Crystal Lake have long proven that metalcore can be brutal and precise, and that balance is on full display as they prepare to release their sixth studio album, The Weight of Sound, on January 23. When I interviewed YD (Yudai Miyamoto) – the band’s founder and last remaining original member – he spoke less about…
Tag: reviews
Gabby Onme Step Into a Very Emotional Territory with “Gabby Onme 3.0”
Korean duo Gabby Onme, made up of Adrian and KINDA, return with new music. Their newest EP, Gabby Onme 3.0, just hit the market, and without a doubt, it is compact and emotionally dense. Described by Gabby Onme as “a new chapter”, Gabby Onme 3.0 reflects on the past to sketch the emotional outlines of…
“Dead to Rights” Review
In December 1937, the city of Nanjing was thrust into an unimaginable nightmare. During what has become known as the Nanjing Massacre, Japanese forces captured the Chinese capital, committing atrocities that left tens of thousands dead and countless others traumatised. This dark chapter of history, filled with destruction, brutality, and human suffering, provides the setting…
XLOV Are Headed to Europe – 2026 Tour Dates Confirmed
After a strong year in 2025 that saw unprecedented global attention, XLOV are officially taking their next big step: their first major European tour, with several cities already sold out. Formed in January 2025 and managed by 257 Entertainment, XLOV quickly established themselves as one of the most distinctive groups of the new Asian pop…
Catch The Young To Release Their First Album, “EVOLVE”, on January 19th
Catch The Young are stepping into their most defining era yet. The rising K-rock band has officially announced their first full-length studio album, EVOLVE, set for release on January 19, 2026. Since their debut in November 2023 with Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth, the five-piece has moved with remarkable strength, slowly but surely creating…
Japanese Metalcore: The Rise of Zilqy – Exclusive Interview
Japanese metalcore has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade. Emerging from the genre’s Western foundations, downtuned guitars and breakdown-heavy structures, the Japanese scene injects something extraordinary into the genre itself. Bands like Crossfaith, Crystal Lake, Coldrain, and Earthists. have become global touchstones. Japanese metalcore’s brutality is rarely left unchecked, often countered by intense…
RESCENE on Their Third Mini Album “lip bomb”, Training Days and Favourite Berries – Exclusive Interview
It was one of those cold, rainy London days when the city feels quieter than usual. I sat down with a cup of coffee, turned on my speakers, and pressed play on RESCENE’s new mini-album lip bomb. Almost instantly, the music made me feel warm, and it became a charming listening experience. Released a few…
Jonny Durgan’s “G.S.W” – Short Film Review
Driven by a compelling narrative, Jonny Durgan’s G.S.W. slowly tightens its grip on the viewer, refusing to let go until the final moments. Built around a single emergency, the film examines moral fracture and the collision of professional duty with personal fear. The film follows Beth (Genevieve O’Reilly: Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, Ahsoka,…
Catch The Young Breathe New Life into a 90s Korean Rock Ballad, “Footsteps (발걸음)”
Catch The Young are back and have released a new remake single of the 90s rock ballad classic, 발걸음 (FOOTSTEPS) by Emerald Castle. Originally released in 1997, the song reflects the pain of a breakup and the hope of starting again. Its emotional melody and beautiful lyrics have made it a beloved classic in South Korea, covered by…
2025 in Review: The Year Asian Hip-Hop Spoke for Itself
The past decade has been a strong one for Asian hip-hop, and 2025 was no exception. It showed up everywhere – in late-night playlists, on festival stages, in cyphers with no subtitles, and in tracks that didn’t stop to explain themselves. This wasn’t about Asian rap trying to establish a global presence anymore. It sounded…
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