Check out J-Generation′s best J-Pop and J-Rock album/single jackets of 2024, chosen by David Cirone, Nhu Nguyen, Marc Bowie, and Molly Coggshall.
BUCK-TICK – Subrosa
Molly: Mystical colors of the aurora borealis swirl in the sky above a frozen lake while animals gather beneath and look up in awe. In many cultures, the aurora represents the other world, and with a Noah’s Ark assembly of animals gathering below, Buck-Tick’s album cover displays a significant picture of life and death. (Raijin Fujin – Resonance MV)
Petit Brabancon – Seven Garbage Born of Hatred
Molly: A teenage girl lies supine on the ground foaming at the mouth and surrounded by half eaten pizza. After attending a sure to be wild concert by one of Japan’s most prominent metal superbands, death by pizza seems like a great finish to the evening. (Vendetta MV)
Nhu: The dystopian cover fixates on a cyborg woman who’s seemingly dying on a street strewn with syringes and trash. She’s reaching out with no one to help her while foaming at the mouth from eating pizza topped with pepperoni and pills — a winning combo!
Perfume – Nebula Romance Part 1
Nhu: With a mysterious red-haired lady and a Daft Punk-looking guitarist and keyboardist by their side, Perfume is poised and ready to fight for love in another galaxy in this retro cover for Nebula Romance Part 1. (Cosmic Treat MV)
BAND-MAID – Epic Narratives
Nhu: The cover for BAND-MAID’s fifth full-length album is indeed epic as space pods urgently fly out escaping from a volcanic eruption leaving behind all they know down below. (Magie Live MV)
Marc: “BAND-MAID has always cared about making a connection with their audience, and they make this even more overt on their latest LP by including the call-and-response sounding “Brightest Star,” catering to their pop fans with “Letters to You,” and the written-on-tour “Memorable.”
My Hair Is Bad – ghosts
Nhu: My Hair is Bad is already an intriguing band name, but so is the image for their sixth full-length album, ghosts, as the trio’s faces are obscured with swirls of hot glue. (Omoide wo Kakenukete MV)
DEVILOOF – Song for the Weak
David: DEVILOOF gives you a peek at the gears of madness that power the insanity of their 2024 single “Song for the Weak“. Intense and unrelenting, that look in the eyes tells you what’s coming, ready or not.
DIR EN GREY – 19990120
Nhu: The ghostly image of a doll on 19990120 reminds me of the band’s original visual kei look with their haunting pretty doll-like features and long hair. Fittingly to the cover and title, this single album celebrates the band’s first three debut singles “YURAMEKI“, “ZAN”, and “Akuro no Oka”, released on January 20, 1999, reinterpreted in the current style of DIR EN GREY.
Airi Suzuki 28/29
David: Suzuki pulls off an homage to Shiina Ringo’s audience-confronting upward glance on her classic Muzai Moratorium album jacket, while delivering an album just as eclectic and powerful – featuring bangers like “Byoudou na Melody”, “heart notes“, and the Crystal Kay cover “Koi ni Ochitara“ with Sorane & Taku Takahashi.
Kumi Koda – UNICORN
David: With this image of iconic elegance, two words nearly synonymous with this veteran performer, Unicorn had me sold with the first mention of Kumi Koda covering Bonnie Pink’s classic anthem “Heaven’s Kitchen“. A great mix of ballads, pop, and dance floor killers. (Vroom MV)
Ryujin – Ryujin
David: Dueling dragons are a perfect metaphor for the traditional/modern mix of Ryujin’s sound. This album breathes fire. (Raijin & Fujin MV)
NoGoD – Shinzui -OMNIBUS-
David: NoGoD’s trippy, mind-bending illustration for Shinzui – OMNIBUS- mirrors the emotional roller coaster of this hard-hitting new album. Look out for some killer vocals on “Kaitei no Hana” and Dedicated to John Doe.
Atarashii Gakko! – AG Calling
David: Atarashii Gakko! continued their conquest of America, pumping their infectious brand of crazy into a world tour and a rocking set at Coachella. The energy, confidence, and skyward trajectory of this album jacket is right on point. (Tokyo Calling MV)
GALNERYUS – The Stars Will Light The Way
David: Power metal heroes GALNERYUS put the capital “E” in epic once again with their majestic, celestial jacket for The Stars Will Light The Way, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut. (THE REASON WE FIGHT MV)
LOVEBITES – Memorial for the Warrior Souls
David: LOVEBITES continues to dominate as the modern queens of Japanese female heavy metal, and the jacket for their live album Memorial for the Warrior Souls paints a beautiful portrait of their pantheon status. (Soldier Stands Solitarily Live MV)
