COCKROACH started out as another session last summer but it seems that the group will turn into a full band. They are not visual so I am not sure if we’ll keep up with them but I thought some Kyotaro fans out there would be happy to know he is active!

What do you think?

Source: Kyotaro’s blog

【Sequence Records V.A】
2010.12.29 ON SALE!
2011.01.26 ON SALE!
■Sequence Records 10th Anniversary V.A 3枚組にて発売決定！
「FINAL SUMMIT」
CD3 ¥3,990(tax in)

【DISC-1】
1. SULFURIC ACID
2. Since1889
3. GallowS
4. アンチフェミニズム (∀NTI FEMINISM)
5. 魔弐悪 (maniac)
6. 殺～KORO～
7. 我流eve (guleve)
8. Venus
9. FALCIOUNE
10. 東京ミカエル。(Tokyo Michael)

【DISC-2】
1. Art Cube
2. gemmik
3. Eile deMu
4. Devine+MaideN
5. ZELGYER
6. LSD
7. +ISOLATION
8. 七死 (nanashi)
9. パニックちゃんねる (panic channel)
10. 水樂 (byakura)

【DISC-3】
1. HIZAKI grace project
2. ClearVeil
3. Key
4. ミゼリア (mi’ze:lia)
5. Bi;shop
6. escape
7. BrainHacker
8. ZABEL
9. Black:List
10. exist†trace

Which bands are you excited to listen to? I used to adore gemmik, which bands do you like?

Source: SR Ameba

The two-disc release will collect songs (including some SE tracks) from the many artists that Sequence Records has signed or supported over the years. It seems that all of the songs will be previously-released ones, but they will be remastered. In addition to some as-yet unannounced ones, participating artists include:

Art Cube, 東京ミカエル。 (tokyomichael.), exist†trace, SULFURIC ACID, HIZAKI grace project, Black:List, アンチフェミニズム (∀NTI FEMINISM), パニックちゃんねる (Panic Channel), ZELGYER, ミゼリア (Mizelia), ClearVeil, gemmik, 我流eve (Gul eve), LSD, +ISOLATION, 七死 (Nanashi), ZABEL, FALCIOUNE, 水樂 (Byakura), GallowS, Bi;shop, Venus, since1889, BrainHacker, 魔弐悪 (Maniac), (others)

Will any of you be buying this cool omnibus?

Source: Official blog

Big Ern says “I am Mija’s personal host.”

Source: Ryo’s blog

He also has had a different look for each group! Busy guy right?

I too have different hobbies and a costume for each as well. Newest obsession, tap dancing! My small legs make it hard to tap dance but I will not be beaten!

Check out their hp one last time and see the flash thank you!

Source: HP, members’ blogs

Tomozo confessed that he went on a date.

With none other than Hizaki from Versailles!

Okay okay, it was actually a joke. But they did get together for the first time in a long while to chat, which Tomozo said was interesting.

I had an imaginary girlfriend once. Her name was Sparkles.

This is what Kyotaro has written in his blog about their decision.

Takadanobaba AREA
Black:List Sponsored LiVE
Seriously, thanks for the 2 days.
I really had a great time.
I had a smile on my face the whole time (Laughs)
Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, THANKS

We owe it to this place,
and thank you so much to everyone from each of the bands, audience members, and everyone concerned, that participated in the 2 days event.

And…

I’m so sorry that our announcement to disband was published only in the news and media
You’re probably wondering, “why didn’t the members explain it to us?”, and it was probably a coldhearted thing to do to our fans, but I feel that when I perform what’s left in me on stage, if there time to speak and even if it’s just in one song, I want to convey it to everyone in a song.
So, I hope you can forgive me
I’m sorry

What was written in the news was true, my family has become unstable, and family is important
I also love music, and I there’s part of me that didn’t know what to do. I thought over and over that I didn’t want to vanish as I am now. It was painful and difficult; there were so many times where I couldn’t concentrate on anything, and there were times where I felt, “why me?”.
However, as far as I’m concerned, your family is your only blood relation, and because when I’m separated from them I worry so much, it was painful.

