Japanese metal!

[robkun 4184]

Chugakusei Kanoke, anybody?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KFshJQRiOc
 

 

Awesome stoner/doom metal. Nice tortured vocals too. Here's some more really good Japanese metal bands I didn't see put up yet.


United - The Plague (Thrash/Progressive)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rij1tn2QDHc

 

Kamomekamome - Te wo Furu Hito (Progressive/Metalcore)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8yTU99-Tg


Nunchaku - Ichibu Fubuku (Thrash/Hardcore/Grind)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zriXZMAqsg

 

 

Flatbacker - Affect a Smile (Heavy metal/Thrash)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfvNDyLddJQ

 

 

Bathtub Shitter - Skate of Bulgaria (Grind/Death)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSE8kLpcuKc

 

 

Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation - Deserve (Grind/Death)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73oAd8xLWLs

 

 

Missile Girl Scoot - No Needs (Nu metal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsx2yPczdUA

 

 

Rize - Kaminari (Nu metal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCp_ct0tc-o

 

Cocobat - Try Out (Alternative metal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEqJoOd-H6U

 

 

Aggressive Dogs - Pursuit (Hardcore/Metalcore)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcypdAm6eSk

 

 

Meaning - Hope (Metalcore)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQlNYNa3dco

 

Tokusatsu - Yoginakusare (Alternative metal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhjIdZjVPhU

And, of course, I cannot forget the wonderful KING-SHOW!!!!

Kinniku Shojo Tai - Shaka (Heavy metal/Progressive)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcFx3obYDUE

[Bear 1817]

A last batch of good bands:

 

A.G.E.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prLbVWtXBOM

 

Thrashing crust in the vein of Effigy, Amebix and Sacrilege with a big focus on the thrash metal. Got two great albums and some great split releases.

 

Swarrrm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I9DKX3L_dk

 

Grindcore with a old school screamoish feeling to it, and I am not kidding. I get serious old school screamo-feeling from the band. You won't find many bands sounding like this.

 

Realized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U1pn8OIqlQ

 

Good, crushing grindcore in the vein of old Napalm Death and S.O.B. No more to say about that.

 

Sex Messiah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGdQhTqPIWM

 

Ugly black/crossover. Cool stuff.

 

Necrophile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80pyOzOEKc8

 

Despite a small dischography with only three demos, one single and two splits in the period 87-91, these guys are totally cult. Death metal with an original twist to it. Their split with the singaporian black/death/thrashers Abhorer is one of the finest splits ever.

 

Voidd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MmDYqDPt3w

 

These guys started out as a black/death/thrash band, but after a couple of albums they moved towards hardcore/psychobilly (some change, huh?). Their debut albums contains fantastic music, but the production is a bit off. It's produced by Gezol of Sabbat, but the drums sounds pretty poor, especially the bass drum. So I prefer their demo material because of this, but the debut album is good if you can look past the bass drums. Released a tribute to Sabbat in 09, with 7 Sabbat covers. That's cool.

 

Revölt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9jOyMdAx0

 

Crusty death/doom. Think Amebix and Effigy meets Coffins. Sweet band with two great albums in their discography.

 

Cut Throat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiigwYyjrek

 

"Supergroup" with Mirai and Shinichi of Sigh, and Yasuyuki and Youhei of Abigail. They're mostly a cover band covering classic thrash/speed metal and hardcore songs, but they've got some original songs to offer as well, and they're cool.

 

Beyond Description

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHXFKadIz_s

 

These guys started out as a hardcore band but moved more and more towards crossove with time. I'm only familiar with Proof of the Truth and An Elegy for Depletion which is their two latest albums, but both are good albums. It's exactly what you'd want from a crossover band.

[Bear 1817]

I came to think about a few more good bands:

 

Misogi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppdVJfzgCXg

 

Progressive black metal with members from Magane among other bands. A fine mix of traditional and more avant-garde-esque black metal, thrash and japanese folk. The production is a bit odd, and will probably be a turn-off for many, but I like it. Gives it plenty of character, even though the music itself has more thane nough character to begin with. You won't find any other bands like this out there, and this band is really good.

