VKNews

The third monthly installment of the New Releases Playlist for 2026 has landed, and it's packed with fresh material from some of the most exciting names in Visual Kei right now. Curated by the team at vk.gy, this Spotify-embedded collection features Luvielle as the cover artist and showcases the incredible diversity of the Visual Kei underground and beyond. This month's playlist is a masterclass in why Visual Kei remains one of Japan's most vital rock subgenres. The 40+ artists featured span the entire spectrum—from established acts like SID, Acid Black Cherry, and Nightmare, who've been shaping the scene for nearly two decades, to hungry newer names like Kumori Nochi, Akai Yurei, and Mizukami CLINIC that represent the genre's future. You'll find everything here: the theatrical intensity of XAA-XAA and Rorschach.inc, the gothic darkness of Dokubari and VALHALLA, the melodic hooks of Royz and The Benjamin, and the experimental edge of KAKUMAY and machine....

A fresh face has emerged in the Visual Kei underground: **KYMM (カイム)**, a newly formed band that brings together an intriguing mix of seasoned musicians and creative talent. The lineup features **Yumekawa Minmi** on vocals, who previously fronted MELVEL and YUMELEEP—both bands rooted in the VK underground scene. Minmi brings an established vocal presence and performance experience to the group. On guitar, **Shiina Mio** joins from CANZEL and UNiTE., adding another layer of underground credibility; alongside her is **Yuh** from the long-running Visual Kei act **vistlip**, whose extensive background in the scene should add maturity and musicianship to KYMM's sound. Perhaps most intriguingly, drums are handled by **Fujiwara Kamui**, a character designer and manga artist—a detail that hints at KYMM potentially exploring the theatrical, artistic identity that defines Visual Kei's visual aesthetic as much as its music. This crossover between visual art and music production is quin...

March and April are absolutely STACKED with visual kei goodness, and we're thrilled to break down every killer release hitting the scene! From anticipated new albums by XAA-XAA, DAMILA, and MATHILDA to remastered classics, live recordings, and the return of beloved acts like Royz and THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S, these two months are shaping up to be absolutely essential for any VK collector. 81 releases confirmed for March 2026 & April 2026. Data sourced from vk.gy . Dates subject to change.