L'Arc-en-Ciel, stylized as L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and abbreviated as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist tetsuya and vocalist hyde. Following the departure of original members hiro and pero, guitarist ken and drummer sakura were recruited to replace them in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, L'Arc-en-Ciel have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994. Sakura left the band in 1997 and was replaced by yukihiro in January 1998, completing the current line-up.
Shazna is a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. Originally having a strong gothic/post-punk influence, the band's sound greatly shifted to a more new wave direction by 1996. At their peak, they were considered one of "the big four of visual kei" alongside La'cryma Christi, Fanatic Crisis and Malice Mizer. Their 1998 major label debut album Gold Sun and Silver Moon reached the number two position on the Oricon chart, sold over a million copies and was named "Rock Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. In 2006, Shazna reunited, though after releasing an album and a single they disbanded once again in 2009. In 2017, Shazna officially reunited again for their 20th anniversary.
Aku no Hana is the fifth studio album by the Japanese rock band Buck-Tick. It was released on cassette and CD on February 1, 1990, through Victor Entertainment. It peaked at number one on the Oricon charts and is the group's best-selling album to date. It was certified gold in the month of its release, and sold 435,080 copies in the first year of its release. The title comes from Charles Baudelaire's volume of poetry, Les Fleurs du mal.
Sexual XXXXX! is the second studio album by the Japanese rock band Buck-Tick. It was the group's major label debut and was released on vinyl, cassette and CD on November 21, 1987 through on Victor Entertainment. The album was digitally remastered and re-released on September 19, 2002, with a different cover. Sexual XXXXX! was remastered and re-released again on September 5, 2007. The songs "Do the I Love You" and "Hyper Love" were later re-recorded for the band's compilation album Koroshi no Shirabe: This Is Not Greatest Hits (1992). "My Eyes & Your Eyes" was also re-recorded for the b-side to their "Rendezvous" single in 2007. At the time of its release, the album peaked at number 33 on the Oricon charts and as of 2011, has sold 40,000 copies.
Fanatic Crisis was a Japanese rock band active from 1992–2005.
Kurutta Taiyou is the sixth studio album by the Japanese rock band Buck-Tick. It was released on cassette and CD on February 21, 1991, through Victor Entertainment. The album was digitally remastered and re-released on September 19, 2002, with two bonus tracks. It was remastered and re-released again on September 5, 2007. "Speed", "M・A・D" and "Jupiter" were later re-recorded for the group's compilation album Koroshi no Shirabe: This Is Not Greatest Hits (1992).
Ling Tosite Sigure are a Japanese rock trio, formed in 2002 in Saitama Prefecture. The band's style resembles post-hardcore and progressive rock, math-rock, often incorporating rapid changes of tempo and mood framed in complex guitar melodies and technical drumming. They utilize both male and female vocals ranging from soft singing to loud wails and screams.
Dream "A"live is the eighth studio album by Japanese boy band, Arashi. The album was released on April 23, 2008, in Japan under their record label J Storm in two editions: a limited 2CD version and a regular CD version. Dream "A"live is the 30th best-selling album of 2008 in Japan. As of July 2010, the album is the group's third highest-selling album after their tenth anniversary album All the Best! 1999–2009 and debut album Arashi No.1 Ichigou: Arashi wa Arashi o Yobu!. It was released digitally on February 7, 2020.
Hisashi Imai is a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. He has also performed in side-projects such as the duo Schaft with Soft Ballet member Maki Fujii, the supergroup Schwein, and the rock trio Lucy. Imai is known for his visual aesthetics, and Buck-Tick are commonly credited as one of the founders of the visual kei movement.
Tsutomu Ishizuki is a Japanese singer, musician and designer, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of rock band Fanatic Crisis from 1992 to 2005. Two years later, he started working as a designer. In 2012, he returned to music by starting a solo career and in 2019, Ishizuki and the two guitarists from Fanatic Crisis formed the sub-unit Fantastic Circus.
Beautiful World is the tenth studio album of the Japanese boy band Arashi. The album was released on July 6, 2011, in Japan under their record label J Storm in two editions: a limited edition version with a 48-page booklet and a regular CD version with a 32-page booklet. The album debuted at number-one on the Oricon weekly album chart, selling 631,000 copies, making it their third consecutive album to reach sales of more than half a million copies. As of December 2011, the album has sold more than a million copies. According to Oricon, Beautiful World is the best-selling album of 2011 in Japan. It was released digitally on February 7, 2020.
Two of Us is the fourth Japanese remix album by South Korean pop act Tohoshinki, and their first remix album as a duo. It was released on October 5, 2016, by Avex Trax.
Taiyou no Toriko is the debut EP by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis. This album has two editions. The first edition features six tracks and was released by the independent label Noir on December 1, 1994. The second edition features three additional tracks and was released on April 28, 1995.
Mask is the debut studio album by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis. It was released by the independent label Noir on January 7, 1996. Two versions of the cover exist, a black one with a white sleeve, and a regular edition with a white cover.
The.Lost.Innocent is the third studio album by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis and their second major label release. It was released on the label For Life on February 24, 1999. The first edition featured a white digipack with a velcrow strap, while the second edition, with remastered sound, was released in a jewel case with a black cover.
Karma is the first demo tape by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis. It was released independently on April, 1994. Kuroi Taiyou was later redone for their first indie album, Taiyou no Toriko, and the song Mobius to Aishou was later remade for the Cry-Max Pleasure compilation.
One -one for all- is the second studio album and first major release by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis. It was released by the label For Life on March 4, 1998. The first edition was housed in a plastic sleeve, and came with a 52-card deck inside of a box.
EAS is the fourth studio album by Japanese rock band Fanatic Crisis and their first release with the label Stoic Stone on September 13, 2000. The original mixes of Purple & Psychic Honey, Sonzai Riyuu to Sonzai Ishiki, and Be You were featured on the Side Adam and Side Eve EPs.
Step by Step is the ninth studio album by the Japanese singer/songwriter Chisato Moritaka, released on July 25, 1994. This was Moritaka's first album under One Up Music. The album includes the song "Kaze ni Fukarete", which became her first No. 1 hit on the Oricon singles chart. Step by Step is Moritaka's first album in to include a cover version of a Beatles song. A limited edition release included a 32-page photo book.
Manifesto is the 21st studio album by Japanese entertainer Miho Nakayama. Released through King Records on September 16, 1999, it is the seventh studio release to not feature a single. Manifesto features the three-member musical unit Little Creatures. This was Nakayama's last studio album until Neuf Neuf in 2019.
