SEATTLE - September 23, 2019 - Materia Collective has released Metal Trainer, a thrashin' progressive rock and metal cover album featuring nine tracks from the original Pokémon Red and Blue for the Nintendo Game Boy. Arranged and performed by Ro Panuganti--best known for his game music remix performances on YouTube and past albums dedicated to Metroid and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time--Metal Trainer captures the fierce battles, intriguing locales, and remarkable moments Pokémon's heaviest journey yet. Metal Trainer is now available wherever digital music is sold:

"Metal Trainer was started as a simpler, more traditional rock album that people could enjoy hearing live and playing on the go, or working out," comments arranger Ro Panuganti. "I quickly got pulled in the nostalgia of those first Pokémon games, and realized that I had to keep things more progressive rock and metal to properly capture that epic journey. Some of my proudest arranging happened for 'Lavender,' where most of my ideas came when I just had my guitar in a room with no computer. I played with how that song should go in a story, and eventually wrote some of my proudest, spookiest music yet. I hope that listener's feel that innocent charm of Pokémon's city anthems, that fire in your belly from wanting to beat the intimidating gym leaders, and those ghostly chills that came from traversing Lavender Town."

Key themes from across Pokémon Red and Blue are included. The track list for Metal Trainer is as follows:

01. Pokémon Master
02. Viridian
03. A Wild Encounter
04. Pokémon Hospital
05. Mt. Moon
06. Cerulean
07. Lavender
08. Pokémon Mansion
09. Gym Battle

About Ro Panuganti

Ro Panuganti is an active musician, recording and playing in the avante-garde yet remarkable style of progressive rock/metal and more. His skills range from electric guitar to bass, vocal, piano, and a slew of traditional Indian instruments. Influences range from Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and modern prog artists to Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and varieties of musicals and soundtracks.

Ro has been creating rock and metal versions of videogame, television, and movie themes since 2011 and has performed at a variety of events including National Harbor MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival) in 2017 and ConBravo 2018. His music has been featured on Nickelodeon, Smosh, in small indie games including Bacon Man: An Adventure, and on albums that performed in the Top 20 Bandcamp Albums in their respective genres.

Ro continues to create a variety of game remixes, original music, gear reviews, tutorials, contests, and more for his YouTube channel on a near-weekly basis and works to grow the world of exciting fan music and videogame scores.

Check out Metal Trainer on all storefronts

For those who preorder Pokemon Sword & Shield through 7net, the online shopping branch of 7-Eleven, a special bonus goody will be offered. Preorders will come with a Shiny Pikachu TCG card, which features artwork of Pikachu, Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble.

Kuriko-An is an eatery in Japan that sells fish-shaped Taiyaki pastries, and they've been making Magikarp Taiyaki for quite some time now. The Magikarp Taiyaki came in chocolate and Hokkaido milk cream flavors, but now a third flavor has been added to the mix. Customers can now give Matcha Tea cream flavor a shot!

The Farfetch’d of the Galar region can evolve into Sirfetch'd after experiencing many battles. They are calm and collected, and they make a point of always battling fairly. They are so noble in battle that they are often chosen as a motif for paintings. Of particular note is a painting—famous in the Galar region—that depicts a duel between a Sirfetch'd and an Escavalier.

I've been meaning to show this one off for a couple weeks now, but I kept forgetting! Marvel Team-Up #5 features Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel working together to put the hurt on some bad guys, but it can't be all work and no play. For part of the story, Ms. Marvel makes her way to arcade for some Skee-ball action.

While nothing is ever said about Pokemon in the issue, we do get to see Ms. Marvel wearing a tribute to the series. As you can see in the panels above, Ms. Marvel is wearing a rather stylish Pikachu hat! This isn't the first time Ms. Marvel has referenced the Nintendo side of gaming either!

The Genetic Pokémon, Mewtwo, will be returning to EX Raids!

Date + Time

Starting on September 25, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. PDT—Trainers can receive EX Raid Passes to be invited to EX Raids featuring Mewtwo.

Features

Challenge Mewtwo with the Shadow Ball attack exclusively in EX Raids!
If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Mewtwo!
Are you new to EX Raids? You can become eligible to receive an EX Raid Pass when you win a Raid Battle at a qualifying Gym! To see whether a Gym can host EX Raids, take a look at the Gym’s details. If you triumph in a qualifying Raid Battle and receive an invitation to an EX Raid, you can check your EX Raid Pass for the date and time when you’ll be able to challenge Mewtwo.

Battling Mewtwo will be a difficult challenge that requires Trainers to take advantage of every opportunity—so don’t forget to invite a friend to go along with you! Invites can only be sent to an Ultra Friend or Best Friend, so don’t forget to battle with friends, send Gifts, and trade Pokémon to build up your Friendship level.

Do you have what it takes? Best of luck—Mewtwo won’t back down!

Earlier yesterday, we told you about the Dynamax Camera website for Pokemon Sword and Shield. This website lets you upload pictures and add in Dynamax Pokemon to them for a bit of fun. Of course, those hungry for more information on Pokemon Sword and Shield dove into the website to try and find more tidbits, and it appears some juicy details may have been discovered.

Twitter user abcboy101 has found what he believes to be codenames for Galar region Pokemon, as well as some evolution details. Check out a rundown of what he dug up below.

