Comiket 97 was loaded with music releases this year and this is our largest list to date of albums that are out there that are worth picking up. And that’s not to say that anything not on this list isn’t worthy, but this article had to end at some point, both for the sake of our wallets and our eardrums. Check out our short descriptions and samples of everything below to see what’s what, and then stop on by Diverse Direct to get your hands on everything, including some albums that aren’t listed here. With that, here’s the list!
Loquartz – STYLEY! Vol. 4
Loquartz Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
They STYLEY! compilations from Loquartz always feature some great house tunes. KO3 teams up again with vocalist Kanae Asaba to kick the album off and there’s also tracks by Tanchiky, tokiwa, Soleily, and American artist James Landino feature Mikanzil on vocals.
Zarusoba DesignWorks – M∞ving 01
Zarusoba DesignWorks Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
We’re always down to check out some new labels that pop up, and Zarusoba DesignWorks shows a lot of promise with their first compilation. There’s a good variety of genres in here, from electro-house to energetic trance to hip hop.
Juggernaut. – COUNTERFATE
Juggernaut. Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Juggernaut. is releasing their second album this Comiket and the Soundcloud sample shows why they’re featured in Arcaea and why they were used for the Zarusoba Designworks mastering job. If you like hardcore and dubstep this is a good album to grab.
Hommarju – No Longer Prodigy
Hommarju Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Hommarju has always been a musical chameleon and his latest album is a testament to that. Featuring some of his licensed Konami works, and other original tracks there’s a great variety from the talented trackmaker.
Getty – Kick It Out
Getty Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Getty’s been an upcoming force in the Hardcore Rave genre, and his first solo album is a hardcore and hard dance delight. Featuring contributions from kamome sano, Shandy Kubota, DJ DIA, and DJ Noriken, this is pure hardcore heaven.
Masayoshi Minoshima – Podium Episode 02 -Progressive-
Alstroemeria Records Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Masayoshi Minoshima is in full effect for this Comiket. The first of three releases, Podium Episode 02 -Progressive- is a progressive trance 6-track EP that is the 77th production by Minoshima’s Alstroemeria label.
FÄRGRIK (Masayoshi Minoshima & Ayame) – Podium Episode 02 -Progressive-
Alstroemeria Records Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Minoshima’s FÄRGRIK project with vocalist Ayame has a full album release, but it should be noted that this is just every FÄRGRIK track released to date on a single album. It also includes a couple other tracks with Ayame’s vocals that were released as EPs previously, like LOUD SPEAKER and BLACK LOTUS. There’s not a bad track in the bunch, so definitely pick it up.
Alstroemeria Records – Enclosed Dancehall
Alstroemeria Records Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
The latest in the Dancehall series. This compilation is a non-stop mix featuring Minoshima with various vocalists and additional tracks by Nhato, Tracy, Akasake, and miketama. This is a great EDM entry point if you’re just discovering Japanese dance music.
good-cool – VJ ARMY
good-cool Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Coming completely out of left field, good-cool has chosen this Comiket event to release the VJ ARMY EP. Based on the Beatmania IIDX song, VJ ARMY was a variety of genres rolled into one two minute track. This EP expands each track into a full-length song. Definitely pick this up if you’re a music game fan.
Lick Dom Records – Bass Chasers 3
C-Show Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
A Bass Chasers release is something you can never go wrong with. Featuring some of the most recognizable underground artists, C-Show has assembled an excellent supporting cast with the likes of USAO, Srave3R, Dirty Androids, Maozon, and Seventhrun just to name a few. It also features the C-Show track, Stratoliner, which can be heard in the arcade music game, WACCA.
wavforme – Waves of Euphoria -Invitation for the Trance Journey-
wavforme Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
If you’re a trance fan, then this should be on your radar. Right off the bat, we’ve got a Hiroyuki ODA remix, and tracks by Nhato, MK, Maozon, and Maya Akai. Give the preview a listen and see why we’ve yet to be disappointed by a wavforme release.
wavforme – Spirit Chords
wavforme Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
This album comes out swinging with Blacklolita’s track Atonement. Described as a Trancestep, Melodic Dubstep compilation, you can expect this album to be a heavy hitter. There are tracks by DJ Noriken, Taishi, Casual Killer, and Katali from AlphaVersion records. Definitely don’t want to miss this one.
