We're about a week out from Sacramento's Aftershock Festival, and details and scheduling have been released. Japanese bands BAND-MAID and NEMOPHILA have been announced for 30 minute sets. Expect them to hit hard and heavy in order to make the most of that scant half-hour.

NEMOPHILA's set will be on day 2 at 435 PM at the DWPRESENTS Stage, and BAND-MAID's set will be on day 4 at 310 PM at the Coors Light Stage.

About a month ago, the news that BAND-MAID would release an anime-style music video was announced. The group has made good on its promise.

So, this was a night of firsts.

First time for me at the Fox Theater. First time for me to see Epica. First time for one of my friends and concert buddies to see both Epica and Sabaton. Not to mention, the first time I'm seeing Sabaton after a dreadful last two years. The pandemic has not been kind to live concerts, and I've seen many a tour be canceled, postponed, or cut short early.  It was a good night.  I've always wanted to see Epica, and Sabaton is one of my go-to bands time after time.  This show was a natural choice for me.  

A couple of months ago, I introduced you to the European bands Nightwish and Beast in Black. This time around, we have one more of the big names of power metal, Sabaton, backed up by the more symphonic Epica. We are currently on the eve of Sabaton's latest American tour, The Tour To End All Tours, which is set to start on September 15. And before the Editor-in-Chief asks, yes, both of these bands are relevant to our coverage here.  If you're a power metal fan, you should see these bands.  They are well worth the journey, and you'll even learn a thing or two.  

ATARASHII GAKKO! took the stage once again in California, this time at Crunchyroll Expo. This marks the third time they have performed in America.

Crunchyroll Expo is fast approaching. On Friday, July 22, anime fans at San Diego Comic Con were given a sneak-preview of one of the musical acts, ATARASHII GAKKO!. In Japan, they're known as 新しい学校のリーダーズ (ATARASHII GAKKO NO LEADERS), and the quartet brings a frenetic pace that transcends any one genre.

For fans of anime, San Diego Comic Con is not the kind of place you see the biggest announcements or the biggest releases. Most big news comes via Anime Expo just a few weeks prior. And with Crunchyroll Expo, happening in just a few weeks, Crunchyroll's big events are going to be reserved. This year, however, Crunchyroll is linking up with San Diego Comic Con to give you two concerts and some more fun.

Macross is a franchise that has been around for, as of 2022, 40 years. This all started back in 1982 with Super Dimension Fortress Macross.  While I wasn't able to see it until many years later, it's not an exaggeration to say that Macross is what brought me into anime. Giant robots, epic battle scenes, swarms of missiles; Macross was quite thrilling for young me. Macross is also the thing that first brought me to Anime Expo back in 2010. I was a big fan of Macross Frontier and the announcement that May'n and Megumi Nakajima would be in Los Angeles was what pushed me to go. A big part of Macross has always been the music, and having these two artists perform their craft in America is something I didn't know if I'd ever be able to see again.

NEMOPHILA has just premiered their newest single, ADABANA, about an hour ago.  Give it a listen.