The 20 Best Japanese Metal Bands of All Time

The best Japanese metal bands are a way to understand a highly underrated scene in the genre. Japan is a country that has loved and supported heavy metal even to this very day, but their own bands don’t get the same love. Sure, many of them are huge in the Land of the Rising Sun, but here in the West they are pretty mysterious.

That is a shame because the best Japanese metal bands have some of the most outstanding albums. While they mostly play traditional Metal, the scene has grown significantly, adding musical diversity. Truth be told, if people give Japanese Metal a chance, they are very likely to find something they love.

This list focuses on the 20 best Japanese metal bands of all time based on their achievements, music quality, and legacy. Sure, some of these metrics are subjective, but so is music. The most crucial part is that people enjoy listening to these brilliant bands.

The Top 20 Japanese Metal Bands

The best Japanese metal bands can be judged and measured by many things. The great thing about the genre in that country is that there is a lot of variety. The main focus here will be their discography and music history, revolution, and character.

What are the most popular Japanese metal bands?

• Anthem
• X-Japan
• Loudness
• Galneryus
• Earthshaker
• Show-Ya
• EZO
• Aldious
• Gargoyle
• Seikima-II
• Dir En Grey
• Mari Hamada
• Dead End
• Cyntia
• Lovebites
• Versailles
• Concerto Moon
• Bow Wow
• Aion
• Church of Misery

1. Anthem

Anthem is the most consistent among the best Japanese Metal bands and that is by a long shot. Sure, some bands have sold more than them or others might be better regarded, but they are pure consistency. Bassist Naoto Shibata has crafted a band that has earned the right of saying they have never released a bad album and very few bands in the genre can say that.

They started back in the early 80s, when the genre was still taking form in Japan, and quickly became one of the most influential acts in their country. Their third album, 1987’s Bound to Break, is often regarded as the point where the band broke big and became a household name.

Other notable works of them are 1988’s Gypsy Ways, 2004’s Eternal Warrior, and 2008’s Black Empire. However, 2000’s Heavy Metal Anthem record, a compilation album with the tracks sung by former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet, could be a brilliant starting point for newcomers.

Anthem plays classic heavy metal and does some with extreme quality, whether it’s with vocalist Eizo Sakamoto or Yukio Murikawa. One of the best Japanese Metal bands of all time and one of the most underrated Metal acts ever born.

Related: The Top 22 Rock Bands Of The 1980s

2. X-Japan

Most people think of X-Japan when talking about the best Japanese metal bands and for a good reason: they have a great combination of personality, quality, and aesthetics. They were trend-setters in Japan and did so with a brilliant combination of Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, and Progressive Metal elements.

X-Japan also stands out because of their musical ambition and passion to progress. The band went from a fairly straightforward Speed Metal act to a lot more complex. Sure, X-Japan always had a bit of an elegant feel but the 90s saw them at their most experimental.

There’s a bit for everybody when it comes to this band. Whether it’s complex and ambitious pieces or something more straightforward, this band has it all.

3. Loudness

Regarding the best Japanese metal bands, Loudness is quite comfortably the most known in the West. They were one of the few Asian bands to break into the American market in the 80s, and their legacy remains today.

Now, the exciting part about Loudness is how much their sound has evolved over the years. They were a classic Heavy Metal band in the 80s, but they moved in the 90s towards a more Pantera-like sound. The following decades saw them making a mix of all the albums they did in the past.

Loudness is a very good way to start getting into Japanese Metal. Their 80s albums are very similar to Judas Priest and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Those albums are a great start for a lot of people.

4. Galneryus

Japanese metal and anime have a long history of working together and Galneryus is a great example of that. They were already one of the country’s biggest Power Metal bands, but their song “Hunting for Your Dream” showed up as the ending for the 2011 Hunter X Hunter anime and they grew even more!

Galneryus has a lot of albums but 2012’s Angel of Salvation is the best start. A perfect album for those who enjoy the likes of Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, and Helloween. Their music is melodic, heavy, and capable of pulling off some really amazing stuff.