Cranky – Rave-SLave 2019
Cranky Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Old school rave will never die, not so long as Cranky is going to keep going with releases on the Feline Groove label, and we’re fine with that. If you’re a fan of the 90’s rave sound then this album is perfect for you.
Nhato – Trace of Will
Nhato Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
20 tracks of Nhato goodness, featuring remixes by Yooh, Edelritter, Maozon, and onoken, this is the album that Nhato fans have been waiting for. The preview clocks in at 20 minutes, but it’s worth listening from start to finish to sate whatever desire you have for excellent trance music.
Shion Hinano – Once More
Shion Hinano Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Need something a little more mellow? The first album by Shion Hinano will probably fill that need nicely. Once More is a really chill progressive house album also features remixes by Ryunosuke Kudo, Puru, Noshi, and Akihiro Ohtani. This will definitely be a great debut album, just by listening to the preview.
shimaL – Timescape
shimaL Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Another first album, but this time for trance/electro artist, shimaL. This album features Timeleap, which was released three years ago but now in a proper album form along with multiple remixes and the epic sounding Distant Star.
djgenki.net – Revolution of Happy? #03
DJ GENKI Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Ready to get happy? Anything by DJ Genki is bound to get you out of your seat and this album is no exception. With some well established names like DJ Shimamura, REDALiCE, Endorfin, and more chipping in, this album is packed with energy.
Gram – Odin
DJ GENKI Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Another release from DJ Genki, but this is under the Gram alias. Known for his ‘requiem’ style of music, this is a high-BPM pounding of tracks in the same vein as those heard in the Konami music game series, Beatmania IIDX. Check out the preview for something truly unique.
COOL & CREATE – オールナイト・オブ・ナイツ ルナティック
Beat Mario Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
And now for something completely different. An album of Night of Nights remixes. Featuring remixes by Kors K, USAO, ARM, Ryu☆, and REDALiCE just to name a few, this album is just remix after remix, which makes it a little hard to recommend, but at the same time it’s wild enough that it needs to be checked out.
Akihabara Heavy Industry Inc. – 秋葉原重工コンピレーション12
Akihabara Heavy Industry Inc. Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Time for some techno. Akihabara Heavy Industry Inc. is back with another compilation of smooth and chill tunes. Featuring the likes of Hiroshi Watanabe, bassmicrobe, tetsuya tamura, and Hiroyuki Arakawa, it’s looking like another strong release the venerable label.
Massive CircleZ – Aratoshi 2
Tachibana Twitter & Javelin Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
A follow up to an album released over six years ago, Aratoshi 2 is something we’ve anticipated for a long time. This multi-genre album features a wide range of artists, including, DJ Myosuke, Yuta Imai, Kobaryo, and of course the duo known as Massive New Krew.
Login Records – Invitation to the Fallen 2
Pocotan Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Ready for some hardcore? Pocotan is back with another strong compilation that features fourteen tracks from other hardcore killers like Roughsketch, nnn, and FALCHiON, just to name a few. If you’re looking for something in the Mainstream Hardcore genre, this is sounding like an excellent pick-up.
PINK PONG – Four Seasons Dream ep.
PINK PONG Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
A trance master has returned. PINK PONG has a new EP this comiket and it should not be missed. Titled Four Seasons Dream, it’s a short EP with each song representing a season of the year, with Winter being a remix of the Vivaldi classic. As a bonus there’s a nonstop mix as well.
Kenichi Chiba – Crosspoint
Kenichi Chiba Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Kenichi Chiba’s got a release that breaks from everything else we’ve listed so far. Featuring his track from the Konami music game, Dance Rush Stardom, along with his track from the Sana album we featured in our previous article, there’s plenty to like in this preview.
