Every so often there's a really cool bundle I come across online and think to myself, "Man, as cool as this sounds, I just don't know if I want to fork out that kind of cash." But then there are the bundles that make me think "why, oh why, did I not hear about this sooner?!" Well, my friends, the latter occasion is at hand: Darkest Labyrinth—a label rather well known in the Japanese underground industrial and metal scene—has a very special deal going on at the moment.

from Rokkyuu Magazine

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Versailles are back on track after their first major performance at V-Rock Festival 2009. The next big step on their agenda is to say goodbye to their former bassist in a way only j-rockers can: at the Shibuya O East as part of the "Versailles Presents Jasmine You - Memorial Ceremony" January 4, 2010.

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The Aoi Ookami ga Mita Zekkei DVD is actually the band's first DVD ever to be sold. For $21 USD, you get the "Aoi Ookami ga Mita Zekkei" PV, performance footage from the songs "Rebandyisyu ringu" and "Tadashii mahou no tsukurikata," and a 12-page booklet featuring photos by ts9.

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Earlier last week, GLAY announced the DVD release of their 15th Anniversary Special Concert, which took place back in August. The DVD bundle is titled "GLAY 15th Anniversary Special Live 2009 THE GREAT VACATION in NISSAN STADIUM," and will be released January 27, 2010 in two editions: limited and standard.

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From Merry's self-flagellation with a microphone, to hundreds of glimmering sensu waving like a school of fish during Kagrra's performance, to a backstage sound check that sent fangirls stampeding, we present moments from V-Rock Fest that you just had to see.

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Part of the downside of being a fan of j-rock is the dearth of megaoutlets where you can get your hands on it. That's why I was very excited when I received a MySpace invitation from a new community specializing in that very subject: Indivisual.

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Despite being a band of girls in a male-dominated VK universe, Exist Trace rock it like the rest of them, serving up a side of metal with dark undertones. No doubt, Vocalist Jyou's growling could give some of her male counterparts a run for their money. ROKKYUU Magazine sat down with the band after their performance on Sunday for a short QA session.

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Tokyology is a new DVD series that introduces viewers to Japanese pop culture. Unlike Maru Music's DVD series, Visual Kei DVD Magazine, Tokyology focuses on a broad range of culture (rather than visual kei artists specifically). You'll see everything from quaint Harajuku clothing stores to footage inside strangely-themed restaurants, to a candid interview with none other than DJ SiSeN and cyber fashion friends outside the club.

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Don't you love finding j-rock in unexpected places? Sometimes I'll come across a small group of people who recently saw a concert and are reliving the excitement. Other times, I've played a few tracks for a friend from a newly opened CD or mp3 download and I've got them infected. It's becoming more and more commonplace for j-rock bands to be discussed and reviewed in the USA-and at ROKKYUU, we like to call this recognition creep part of the j-rock invasion.

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In their first appearance since signing to major record label Warner Music Group, Versailles took to the stage at the world's first VK rock festival. Their performance was expectedly emotional for both band and fans, given the recent passing of Versailles' bassist, Jasmine You. But the underlying message was clear: Versailles is ready to step back into the spotlight and take on the world with their music.

from Rokkyuu Magazine

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Like most other fans, I'm always trying to keep my must-purchase-no-matter-what-even-if-it's-"eventually" radar on alert. So when I saw "Alice Nine" and "DVD" I honestly didn't have the strength to look away.

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Gackt has much in store for fans between now and the 2010. On November 7, fans can purchase the 2010 calendar, which retails for $26. On December 2, look for the Live DVD GACKT Visualive Tour 2008-2009 Requiem et Reminiscence II Saisei to Kaiko ($73) and RE:BORN ($39).

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Deluhi's much-anticipated next release has finally taken shape in the form of a mini album titled "-Yggdalive-" and will go sale on November 4. The release contains nine new tracks, a 28-page color booklet, and a photo of a random member of the band. Had enough yet? Well, that's not all, folks! Their ambitious ascent of the VK ladder has led the boys to schedule a two-year anniversary live at Shibuya O-East on January 9, 2010.

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Damn, everyone in this band can really throw in some kicks! Vocalist Hayato actually did some sort of crazy-flying-spinning-karate kick—AND HE LANDED IT! When a man just busts a move like that, you can't help but wonder how long he had been practicing for it. Likewise, bassist Natsuki performed a cancan almost non-stop during the performance, and when guitarist Yuya joined him, boy did they get their legs up there!

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With a name like Abingdon Boys School, your first impression of the band may be something along the lines of a group of teenagers trying to form a rock band. then you realize they're not teenagers, but grown men, and your opinion of them may just go even further downhill. But like the old adage goes, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Vocalist Takanori Nishikawa has a voice so crystalline that you hear every word he sings—a rare thing in an age of incoherent screaming—and the aerial quality of his voice carries you along weightlessly. His skill is undeniable, and his combination of cheekiness and charm during the MC had everyone grinning. What a performance to be swept away by.

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V-Rock Festival 2009 was made up of a selection of the very best in visual kei, from the smallest bands to the biggest names. We saw performers with years of experience alongside young artists with fresh enthusiasm: there was pop, rock, grunge, metal, electronica and everything in between. Needless to say, just about every band stepped up to the plate and blew us away.

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The underworld of Japan is an entity even more insular to outsiders than the country's exotic language and faraway culture. At the heart of its dangerous underbelly is the Japanese mafia; they call themselves gokudo, but admirers such as you and I know them as the yakuza. For Jake Adelstein, however, the yakuza are anything but mysterious. The first American reporter to be hired as a seisha-in (lifelong employee) by Yomiuri Shinbun, Japan's largest newspaper, Adelstein found his way into the darkest corridors of Japanese society.

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V-Rock Festival 2009 is the world's first summit of Visual Rock bands from Japan and beyond! Performing at the festival are over fifty bands on four stages, ranging from indies bands like heidi. and Matenrou Opera to big name visual kei artists Moi dix Mois and The GazettE. Need help tuning in online? We've got you covered.

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Miyavi's concerts in Seattle, New York, Atlanta, and Dallas have all been cancelled, according to an announcement this morning on Miyavi's official home page and MySpace blog. We wish him a speedy recovery, and look forward to the rescheduling of the concerts when he is feeling better.

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When it comes to Japanese food, the ramen-noodles-and-sushi stereotype is all too familiar among unadventurous otaku. Without digging any further, they miss out on so many interesting and delicious dishes. But unless you're lucky enough to have access to a foodie friend or family member, it's hard to know where to start. That's where "Cooking with Dog" comes in.

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