 

666

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq6nHCV_eD8

 

Short-lived crossover band with two demos and a split release ot their name. Catchy as fuck.

[Bear 1817]

Been playing these two masterpieces like madafter creating this thread:

 

Transgressor - Ether for Scapegoat

Dark, morbid and doomy death metal at its very best. It's varied, got plenty of character and I'd even go as far as calling this a really unique death metal album. The overall sound is just really morbid and evil. Brilliant album.

 

S.O.B. - Gate of Doom

After 10 years playing fast, intense and brutal hardcore and grindcore these guys changed towards a more death metal-influenced sound on their third full-lenght, and while there's still plenty grindcore present, it's got more death and thrash metal than actual grindcore and they've more or less left the hardcore behind on this album. This isn't their best effort, but it's a masterpiece nonetheless.

[Bear 1817]

Fans of japanese metal and vinyl beware, The Crypt is releasing something good in the comming time:

 

SIGH (Jpn): Infidel Art STANDARD EDITION Official DLP Re-issue - NEXT
SIGH (Jpn): Ghastly Funeral Theatre + Tragedies Demo STANDARD EDITION Official LP Re-issue - NEXT

 

SIGH (Jpn): Scorn Defeat STANDARD EDITION Official LP Re-issue - TBA
SIGH (Jpn): Hail Horror Hail STANDARD EDITION Official DLP Re-issue - TBA

SIGH (Jpn): Imaginary Sonicscape Official Reissue Gatefold 2LP set - TBA

SIGH (Jpn): The Eastern Force Of Evil Live '92-'96 / To Hell and Back: Tribute to Venom '95 Official Gatefold 2-LP set - TBA

 

TRANSGRESSOR (Jpn): Ether For Scapegoat + Bonus Tracks Official DLP - TBA

 

I am very much looking forward to all these releases, and I'm probably gonna get one version of each colour of all the releases, being the fanboy I am and all that. The Crypt releases holds the highest possible standard for vinyl releases, so these are a must for collectors.

 

Infidel Art and Ghastly Funeral Theatre should be out any moment now, while these others will be released later this/next year or something. I am excited as fuck.

[Atreides 454]

My absolute favorite Japanese metal band is Sigh. The album Imaginary Sonicscape is just so badass, along with almost everything else I've heard by them. Any other Sigh fans?


edit. Maybe I should read the whole thread before I post lol. Sorry. Also, that's awesome as hell Bear, I'm looking forward to it.

[Heroin 53]

now bear, he's a super Sigh fan

 

me, I'm just an obsessive Sigh fan

 

 

and yes Imaginary Sonicscape is amazing! something from the next dimension.

first track, and I knew that album was going to be great!

[Traxan 148]

Oh yuck. How could I forget the best Melodeath band of all time. Intestine Baalism!

 

 

Thanks for the intro, they're good m8, but Shadow remains my favorite melodeath band and it's a crime they didn't do better or release more material.

 

[Thedane 176]

The japanese metal scene is pretty much unknown territory for me, but I've picked up a few bands every now and then (INFERNAL REVULSION, as previously mentioned, so amazing)

 

LOST EDEN - Sewn-Mouth Forest. From the bands first EP, these guys just hit the spot for me. The vocalist is now in EACH OF THE DAYS (who seriously needs to release something new soon!)

 

Disconformity - Atonic Epilepsy. Brutal death metal, or is it brutal slam metal? So many damn genres to remember.

 

Tyrant - Bell, Book and Candle. The atmosphere these guys are able to deliver is amazingly.. chilling, in a good way.

[Bear 1817]

A couple of more bands I don't think we've mentioned:

 

Kadenzza

Kadenzza is a band that has somewhat seen a new amount of attention in recent time due to You Oshima joining Sigh for their newest album. Kadenzza is still a rather unknown band, but a great band it is. The band's been on hold for several years now due to You getting cancer, then the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, but You's thinking about reviving the band. We're talking symphonic black metal, but much different from other bands in the genre. Sounds a bit like Diabolical Masquerade meets The Bishop of Hexen. Both Into the Oriental Phantasma and The Second Renaissance are great albums and totally worth checking out if you're into the more playful side of black metal.