I’m grateful to my mother who gave birth to me, for being born, for continuing in music, and for being able to exist in this world and come across music.
So now, it’s my turn to help her,
and that’s the decision that was passed by in the news.

I thought that the word ‘retire’ was a word that had nothing to do with me, so even now I can’t really believe it but in reality, moment by moment it’s drawing near.

There’s only a little time left as my life as a musician, and with Black:List but I want to see it to the end, I want to sing for my life,
I want to shout to the point where my voice ceases to make a sound
I want to leave something behind in everyone’s hearts

So there’s three more lives left

My time on stage as a vocalist has been precious

The time I’ve spent together with everyone in Black:List

The time I’ve spent together with the Kuso-honeys

The times I’ve gotten to meet the Kuso-honeys

All of these are extremely important to me.

Kyotaro is going to become a normal person.

Please watch us attentively, without moving your eyes, until the bitter end.
Please give us lots of love.
Please give me lots of love as well.
Until the end…

Since I started in music, I’ve met a lot of people.
Band members and members who are senior to me, all the people connected to the band
And important Kuso-honeys, from within the country and around the world
Thank you for liking me like this.
And thank you for letting me meet you like I have.

I want to convey these feelings through songs at our lives.

I want to strike these last three lives with everything I’ve got.

Please believe in all of me.

Kuso-honeys would be Black:List fans. Please do not repost this elsewhere without permission.  With that said, I’ll likely go back and fix it up a bit when I get home from work.

Their last live event “BLACK-RIOT -FINAL-” will be held at Shibuya BOXX on January 8th. Other bands performing at the event are DEATHGAZE, Since1889 (opening act), and more. Tickets will go on sale on December 13th through Lawson Ticket.

Source: visunavi, TOMOZO’s blog

We’ve talked about vkers with myspaces before – do you guys add personal acounts that belong to vkers?

Source: Aika’s blog

And so far the band line up is pretty cool! Of course Siva will be there with Black:List, Nega, E’m〜grief〜, Jewel, Zip.er and Misaruka!

Source: Black:List HP

Thank you so much for this interview! Let’s start with introductions, but instead of introducing yourself, please introduce the person sitting next to you!

TOMOZO: Kyoutarou is the vocalist of Black:List. He’s very cool.
AIKA: Tomozo is the guitarist of Black:List. He’s an impressive man.
REI: Aika is a unique guitarist, but… (whispers) He’s a pervert!!
(everyone laughs)
KYOUTAROU: Rei is Black:List’s drummer. He is.. I love beer. I love metal. [in English] He loves food! (laughing)

Was there a specific reason as to why you moved away from TOMOZO’s label, Sequence Records?

TOMOZO: Well… There are several bands on Sequence Records and all of them have a specific kind of a style, and we thought that Black:List doesn’t fit on the label with the other bands because of our different style.

Can you tell us anything about your new label, DUAL CORE SOUND ENTRERPRISE?

TOMOZO: The label was created together with Pepe-san, Meguro Rockmaykan’s owner. The label doesn’t have any other bands than Black:List, it’s just for us.
(some talk about Pepe-san)
TOMOZO: By the way, is there a meaning to the word “pepe” in Finnish?

Actually, Pepe is a certain kind of a liquorice candy bar in Finland!

(everyone laughs)
TOMOZO: Candy bar!
AIKA: Pepe-san is kind of like a candy bar himself too!
(more laughing)

TOMOZO, how does it feel like being in a band yourself and running your own record company at the same time?

TOMOZO: It’s hard.
KYOUTAROU, AIKA & REI: (laughing) But why is it hard?
TOMOZO: Oh, why is it hard? Well… On my record label I have to take care of many things with many different bands, such as their bookings and all that kind of things. In addition, I have a lot of activities with Black:List. I’m really busy. However… I can do it because I enjoy it!

