J-rock unit I Don’t Like Mondays. have released their first single of 2024, ‘New York, New York’, kicking off the 10th-anniversary celebrations of their major debut. Starting 2024 with a sprint, the band’s recent tour of China sold out instantly, and they provided the music and lyrics for boy band Snow Man’s 10th single ‘LOVE TRIGGER’, which soared to a million sales in just two days of its release. I Don’t Like Mondays. pay homage to their roots in ‘New York, New York’, a poignant single that embraces the UK sound that has always inspired them. Vocalist YU, who spent his formative years in Ne ..read more

Osaka extreme black metal gabber collective Violent Magic Orchestra (VMO) will return to Europe this June for their ‘DEATH RAVE’ EU/UK tour. Following the release of their latest album ‘DEATH RAVE’, the tour, touted as the group’s biggest to date, is sure to be an overwhelming onslaught of black metal, techno, and visual art for audiences across the continent. Kicking off on June 6th at Volksbühne in Berlin, Germany, the tour will make stops at festivals across Europe, including Sónar Festival in Barcelona and Vulvaverse in Rotterdam. The UK leg of the tour includes stops in Bristol, Mancheste ..read more

Experimental heavy rock legends Boris will hit the road for an extensive North American tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their 1998 debut album, ‘Amplifier Worship’. Supported by LA retro-rockers Starcrawler, the tour, aptly named the ‘Amplifier Worship Service’, will see Boris performing the album in its entirety across 31 dates, putting both the genesis and pinnacle of drone metal fully on display. Since their formation in 1992, Boris have been at the forefront of pushing the limits of heavy music, incorporating elements of various genres such as power violence, ambient, drone, a ..read more

Japan’s coolest hip-hop duo, Yurufuwa Gang, have joined the lineup for this year’s Great Escape Festival, one of the biggest music showcases in Europe. Comprised of NENE and Ryugo Ishida, Yurufuwa Gang have been igniting Japan’s music scene with their provocative lyricism and infectious beats since their inception in 2017. Drawing inspiration from UK garage, RnB, noise, old-school rap, and even Quentin Tarantino, the duo have become synonymous with high-octane performances and unorthodox sound. With their playful and positive approach, exemplified by their trippy and psychedelic music videos ..read more

Following a whirlwind series of events along the South Coast, J-pop mega-phenomenon YOASOBI have announced headline shows in New York City and Boston as part of their continuing US tour. After a triumphant performance at The Warfield in San Francisco on April 21st, the duo, comprised of composer Ayase and vocalist Ikura, thrilled fans at their second-ever US headline show with a high-energy 90-minute journey through 17 of their hit EDM, rock, and rap-infused pop songs. Ayase and Ikura performing at their sold-out San Francisco headline show Having conquered the South Coast earlier this month ..read more

Dempagumi.inc, one of Japan’s most prolific idol groups of the early-mid 2010s, have announced their decision to disband at the beginning of 2025, marking the end of their 16-year journey. The announcement came during the encore of their Tokyo LIQUIDROOM performance as part of the ‘We need the DEMPA TOUR 2024’ on April 20th. The members, including Mirin Furukawa, Risa Aizawa, Ayane Fujisaki, Kaname Rin, Rito Amasawa, Ria Kobato, and Hina Takasaki, revealed their decision after discussions among themselves and their crew. でんぱ組.inc 2025年いよいよエンディングへ。 pic.twitter.com/h2qfdXVGUs — でんぱ組.inc (@demp ..read more

What a whirlwind week it has been for YOASOBI, the Tokyo J-pop super duo comprised of producer Ayase and singer-songwriter Ikura. From performing on stage at one of the world’s most prominent music festivals, Coachella, to a White House state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden, courtesy of an invitation from Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife. And now, they find themselves making their highly anticipated US headline debut at the sold-out 5000-capacity Shrine Expo Hall in LA. Giant screens towering over the stage served as tonight’s backdrop, initially teasing the crowd with an ..read more

Ado has confirmed the release of her long-awaited second original album, ‘Zanmu’, slated to hit shelves on July 10th. This album follows her debut studio album ‘Kyogen’, released in 2022. Comprising 16 songs, the album features new recordings of 12 previously released mega-hits such as ‘Show’, the SPYxFAMILY opening ‘Kura Kura’, and Lotte Chocolate’s 60th-anniversary track ‘Chocolat Cadabra’, alongside four brand-new, yet-to-be-revealed tracks. The album’s visuals, including its jacket design, were crafted by ORIHARA, who fulfills the role of Ado’s image director. Expressing her sentiments reg ..read more

Japan’s metalcore titans, Crossfaith, continue their return to prominence with news of their highly anticipated new album, ‘AЯK’, scheduled to drop on June 26th. This marks the band’s first album release under their new formation. ‘AЯK’, symbolizing a new beginning for the band as they navigate their comeback, will serve as their first album in approximately six years since their last release, ‘EX_MACHINA’, in 2018. In February, the band announced the addition of former HER NAME IN BLOOD guitarist, Daiki Koide, to their lineup, following the departure of former bassist Hiroki Ikegawa. RELATED ..read more

The timetable for weekend two of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, held in California from April 19th to 21st, has been released. Alongside world-renowned artists, J-pop icons YOASOBI, Hatsune Miku, and ATARASHII GAKKO! return for their second round of performances. Taking place over two weekends, spanning from April 12th-14th and April 19th-21st, the first weekend showcased the star-studded ‘88rising Futures’ event. YOASOBI and ATARASHII GAKKO!, alongside Awich, and Number_i, as well as Korean-American rapper Tiger JK, Chinese singer Xin Liu, and Korean rapper Yoonmirae, all parti ..read more