5. Earthshaker

Earthshaker is Japan’s answer to Van Halen, albeit with a much stronger 80s Heavy Metal sound. They started back in 1978, so they are one of the forefathers of the 80s Japanese Metal scene. And they are also one of the best Japanese Metal bands of all time.

The band has had a lot of ups and downs, often struggling in the 90s when their brand of music lost popularity. However, their impact on the Japanese music scene cannot be ignored and deserve more credit. Compared to Loudness, X-Japan, and Anthem, they certainly are the most underrated out of this selected elite of Japanese Metal bands.

6. Show-Ya

Even today, women’s role in Japanese culture is pretty conservative and old-school. In that regard, that makes Show-Ya‘s success all the more relevant. They are not only one of the best Japanese metal bands out there but also one of the most successful. And they did it in the 80s!

They are one of the best-selling metal bands in Japan and became a cultural icon regarding all-female bands in that country. They were always doing heavy music but they definitely got more heavy as time went on. Their 1989 album, Outerlimits, shows them at their absolute best, with some guitar parts and vocal melodies worthy of the best metal albums.

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7. EZO

EZO is probably one of the saddest stories in Japanese metal band. They had a lot of potential and all the cards in their favor to succeed overseas. They were signed by Geffen Records, the label that had Guns N’ Roses, Whitesnake, and Aerosmith, and were managed by Kiss’ Gene Simmons… and yet, success didn’t arrive.

The band only had two albums but is a testament to their quality that they made it on this list. Their second album, 1989’s Fire Fire, is pure 80s Hard Rock with some phenomenal Metal riffs. Think of Guns N’ Roses if they were a lot more Metal and from Japan. That’s pretty much it and it works like a charm.

8. Aldious

There is an argument to be made that Aldious is the most popular all-female Japanese Metal of all time. They play a brand of Power Metal that is not too dissimilar from Galneryus, although the sweet vocals and some technical elements make them different from their compatriots.

One of the best Japanese metal bands because they know who they are and can execute their music with style and elegance. Aldious is not a band known for reinventing the wheel or trying different things but they are quite good at what they do.

Related: The 15 Best Female Rock Guitarists Of All Time

9. Gargoyle

Most bands on this list have been either Heavy Metal or Power Metal… not Gargoyle. They started back in the mid-80s and offered a unique mix of Thrash Metal with Progressive music, resulting in some very ambitious records.

Kazuhisa “Kiba” Tochihara‘s vocals can be a bit divisive among listeners but they have a lot of attitude and charisma. Their 1992 album, Aratama, is a good starting point because it shows their sound developed, with heavy riffs and many rhythm changes.

10. Seikima-II

Seikima-II has one of the best stories in the Japanese Metal scene. They started in 1982 as a mixture of Kiss and King Diamond in terms of visuals with makeup and had a very 80s Heavy Metal sound. This combination, coupled with their “backstories” as demons that came from the underworld, made them an instant hit.

This band has sold more than ten million album copies and even did a prophecy of them breaking up in 1999… and they did! They announced they were breaking up on the final day of the year. Sure, they still do reunion shows from time to time, but it’s the thought that counts.

Their music is very straightforward Heavy Metal, although that doesn’t mean is bad at all. In fact, it is very good, with a strong emphasis on vocal melodies. By far, it is one of the best Japanese Metal bands of all time.

11. Dir En Grey

Dir En Grey is such a difficult band to describe to you. They have been all over the place when it comes to experimenting with their sound, but always with a clear focus. They can be prog metal, they can be Groove Metal, they can get even heavier and more extreme… they are capable of pretty much anything.

That is why almost any album by this band is a good start. Sure, they are perhaps on the more extreme side of things but this band is quite interesting for those who want something a bit more experimental.

12. Mari Hamada

Mari Hamada is known as Japan’s “Metal Queen,” so there was no way she wasn’t going to be a part of this list. Perhaps not one of the best Japanese metal bands per se, but definitely one of the best Japanese Metal artists out there.

She became a symbol of the genre in Japan when she started her career in the early 80s with her powerful voice and songwriting abilities. Hamada-san also doesn’t shy away from doing more commercial stuff but when it comes to Metal, her voice simply roars.

