Japanese metalcore bands. A roundup of J-metalcore bands that have undergone unique evolution.

Japanese bands like Crossfaith and coldrain have earned high praise overseas.

The genre they represent—metalcore—combines elements of metal and hardcore: chugging guitar riffs, breakdowns, shouted vocals, and death growls.

Bands creatively blend a variety of elements, such as djent-influenced technical guitar phrases, colorful synth-driven sounds, and beautifully melodic choruses.

Be sure to check out Japan’s distinctive and diverse metalcore bands!

Playlist

Japanese metalcore bands. A roundup of J-metalcore bands that have undergone unique evolution.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	SanctuaryCrystal Lake		Formed in 2002, a metalcore band that, in both name and reality, represents Japan…
2	Self-HatredDEXCORE		DEXCORE is a band that fuses metalcore and visual kei.
3	ChamomileHaze of the Bullet Blossom		Activities and musical style of Haze of the Bullet Blossom
4	Massive CoreFear, and Loathing in Las Vegas		A vocal with an Auto-Tune effect…
5	SEE YOUcoldrain		coldrain is a band that spans Japan’s loud rock to me...
6	EndorphinCROSSFAITH		A meta-… that boldly incorporates elements of electronica
7	MAGENTADevil’s Inlay		Devil's Inlay Osaka metalcore band
8	Alone//Ditea crowd of rebellion		An emotional so‑… centered on screamo
9	ScarfaceEACH OF THE DAYS		EACH OF THE DAYS, a metalcore band originating from Nagoya
10	TriggerBreathe my Words		As a metalcore band from Kobe, the scene…
11	FUHAIKnosis		Former Crystal Lake vocalist Ry…
12	DESPERATENOCTURNAL BLOODLUST		A metalcore band from Tokyo that unfolds a diverse range of expressions.
13	custom; convention; old-fashioned practiceDEVILOOF		DEVILOOF, which fuses visual kei and deathcore
14	HAZEFalling Asleep		A DIY band centered around Hiroki, new music
15	The Rectitude PulsationSOLITUDE A SLEEPLESS NIGHTS		melodic metalcore band
16	RONOVEGIVEN BY THE FLAMES		Japanese gothic metalcore band
17	undiscoveredDoes It Escape Again		Emo band reunites after disbanding and releases a best-of album
18	HypocrisyC-GATE		C-GATE is a post-metalcore band from Nagano active in Tokyo.
19	RepulsionUNWAVERING		A metalcore band from Nagoya, musical style
20	ShadewalkerMindscape		A band from Shizuoka pursues complex, technical metalcore
21	BereavementGraupel		What kind of music is so-called “metalcore”?…
22	EmbersSable Hills		A core that makes you want to say, “Now this is metalcore!”
23	DARKSIDEHER NAME IN BLOOD		When you think of metalcore, you might assume it's influenced by djent…
24	Noise Heard in the MoonArise in Stability		Indispensable when discussing the domestic metalcore scene…
25	Purge MeEarthists.		Formed in Tokyo in 2014, and within two years of their formation, a…
26	9 SMILESPaledusk		Formed in 2015, Paledusk is…
27	BULLYSiM		In the broadly accessible genre known as metalcore...
28	Drift ApartSailing Before The Wind		Centered around the bassist Bitoku, bo…
29	Dark cageA Ghost Of Flare		A Ghost Of Flare is 200…
30	DIVE TO THE GROUNDFOAD		While rooted in post-hardcore, its ta…
31	Broken Toys in AtticHONE YOUR SENSE		The world-famous German metal festival, Wac…
32	BrothersssEDGE OF SPIRIT		A band formed in 1997 from Kobe…
33	Last FaithJILUKA		From the visual kei scene to full-fledged metal…
34	Mortal PredictionVictim of Deception		The domestic deathcore scene formed in 2014…
35	Mind HavenMAKE MY DAY		MAKE MY DAY was formed in 2014...
36	Face To FaceBreak Your Fist		A Tokyo-based metalcore band from the 2000s…
37	My Rusted MemoriesFate In Spiral		A band from Osaka that could be considered a prototype of metalcore…
38	VENGEANCEcoldrain		coldr… formed in Nagoya in 2007
39	ThirstVision of Fatima		Pursuing our music beyond genres, ba...
40	LET IT DIE ~fakes alive~HEXVOID		Perform the traditional metal with a more modern feel...
41	Abelsever black paranoia		In May 2009, prompted by live performances in Shibuya…
42	RealizeMechanical Teddy		A metalcore band with male-female twin vocals, ...
43	Like I’m not realDAZZLE VISION		A band formed in June 2003. Mai…