BLITZERS have always been one of K-pop’s more adventurous young groups. Since their debut, the group has struck a balance between energetic releases, allowing each member’s individuality to shine alongside the collective. That creative openness now takes a significant step forward as SYA prepares to release her first full-length solo album, 23:24, a major step…
Tag: rock
Turning It Up and Tearing It Down: KIK on Their Second EP “LOW KIK” – Exclusive Interview
There is no secret that Korea is known in the West mainly for its subculture, particularly K-pop and K-drama. For me, however, discovering and researching new aspects of the country’s music industry has grown into a genuine passion. Korean cinema has been part of my life for over two decades, with music entering the picture…
EXO Return to Their Universe With Eighth Studio Album “REVERXE”
EXO’s legacy and myth-making power have always been undeniable. Since their 2012 debut with an otherworldly concept that changed idol storytelling, the group has become synonymous with cinematic world-building, strong vocals, and pop that never plays it safe. From hits like Growl, Monster, and Love Shot to sold-out world tours and million-selling albums, EXO have…
The Vampire Chronicles: ENHYPEN’s “THE SIN: VANISH” – ALBUM REVIEW
THE SIN: VANISH is a narrative-driven EP which draws on ENHYPEN’s vampire concept and associated lore. Guest starring Park Jeong-min as a newsreader/investigative journalist, the album utilises first-person narration to tell the story of the forbidden romance between a vampire and their lover. While the album has been termed as experimental due to its format,…
CRYSTAL LAKE Deliver Their Most Powerful Statement Yet on “The Weight of Sound”
With The Weight of Sound, Crystal Lake delivers a record that is ferocious yet polished, and what I love most is how it explores what “heaviness” really means. Seven albums in, the Tokyo metalcore titans sound sharper and more focused than ever, turning that intensity into what may be their most complete release yet. Instrumentally,…
KIK Drops New EP “LOW KIK”, A Confident Comeback for the Band
EP LOW KIK goes beyond simply setting where KIK stands as a band. As artists continue to grow, the way they deal with emotions cannot stay the same, and this release is once again completed in a way that clearly reflects “KIK at this moment”. For those who may not be familiar, KIK is a…
YD of Crystal Lake on the New Album, “The Weight of Sound”, Metalcore and the Upcoming Tour
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…
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…
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…
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