Supreme guitar riffs from both Japanese and Western music: songs with badass intros
Among rock fans, I’m sure many of you listen especially for the guitar.
After all, the guitar is the star of the band, and your ears naturally gravitate toward it, right? In particular, songs with striking, cool guitar riffs right from the intro are the very essence of rock.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs with awesome guitar intros, mixing Western and Japanese tracks.
You’ll find not only catchy, singable riffs, but also simple, powerful songs driven by strummed chords.
It’s a must-see song list for not just guitarists, but rock fans in general.
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[Across Japanese and Western music] Supreme guitar riffs: Songs with cool intros (11–20)
Master of PuppetsMetallica
The title track from Metallica’s third album by the band famed as one of the most successful metal acts in the world, with total album sales exceeding 100 million.
The palm-muted twin-guitar unison phrases are played entirely with down-picking, creating a tight sound that adds driving speed to metal’s characteristic heaviness.
In the first half of the intro, frequent breaks by the bass and drums make the guitar sound stand out, while in the latter half, the addition of rhythm heightens the tension—an up-tempo number that has you leaning forward right from the intro.
Rock ‘N’ Roll StarOasis
Although the British rock band Oasis disbanded in 2009, their popularity still hasn’t waned, and they can rightly be called rock legends.
One of their signature songs is “Rock ’N’ Roll Star.” Many of you have probably heard its intro, haven’t you? This guitar riff, centered on bold string bending, is a simple yet iconic phrase that captures the essence of UK rock.
The intro’s phrase has a deep sense of nostalgia—it really hits you in the heart, doesn’t it?
How gasoline sloshesBLANKEY JET CITY
A classic by Blankey Jet City, a band that blazed through the ’90s and left a huge mark on Japan’s rock scene.
The rough, clean-tone guitar in the intro is packed with Benji (Kenichi Asai)’s outrageously distinctive sensibility and leaves a powerful impression.
Then, without a moment’s pause, the bass and drums kick in and it plunges headlong into a heavy development—thrilling to the extreme.
It’s not that they’re using particularly difficult techniques, but when you actually try to cover it, it’s surprisingly hard to capture the flavor of the original.
ZERORIZE
The 15th single by the three-piece mixture rock band RIZE, which was also used as a commercial jingle.
In the intro, a simple, sparsely notated guitar phrase is layered with a bass line that mirrors it, and the drum rhythm and accents create a sense of the track gradually accelerating.
Thanks to the use of a wah pedal, the guitar remains simple yet gains clear dynamics, and right before the verse (A-melo), switching the playing from single notes to power chords heightens the song’s tension.
Stay GoldHi-STANDARD
A signature Hi-Standard number—still fresh in memory for the surprise, unannounced comeback single “Another Starting Line” in 2016.
Originally released in 1999, it’s included on the masterpiece album “MAKING THE ROAD,” which, remarkably for a punk band, sold over a million copies.
The moment that solid, 16th-note-driven guitar intro kicks in, you can’t help but picture a sweat-drenched live house.
Its lifeblood is that melodically charged punk speed, and you’ll probably need some practice to nail it if you’re covering it.
Butterfly soarsPay money To my Pain
PTP, a top-tier superband in the loud rock scene, was forced to go on hiatus due to the sudden death of vocalist K.
Many of you probably know them, as each member is still active on the front lines of the scene.
Among their songs, this track is especially memorable for its intro riff.
The extraordinarily heavy, metallic guitar riff projects an overwhelming presence.
The heavy bass and tight drums that support this riff are insanely cool, too.
And the way it opens up refreshingly in the chorus is nothing short of masterful.
[Across Japanese and Western music] Supreme guitar riffs: Songs with cool intros (21–30)
Eight Beat BerserkerKishida Kyoudan & THE Myoujou Rockets
Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets’ latest release is defined by an impulsive band sound riding on an ultra–high-speed beat.
Released on streaming platforms on April 3, 2024, the track exudes a powerful allure that pulls listeners in at once.
Blistering drum work and razor-sharp guitar riffs cut through the mix—there’s an energy here that makes you want to headbang! You can just imagine the floor erupting the moment this song hits at a live show.
It’s the perfect track for blasting away a hazy, frustrating day.
Dive in and savor the uniquely original sound world of Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets!