SCANDAL Becomes First Band to be on the Cover of British Magazine NEO

SCANDAL, one of Japan’s most powerful all-girl rock bands, will feature on the cover of issue 138 of NEO Magazine in the UK from 12 June 2015, following the successful conclusion of their first world tour, their latest music video Image passing one million views, and the release of two international albums in the last six months through London’s JPU Records.

It’s the first time a band has featured on the cover of the British anime, manga and Asian pop-culture publication since beginning ten years ago under publisher Uncooked Media. Fittingly, SCANDAL has also has their music used in hugely popular anime as Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist and the latest Pokémon film.

The issue of NEO boasts an extensive six-page interview with the band, including exclusive photos from their sold out show at the O2 Academy Islington, as well as the group’s first time sight-seeing in London, including their homage to musical heroes The Beatles whilst visiting Abbey Road Studios, and rock legends Oasis in recreating the cover of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. Two full-A4 posters are additionally included.

Editor Gemma Cox comments; ”NEO 138 is truly an issue dear to our hearts, as it’s the first time in our decade-long history that we’ve featured a Japanese band on the front cover. Asian music is one of our passions at NEO, and we could not think of a better band to celebrate this with than SCANDAL, the all-girl group currently taking the world by storm! Powering through the charts with their latest album releases, HELLO WORLD and UK-and-Europe-exclusive GREATEST HITS, there was never a better time for us to speak to the girls than during their brief stop in London as part of their tour. We hope SCANDAL-fans and music lovers enjoy our extensive coverage in NEO 138.”

SCANDAL’s latest studio album HELLO WORLD is their eighth to be released, and reached number three in Japan’s Oricon Album Chart when it was originally released in Japan from Epic Records, owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It was SCANDAL’s first album to be released in the UK through independent label JPU Records Ltd. at the start of 2015, and was followed up by an exclusive compilation from the British label entitled GREATEST HITS, which sold out of initial print before release date in May 2015.

Issue 138 of NEO Magazine is available from magazine stockists from 12 June 2015, as well as its homepage www.neomag.co.uk/magazine.

NEO 138 is also available digitally from Google Play, Amazon, Pocket Mags, the iOS App Store and from www.neomag.co.uk/digitalmag/issue/138.

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the GazettE Comment on Winning the NEO Magazine Awards Two Years in a Row

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the GazettE return to claim the Best Musical Act award in the NEO Awards for a second consecutive year. This British magazine goes on to state that the GazettE ‘received 45% of the total vote… beating their nearest rival several times over’. The band comments;

“Thank you so much. We travelled across the world in 2013, and could actually feel that there are a lot of fans awaiting us out there. It’s a shame that we had been in UK just once and couldn’t include there as one of the stops in the previous tour. Though, we hope we can ‘rock’ with you next time we go there.”

In 2013 the GazettE toured Europe, released the maxi-single FADELESS and full length album BEAUTIFUL DEFORMITY – both of which are available now in Europe from JPU Records.

What’s in store for 2014? It’s already getting off to an exciting star as band’s European tour DVD prepares for release, entitled; 「the GazettE WORLD TOUR13 Documentary」

Make sure you follow JPU Records on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest for further information

 

Japan Underground and JPU Records’ Artists Nominated for NEO Awards 2013

Don’t click these.. it’s just a picture.

Woo ha! We’re very happy to announce that Japan Underground has been nominated for an award in NEO Magazine for the second year in a row! Last year we were lucky enough to walk away with the award for Best Specialist Company 2012 for our efforts promoting Japanese rock, punk and alternative music  in the UK. Our sister company JPU Records also had one of their artists, the GazettE, voted Best Music Act of 2012 too.

Now, 12 months on we’re in the finalist list once more! Plus! We’re joined by no more than five of JPU Records’ artists! Yep, the likes of the GazettE, SPYAIR, BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, POLYSICS and the mighty Ling tosite sigure are up for ‘Best Musical Act 2013’ alongside VAMPS, Crossfaith, FACT and more! Who wins is entirely in your hands.

We’ve had an extremely busy year, from organising sold-outs shows in London for FACT and N’SHUKUGAWA BOYS, to releasing some of the biggest Japanese albums of the year through JPU Records. We just want to thank you for reading this, supporting us, and continuing to buy music and attend shows. Cheers everyone!

Voting ends 18:00 GMT on Friday 13 December, and winners will be announced in NEO Magazine #120, out 23 January 2014!

Make your vote count!

the GazettE Dominate English Media Awards for 2012 by Winning Best Rock Act, Best Album, Best Music Video and More

Japan’s pioneering rock outfit the GazettE have proved to be an unstoppable force since unleashing their ground-breaking album DIVISION. Released from British independent label JPU Records in the UK and Europe, DIVISION and the GazettE have gone on to win a series of awards from English-language media, including best band, album and music video of 2012.

Over one-million votes were cast during Jpopasia.com’s 2012 music awards, asking Japanese music fans from across the world to select their favourite artists over 12 categories. the GazettE dominated the awards by winning six of the categories; ‘Favourite Band’, ‘Best Music Video’ (for album track ‘DERANGEMENT’), ‘Best Album’ (for DIVISION) and ‘Best Rock Act’, while the group’s charismatic guitar-shredder AOI won ‘Best Use of Social Media’, and band leader and drummer KAI was voted sexiest rocker in Japan. Other artists that were nominated included the mighty X Japan, Dir en grey and ONE OK ROCK.

Meanwhile the GazettE also claimed ‘Best Music Act 2012’ by the readers of NEO, the UK’s longest running Asian pop culture magazine, managing to surpass Korean pop-sensations PSY and Wembley Arena fillers BIGBANG, as well as Japanese guitar legend Tomoyasu Hotei (Kill Bill) and Japan’s electro metalcore outfit Crossfaith.

the GazettE’s vocalist RUKI comments;
“Thank you for your support as always. I’m happy that the GazettE won an award, but I’m even more happy to know that so many people are recognising and listening to the GazettE. Next time, let’s enjoy our music at a live show together. Thanks again.”

DIVISION is out now and available to purchase on CD and digitally from the following retailers found here, amongst others.

Japan Underground: Nominated Best Specialist Company 2012!

Japan Underground is very pleased and honoured to have been nominated for our first NEO Award! We’ve been nominated in the Best Specialist Company category while our sister company JPU Records has its first artist the GazettE making the grade and being nominated as Best Musical Act of the year. It would mean the world to us if you can vote for both. Simply click here to do it, the voting system closes at 6pm (GMT) on Friday 14 December 2012, so best get a move on!

It’s great that through our journey bringing the United Kingdom a unique feed of information on what’s going on in this country as far as music from Japan’s concerned, organising live shows throughout the year from some of Japan’s hottest new talent, and just trying our damned best at developing a UK scene and bringing people together, that it’s being noticed, it’s making a difference and that people care.

When I started this two years ago it was just a bit of fun, I wanted to bounce around to Japanese rock songs and see the odd band in the process. I certainly never thought it would grow how it has, or that I’d go on to create a record label. I can only thank you all for your support so far.

Cheers guys!
Tom, founder of Japan Underground.