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MUCC Announce Berlin & Helsinki Dates Summer 2026

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Gothic metalcore legends MUCC are bringing their dark, atmospheric sound to European stages this summer as part of an expanded festival circuit. The Japanese Visual Kei pioneers have confirmed two headline dates surrounding their appearance at B7Fest, the newly launched Visual Kei festival taking place in Paris. For those unfamiliar, MUCC has been a cornerstone of the Visual Kei scene since the late 1990s, blending heavy guitars with haunting melodies and deeply theatrical presentations. Known for their conceptual albums and intense live performances, the band continues to push boundaries within the genre while maintaining a dedicated international fanbase. **Tour Details:** The confirmed European dates are: - **9 July 2026** – Berlin, Germany @ Kesselhaus - **13 July 2026** – Helsinki, Finland @ Ääniwalli Ticket sales open **23 April 2026 at 12:00 CET**. This gives fans just over three months' notice to plan travel and accommodation—essential if you're hoping to ca...
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Erzsébet Project Forms with Monet & KD; First Live May 2026

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A fresh Visual Kei project has officially launched: **Erzsébet**, a gothic-tinged duo pairing vocalist Monet with keyboardist KD. The band has already locked in their debut live performance for **May 23, 2026**—giving fans a concrete date to mark their calendars. The project's name, Erzsébet (Elizabeth in Hungarian), carries gothic and historical weight, hinting at the aesthetic direction the duo plans to explore. The teaser imagery released so far suggests a dark, theatrical approach aligned with the gothic Visual Kei tradition—expect elaborate visuals and moody atmospherics when they take the stage. **Monet** brings an established presence in the Visual Kei scene, while **KD** on keyboards adds textural depth to what appears to be a synth-forward sound palette. The keyboard-led approach suggests influences from the symphonic and gothic branches of Visual Kei, potentially drawing from acts like Malice Mizer or more modern gothic projects. For those unfamiliar with Erzsébet...
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X – BLUE BLOOD Review: Japanese Visual Kei's Darkest Hour

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There's a palpable darkness that settles over BLUE BLOOD from its first moments—a suffocating, beautiful dread that would come to define an entire visual kei aesthetic for Western audiences discovering Japanese rock in the decades to come. X's 1989 debut is less an album and more a manifesto: proof that the underground Tokyo scene was ready to challenge the glossy dominance of mainstream j-rock with something genuinely transgressive. From the production standpoint, BLUE BLOOD is remarkably ambitious for a debut. The guitar work carries a gothic heaviness that wouldn't feel out of place in European metal circles, yet maintains a distinctly Japanese sensibility—melodic even when crushing. The drums hit with mechanical precision, while Yoshiki's keyboard arrangements add orchestral depth without ever softening the record's essential bite. It's a complete sonic vision, and that's rare for a band's first statement. The album constructs an atmosphere o...
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LAFFLESIA Release Second Single "étoile ~La fin d'un amour~"

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LAFFLESIA are back with their sophomore digital single, and it's arriving sooner than you might expect. The band has announced *étoile ~La fin d'un amour~* (Star ~The End of a Love~) for release on April 18th, 2026, continuing to build momentum following their debut. For those new to LAFFLESIA, the band represents the contemporary wave of Visual Kei acts emerging in the mid-2020s, bringing theatrical aesthetics and emotional intensity to the modern VK landscape. While details about the band's lineup and musical direction remain relatively fresh territory for Western fans discovering them, the single artwork and preview materials suggest a continuation of their dramatic, melancholic approach. The release will arrive on digital platforms, though whether it will be available for streaming or purchase—as their first single was download-only—remains to be confirmed. A preview video has already dropped via their official Twitter (@MAYU_LAFFLESIA), giving fans an early tas...
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Oshaburi. (formerly .cute!!) Rebrand with New MV

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The experimental Visual Kei project .cute!! is undergoing a major rebrand, officially changing their name to **おしゃぶり。(Oshaburi.)** as of May 5, 2026. The announcement came with a striking new MV spot, signalling a fresh creative direction for the outfit. For those unfamiliar with the group, .cute!! formed as a demo project featuring a powerhouse lineup of experienced musicians from the underground scene. The band brings together vocalist **ちゃんりか (Chanrika)**, formerly of Lynoas, with guitarist **ゼノ (Zeno)**, who has played in BLiND OWL, ANSEEK, and 鯖 (SABA). Completing the rhythm section are bassist **莉櫻 (Rio)** and dual drummers **冥 (Mei)**, fresh from ヤレナイ (YARENAI), and **ヒッチコック (HITCHCOCK)**. The name change to Oshaburi. marks a deliberate evolution rather than a dissolution—the band's social channels already reflect the update, with their official Twitter (@cute_0fficial) announcing the transition as "5/5始動" (launching May 5th). This suggests they're not just ...
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XANVALA Release New Digital Single "災" (Sai)

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Japanese Visual Kei act XANVALA is making waves with fresh material on the horizon. The band has announced the release of a new digital single titled "災" (Sai), arriving April 29, 2026. For those unfamiliar with XANVALA, the band represents the contemporary wave of Visual Kei—delivering the theatrical aesthetics, intricate instrumentation, and emotional intensity that define the genre. With their distinctive visual presentation and dynamic sound, they've carved out a dedicated following among Western VK enthusiasts seeking modern acts that honor the movement's core identity. While details remain sparse at this stage, the single artwork and release date have been confirmed through their official social media channels. The title "災" translates to "disaster" or "calamity," suggesting thematically dense material consistent with Visual Kei's penchant for exploring darker, more introspective lyrical territory. This announcement com...
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Zigzag's Mikoto Guests on ijikuri ROCKS Streaming Show

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After six years away, the vocalist of one of Japan's most theatrical Visual Kei acts is making a long-awaited return to the spotlight. Mikoto (-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ) will guest on the 74th episode of *いじくりROCKS!* ("ijikuri ROCKS!"), the streaming show co-hosted by MUCC's Tatsurou and NoGoD's Danchō, airing **April 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM JST**. This marks Mikoto's first in-studio appearance since the program's early days—a six-year gap that makes this a genuinely significant moment for fans. -真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ (literally "True Heaven-Earth Genesis Collective Zigzag") have been quietly building momentum. Last year they released the single **"P0WER -悪霊退散-"** ("P0WER -Evil Spirit Exorcism-"), which became the opening theme for the anime adaptation of *Hell Teacher Nube*. The band is currently in the middle of their nationwide tour **"2026 ＜47 Prefectures Leisurely Pilgrimage Purification ~Phase Two＞,"** bringing their unmistakabl...
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