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!
Playlist
| A roundup of Japanese loud rock bands: the appeal of ferocious riffs + more | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Die tomorrowcoldrain |  play_arrow | Formed in Nagoya in 2007, coldrain… |
| 2east | Sweetest vengeancePay money To my Pain |  play_arrow | The band Laü..., which had the late Mr. K as its vocalist, |
| 3east | Just AwakeFear, and Loathing in Las Vegas |  play_arrow | Known by the nickname Vegas, Fear, an... |
| 4east | EXiSTENCESiM |  play_arrow | SiM, who describe themselves as a reggae punk band... |
| 5east | Premeditated revengeMakishimamu Za Horumon |  play_arrow | Around the time loud rock started to become popular in Japan... |
| 6east | found & lostSurvive Said The Prophet |  play_arrow | Survive, affectionately known by the nickname 'SabaPro'… |
| 7east | MonolithCROSSFAITH |  play_arrow | A metalcore band formed in Osaka, Crossf… |
| 8east | Ups&DownsCrystal Lake |  play_arrow | Formed in 2002, and highly acclaimed overseas… |
| 9east | THE NEW ERANOISEMAKER |  play_arrow | A loud mixture band representing Hokkaido... |
| 10east | FriendsThe BONEZ |  play_arrow | Mixture rock band The BONEZ deliver a breathtaking live performance |
| 11east | Golden GraffitiROTTENGRAFFTY |  play_arrow | A five-member Twitter account from Kyoto Prefecture formed in 1999… |
| 12east | WIND BACKPaledusk |  play_arrow | A metalcore band from Fukuoka that’s revolutionizing music |
| 13east | Slip of the LipFACT |  play_arrow | A band that was active from 1999 to 2015… |
| 14east | aquariuma crowd of rebellion |  play_arrow | A screamo band from Niigata, a crowd o... |
| 15east | The VandalMAKE MY DAY |  play_arrow | In 2013, the predecessor band ASHLEY S… |
| 16east | EVOKELynch. |  play_arrow | The band lync, formed in Nagoya in 2004... |
| 17east | World Of SilenceFABLED NUMBER |  play_arrow | In Osaka in 2006, the guitar-vocalist N’E… |
| 18east | Two MessesCRAZY N’ SANE |  play_arrow | A mystery with absolutely no information about their track record or the year they were formed… |
| 19east | ALONEMY FIRST STORY |  play_arrow | MY FIRST STORY embodies loud rock |
| 20east | LET IT DIEHER NAME IN BLOOD |  | Affectionately known by the nickname Harnam, they narrowly missed out at 20... |
| 21east | SAWAA= |  play_arrow | The rock band THE M..., which was active in the 1990s |
| 22east | Japanese rice is the best in the world.Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai |  play_arrow | With comical phrases and solid technique... |
| 23east | Imaginary HighGUN DOG |  play_arrow | Before PTP was formed, K made his name known throughout Japan... |
| 24east | Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK |  play_arrow | Now, crossing beyond the bounds of loud rock and even Japan, … |
| 25east | Close to that lie.Memai SIREN |  play_arrow | A five-member lyrical-style group formed in Fukuoka in 2012... |
| 26east | REAL EXISTENCEBAND-MAID |  play_arrow | A unique blend that fuses the images of rock and a maid… |
| 27east | Rising Sunhisuterikku panikku |  play_arrow | Formed in Nagoya in 2012. The falsetto h... |
| 28east | Keep on A, B, and C-ingXmas Eileen |  play_arrow | Formed in 2013, and performing live since 2014… |
| 29east | Happy DeathdayAnother Story |  play_arrow | In 2008, as a truly authentic band that can hold its own on the world stage… |
| 30east | evolutiongirugamesh |  play_arrow | Started activities in March 2004. The band con… |
| 31east | ECHOESkanojo in the display |  play_arrow | Whether it's metal, loud, or hardcore, screa— |
| 32east | shine’s awayNext |  play_arrow | A trash ... that operates mainly in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. |
| 33east | Here For YouThe Winking Owl |  play_arrow | Half-Romanian, half-Japanese vocalist Lu... |
| 34east | VENGEANCEcoldrain |  play_arrow | A five-piece rock band from Nagoya, coldr… |
| 35east | TSUBASA TRIGGERLOKA |  play_arrow | In 2012, former supe member Kihiro was in the middle of… |
| 36east | Last wordChased by Ghost of HYDEPARK |  play_arrow | Formed in 2013, and the current lineup since April 2015… |
| 37east | PorcupineYamaarashi |  play_arrow | A classic metal × hip-hop track, Yama Arashi |