 

Listen

 

 

Genocide

Genocide started out all the way back in 1979, but since their formation they've only managed to put out two demos, one album, two live albums and two compilations. So we're not exactly talking about a band who's working their asses off. But the little they have made is excellent, though. Like a more progressive mix of Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest or something. It's a great album.

 

Listen

[Bear 1817]

 

 

That's so cool. I'll never get bored of that video. I also love the fact that Gezol, 30 years later, still dresses like that. Attitude!

 

 

 

Sabbat is simply one of the most best bands ever, and a band with one of the most consistent discographies of all time. With that I mean their original releases, not all those live albums, splits and EPs with all kinds of bullshit on 'em. Their six first EPs and all nine albums are absolutely brilliant. The worst deserves nothing less than 9/10, while most of them deserve a 10/10. Some of the compilations are good too, though. Those which gather rare songs from demos/splits or demo compilations. Good shit.

[Bear 1817]

Aion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8dRdtjP8bI

Visual thrash metal, but this time without the nazi iamge (as far as I know). Released a couple of great thrash metal albums before moving into more power metal influenced territory. Released some good power/thrash metal albums before they started to suck as well. By the mid 90's they'd gone from awesome to embarrassing and we do not talk about later Aion.

 

It would seem as I were far off here:

 

X never used nazi images, but Aion did for a while. When they reformed after Mein Kampf broke up in early 1986 they had german tanks and swastikas all over their flyers. That didnt last long though. by 1987 they ditched that look.

Its all so stupid. But the bands were good.

 

I did not know this. Them japs are all a bunch of nazis. Høh.

[Bear 1817]

Not sure if I or anyone else mentioned them yet, but Thread Worm deserves a mention. Visual kei thrash metal band with members and ex-members from bands such as Rosenfeld and VellaDonna. Released two demos and a very good album. Fairly standard, but well-written and cool.

 

Listen

[Jigsaw9 6783]

Apparently Gotsu-Totsu-Kotsu (pretty neat death metal with "Japanesque" themes and sick bass lines) released a new album this year? Sweet.

 

[beni 2149]

there probably won't ever be a post about japanese metal where i don't mention "knellt"

super unknown osaka psychedelic doom entity with massive sound, great songs and superbe musicians and vocals.

(unfortunately no studio stuffs on utube, but the live gives an impression...)

 

Apart from already mentioned BORIS and gallhammer, knellt or should I say, kill my bleeding smile I am obsessed with. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't those two linked in a way? I never got onto knellt even though I'd like to, but I'm a big fan of kill my bleeding smile's self titled mini album.

 

 

Only ever saw the name Flower Travellin' Band and I never thought they'd be a hardcore band. x'D And Jurassic Jade look and sound amazing~ >w< Love this thread. It really helps those out who don't know much about the genre. (I really did only know of the bands I've mentioned here. x'D)

 

By the way, for those interested there's a documentary called Japanese Extreme Metal - the Documentary on youtube. You can find all the parts  HERE if you're interested. It's a decent watch, if not a must or anything.

 

You the man. <3

[bonsaijodelfisch 328]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't those two linked in a way? I never got onto knellt even though I'd like to, but I'm a big fan of kill my bleeding smile's self titled mini album.

 

yes, they are essentially the same band, just that kill my.. had only one drummer I think ages ago i read on their myspace (!) that they in retrospect just sort of really didn't like their bandname ^^ hence the change, which also came along with a slight shift from the more post-rock approach to a more doomy setting with, i don't know, slight progressive and math touches *ducksforcover* ? that's probably the reason for your preference of the older stuff but i agree, in total their kill my.. album is superior, just a thing of beaty from start to finish

[Bear 1817]

Shit, I am really looking forward to hearing the new Birth Ritual album called Turn Up the Evil. The bands sounds a lot like Japanese black/speed metal legends Zadkiel, which means punky Motorhead- and Venom-inspired black/thrash. The leads sounds very NWOBHM-ish, and it sounds neat as fuck. I've liked their previous stuff very much, but it sounds like they've turned everything up a notch this time around. Can't wait til this leaks.

 

[Vercingetorix 185]

GIRLS METAL DUMP!

