[Overwhelming Kusamero] A collection of classic Kusametal songs
If you’ve just started listening to so-called melodic speed metal or power metal, you’ve probably often come across unique phrases like “kusamero” or “kusai” used to describe works and songs.
Of course, it’s not talking about smell.
In Japanese, “kusai” is used to describe things like melodious, wistful tunes that suit Japanese tastes, fantastical worldbuilding, or songs with over-the-top, dramatic structures.
Heavy metal that features these elements is referred to in Japan as “Kusa Metal,” a uniquely Japanese subgenre.
This time, we’ll introduce a wide selection of quintessential Kusa Metal classics from around the world—from globally famous bands to beloved B-tier groups adored by devoted fans.
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[Overwhelmingly Melodic] A Compilation of Classic Kusametal Tracks (1–10)
Maid Of OrleansDark Moor
A song by Dark Moor, a symphonic power metal band with a varied lineup history including both male and female vocalists.
It’s featured on their second album, The Hall of the Olden Dreams, and the contrast between the memorable, melancholic guitar riff and the classical string sound is superb.
The delicacy unique to a female vocalist fused with an ensemble that’s aggressive yet fantastical offers a different kind of beauty than metal bands with male vocals.
With a vocal performance that is emotional rather than merely intense and lingers in your ears, this is a track I’d recommend even to listeners beyond the metal fanbase.
Recall of the ValkyrieSecret Sphere
A track by Secret Sphere, the Italian symphonic power metal band known for a signature sound that channels influences from hard rock and classical music into metal.
Featured on their debut album, “Mistress of the Shadowlight,” the song opens with majestic strings and then unfolds into a technical metal arrangement with impeccable finesse.
The beautiful melodies riding on a galloping beat, together with the dramatic song structure, conjure a fantastical atmosphere.
It’s a metal tune overflowing with “kusa-melo” (unabashedly catchy, emotive melodies), captivating in its contrast between aggressive sound and tear-jerking leads.
Destiny CallsNocturnal Rites
A song by Nocturnal Rites, a Swedish power metal band that began as a death metal act but is now known as a traditional metal band.
Featured on their third album, The Sacred Talisman, which enjoys strong popularity in Japan, this track stands out with an intro that opens on a catchy guitar riff.
Its driving, pop-leaning melody makes it accessible even to listeners who aren’t very familiar with metal.
With elements like a technically proficient, melancholic guitar solo, it’s a metal tune whose ensemble performance offers plenty of depth and appeal.
[Overwhelmingly Cheesy Melodies] A Collection of Cheesy Metal Masterpieces (11–20)
The Birth of EvilAncient Bards
A symphonic metal band from Italy, Ancient Bards are classified as epic metal—rooted in traditional heavy metal while embracing a dramatic worldview and sound.
This track, included on their first album, The Alliance of the Kings, stands out with an opening that features a thrilling bass phrase.
The emotional quality of the female vocals and the rapidly shifting song structure are sure to excite listeners who love classical-leaning metal.
With its loud sound and driving, high-speed beat that lifts your spirits, it’s a great pick even for newcomers to metal.
The TriumphSkylark
A song by Skylark, a two-piece metal band from Italy that was highly acclaimed at their debut as a neoclassical melodic speed metal band.
Included on the album “Divine Gates part I -Gate Of Hell-,” it’s a nine-minute epic that opens with majestic choral work.
Even amid the high-speed drum beats, the piano melodies stand out, and the dizzyingly shifting arrangements and symphonic ensemble really raise the intensity.
As the song approaches its climax, the structure changes dramatically, and the ingenious twists sprinkled throughout keep you engaged to the very end.
The Land Of The WintersunInsania
A song by Insania, a melodic speed metal band from Sweden that metal fans say is essential when it comes to quintessentially “cheesy” melodies.
Featured on their second album, Sunrise In Riverland, it boasts a grand opening and high-pitched shouts that evoke influences from German and Nordic metal—emotional and soaring.
True to its name, the melancholic vocal and guitar lines and the driving, fast-paced beats create an arrangement that’s both melodic and speedy—irresistible for fans of that “cheesy-melo” style.
With a catchy yet dramatic ensemble that sticks in your ears, it’s a must-know number for any metal fan.
Flower of WisdomMINSTRELIX
A metal track by Osaka-born band MinstreliX, whose sound—rooted in Nordic metal yet enriched with a wide range of elements including folk music, classical, jazz, kayōkyoku, and music from games and anime—has earned high acclaim.
Featured on their 4th album, CHRONOSTRINGS, the song makes a striking impact with an arrangement that opens using Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, the composer renowned for his Romantic-era works.
From its classical yet folk-tinged, distinctive melodies, you can sense the band’s potential that refuses to be contained within the boundaries of metal.
It’s a number overflowing with “kusa-melo” (distinctively dramatic, melodious lines), featuring an exquisite sense of uniquely Japanese wabi-sabi.