One of the cultures Japan is proud to share with the world! Recommended visual kei bands

Said to have originated from X JAPAN’s BLUE BLOOD album tagline, “PSYCHEDELIC VIOLENCE CRIME OF VISUAL SHOCK,” visual kei has now become a hallmark of Japanese culture.

As it’s defined not as a specific sound, but as a way of building a worldview and aesthetic through visual expression—makeup, fashion, and more—the musical styles vary widely from band to band.

This time, we’ll introduce visual kei bands spanning a wide range of eras.

Whether you’re new to the genre or a longtime fan, we’ve got recommendations you’ll want to check out!

Playlist

One of the cultures Japan is proud to share with the world! Recommended visual kei bands
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Black CherryAcid Black Cherry		The solo project of yasu, formerly of Janne Da Arc
2	Redthe GazettE		Visual-kei band, popular for their high musicality.
3	ROCKET DIVEhide with Spread Beaver		hide's solo project produced hit songs in a short period
4	WELCOME TO GHOST HOTELpentagon		a visual kei band of dark fantasy music
5	crimsonX JAPAN		Legendary band reunites and continues activities
6	DOLLSJanne Da Arc		Visual kei band, until disbandment.
7	Phoenix 2022FANATIC◇CRISIS		Pioneers of the visual kei rock band scene
8	Shadow KingGARGOYLE		Introduction to Gargoyle, a pioneering visual kei band
9	The Charisma of Dressing UpSEX-ANDROID		A visual kei band of doctor rock
10	Melty loveSHAZNA		SHAZNA is a visual kei band that represents the 1990s.
11	The Greatest PartyTHE BEETHOVEN		a five-member visual kei band of veteran members
12	THE PRADOX IN IDEOLOGYUCHUSENTAI:NOIZ		A visual kei band with a Super Sentai hero-themed worldview
13	Night on the Galactic Railroadcali≠gari		A rock band that fuses diverse genres
14	Mazehaidanshīku doroshī		Introduction to the Music Style and Representative Works of Hide and Seek Dorothy
15	Shiny taleMix Speaker’s,Inc.		Visual kei band, disbanded in 2018, unique worldview
16	Rhapsody of the Autumn WindRaphael		Raphael, a visual kei metal band with classical elements
17	Her “Modern…”GLAY		GLAY, a four-member rock band from Hokkaido
18	Vivid ColorsL’Arc〜en〜Ciel		A rock band from Osaka with a diverse musical style
19	ButterflyDoremi-dan		Doremi-dan brought a fresh breeze to Japanese music with their experimental sound.
20	The Tangerine SongSEX MACHINEGUNS		The Appeal and Musicality of SEX MACHINEGUNS
21	sutherBlesAzlina		A guitar band that uses synthesizers
22	Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā		A visual kei band that air-performs
23	shadeDELUHI		I love DELUHI’s beautiful songs and want to keep listening to them even now.
24	ORDER MADEvistlip		I’m captivated by vistlip’s beautiful, story-like songs.
25	DOUBLE DRAGONLM.C		An upbeat, forward-driving song about facing walls head-on
26	Yanderu GirlfriendR shitei		An avant-garde band with high-level musicianship
27	a blatant lieArurukan		Characteristics of Nagoya-style visual kei bands.
28	ROSIERLUNA SEA		Visual kei band resumes activities after hiatus
29	Song of DelusionDIMLIM		A band with excellent vocals and highly skilled instrumentalists
30	highbrow; stylish; fashionable; trendyBabyKingdom		The stylish music of a visual kei band
31	RAINBOWPENICILLIN		A visual kei band famous for their romance mega-hits
32	Re:BornA9		A9 is characterized by diverse genres and a bright, upbeat style.
33	A Song for You Who Are Hurtingthe Raid.		A sparkly, danceable song by a visual kei band
34	Flame’s Lightjin		Introduction to a fascinating band originating from Kansai
35	Bikkuri Kokkuri -Surprised Kokkuri-Meruveru		A band known for songs with striking contrasts
36	Extra KingdomKra		Songs and live shows brimming with the charm of Kra
37	LieShido		The band’s musical style and the trajectory of its rise in popularity
38	BABELBUCK-TICK		They continued their activities as a four-piece even after the vocalist passed away.
39	Ms. AlligatorBugLug		Cheering for BugLug, praying for the vocalist’s recovery
40	Memento mori of a solitary habitCANIVAL		A visual kei band based in Shikoku
41	Swaying…Laputa		Nagoya visual kei band, still popular today