 

Aldious

Trail-blazing Osakan power metal quintet that somehow once topped the Oricon Indies chart. Had to trade in their frontwoman for an ex-idol in 2012.

 

Destrose

Heavy metal five-piece with serious lineup issues - got through 7+ guitarists in 10 years. Recently went on 'indefinite hiatus' (that old euphemism)

 

Mary's Blood

Power metal offshoot of Destrose that quickly surpassed its predecessor. Feckin' good guitarist.

 

G∀LMET

Melodeath sister-group of Aldious. Only GM band to consistently use extreme vox.

 

BRIDEAR

Heavy metallers from Fukuoka. Singer KIMI recently joined Imperial Circus Dead Decadence.

 

Cyntia

Girls metal's answer to Megadeth - played some great power metal before going major and defecting to pop-rock.

Before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dRfxXuRsWE
After: 

 

Animeta Girl

Solo project of Destrose founder Mina. Does so-so metal covers of anime themes.

 

FATE GEAR

Mina's new steampunk-themed band. An inferior Destrose.

 

A Drop of Joker

Lightweight attempt at melodic metalcore with excessive clean vox. Good guitarist, though.

[DeithX252 1266]

I am not too familiar with bear's suggested band, but these are my favorite japanese metal bands

 

Hone Your Sense

A mixed of melodic death metal and metalcore, also deathcore

 

Shatter Silence

Oldschool melodic death metal

 

Thousand Eyes

melodic death metal

 

Ghost Cries

Another female fronted symphonic death metal. yet indefinite hiatus

 

No Limited Spiral

symphonic melodic death metal

 

A Ghost of flare

A metalcore band that have sharp rhythm and technically good.

 

Last Day Dream

Deathcore with 3 guitarists

[Vercingetorix 185]

 

Thousand Eyes

melodic death metal

You heard of Kouta's band DRAGON EYES?

 

[DeithX252 1266]

You heard of Kouta's band DRAGON EYES?

 

yeah I heard but I prefer thousand eyes better

 

more deathcore band ( and relatively a new band)

 

Transient

 

Illuminati

[kurenaishineek 646]

So how did i miss this topic for so long? Well whatever, here is something from me.

 

Lets open it up with some Melodic Death/Speed Metal from Phatom Excaliver, they are a doujin band focused on making original stuff, on the other hand their sister project called Eternal Excaliver(earlier called Thousand Excaliver) is focused on playing Melodic Death/Power Metal(reminds me of Gyze) arranges of Touhou and lately of Kantai Collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKyWhY3XPhc

 

Another Doujin artist here and probably one of the best Progressive Metal/Djent stuff out in japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIFhdqKS9U

 

With their new album out i think its also worth mentioning Lightning, its the band from Iron Chino, the new album is really awesome speedy Power Metal with ultra epic solos by Iron Chino.

 

Lets close it with a Groove/Death/Thrash Metal band.

 

You heard of Kouta's band DRAGON EYES?

 

Technically speaking its not Kouta's band, its a mixed project from Arthur Brave from Dragon Guardian and Kouta from Thousand Eyes, with vocalists from both projects appearing in the songs from Dragon Eyes. Even the name of that project points to the both original band Dragon Guardian and Thousand Eyes = Dragon Eyes.

[Bear 1817]

Sumeragi, It's a DSBM band:

 

Foe Hammer is a damn fine EP. The drums sounds a bit off most of the time, but the rest is very good. The entire EP can be heard here for those interested in some nice, atmospheric black metal: http://sumeragi.bandcamp.com/album/foe-hammer-ep

[Bear 1817]

 

 

This album is so good. Hard to find a decent rip of it, but it's still woth a try. because the entire album rips. Five of the eight songs on the album i actually well above six minutes long, which is quite unusual for a thrash metal album. Nice, long, epic heavy/thrash metal songs. Such a great album!

[Bear 1817]

Cult progressive thrash/avant-grde rockers Doom are returning with a new album and their first release since 1999. I can't say I have any big expectations for this, but their first few releases are fantastic. If you enjoy bands like Voivod, Gargoyle and Vektor you sure should check out their first two albums and EPs.