A roundup of Japanese loud rock bands: the appeal of ferocious riffs + more
As the name suggests, “loud rock” is a term used as a catch-all for rock that features heavy, intense riffs and phrases, and it began gaining popularity mainly from the late ’90s into the 2000s.
In addition to aggressive riffs and phrases, loud rock often incorporates vocals like death growls and harsh screams, as well as rap.
At the same time, it’s not uncommon to have choruses with beautiful clean tones and approachable melodies; the coexistence of calm and intensity is one of loud rock’s key appeals.
Because of this breadth, loud rock is considered difficult to define, but in this article we’ll take a broader view of the genre and introduce a bunch of recommended bands!
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The Appeal of Intense Riffs + Alpha: A Roundup of Domestic Loud Rock Bands (11–20)
The VandalMAKE MY DAY
MAKE MY DAY made their major debut in 2013 under their former name ASHLEY SCARED THE SKY.
The following year, in 2014, they underwent a member change and adopted their current name.
They are a next-generation loud rock band featuring two hybrid vocalists: Julian, the guitarist-vocalist who is half American, and Isam, the shouter who is half Moroccan.
If you like tight, hard-hitting sounds, this is a band you need to check out!
EVOKELynch.
Formed in Nagoya in 2004, the band lynch.
cites visual kei groups like Kuroyume and Laputa as influences, and is sometimes described as part of the Nagoya scene.
While rooted in metal and hardcore, their music is notably catchy and accessible.
You’ll likely be captivated by the contrast between vocalist Hazuki’s sultry singing voice and his powerful shouts.
They’ve appeared at numerous visual kei festivals and major domestic rock festivals, making them a band that thrives across genre boundaries.
World Of SilenceFABLED NUMBER
FABLED NUMBER is a six-piece band formed in Osaka in 2006, centered around the brothers N’Eita (guitar/vocals) and N’Taichi (bass).
Their hallmark is an electric, futuristic sound that incorporates sampling.
A highlight is the striking contrast between N’Eita’s clean vocals and his shouts.
Their songs range widely—from tracks that make you want to go wild to danceable numbers—offering something to match the joys and sorrows of everyday life.
They’re also very active live, so be sure to experience their sound in person.
Two MessesCRAZY N’ SANE
CRAZY N’ SANE is a mysterious band whose activity record and year of formation are completely unknown.
They drew attention with their visual style—full-body black outfits and rabbit masks—and operate as a seven-piece mixture band with two vocalists, two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a DJ.
Blending death growls and clean vocals in rap-style delivery, and leveraging dense, intricate arrangements, they craft their own brand of mixture rock.
Despite how cool their songs are, nobody knows who they really are yet—making their true identities all the more intriguing!
ALONEMY FIRST STORY
This is the breakout song of MY FIRST STORY, a band that has captivated Japanese loud rock kids and is rapidly growing into a monster act.
It’s a track that distills all the best elements of loud rock.
Don’t be fooled by their sweet looks—their overwhelming live performance, backed by solid skill, is the real draw.
LET IT DIEHER NAME IN BLOOD
Affectionately known by their nickname “Hā-nēmu,” the band HER NAME IN BLOOD sadly disbanded in 2021.
Their hallmark was an ultra-heavy sound paired with vocalist Ikepy’s thick, guttural death growls.
From their aggressively deathcore early era around 2007 to their more recent metalcore phase, you can enjoy the band’s evolution in musical style.
If you’re looking for something heavy, definitely check out HER NAME IN BLOOD!
The Appeal of Intense Riffs + More: A Roundup of Japanese Loud Rock Bands (21–30)
SAWAA=
AA= is the solo project of Takeshi Ueda, who handled bass and vocals for the 1990s rock band THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS.
It officially kicked off in 2008 and has featured support members such as Takayoshi Shirakawa from BACK DROP BOMB and Nobuaki Kaneko from RIZE.
Its signature is a fusion of futuristic elements like synthesizers and vocoders with noisy, heavy performances.
They’ve appeared at numerous festivals, so if you’re intrigued, be sure to experience their power live!