Various Artists - Visual Kei DVD Magazine Vol. 3

Maru Music brings us another treat with their third volume, this time featuring ayabie's vocalist Aoi as the host, accompanied by Biju the cat in a very cute Gothic Lolita type outfit. While including some clips from PVs, the volume offers an abundance of beautiful live footage from each of the bands - a real gift, especially in the case of Sugar, which fans will no longer be able to see live. Since most of the bands featured are still young and have not performed extensively overseas yet, it's a good chance for fans outside of Japan to experience high quality footage of their live shows.

Within this volume, fans can: learn about ayabie's recent tours in America and Europe; the origins of Matenrou Opera; see Vidoll and Kaya talk about their lives; hear interesting stories from Nega; hear about the roles of the members within Sugar; and learn how the members of lynch. first came to play their instruments, along with much more. This disc also features special guest Ra:IN as an added bonus, offering live footage and an interview.

Along with learning about the bands themselves, Aoi continues teaching the history of visual kei and discusses some of the hot spots visual fans will want to know if they plan on going to Japan. Plus, instead learning about kaiten-zushi, which are difficult to find outside Japan, we learn how to make a simple but tasty Japanese dish, okonomiyaki, which can be made fairly easily no matter what country you're in.

The disc also includes coverage of an ayabie in-store event at Like a Edison in Shinjuku and finishes off with some extra footage of all the artists. Once again, this volume will give fans a chance to experience new artists as well as some you may have heard of, but were unfamiliar with. We look forward to seeing what they'll bring us next time.