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