VKNews

Dir en grey have dropped the full album artwork and tracklist for MORTAL DOWNER , their 12th studio album due April 8, 2026. The cover — unveiled via the band's official Instagram — is exactly what you'd expect from Dir en grey at their most cinematic: a robed, cone-hatted figure silhouetted in a portal of harsh light, set against a desolate landscape and framed by dense, ink-etched illustrations of insects and writhing organic forms. Dark, apocalyptic, and unmistakably theirs.

There's a particular kind of beauty that emerges from controlled destruction, and DALLE's 2021 offering *Destroyed To Discord. And The Reason* is a masterclass in harnessing sonic chaos without losing melodic coherence. This is an album that announces itself as a statement—a band unafraid to splinter their sound into jagged fragments, then reassemble them into something unexpectedly hypnotic. From the opening moments, it's clear DALLE has embraced a more abrasive aesthetic than typical Visual Kei orthodoxy demands. The production is deliberately raw, guitars clash with almost confrontational intensity, and the vocal delivery oscillates between melodic croon and visceral snarl. Rather than smooth this friction away, the band leans into it, creating an album that feels genuinely destabilized—appropriate given the title's promise of discord. What prevents *Destroyed To Discord* from descending into mere noise is its underlying compositional intelligence. Beneath th...

After a hiatus, Japanese rock act Sadie is officially back in the studio—and they're bringing new material with them. The band has announced their first newly recorded single since their activity resumption, titled "悪の花" (Flower of Evil), set to drop in September 2026. For those unfamiliar with Sadie, the Tokyo-based rock band emerged in the early 2000s and built a dedicated following with their blend of theatrical rock sensibilities and dark, introspective songwriting. Their aesthetic walks the line between alternative rock and visual rock traditions, marked by moody arrangements and atmospheric production. The announcement of fresh material is a significant moment for longtime supporters who've been waiting to hear what direction the band takes post-reunion. The single's title alone—"Flower of Evil"—signals a return to the darker thematic territory that defined much of Sadie's earlier work. While the band has kept production details close to the...

The Benjamin are gearing up for a major release this spring with their new album *Beyond*, arriving in two formats for eager fans. The record will hit digital platforms on **March 21, 2026**, with a physical CD release following on **March 29, 2026** at ¥3,500. For those unfamiliar with the band, The Benjamin are known for their dynamic blend of rock aesthetics and theatrical presentation, bringing energy and intricate songwriting to the Japanese rock underground. The *Beyond* tracklist showcases a creative vision dominated by the songwriting of Miney, who helms 11 of the 14 compositions, with Mashoe contributing the remaining three. Notably, the tracks lean heavily into a thematic alphabet motif with Japanese titles—from "ボーダーライン" (Borderline) and "ブラッドオレンジ" (Blood Orange) to "ボストンバッグ" (Boston Bag) and "バンダナ" (Bandana). The English-language tracks "Bootleg Apples" and "Blunt Breath" provide stylistic variety, while the clo...

If you've been sleeping on Psycho le Cému's festival circuit, it's time to wake up—the legendary visual kei institution is hosting a two-day extravaganza in Himeji this March, and Day 2 is getting a full live broadcast on Nico Nico Douga. **Psycho le Cému Presents: Himeji Shirasagi Rock Fest 2026** takes place March 28–29 at Acreひめじ Grand Hall in Hyogo Prefecture. Day 1 features Psycho le Cému, 氣志團, PENICILLIN, lynch., and キズ, while Day 2 (March 29) will showcase Psycho le Cému, **Plastic Tree**, **NIGHTMARE**, 0.1gの誤算, and ENVii GABRIELLA—essentially a who's-who of Japanese visual kei and experimental rock. For Western fans who can't make the trek to Japan, this is huge: Nico Nico Douga will exclusively broadcast all Day 2 performances starting at 1 PM on March 29. You'll need a Nico Nico Premium membership (¥790/month) to watch live, but the broadcast will remain available for timeshift viewing until April 19, 2026. **About the festival:** Psycho le C...

Onmyoza has officially released their first live album as a standalone release in two decades. *Gin'yo Sashimai* dropped today, marking a major milestone for the veteran Visual Kei outfit and capturing the energy of their massive 2025 tour in stunning detail. The 24-track double album was recorded during the final show of the *2025 Gin'yo Tour* at Hokkaido's Sapporo venue on September 11th, following the September 11th kickoff in Yokohama. The tour supported the band's latest studio album *Gin'yo Gozen*, their first original full-length in two and a half years. For those unfamiliar with Onmyoza: they're one of Japan's most theatrical and conceptual Visual Kei bands, known for their elaborate stage productions, Japanese folklore themes, and genre-blending approach that fuses rock with traditional instrumentation. The last time Onmyoza released a standalone live album was *Onmyo Raibu* back in 2006—a 20-year gap that makes this release feel genuinely s...