13. Dead End

The great thing about Dead End as a band was the combination of gothic elements with Heavy Metal music. Their music had a lot more atmosphere than most of their peers, almost being like the Japanese Metal version of The Cure. Dead End was a band that seemed to prioritize songwriting over individual playing and that made them sound like a well-oiled machine.

The band had a solid reunion in the mid-2010s but is in their 80s albums where the real gems are. 1989’s Zero album is, at least to yours truly, the best thing they have ever done in their careers.

14. Cyntia

Much like Aldious, Cyntia is an all-female power metal outfit, although with greater emphasis on guitar. Yui was the band’s core as their sole guitarist and she truly shines during the band’s entire discography.

However, Cyntia is not a vehicle for Yui’s guitar magic; they are a great band in their own right. Saki‘s range is quite underrated; she can reach some lower notes while also going as high as the skies in some songs. They are one of the best Japanese Metal bands because they were also quite consistent, which has made their hiatus all the more annoying.

15. Lovebites

Lovebites is one of the newest bands on this list and, by far, one of the best Japanese metal bands. They are another all-female Metal band that started in Tokyo in 2017, offering a brand of Technical Power Metal that is quite melodic and accessible.

The most significant selling point of Lovebites is the guitar duo of Midori and Miyako as they can craft some wild melodies. The drumming by Haruna also deserves a lot more attention. One of those bands that may go under the radar but their music is up there with most Japanese Metal bands.

16. Versailles

Power Metal became extremely popular in Japan in the last fifteen years or so and Versailles is one of the main reasons for that. They were, along with Galneryus, the driving force to make Power Metal so big in this nation. It can be argued that this heavy metal subgenre is the biggest in the country today.

Versailles stands out because they do Power Metal of the highest caliber with some really cool aesthetics. Their music sometimes resembles what Galneryus do, but they have their own personality. Deserve all the attention they have gotten.

17. Concerto Moon

Concerto Moon is a key band in Japan because they were part of the metal resurrection back in the mid-90s. The genre had lost a lot of popularity back in those years and Concerto Moon, led by guitar master Norifumi Shima, helped bring Metal back to the spotlight.

Imagine if Yngwie had maintained the focus of his Odyssey album: more songwriting and less showing off. It’s more of a band structure than a solo project. That’s Concerto Moon and works like a charm. For those who want a bit more Neoclassical approach to Metal, Concerto Moon is one of the best Japanese Metal bands out there.

18. Bow Wow

Bow Wow are legends of the Japanese metal scene and they go all the way back to 1975. They were pioneers of the genre in the Land of the Rising and only got heavier over the years. While their career has had a lot of ups and downs, the early 80s are regarded as the band’s peak.

1982’s album, Warning From Stardust, is considered their best Metal record, and for a good reason: strong riffs, strong vocal melodies, and strong songwriting. Kyoji Yamamoto has been the band’s vocalist, guitarist, and main songwriter since their formation, becoming one of the biggest musical icons in Japan.

19. Aion

Japan, like most countries, had a thrash metal scene back in the 80s, albeit a much smaller one compared to the UK, United States, or Germany. However, Aion is interesting because they were very commercially successful, especially in the early 90s. It could be argued they are Japan’s biggest Thrash Metal band of all time.

Sure, their sound eventually evolved to something much more melodic but those early albums are technical and heavy. The 1990 EP, Ma-G-Ma, shows them at their Thrash Metal best, with guitarist Izumi shining throughout. It’s a great way to start with one of the best Japanese metal bands of all time.

20. Church of Misery

Church of Misery is Japan’s biggest doom metal band and by a longshot too. They were part of international labels and became quite known overseas. The band started in the mid-90s and offered something quite different in the Japanese Metal scene.

The band has had a lot of lineup changes, and only six albums since 1995 can be a bit underwhelming compared to other bands, but quality is what matters. And the Church of Misery has that in spades! One of the best Japanese metal bands and the best in the doom-metal version.

What are your favorite Japanese metal bands of all time? Let us know in the comment section!