「園児のクリスマス会的単独公演
神ュ様なんてもう知らない」
["Enji no Kurisumasu Kaiteki Tandoku Kouen
Kamisama Nante Mou Shiranai"]

EXPLOSION is a small venue located in a small shop-cluttered neighborhood of Tokyo. It was windy and cloudy when my friends and I arrived after grabbing some hot drinks and santa hats to sport for the show.

Right on time the doors opened and staff was quick to organize, bringing in the first 20 or so S (special) ticket holders before relocating the rest of the mob to a nearby park to get us into numerical order. We were at the front of the A ticket line and ended up about halfway between the stage and the back of the venue upon entry. Considering how small the live house is, any spot in the venue was a good one.

The hall was decorated with all kinds of random items that were probably picked up from a local Daiso — inflatable swords, plastic dolphins, silk leaves, Elmo, and even a… frying pan.

Ensoku appeared in their new and bizarre Micky Mouse-esque getups and put on an unforgettable show.

An energetic performance of「イガトラ」 ["Igatora"] kicked the live off. We were treated to a new rendition of 「ししゃもLOVER」 ["Shishamo Lover"]. The more serious-feeling 「ココアシガレット」 ["Cocoa Cigarette"], thrown into the middle of a mix of bizarre hilarity, was a good change of pace.

With incredible energy, Buu (vocals) screamed half of his MCs. The band incorporated story lines to link their songs together, including a bit with Yusuke (guitar) playing as a shirtless “Shishamo Santa”. 「大銀河戦艦ナガト」 ["Daiginga Senkan Nagato"] and 「少女怪獣バンギャルラ」 ["Shojo Kaijuu Bangarura"], with their arguably epic sounds and story lines, were spiced up with passionate acting and props.

The band had the audience hopping all over the live house and participating in some silly, unique, and all-around plain fun furi.

The show ended on my personal favorite song, 「愛の流星」 ["Ai no Ryuusei"], another song with a more serious theme which Buu has mentioned that they play live very rarely. It was a treat to see.

Ensoku is a band I recommend for anyone, visual kei fan or not. They’re quirky enough to be fun for just about anybody. If you ever have the chance to see them live, take it. Without a doubt, you’ll come out of it with smiles and great memories.

Top photo credit: Ku

Here’s a summary of current listings! (All times, of course, are in Japan Standard Time.)

ダウト (D=OUT) The 1st and 3rd Monday every month, 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm

BORN The 1st and 3rd Monday every month, 9:30 pm – 10:00 pm

SCREW The 1st and 3rd Monday every month, 10:00 pm – 10:30 pm

花少年バディーズ (Hana Shonen Baddies) The 2nd and 4th Monday every month, 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm

SEEK (of Mix Speaker’s, Inc.) The 2nd and 4th Tuesday every month, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

BULL ZEICHEN 88 The 2nd Tuseday every month, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Kaya The 3rd Tuesday every month, 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Sadie The 3rd Tuesday every month, 9:30 pm – 10:00 pm

ニンジャマンジャパン　(Ninjaman Japan) The 4th Tuesday every month, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm

福助(ADAPTER。) (Fukusuke) The 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

KIBA & RYO (of Gargoyle & test-No.) The 2nd Wednesday every month, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm

えんそく (Ensoku) The 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month, 11:00 pm – 11:30 pm

KIBA & 吉野将兵 (Yoshino Shouhei) (of Gargoyle & CLUB PHASE) The 4th Wednesday every month, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Kra The 1st and 3rd Saturday every month, 9:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Ensoku’s show, 「ししゃもアワー」 (“Shishamo Hour”) premiers tonight after Fukusuke, and KIBA & RYO!

Happy listening!

Source: LIVECAST

Source: OHP

The single will be entitled 「ゆめくじら」(Yumekjira) and will go on sale on September 15th:

TYPE A – 1,050 yen
【CD】
1. ゆめくじら (Yumekjira)
2. Liverty

TYPE B – 1,890 yen

【CD】
1. ゆめくじら (Yumekjira)
2. Liverty

【DVD】
1. Liverty PV

TYPE C – 1,890 yen
【CD】
1. ゆめくじら (Yumekjira)
2. Liverty

【DVD】
1. 溺愛通行物語 (Dekiai Tsuukou Monogatari)　(2010.6.23 LIVE)
2. 空の果実-burn out- (Sora no Kajitsu-burn out-)　(2010.6.23 LIVE)

Furthermore, they’ll release a new DVD on August 25th under the title 「Divine dolce Col・Tempo」. It will contain footage from their oneman tour’s finale, held at OSAKA MUSE on June 23rd. The DVD costs 3600 yen, make sure to pre-order it, and support the band!

