Recommended hard rock and heavy metal

Classic Japanese metal songs. Recommended popular tracks.

Music writer / guitarist / Certified web writing practitionerHoshino Takashi
Drawing on over 30 years of experience with guitars and bands since my high school days, I specialize in music-related articles and have handled many feature pieces to date. While my tastes lean toward genres like hard rock and heavy metal since I first picked up the guitar, I make a point of listening to a wide range of styles, both Japanese and Western, on a daily basis. I began working as a freelance writer in 2018. I hold a Web Writing Practical Certification, and in addition to writing, I’m also studying video editing. In my private life, I’m raising an elementary school child and stay active while supporting their extracurriculars, such as parkour and dance.

When you hear the word “metal,” what kind of image comes to mind?

If you don’t usually listen to it, you might think it’s “noisy” or “scary,” and maybe even feel that it’s “hard to listen to.”

Of course, metal does have those aspects in its musical style and themes—but that’s not all there is to it.

From beautifully composed songs with clear classical influences to tracks with comedic lyrics, there’s a wide variety of music, especially in Japan.

So this time, we’d like to introduce some classic masterpieces of Japanese metal!

Masterpieces of Japanese metal music. Recommended popular songs (71–80)

MA-G-MAAION

[Music] AION – MA-G-MA (Studio)

MA-G-MAAION

AION is a heavy metal band from Osaka Prefecture.

Their popularity at the time was such that people said, “X in the East, AION in the West.” “MA-G-MA” is included on the mini-album of the same name released in 1990.

The energetic sound is wonderful.

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AineAION

[Music] AION Aine AION 1992

AineAION

AION had the skill and popularity to be spoken of alongside X in the east and AION in the west.

As you can tell from the fact that the song shares the band’s name, it’s their signature track—a high-speed metal tune bursting with a sense of drive.

NOV, whose vocals are distinctive, is compelling for his strong singing ability: despite a dirty edge, he delivers powerfully from low to high registers.

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SAVIOR NEVER CRYConcerto Moon

CONCERTO MOON – SAVIOR NEVER CRY (full version)

SAVIOR NEVER CRYConcerto Moon

The high-speed guitar riffs and the weight of the double bass drums are quintessential metal.

This is the lead track from Concerto Moon’s ninth album, “SAVIOR NEVER CRY,” released in 2011.

The piercing high-tone vocals are utterly captivating.

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rock the nationDED CHAPLIN

kozo suganuma RockTheNation / DedChaplin

rock the nationDED CHAPLIN

A band formed by Minoru Niihara after leaving LOUDNESS.

With the renowned fusion virtuoso and fretless bassist Toshimi Nagai, along with the “King of Fills” Kozo Suganuma—both masters of technical performance—their playing is absolutely overwhelming.

Enjoy the unrelenting flood of sound that leaves no room to relax from start to finish.

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ANGEL OF SALVATIONGALNERYUS

GALNERYUS – ANGEL OF SALVATION［OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO］

ANGEL OF SALVATIONGALNERYUS

This piece features Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op.

35.

It’s the title track from ANGEL OF SALVATION, an album released in 2012 by GALNERYUS, a metal band from Osaka Prefecture.

The song sings about the importance of believing in yourself.

It’s classic, straight-ahead metal.

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