What are you expecting from this European tour?

REI: Food! Beer!
(everyone laughs)
KYOUTAROU & TOMOZO: We’re looking forward to audiences that are different from Japan, as well as new experiences and new places.

What do you know about Finland?

Everyone: Sonata Arctica!
REI: Alexi Laiho!! [guitarist of the band Children of Bodom]

By the way, the kebab restaurant you went to earlier today is a place where Alexi Laiho always goes.

Everyone: SERIOUSLY!?!
(everyone laughs and cheers exitedly)
TOMOZO: I want to meet him!!! And if I would meet him… (bows and holds out an invisible piece of paper) “SIGN!!”

It’s a place where some famous icehockey players go to as well.

Everyone: That’s so cool!! (more laughing)

What were the reasons behind going on a coupling tour with exist†trace?

TOMOZO: exist†trace has been on Sequence Records for a very long time. We wanted to get to know each other better and gain experiences together.

You haven’t had an official bassist since your old bassist left. How did you meet your current support bassist? Do you plan on taking a new official bassist at some point?

TOMOZO: Pepe-san introduced us to our current support bassist Jin-kun at Meguro Rockmaykan. We don’t plan on adding an official bassist to our ranks until we find someone whose taste in music and play style fit with ours perfectly.

What goals do you have as Black:List?

TOMOZO: We want to do more lives and perform in front of different kind of audiences. We want more experiences, and it would be nice if we could continue like this forever.

What is the weirdest or funniest present you have received from a fan?

(everyone thinks for a long time, mumbling to each other)
AIKA: We don’t get many presents.
(everyone laughs)
TOMOZO: There hasn’t been anything that would have surprised any of us that much. And… we don’t get many presents.
(more laughing)

Please give a message to your fans!

KYOUTAROU: I was really touched by today’s live. We’ve come from afar and I don’t know where they have heard about us, but even though people didn’t even know our names very well, everyone was really in the mood. We got energy from the audience.
(other members nod in agreement)

Thank you for the interview!

Everyone: Thank you! Kiitos! ['thank you' in Finnish]

In addition, the band also gave a video message to their fans. The video was recorded before their live and it’s subtitled in English.

Shattered Tranquility thanks Black:List and all their staff for making this interview and video message possible.

The artists listing so far as performing are as follows (there will be more):
DELUHI
PureQ＆A
Lycaon
T.T.C (Featuring: DEATHGAZE’s Naoto, Black:List’s Tomozo and REI)
独立国歌-Ashe”s Hiron Session
Glacier and LuLu Session

The show will cost 3000 yen to attend.

I hate rain
Isn’t it kinda like
someone’s crying
isn’t it sad
lately you’ve [the sky]
been in a bad mood, eh
is it something you’ve hated too?
once in a while, you scream zaaa
Pika!Gorgorogorogoro
you’re saying these wavering things, aren’t you
Is it hard?
because if I’m quiet, you let me hear you
until I’m satisfied
it’s okay if you cry
everyone complains about it
but
I’ll wait for you to be silent and stop crying
so it’s okay

Big Ern hates candy apples.

Source: HP

The live will cost 2800 yen to attend.

Source: Venus OHP

Source: Astan, Black:List comm

I thought I updated about this before Hurricane Ike *had to evacuate*

We will keep you up to date if other dates will be announced.

Source: JrockSuomi

09.26 they have a live called “Deer Call War #05″  with Black:List, Venus, LSD, Juliette and more… tickets are the same price as mentioned above but the live is going to be at (Shizuoka) Sunash.

The last live they have listed before they go out on tour is “Deer Call War #06″ at Holiday Nagoya. This live is on 09.28, and features: Black:List, Venus, Domain, EAT YOU ALIVE, Danger Gang and more… same ticket price.

They also changed their pictures on their site. What do you guys think of the new look? (click for bigger pic)

Sources: exist†trace lj, HP