2010 is going to be such a good year for J-Rock in the U.S.! I just heard that two of visual kei’s greatest veteran groups have been confirmed for my favorite anime festival, A-Kon. These two bands have helped shape the Japanese metal genre and are considered pioneers of the visual scene in the 80’s and 90’s. In A-Kon’s 21st year, they are really pulling out the big guns to bring us the reunion shows of these two legendary bands. So who am I talking about? Click more to find out!

INUGAMI Circus-dan and SEIKIMA II!

Seikima II had their start in 1982, donning costumes and make-up similar to U.S. band KISS, but with a sound that is more along the lines of classic heavy metal. The band has a rich storyline for their gimmick which includes the band being sent from Hell by Satan himself to conquer the world for his cause with heavy metal music as their weapon of choice. This is obviously tongue-in-cheek, but it lends to such a terrific visual style and opportunities for larger-than-life costumes, make-up, and stage sets. The band “prophesized” their disbanding on December 31, 1999 but have since reformed and will be embarking on a world tour in 2010 that will cover Asia, North America, and parts of Europe.

Inugami Circus-dan, whose name translates to “The Dog-God Circus Troupe,” formed in 1994 and forever branded the world with their style of Angura visual kei. The singer, Kyoko, often wears a kimono and harsh kabuki-esque makeup with smeared lipstick, while the rest of the band dresses in military-style uniforms. The look caught on with fans and became a popular trend amongst the youth on the streets of Shibuya. Much like their bold costumes, the band has a strong punk and rock influence in their sound which is in dramatic contrast to the beautiful female vocals layered over top. After 8 albums, 9 singles, and several DVDs, Inugami Circus-dan will make their long-awaited U.S. debut.

This show will be legendary, and if you’re any sort of visual kei or J-Rock fan you must attend. You can bet I’ll be there come hell or high-water (or a conflicting T.M.Revolution show), so if you can’t make it, you can certainly expect a live report. You can also expect some serious cosplaying going on at this show seeing as how the two bands are well-known for their incredible and outlandish stage-wear. 2010 is, indeed, going to be a good year!