Finally, the band is going to sponsor a short tour in September, which will be called 「くじらのあくび」(Kujira no Akubi). The details are as follows:

Date: September 16th @ OSAKA MUSE
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】), BrainStein, えんそく (Ensoku),Roys, ワン★スター (One★Star), PRIMEADDICT

Date: September 25th @ Hamamatsu FORCE
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】), Re:dis, えんそく (Ensoku), SOMATIC GUARDIAN, Jackman, PRIMEADDICT, MoNoLith

Date: September 26th @ Sendai MACANA
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】), Hi:BRiD, えんそく (Ensoku), SOMATIC GUARDIAN, the CODE., PRIMEADDICT

Date: September 29th @ Nagoya HEARTLAND
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】), 東京ミカエル (Tokyo Michael), えんそく (Ensoku), BrainStein, ワン★スター (One★Star), PRIMEADDICT

Date: October 4th @ Takadanobaba AREA
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】), 東京ミカエル (Tokyo Michael), BrainStein, えんそく (Ensoku), SOMATIC GUARDIAN, Hi:BRiD, PRIMEADDICT

Date: October 28th @ Osaka BIG CAT
Performing: お遊戯ゎが魔々団×【PaRADEiS】 (Oyuugi Wagamama-dan x 【PaRADEiS】) and the rest is yet to be announced

The tickets for each event are 3150 yen in advance and 3675 yen at the door.

Source: OHP, CDJapan

The album will be entitled 「新世界」 (Shinsekai) and will go on sale on the 18th of August for 3150 yen. The tracklist is as follows:

01. 新世界光響曲【star ray message from new my world】(Shinsekai Koukyoukyoku)
02. 大銀河戦艦ナガト (Daiginga Senkan Nagato)
03. 仏TV〜狂気(バカ)が電波に乗ってくる!!〜 (Hotoke TV Kyouki (Baka) ga Denpa ni Nottekuru!!)
04. アンテナマン (Antenna Man)
05. 湘南ギャラクシーナイト (Shounan Galaxy Night)
06. 日々、宇宙色 (Hibi, Uchuu Iro)
07. 花火(スターマン) (Hanabi (Starman))
08. 流星雨 (Ryuuseiu)
09. ししゃもシャワー (Shishamo Shower)
10. BABY I LOVE YOU
11. 鋼鉄のMACHIKO〜惑星マンダラ戒律地獄篇〜 (Koutetsu no MACHIKO~Wakusei Mandara Kairitsu Jigokuhen)
12. ５８１c
13. ハロー・ ゴッド・モーニング (Hello Good Morning)

To commemorate the release the band is going to hold a oneman live on the 13th of August at Shibuya O-WEST, under the title 「さよなら旧人類〜やっぱりボクラは青かった〜」(Sayonara Furubito Rui~Yappari Bokura wa Aokatta~). Tickets cost 3000 yen in advance and 3500 yen at the door.

Source: OHP, Brand-X

Firstly, Ensoku will release a single entitled 「銀のハコブネ」 (Gin no Hakobune) and it will cost 1575 yen.

Secondly, Fukamoka’s single will cost the same as the Ensoku’s and go on sale under the title 「22052407」.

More details such as tracklist and covers to follow

Source: Brand-X

The new recruits are guitarist IKA, who after doing support became an official member, and drummer 稔 (Minoru) who was formerly in ダリ (Dari) and Still unSick,  and has done support for bands such as Rail Tracer and Kinbakushoujo.

Source: vkdb, OHP

The mini-album will cost 2500 yen, and contain six tracks including:
「the smoking sad tune」 [Originally distributed at their Sendai oneman]
「ハイウェイ・スター・ラブ」 (Highway Star Love) [Originally distributed at their Nagoya oneman]
「東京駅着、逢魔刻。」 (Tokyoekichaku, Oumadoki) [Originally distributed at their Tokyo oneman]

The album will be up for release on the 25th of the month.

The band will also be having a oneman live on September 20th at Kouenji Club Mission’s, called 『Ｉ・the原点(Restarting & Turning)～高円寺より「アイ」を込めて～』 (I・the Genten (Restarting & Turning)～Kouenji yori 「Ai」 wo Komete～). The show will cost 2000 yen to attend, and tickets go on sale starting July 19th. That day they will have an important announcement.

Source: OHP

The Big Ern still has a love for chew toys. Oh how I miss those days. How about you guys? What childhood toys do you still seem to love?