- Scorbunny: Usagi1
- Sobble: Chameleon1
- Grookey: Gorilla1
- Yamper: Inu1
- Rolycoly: Sekitan1
- Wooloo: Wool1
- Corviknight: Gcommondori3
- Alcremie: Gcream2
- Morpeko: Pospika
- Polteageist: Teacup2
- Sobble’s line is based on a chameleon
- Grookey’s line may involve a gorilla Pokemon
- Corviknight is a stage three Pokemon, meaning it has two pre-evolutions
- Alcremie and Polteageist are second stage evolutions
- Drednaw has a ‘2’ too in its codename of Gkame2 (kame meaning ‘turtle’ in Japanese), with the G likely representing its Gigantamax form
- It is possible Drednaw is also an evolved Pokemon
- Morpeko has no number with its codename, and so may not evolve
- Yamper and Wooloo have numbers, so they may have an evolution
- Duraludon appears to be a single-stage Pokemon
- Gossifleur is a base stage

Obviously none of this is confirmed until it comes from Pokemon Co., Game Freak, or Nintendo, but it's certainly looking quite plausible for the time being.

Pokemon Room Shoes for women

- produced by Shimamura
- come in Pikachu, Eevee, Charmander, Squritle, Bulbasaur, and Slowpoke designs
- 1,280 yen per pair

24-Hour Pokemon Chu product line

- partnership with Japanese artist nagano (Joke Bear)
- features Pokemon in a super-deformed art style
- line launches Oct. 5th, 2019 at Pokemon Center locations and Amazon Japan
- full list of merch is as follows:

Plushie Pikachu　1,800 yen (★)
Plushie Meowth　1,800 yen (★)
Plushie Slowpoke　1,800 yen (★)
Plushie Larvitar　1,800 yen (★)
Plushie Croagunk　1,800 yen (★)
Mascot Pikachu　1,100 yen (★)
Mascot Meowth　1,100 yen (★)
Mascot Slowpoke　1,100 yen (★)
Mascot Larvitar　1,100 yen (★)
Mascot Croagunk　1,100 yen (★)
Acrylic Charm Collection　500 yen
10 types in total. The pattern cannot be selected.
Square pouch　1,200 yen (★)
Mini tote bag　2,000 yen (★)
Die-cut pass case (Pikachu)　1,500 yen (★)
Die-cut pass case (Slowpoke)　1,500 yen (★)
Folding mirror　1,400 yen (★)
3-foot socks (6 variants)　1,000 yen each
Blanket　2,350 yen (★)\
Bath towel　3,000 yen (★)
Hand towel (OSHITSUKEAI CHŪ)　500 yen (★)
Hand towel (KAIFUKU CHŪ)　500 yen (★)
Hand towel (pattern)　500 yen (★)
Multi smartphone cover　3,000 yen (★)
soft Jacket for iPhone 8/ 7 / 6S / 6　1,880 yen (★)
Box of Sticky Notes　680 yen (★)
Sticker (Pikachu)　300 yen
Sticker (Meowth)　300 yen
Sticker (Slowpoke)　300 yen
Sticker (Larvitar)　300 yen
Sticker (Croagunk)　300 yen
Sticker (OYASUMI CHŪ – Pikachu)　300 yen
Sticker (OYASUMI CHŪ – Meowth)　300 yen
Sticker (OYASUMI CHŪ – Slowpoke)　300 yen
Sticker (OYASUMI CHŪ – Larvitar)　300 yen
Sticker (OYASUMI CHŪ – Croagunk)　300 yen
Flat pouch　1,500 yen (★)
Tote Bag　3,000 Yen (★)
A4 Clear File　240 Yen
Pen Pouch　1,500 Yen (★)
Memo Pad　500 Yen (★)
Masking Tape 3-book set　800 yen (★)
Mug　1,300 yen (★)
4-postcard set (MEZAMASHI KAKUTOU CHŪ)　400 yen
4-postcard set (KENKA URIKOMI CHŪ)　400 yen
4-postcard set (KAIFUKU CHŪ)　400 yen
Square Can Collection　380 yen
10 types in total. The pattern cannot be selected.
Plastic tumbler　600 yen (★)
Storage container　1,000 yen (★)
Rice ball case　600 yen (★)
Lunch box container　1,500 yen (★)

※ ★ items will be available on Amazon Japan

Pokemon Center Shibuya tentative opening date

- PARCO Shibuya is opening on November 22nd, 2019
- this is the mall where Pokemon Center Shibuya is
- it's likely that Pokemon Center Shibuya will open on the same day

There's some important details to discuss about Pokemon GO today, and first up is the Safari Zone in Montreal, Canada. That event has kicked off today, and Pokemon like Unown QUEBC and Tropius are already spawning. Pokémon that can be found in the park will be available in increased amounts around Canada.

This event is also impacting players globally, as Yanma is now spawning in increased amounts worldwide. This also means that Shiny Yanma is now available worldwide, and should be active over the weekend.

Following that, we have news on the rescheduling of the Mewtwo Raid Hour, which was postponed due to some technical issues.
Players can now look forward to the event taking place on October 8th, 2019 at 6PM local time. This will also provide Mewtwo with the Psystrike move that is presently exclusive to the current event.