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THE EVOLUTION OF JAPANESE ROCK & METAL BANDS
Japanese metal bands have been an integral part of the Japanese music scene for decades. The evolution of the Japanese Rock & Metal scene has been a fascinating journey which has seen the genre evolve from a mere imitation of Western metal to creating a unique sound that is now revered across the globe.
In the early 1980s, the metal scene in Japan was still in its infancy, and bands like X-Japan and Loudness were the pioneers of the genre. While the bands' music was heavily influenced by Western metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, with Yoshiki (X Japan) also making reference to Punk bands like GBH as favourites. Japanese bands added their own flair by incorporating elements of visual kei fashion into their performances.
As the 1990s dawned, Japanese metal began to evolve further, with bands like Dir en grey and L'Arc-en-Ciel adding more experimental elements to their music. Dir en grey, in particular, were known for their extreme sound and dark lyrics in later years, which set them apart from other bands of the time.
The 2000s saw the rise of a new wave of Japanese metal bands, with the likes of Babymetal, Maximum the Hormone, and One Ok Rock taking the genre to new heights.
Babymetal, in particular, gained worldwide fame for merging metal with the Japanese alt idol scene, although they where not the first to merge these styles they're responsible for bring it to an audience out side of Japan. Babymetal also have a longevity in the West that took a lot of critics by surprise.
Within recent years, a new wave of all female, Symphonic, Power and Metal bands have risen with the likes of Lovebites, Nemophila,and Band-Maid leading the charge. Although not the first all female bands. In a country that still places males at the top, it's great to see these Japanese all female bands talking the baton and kicking ass with it!
Drew.C
Tokyo Noizu
Disclaimer: all information was correct at time of writing. All images remain the property of their respective owners and fall under fair use regulations.
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