Music of a wonderful world

[2026] A roundup of the best UK bands, featuring many up-and-coming acts!

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

In Japan, both now and in the past, bands from the UK have been especially popular among Western music.

As fellow island nations, there’s a shared sensibility—those slightly damp, melancholic melodies and lyricism resonate perfectly with Japanese tastes, and many people are also drawn to the distinctly European worldview.

In this article, we’ve researched recommended UK bands.

The first half spotlights up-and-coming and new artists you should watch to understand the “now” of Britain, while the second half takes a broader look—centered on rock—at veterans and mid-career acts you ought to know.

It features plenty of bands that are great for beginners to UK rock and Western music alike, so be sure to check it out!

[2026] A roundup of recommended British bands, featuring many up-and-coming artists! (61–70)

Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne

OZZY OSBOURNE – “Crazy Train” (Official Video)

Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne

The first single released in 1980 by Ozzy Osbourne after leaving Black Sabbath in 1979.

Although the song is often thought to be about madness, there is a theory that it is actually about the Cold War.

A version paying tribute to Randy Rhoads, who died in a plane crash, is included on the 1987 live album “Tribute.”

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Big City NightsScorpions

Scorpions – Big City Nights (Official Video)

Big City NightsScorpions

A song released as a single by Scorpions in 1984.

An orchestral arrangement was recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2000 album “Moment of Glory.” The track has also been covered by the heavy metal band Fozzy.

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GET IT ONThe Power Station

The Power Station – Get It On (Bang A Gong) (Official Music Video)

GET IT ONThe Power Station

A track by The Power Station, a British supergroup formed in 1985 centered around Robert Palmer and Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor.

The original of this song is by T.

Rex, which is also well-known.

This version was used in a Honda (Honda Motor Co.) Edix commercial.

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DoomsdayArchitects

Architects – “Doomsday”

DoomsdayArchitects

A metalcore band formed in 2004.

Having toured Japan, their harrowing, self-sacrificial screams and grand soundscapes crafted with heavy use of delay and reverb have had a massive impact not only on listeners but also on their peer bands.

It’s no exaggeration to call them one of the most important bands in today’s UK scene.

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Heat of The MormentASIA

ASIA ❖ heat of the moment (official music video)

Heat of The MormentASIA

Formed by members who left big bands like Roxy Music and Yes, Asia gradually faded from the spotlight, partly because they only had a few hit songs.

“Heat of the Moment” reached as high as No.

4 in the U.S.

and is still used in films and on TV today.

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