42	Nocturne Under the MoonMALICE MIZER		Formed in 1992, a legendary band fusing rock and classical music
43	CLASSICMUCC		Evolution of a metal-pop fusion band
44	How to look at the moonROUAGE		Nagoya-style visual band, medieval worldview
45	DearViViD		I regret ViViD’s breakup.
46	My Girlfriend in a Downpourzaazaa		A torrential-rain Kansai visual kei band
47	Twilight Starmegamaso		Megamasso, a visual kei band.
48	†Red-eyed Aries†Yumerīpu		A visual kei band with an impactful singing voice
49	Drowning FishDADAROMA		A fierce metal band with a psychopathic worldview
50	Gate of Severed FriendshipSendai Kamotsu		A comic band posing as a shipping company is actually a rock band
51	Airaku False Heartyusai		A Japanese-style rock band with an easy-to-get-into groove
52	utakataKagrra		A Japanese-style rock band that used traditional Japanese instruments; disbanded in 2011
53	ADAMDIEALO		A visual kei band with a wistful high-tone voice
54	O-EdoKabukirokkusu		Kabuki Rocks is a band that fuses kabuki and rock.
55	BondS ~Kizuna~Antikku-Kohiten-		A feel-good song by An Cafe
56	meteorAYABIE		AYABIE's dreamy and easy-to-listen songs
57	Incomplete catharsisAnima		A high-quality visual kei band from Fukuoka
58	Regret LoveBLESSCODE		A band from Hiroshima with catchy, bittersweet vocals
59	BLASTED ANIMALSBORN		An uplifting song I want to give to someone special
60	TomorrowlandCLØWD		A band gaining attention for their hard-hitting songs
61	BIRTHD		A Fantastical Birthpiece for Violin
62	poem stompingDIR EN GREY		DIR EN GREY's growth and musical evolution
63	DearestDaizyStripper		A refreshing song that makes you feel positive
64	GreeMGreeΣ		An invincible group where the band’s sound and visuals are both fully realized
65	ArlequinNoGoD		Visual kei metal, high-pitched vocals and instrumental prowess
66	Swimming in the rainPlastic Tree		30th anniversary of the formation of a visual kei band
67	Poison ChocolatePurple Stone		A pop-rock visual kei band
68	Dearest WishSCREW		SCREW is a hard rock band.
69	JOKERSHIVA		The band has pop-influenced melodies and distinctive makeup
70	traumaSIRENE〜Seirēn〜		The visual beauty of visual kei bands and their hopeful songs
71	BODY TO BODYSOFT BALLET		A band that fuses electronic music and rock
72	Snow, Moon, and FlowersSadie		I’ve come to like Sadie and am waiting for their return to activity.
73	To all members of the newspaper and mass mediaVIDOLL		A band active with heavy bass and pop tracks
74	MOONLIGHT xxxxdoppel		a stylish visual kei band
75	Last scenesioux		A catchy song with a mysterious intro
76	GOKUMIshibirebashiru		Visual kei band, comic elements
77	Mass of hatredriberio		A melodious band that effortlessly plays fast-paced songs
78	Day×Bye×dayreivu		Hearts united by a rave's uplifting track
79	circuitJinkaku Rajio		A band formed in 2001, characterized by kayōkyoku-style melodies
80	Queen of the NightKiryu		A spotlighted band with a Japanese-style horror concept
81	Wargaki-ismIrodori		Stylish band with a high-tone vocalist
82	I miss youAyabie		It's a bittersweet love song, but it makes you feel positive. Easy to listen to, and the music video is memorable.
83	JusticeMatenrou Opera		A visual kei band fusing modern and traditional elements
84	MAD SKY -The Steel Savior-PIERROT		The appeal and activities of visual kei bands
85	Sky of OblivionSADS		Kiyoharu’s heavy rock band
86	boykuroyume		An inorganic visual kei band that incorporates programmed beats
87	bathtubkuroyuri to kage		A band characterized by a high-pitched voice
88	Stargaze:alice nine		I was moved by A9’s beautiful song and music video.
89	jetFAIRY FORE		Meeting and parting with the band
90	With YouLa’cryma Christi		A progressive rock band of the Visual Kei Four Heavenly Kings
91	A girl with a missing part on a moonlit nightNoulla		Black Apple begins full-scale activities and takes off
92	Ghost labyrinthREIGN		Create a medieval-style arrangement to evoke eeriness.
93	Wishthe LOTUS		A song whose sense of speed and wistfulness helps you feel positive
94	This world is over.Kodomodoragon		A rock band in colorful outfits
95	The Path of RepentanceDauto		Favorite songs and live concert memories
96	BULLETdangan NO LIMIT		A visual kei band begins activities
97	DizzyNIGHTMARE		The band made their major debut in 2003.