece loud rock band started by vocalist, Tsuzuku that includes his former VanessA bandmate, Koichi, on bass, the young and uber-talented MiA on guitar and the eccentric Meto on drums.  Probably most known for their wild theatrics and skin-bearing costumes, Mejibray features screeching vocals, heavy metal hooks and high-powered solos backed by heavily emotive lyrics that touch on everything from sex to mental illness.  They have released one full length album, two mini's and a whole slew of singles and will be releasing their single compilation, titled SM, on 5/7.

Review: Memento Mori - "Zenryaku, Shinai naru Kiguruibito e. - Shibuya Jigoku Ezu no Maki -"

About the band: 見世物小屋演者集団「メメント・モリ」(Misemono Goya Enja Shudan “Memento Mori”), which translates loosely into Freakshow Performance Group “Memento Mori”, is what I like to call a Neo-Traditional Visual Kei band formed in 2010 by vocalist Ai, guitarists Tsubaki and Jin, bassist Yohan and drummer Yue (unfortunately, Yue has left the band since this performance for medical reasons). Wearing kimono, hakama, and sometimes even samurai armor, they use a mix of hard rock and traditional elements to create a unique sound all their own.

Review: Nocturnal Bloodlust - Gears of Omega

About the Band:  Nocturnal Bloodlust is one of those genre-bending bands that can sometimes be difficult to categorize.  The best way I’ve found to describe them is Visual Melodic Metal-core.  The lineup consists of Hiro on vocals, Cazqui and Daichi on guitars, Masa on bass and Natsu on drums.  Since their inception in 2009, they’ve released 6 singles, one mini-album, and two full-length albums and show no sign of slowing down.  Gears of Omega, released on 3/19/2014, marks their first DVD release.

Review: Chthonic 'Bu-Tik'

CHTHONIC (from left): Doris Yeh (bass/backing vocals), CJ Kao (keyboards), Freddy Lim (lead vocals/erhu), Dani Wang (drums), Jesse Liu (guitars/backing vocals)

CHTHONIC:
REDEFINING GENRE BOUNDARIES THROUGH INNOVATION

By James C. Stewart

Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of the Taiwanese act Chthonic. I should’ve added some sort of genre designation before the word act…maybe the usual western bullshit terminology like “black metal”, “death metal”, or “symphonic metal”. But none of these labels—and we all know how the metal scene loves its labels—really define Chthonic’s music. Instead Chthonic produces a genre-bending brand of Taiwanese heavy that meshes the familiar with the unfamiliar.

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. 

Review: BABYMETAL 'BABYMETAL'

BABYMETAL: Left, Yuimetal (Yui Mizuno). Center, Su-Metal (Suzuka Nakamoto). Right, Moametal (Moa Kikuchi)

THE PRINCESS OF METAL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND RULING IN JAPAN
BABYMETAL DROP SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM
By James C. Stewart

“Recently the world was ruled by the big power Idols with their overwhelming magic.
Including the media, the politics, the economy, all were controlled by the Idols. The music other than the Idol songs was seen as harmful, and the metal was not an exception. The metallers, who were robbed of their soul, prayed for the restoration of the metal. Before long, the prayers reached the Fox God (Kitsune-sama), who is in charge of the metal. The Fox God named three girls, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL, BABYMETAL meaning ‘the birth of the new metal’, and, as the dark heroines of the Idol scene, has sent them down to this world. Everyone, soon comes the opening of the Metal Resistance!”
—From the overture to BABYMETAL Legend ‘I’ (6 October 2012, Shibuya O-East. Translations by Du-Enki.)

Review: The Mootekkis 'Heckling The Dawn'

Album art by Adam3

The Mootekkis are one of those bands which I wish I had the chance to see live. Living every bit the rocker lifestyle, they pour everything into their music wanting nothing more then for you to hear it. Their debut album 'Heckling The Dawn' proof of this devotion, made possible by the support of their fans. I was lucky enough to get myself a physical copy of this fantastic 10 track release.

Review: mothercoat '5 - 1 + 1 ='

This past Valentine's day mothercoat released their latest EP "5-1+1=". The title no doubt a reflection of the recent band lineup changes, they selected 3 songs which symbolize each era: with their ex-guitarist 'so', without a guitarist and with their new guitarist 'fuku'.