Fast and cool! A popular melodic hardcore band in Japan
Melocore is short for “melodic hardcore,” a music genre that emphasizes hardcore punk sounds and strong melodies.
When you hear “melocore bands,” how many can you think of? If you’re thinking, “I want to learn more about melocore!” you might have come to the right article.
Here, we’ll introduce a wide range of Japanese melocore bands all at once—from groups performing at major festivals across the country and thriving at the forefront, to next-break acts working energetically at their local live houses.
Even though we lump them together as melocore, there’s a blend of diverse musical traits, so be sure to pay attention to each band’s unique character!
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Fast and cool! Popular domestic melodic hardcore bands (41–50)
1106WANIMA
You hear their songs everywhere now—in commercials, TV shows, you name it! Since the late 2010s, they’ve arguably been the driving force that brought melodic hardcore back into living rooms across the country.
It’s amazing that even people who don’t usually listen to rock know their songs, right? I think the biggest secret behind how their music became this popular lies in the lyrics.
Of course, their bright, upbeat persona, catchy sound, and songs packed with momentum are all appealing—but the lyrics are just so good.
They’re not simply cheerful; they sometimes encourage you, sometimes stay by your side, and I’m sure many listeners have drawn courage from them.
All MouthBACKLIFT
BACK LIFT is a three-piece melodic hardcore band from Nagoya.
While they have aggressively high-speed tracks that are quintessentially melocore, they also craft beautiful, slow-tempo rock ballads, showcasing a wide range in their music.
Even within a single song, their compositions are built with a keen sense of dynamics, so you can’t afford to miss a moment.
What makes their tracks even cooler is the voice of KICHIKU, the bass-vocalist.
His masculine, wild vocals are one of their truly unique weapons.
Now or NeverHeavenly Time Bell
A melodic hardcore band from Tokyo featuring male and female twin vocals.
Not only do the two front vocalists have gentle voices, but the drummer also provides choruses, making their versatile vocal work a key attraction.
Recommended for fans of winnie, another band with both male and female vocals.
GLEANINGMISTY
MISTY is a four-piece rock band formed in 2006.
No matter which track you listen to, the catchy guitar riffs instantly grab your ear and keep raising your excitement as you go.
Their biggest draw, though, is the clear, straight-soaring vocals of SHINJI, the band’s singer-guitarist.
Thanks in part to his voice, every MISTY song ends up carrying a certain sense of beauty.
Despite going through member changes, they’ve continued their activities and remain a standout band in the melodic hardcore scene.
WALKHUSKING BEE
A three-piece rock band known by the abbreviation “Husking.” Formed in 1994 at the height of the melodic hardcore boom, they disbanded in 2005 and later made headlines by resuming activities in 2012 with new members.
At the time of their formation, they were pioneers of emo and screamo—rare in Japan then—and their unique sound, which incorporated elements of power pop, established a musical identity that extended beyond melodic hardcore alone.
Since 2016, Tetsuya Kudo, the bassist from the lineup at the time of their breakup, has returned, and this living, legendary melodic hardcore band is expected to continue evolving in new ways.
EverythingMORNING GLORY
They’re a girls’ band from Hida-Takayama that originally started as a three-piece, but they’re now active as a duo unit.
They’re a melodic hardcore band known for their mischievous, punchy guitar sound.
Most of their activity seems to have paused around 2010, but they still appear to be popular.
RUNBUZZ THE BEARS
Unfawning, unadorned, and unpretentious.
BUZZ THE BEARS express their true, life-sized selves without being swayed by trends.
Musically, they’re rooted in hardcore with elements of metal, and their signature strength is a tight two-beat.
They don’t mind if the lyrics are a little grammatically off—that unvarnished attitude is exactly their charm, and it’s embedded in their work.
Not trying to look cool is what makes them cool.
Rather than sharpening their edges, they embody punk by becoming more rounded.
