BAND-MAID – Brand New MAID (Review)
BAND-MAID Brand New MAID Review by David Cirone BAND MAID has made a point in recent interviews of celebrating the contrast (sometimes they cContinue reading…
Category: Reviews
Critical analysis of the sounds and stories shaping modern Japan. From the visceral energy of live rock, pop, and idol performances to the subtle mastery of award-winning manga and deeply personal films, our reviews offer an expert lens on the craftsmanship, production, and cultural legacy of Japanese media.
GazettE – Los Angeles 2016 at Wiltern Theatre (Live Report)
the GazettE Wiltern Theatre – May 3, 2016 Live Report by Nhu Nguyen Full disclosure: I am a fan of the GazettE. I have had the pleasure of seContinue reading…
ONE OK ROCK – Self Help Festival 2016 (Live Report)
ONE OK ROCK Self-Help Festival 2016 Live Report by Christina Aoun Self Help Fest 2016 – This year’s punk-rock/heavy metal festival was heldContinue reading…
BABYMETAL – METAL RESISTANCE (Review)
BABYMETAL METAL RESISTANCE Review by David Cirone BABYMETAL’s METAL RESISTANCE, the follow-up to their 2014 cross-cultural smash BABYMETAL, rContinue reading…
RHEDORIC – Amplyfi 2016 Live Report
RHEDORIC Amplyfi – March 13, 2016 Live Report by Nhu Nguyen RHEDORIC has been eager to perform for their American fans. You could see it as sContinue reading…
FEMM – Pow! / L.C.S. (Review)
FEMM PoW!/L.C.S. Review by David Cirone FEMM isn’t running short in the attitude department — they’re still throwing buckets of shade on hatContinue reading…
exist†trace – THIS IS NOW (Review)
exist†trace THIS IS NOW Review by David Cirone THIS IS NOW is bold and uneven, an irresistibly imperfect statement of individual creative aContinue reading…
SCANDAL – YELLOW (review)
SCANDAL YELLOW Review by Arthur Doctolero With six studio albums and a successful world tour under their belt, there is no doubt that SCANDALContinue reading…
Charisma.com – Aidoro C (Review)
Charisma.com likes playing with your head. Aidoro C, the latest album from the duo of MC Istuka and DJ Gonchi (following up 2015’s O-Lest) dares yContinue reading…
BO-PEEP – THANK YOU (Review)
BO-PEEP’s latest CD THANK YOU opens with rocket-fueled, fast-paced guitar fury from Mika Yoshimura in “Hello”. Mika’s shrill vocals push you off bContinue reading…