| 38east | RemainsEACH OF THE DAYS |  play_arrow | The rise of metallic hardcore bands |
| 39east | SUNDAY SILENCEANGRY FROG REBIRTH |  play_arrow | Formed in 2010, mainly active in live music venues across Japan… |
| 40east | in my noiz factoryCONCEPTION COMPLEX |  play_arrow | Centered around MZK, the masked guitarist and former member of GUNDOG… |
| 41east | Bad Boys SerenadeAIR SWELL |  play_arrow | A three-piece band from Shikoku, AIR SWEL… |
| 42east | GLORYMELLOWSHiP |  play_arrow | A next-generation loud mixture band formed in 2012… |
| 43east | Dead Dust feat. Masato (coldrain)BEFORE MY LIFE FAILS |  play_arrow | The band is characterized by a fiery hardcore sound. |
| 44east | SAMURAI GIRLCANTOY |  play_arrow | Formed a precursor band in 2004, and in 2007… |
| 45east | RepunitNYF |  play_arrow | Active mainly in Fukuoka, the “Musicians’ … |
| 46east | HIGH FIVE!!ROACH |  play_arrow | Formed in Okinawa in 2003. Two performances at the Nippon Budokan... |
| 47east | EsperantoWHEEL OF DOOM |  play_arrow | A living legend in Japan’s loud rock scene... |
| 48east | POSERSAND |  play_arrow | A truly undisputed presence in the hardcore scene... |
| 49east | UnsheathedSILHOUETTE FROM THE SKYLIT |  play_arrow | The dynamism of SILHOUETTE FROM THE SKYLIT |
| 50east | BREAK DOWNDEAL OF CLOWN |  play_arrow | A mixture (band/act) active and based in Sendai... |
| 51east | LEAVING FROM CYBER SLUMDOLLS REALIZE |  play_arrow | From Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, a five-member alternative ... |
| 52east | SaviorNOTHING TO DECLARE |  play_arrow | A rising star in the melodic rock band scene |
| 53east | Black OutA Barking Dog Never Bites |  play_arrow | This ban… that seems to embody the current state of loud rock |
| 54east | GLEANINGMISTY |  play_arrow | A four-piece band that began its activities in Nagoya in 2006… |
| 55east | 1.2.3.RIZING 2 END |  play_arrow | A loud rock band born from the streets of Osaka’s Amerikamura… |
| 56east | Why I’m meRIZE |  play_arrow | R, a leading figure during the heyday of mixture rock… |
| 57east | stand by youKEEP YOUR HANDs OFF MY GIRL |  play_arrow | A four-member rock band from Niigata Prefecture, KEEP… |
| 58east | WIMPSWANKY DANK |  play_arrow | Blue Encount and MY FIRST... |
| 59east | Fake In Every Single WayEnder |  play_arrow | Ex-GUNDOG, ex-Lo’s bassist, ATSUS… |
| 60east | Seek My Way OutSILHOUETTE FROM THE SKYLIT |  play_arrow | An emotional [band/group] formed in Fukuoka in 2007… |
| 61east | binaryTHE MUSMUS |  play_arrow | The former UPLIFT SPICE member from Kyoto, v… |
| 62east | BLACK LOTUSHONE YOUR SENSE |  play_arrow | A metalcore band based in Tokyo. Begi… |
| 63east | Party in the DarkYuuyami ni izanai shi shikkoku no tenshi-tachi |  play_arrow | The Jet-Black Angels announce their first best-of album on their 10th anniversary |
| 64east | Goodnight, Creul WorldSALTY DOG |  play_arrow | An emo band formed in Tokyo in 2011. Ele… |
| 65east | Re:playwrong city |  play_arrow | Formed in Tokyo in 2012. Punk, metal, h... |
| 66east | Teenage FarewellALPHASE |  play_arrow | Formed in 2008, at the young age of 15... |
| 67east | K.OABNORMAL VOLTAGE |  play_arrow | Nagoya’s legendary live house that produced coldrain… |
| 68east | Just TonightALL OFF |  play_arrow | Formed in 2004. The inaugural COUNTDOWN … |
| 69east | I can speak Japanese.MINOR LEAGUE |  play_arrow | Since the heyday of Japacore, with a unique sense of lightness and madness… |
| 70east | GIMMICKENGU |  play_arrow | I don’t mean to say it came out too soon, but… |
| 71east | Through The NightmareFAKE FACE |  play_arrow | Formed in 2010 in Sendai. An emo-rock sa… |
| 72east | Mind EaterHARVEST |  play_arrow | Hailing from Osaka, known as the purveyors of 'Oriental Heaviness'... |
| 73east | ClashHEXVOID |  play_arrow | Active mainly in Tokyo, including two tours in New York, and more... |
| 74east | The devil inside.revenge my LOST |  play_arrow | Formed in Osaka in 2010. Metal, rock, and e... |
| 75east | Trap over scrapAlter |  play_arrow | A screamo-emo that burst out of Akita, with their own... |
| 76east | Our WorldAnarchy Stone |  play_arrow | A three-piece melodic punk band that Chiba is proud of… |
| 77east | Everything Is OKTHE GAME SHOP |  play_arrow | A unique sound that fuses bass music and rock... |