DJ Noriken – ZODIAX EP 2
DJ Noriken Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Looking for some good hardcore rave music? You can’t go wrong with a DJ Noriken release. His ZODIAX EPs are a great sampling of everything that makes him great, and EP 2 is no exception. Check out the preview to see why he’s one of the best in the business.
Nekomin – NEKOMIXTALE
Nekomin Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
This is an album that would make Toby Fox proud. An Undertale remix album by Nekomin, this features a wide variety of genres in the tight seven tracks included. Check out the sample, and see if FLOWEY doesn’t sound slightly familiar.
MEGAREX – Beyond CORE EVANGELIX 1
MEGAREX Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
MEGAREX is going big this Comiket, the first of three albums, and the latest in the Evangelix series, Beyond CORE is 18 tracks of hardcore goodness and features a second disc that is a mixed version of all the tracks. Featuring a wide variety of artists, including M-Project, Kakeru, Savage Stages, Mameyudoufu, and even US based artist, Synthion, this is one album you don’t want to miss.
lapix – Rizing Destruction
lapix Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Lapix is back with a new album, featuring a lot of tracks from his music games works, it kicks things off hard with Welcome to the Most Pit. From there it’s a lot his energetic sound, on disc one, while disc two is all remixes. Plenty of good stuff here.
MEGAREX – encore -emotional vocap pop 01-
MEGAREX Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Megarex has done an awesome job in scoping out female vocal talent and encore is the perfect album to showcase that. Featuring sixteen tracks and a second disc of instrumentals, there’s plenty to enjoy with tracks by blacklolita, sky_delta, TEMPLIME, Tsubusare BOZZ, and Kakeru just to name a few.
t+pazolite – Refactoring Travel
t+pazolite Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
It’s been a while since t+pazolite has released a full album, and our bodies are ready for more Cutie & Headshaking Sounds. If the preview is anything to go by, this should be an epic album from start to finish.
HARDCORE TANO*C – Megaton Kick
HARDCORE TANO*C Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
Time to get back to something hard, and no one label goes harder than HARDCORE TANO*C. Megaton Kick is full of hardcore pros like DJ Myosuke, Laur, Dustvoxx, and Camelia just to name a few. Definitely one worth checking out.
HARDCORE TANO*C – HYPER DUO
HARDCORE TANO*C Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
These TANO*C offshoot albums usually produce something interesting, and HYPER DUO looks like one of their best experiments to date. Each track is a pairing of two different artists to come up with a new hardcore track, so you’ve got t+pazolite teaming up with Getty, C-Show and Noriken, Hommarju and REDALiCE, plenty of interesting pairings to make this worth picking up.
KO3 & Relect – KO3 And Relect
KO3 Twitter // Relect Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
KO3 & Relect have been a dynamic musical duo since their debut in 2013, and their first full album is loaded with awesome tracks. Featuring collaborations with the likes of aran, Getty, Srav3R, Massive New Krew, and vocalist Yukacco, this thirteen track album also has long versions of their game music releases like GLITHCRE and Caramel Mocha.
HEKATONCHEIR BEATS – Daizy Cutter
siromaru Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
We’re getting to the end of our list, but that doesn’t mean we’re taking things easy. Instead we’re going even harder in the paint with some schranz by hard techno stalwart, siromaru. This seven track album has tracks by RoughSketch, r0y, BlackY, and a few from siromaru, including their works from Tapsonic and Arcaea.
kamome sano & you – Parallel Waves
you Twitter // kamome sano Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
This 11 track album features four new tracks from you and kamome sano, along with remixes and instrumentals to go along with the pop flavor of the core four tracks. There’s some light drum and bass and some house tracks, making this another solid entry.
aran – Aphotic Seeker
aran Twitter
Where you can get it: Diverse Direct
The latest release by Aran features six new tracks of a mix of house and trance sounds, including new versions of Prima Vista and beautiful world. There isn’t a bad track in the bunch and these releases tend to skew on the cheaper side, making this an easy album to pick up.