The new album will contain a total of ten tracks and is coming out in two types. The first press regular type will cost 3360 yen and contain a bonus track, whereas the premium limited edition that costs 3990 yen will contain a DVD that has the PV for 「This is a pen.」.

They say that the album will contain both new songs, plus their popular songs rerecorded for an album version.

The band will also be holding their first oneman shows in Sendai on February 1st at Sendai HOOK and in Nagoya, on February 15th at HOLIDAY Nagoya.

Source: Official Mailmagazine

This time around they’re bringing back the band bowling, and having a face off between 新興宗教楽団NoGoD (Shinkoushuukyou Gakudan NoGod) and SEX ANDRIOD. There’s footage from the making of both ネガ (Nega) and PureQ&A PVs, a pick-up live corner featuring ドレミ團 (Doremidan)’s performance on September 27th at O-EAST plus a comment from えんそく (Ensoku).

宇宙戦隊NOIZ (Uchuu Sentai NOIZ), ビリー (Billy) and ALiBi will also be featured.

The DVD costs 2890 yen.

Source: Brand-x

ЯｏＡ will also be not only having their first oneman, but sponsoring their first event as well! Actually, there are three events and it’s all a countdown to their first oneman. Their sponsored events are appropriately called, ‘count down’.

Details are:
count 3. September 7th @ Urawa Narciss
count 2. October 11th @ Ikebukuro Cyber
count 1. November 9th @ Takadanobaba AREA

And finally, there’s count 0. which is their oneman live on December 6th called 「月世界」 (Gessekai) which takes place at Urawa Narciss and is their vocalist 貴大 (Takahiro)’s birthday live.

Source: Ensoku OHP, ЯｏＡ OHP

Source: mailmag

The details are as follows:
Auugust 16th @ Sendai MACANA
August 18th @ Holiday Shinjuku
August 19th at Holiday Nagoya
August 21st @ Holiday Osaka
August 25th @ Takadanobaba AREA

Source: Planet Child OHP

The first is titled 「空は青、大地は桜」 (Sora wa Ao, Daichi wa Sakura) has two tracks, and was produced by the band’s guitarist, ジジ (Jiji). The second is 「イガトラ」 (Igatora), also contains two tracks but instead was producted by their bassist, ミト (Mito).

The singles also include a picture board, as well as a a full colour, four page lyric book.

On a side note, as of April 1st, the band has said that they’re restarting.

Source: Brand-x, OHP

Vo.MA$AKI-マーベラス(ex.SULFURIC ACID)
Gu.ユラ(ex.GHOST)
Gu.けーた(ex.Die La’vice)
Ba.きの
Dr.ダン(えんそく)
As I looked through Kino’s blog I noticed many pics of Masaki, he has been doing many sessions with Kino already, and they have perform songs from both ex bands – SULFURIC ACID and beaU! Kino has also had a few sessions with former band mates of beaU which is really cool. Kino’s blog is also really nerdy and sweet, he posts alot about family, anime and his weird collection of costumes that he wears for sessions. Like this one:

Their song line up for that night was:
1.血祭り〈beaU〉
2.Drain Away 〈Dir en grey〉
3.Promised land 〈L’Arc～en～Ciel〉
4.アシッド・トリップ 〈SULFURIC ACID〉

O~o;;;; Can you imagine listening to these songs with a bandman dressed like that?? I was going to post a different session costume pic but Hideko would have killed me lol…check his profile under his blog…you’ll see what I am talking about~

Sources: ZMF, Kino’s HP

Also, the AibeLL members will not only be performing, but they’ll be taking on the “Prince” positions and modeling in the fashion show!

Further more, 電脳メロウPICNICS are:
Vocals - ぶぅ (Buu) from えんそく (Ensoku)
Guitar - ジジ (Jiji) from えんそく (Ensoku)
Guitar - 和将 (Kazumasa) ex-メロウ (Mellow)
Bass - ゼクス (Zekusu) ex-電脳ロメオ (Dennou Romeo)
Drums - あつ丸 (Atsumaru) ex-電脳ロメオ (Dennou Romeo)

Source: AibeLL OHP, Zekusu’s Journal, Atsumaru’s Journal, Buu’s Journal

Source: OHP

The bands that are participating are:
愛狂います。 (Aicle)
Siva
えんそく (Ensoku)
Tarrot
GJADS.JB(広島) (From Hiroshima)
V’ernia
Zip.er
And others

Plus, a secret band! (Think this could be Tenten’s new band? They are friends afterall…)

The live opens at 4:30 and starts at 5:00, costing 2800 yen for advance order tickets and 3200 if you purchase the tickets on that day. Tickets go on sale starting March 14th.

Source: Siva Official Blog