Recommended hard rock and heavy metal

Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music

Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.

Hard rock, rooted in blues rock, transformed its sound to become heavier and more dramatic.

The achievements of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Queen, and Aerosmith are nothing short of legendary.

For those who listened in real time, it remains a beloved formative musical experience; for younger generations, it offers chances to discover music they didn’t know and to make new findings.

In this article, we’ve picked out great hard rock bands and classic tracks that will surely be talked about for generations to come.

Even within the hard rock genre, there are songs that head in many different directions, so please enjoy!

Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music (71–80)

Nobody’s FoolCinderella

Cinderella – Nobody’s Fool (Stereo Version)

Nobody's FoolCinderella

Looking at it again, that’s quite an impressive band name, isn’t it? They debuted with a glamorous look worthy of their name and became popular mainly in the ’80s; they’re a band from Philadelphia.

They’re often labeled as quintessential ’80s hair metal, but their central figure, vocalist and guitarist Tom Keifer, is a musician with a refined, blues-leaning sensibility, and that flavor was woven into their otherwise classic ’80s hard rock sound.

That said, the song they released in 1986, which became a hit, is a hard rock–style ballad featuring a powerful, soaring high-register vocal performance.

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Rainbow in the DarkDio

Dio – Rainbow In The Dark (Official Music Video) [HD]

Rainbow in the DarkDio

This is a track from Dio—the band led by Ronnie James Dio, one of the most important singers in the history of heavy metal and hard rock—featured on their 1983 debut album Holy Diver.

While the song’s structure is a very straightforward, classic hard rock number, Ronnie’s overwhelmingly brilliant vocals and the fluid guitar solo give it a distinctive appeal that sets it apart from more ordinary tracks.

The memorable synth lines also add a nice touch of unmistakably ’80s atmosphere.

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SeventeenWinger

Seventeen

SeventeenWinger

Pure American rock! From the intro that makes you want to burst into applause, it’s an irresistibly feel-good number.

It’s a hit released in 1988 by Winger, a New York–based band that rose to popularity in the late ’80s.

Their self-titled debut album, released in 1988 and featuring this track, sold over one million copies.

The band’s ensemble, simple yet backed by advanced technique, is top-tier and a key reason they are regarded as a truly accomplished band.

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silent screamRiot

Silent Scream

silent screamRiot

They are a seasoned band formed in 1975.

They’re especially popular in Japan, known for a hard sound full of melancholy with twin guitars that appeal to Japanese listeners.

This song is included on the album released right after the fourth vocalist, Mike DiMeo, joined.

It’s a fast-paced track that also impresses with its technical drumming.

Surprisingly, the chorus is catchy, and the contrast with the tense mood of the verses is striking.

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Mother´s EyesEnuff Z’Nuff

Enuff Z´Nuff – Mother´s Eyes (High Quality)

Mother´s EyesEnuff Z'Nuff

Enuff Z’Nuff, influenced by Cheap Trick and the Beatles, won their place in the spotlight by laying powerful hard rock over poppy songs.

Listening like this, you can really tell that hard rock often has accessible tracks that are easy for the masses to embrace.

Around this time, Seattle-style bands known as grunge began to rise to prominence, bringing the LA metal boom to an end.

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