Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Foreign Rock Bands, Popular Bands

ParanoidBlack Sabbath

BLACK SABBATH – “Paranoid” (Official Video)

Black Sabbath is a British rock band that continues to be respected as the original heavy metal band.

The period with vocalist Ronnie James Dio is also highly regarded, but many still champion the original members as the golden era: charismatic heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, who cemented the power-chord riff in the public consciousness, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.

The band generally reserves the name “Black Sabbath” for this lineup.

They have produced many albums, but 1970’s Paranoid, packed with famous songs, is a work that could be called a sacred text.

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Hirata Hiroyasu

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CharlemagneBlossoms

Blossoms – Charlemagne

This song was my first introduction to the band Blossoms.

When I heard the intro, I thought it sounded like the backing track of a Japanese kayōkyoku karaoke.

But as the song went on, I was drawn in by Blossoms’ uniquely pop sensibility.

There’s a catchiness in their deliberate use of “cheesy” sounds—what you might call a subtractive approach—and yet they maintain a perfect balance that never feels lacking.

I think they’re an outstanding pop band.

LudensBring Me The Horizon

Bring Me The Horizon – Ludens (Official Video)

Hailing from Sheffield in Yorkshire, England, Bring Me The Horizon have grown into one of the most influential and important bands of the 2020s.

Formed in 2004 by teenage boys, they first drew attention with a style known as deathcore—an even more extreme, heavier take on metalcore—but they continued to evolve their sound with each release.

Their fifth album, That’s the Spirit, featured more sung melodies than shouts and actively incorporated elements from a variety of genres such as alternative rock and electronica, reaching No.

2 on the U.S.

charts.

In both name and reality, they became a globally popular rock band.

Released in 2019, amo pursued an even broader musical palette and delivered a superb crossover sound, and in October 2020 they put out an EP featuring none other than BABYMETAL—proof that their creativity shows no sign of slowing down.

If you’re looking for Western rock that isn’t too heavy but still loud and modern with electronic elements and strong melodies, we highly recommend Bring Me The Horizon’s recent work.

Of course, their early, ferocious deathcore era is also insanely cool, so once you’ve gotten used to heavier sounds, give it a try.

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KOH-1

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WaterslideCHON

CHON – Waterslide (Official Music Video)

What kind of image do you have of the genre called progressive music? Difficult? Hard to grasp? Fast? Lots of notes? They’re probably all correct.

But this band CHON, while undeniably progressive—difficult, complex, fast, and note-dense—has a fantastic sense of balance that makes their music very easy to listen to.

Perhaps it also helps that the members love listening to video game music; every single phrase is genuinely cool.

Leave A TraceChvrches

CHVRCHES – Leave A Trace

Songs built from airy, translucent vocals, catchy melodies, and hard-hitting electronic beats are truly wonderful! When talking about this band, it’s impossible to avoid saying, “Mayberry’s vocals are beautiful.” The band themselves seem to dislike that kind of idol-like marketing, so maybe phrasing it this way isn’t ideal—but it’s undeniably true that her beauty is real and a major part of the band’s appeal.

On top of that, their songs and live performances are fantastic, so I absolutely think this is a band you should check out!

LongshotCatfish&the Bottlemen

Catfish and the Bottlemen – Longshot

Catfish and the Bottlemen are an indie rock band from Wales, UK, formed in 2007.

The band’s name comes from when member Van once saw a street performer in Australia called Catfish The Bottleman; Van later reunited with that performer via a radio show.

Their album Balcony was released in the United States on January 6, 2015, and the very next day they achieved the feat of performing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Despite hardships such as the departure of their lead guitarist, they’re a band we hope will keep pushing forward!

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Yoimachi Jēn

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The FlameCheap Trick

Cheap Trick – The Flame (Official Video)

Cheap Trick, who have been active in the American rock scene for many years, are a legendary band formed in 1973.

They shot to stardom with the 1978 album “Cheap Trick at Budokan,” driven by the smash hit “I Want You to Want Me.” They continued to release numerous classics and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Their appeal lies in a unique sound that fuses British pop and hard rock, along with energetic stage performances.

As a standard-bearer of power pop, they have had a major influence on later metal and alternative bands.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy catchy melodies paired with a heavy, full-bodied sound.