This Week in Visual Kei: Reunions, Farewells & Dir en Grey — May 18, 2026
What a week. May 2026 is shaping up to be one of those months where Visual Kei simultaneously celebrates its past and charges toward the future—and this past seven days delivered on both fronts in spades.
The biggest story is impossible to ignore: Dir en Grey continue their MORTAL DOWNER era domination with a visceral new “MOBS” video that lives up to the album’s embrace of despair and darkness. If you haven’t read our full review of the 12th album yet, do yourself a favor. Meanwhile, D’ESPAIRSRAY shocked everyone by announcing their first single in 16 years—a gothic metal resurrection that feels almost too good to be true. Two titans returning to form in the same week? That’s the kind of momentum that reminds us why we’re all here.
On the reunion front, CORPSE ANOTHER PERSON is coming back after a staggering 30-year hiatus, while Merry, MUCC, and 蜉蝣 are pulling out the big guns for “Daisuke Matsuri,” described as one final festival. It’s bittersweet—these tributes and farewells hit different. The scene also mourned LUNA SEA’s emotional farewell service for drummer Shnya, a sobering reminder of how much these musicians have meant to us.
Fresh announcements keep things exciting too. Plastic Tree are gearing up for a “Strange Fruits” anniversary show in 2026, VALHALLA just kicked off an ambitious year-long release campaign with their first oneman tour, and The Novembers are dropping a new EP, “合奏する、エンジン.” Noiru launched the intriguing new project EL【VAHEM】, un autre éden unveiled their second single “conte de fées,” and grラビティ quietly launched their official fanclub ‘STRANGER SIDE’—never sleep on the smaller announcements.
Lineup shifts are happening across the board: GA TO CHOU welcomed Nao and Lanju, while Dokubari’s Minato announced his departure. Doubt and Kii Project are throwing down a two-man live in October, and MUCC will be hitting いじくりROCKS! before their quest live plans unfold.
It’s the kind of week that reminds longtime fans why they fell in love with this scene in the first place—legacy acts honoring their history, newer bands carving out space, and enough drama and surprise announcements to keep us glued to our feeds. Buckle up, because next week’s looking just as packed.
This Week’s Posts
