The band was put together by Ayasa the violinist, all members are also in other bands/project: - Ayasa (Violin) from Morfonica, a band from the Bang dream franchise. - Yuki (Guitar) from D_Drive, instrumental HR/HM you need to check, try Unkind Rain my favorite from them there is a studio session of it on their channel. Met her in Japan after a D_Drive last November she is so cool and genuine and fanatastic guitar player, she is with Kanami or Miyako among my favorite guitarists atm. - Wakazaemon (Bass) support bassist/solo artist. She is in a lot of different projects one of them was being recruited by Marty Friedman to tour with him. - Mizuki (Drums) from Lonesome_Blue another rock/metal band you need to check. Try Face the Fear on their official YT. - Akane Minato (Vocals) former idol who was in the Predia and Mochi to Cheese with Akane and Kanami.
The bass player was in the KOIAI video I suggested. Akane (vocalist) was in Predia and Mochi to cheese with affiliation to Band-Maid and Yuki (guitar) has done some work with Lisa-X and Hazuki from Nemophila
To my ear, the violin is the lead instrument. They make it work well. How do they do it? Japan has mandatory music education from age six to age fifteen. The high schools also offer performance venues where the students can get stage experience. As a result, by the time they graduate from high school, they are highly trained seasoned performers ready to enter the professional world. Japan also has top-notch music colleges for those students who want to take their training even further. Of course, this expertise is not limited to the metal bands. Japanese rock, pop, jazz, classical, etc. are all as good or better than anything you have ever heard.
Guitarist Yuki is a monster - her main band is an instrumental 4-piece. Waka-Chan on bass plays with Marty Freidman (ex-Megadeth). Do o need to go on! East Of Eden are set to explode this year - their first concert Blu-ray is exceptional. 🤘🎸🐺
The tone of Akane's voice is quite common among female singers in Japan, in fact, it resembles that of LiSA, Aoi, Ayano, Mikako, Lil Fang, although the latter is Chinese, etc., especially when the tone of the voice itself is raised.
This is a new supergroup, and an emphatic statement on the depth of talent in the Japanese metal scene. Most of the members have roles with other bands, so it’s not clear this is more than a project, but we’ll see. What we’ve seen so far is spectacular. The hook? This is a metal band built around a violinist. (The closest thing I know of is Unlucky Morpheus, where Jill often takes a lead role). Ayasa plays a custom five-string electric violin--hard to get more metal than that.. She is also the founder of the band. Personnel: Violin: Ayasa (currently with Morphonica) Guitar: Yuki (founder and co-lead in D-Drive) Bass: Wakazaemon (bassist with Marty Friedman and other projects) Drums: Mizuki (Lonesome Blue) Vocals: Akane Minato (x Predia, several other groups) They have posted four songs in very different styles so far, all showing off great songwriting, jedi-level mastery of their instruments, and Akane’s powerful vocals. They have also issued their first EP. Definitely a band to watch! You should also check out the various members in their other projects, especially D-Drive, which is an amazing instrumental outfit that takes guitar harmonies to a rarified level.
Good that you noticed the similarities between Atsumi and Minato's singing styles. It was quite obvious that when they both started receiving intensive coaching about 5 years ago, they had the same vocal coach, since they were employees of the same company at the time.
Ok, in your wrap-up you talk about how this world just keeps expanding for you, and how it keeps destroying your preconceptions. So it's time you see what some of the community call The List (I may have posted this in your comments a long time ago, but this is an updated version). Japan has had an active all-girl rock and metal scene since at least 1981. This is a starter list of all-female (or in eight cases, mixed gender) metal, punk, hard-rock and post-rock bands, with founding dates where I know them. It's alphabetical, except for the first three, which are at the top of the list for historical reasons. They set the table for the explosion of Japanese female hard-rock, punk and metal bands. Note: I have tried to pick clips that are high quality and are representative of the band's style. If you put the question out there, you are likely to get suggestions mainly for Aldious, Band-Maid, Babymetal, Lovebites, Nemophila, Unlucky Morpheus and Wagakki Band. (If you are a long-time reactor you have undoubtedly seen some of these). You can’t go wrong with any of them, but find time to check out more of the bands on this list. They are all worth the time and deserve the love, and many will really surprise you. My personal favorites include Asterism, Bridear, Doll$Boxx/Gacharic Spin, existTtrace, Hagane, Hanabie, Mary’s Blood, Sokoninaru and Tricot. Ok, her goes: Show-Ya (1981 The original female J-metal band, founded before Metallica-this is from their 24th (!) anniversary concert-and they are still touring) They have a strong Deep Purple vibe, and in my view they belong in any rock or music hall of fame: “I am the Storm” ua-cam.com/video/oJ_5Gv3vFjQ/v-deo.html Shonen Knife (1981 The world’s first bubblegum punk band. They have done several world tours, and opened for Nirvana, who were big fans. They also perform as a Ramones tribute band called Osaka Ramones): ua-cam.com/video/w9LUlYzOiWs/v-deo.html Destrose (2005; This band was never stable, but has become almost mythic in metal history, because they spun off so many great bands, including Lovebites--you will recognize the drummer and bassist.) Here are two clips-a lot of them get taken down so please let me know if either of these is dead: ua-cam.com/video/JpyzVlPJC2g/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/e-CH-FLS2kM/v-deo.html (This cuts off just after Narumi’s guitar solo-but they didn’t cut that, and it’s gorgeous.) Aldious (2008 Glamorous and kick-ass rockers-one of the first generation all-girl metal bands, along with Destrose) ua-cam.com/video/sfkJT0rra-8/v-deo.html Asterism (2013 Power trio that will melt your face off- the guitarist Haruka Noma is off the charts talented and just turned 21) ua-cam.com/video/IfxMi0Bx4x0/v-deo.html Babymetal (2010 The flagship “Kawaii metal” band and the most well-known Japanese metal act outside of Japan. Combining “Kawaii” (cute) Japanese pop tropes over thunderous heavy metal backing) ua-cam.com/video/cK3NMZAUKGw/v-deo.html Band-Maid (2013 OK, there are 160+ great songs by them. Easily the best known band on this list other than Babymetal, they are more hard rock and prog than metal. Did a 14 city US tour in 2022 that sold out 48 hours after being listed, and a 2023 global 10th anniversary tour. There is a ton of fan footage of that tour up on youtube, a lot of which is great stuff.) Here is a live clip: ua-cam.com/video/FHpuEqMAcDg/v-deo.html Bridear (2011 Heavy, technical-and their tiny bassist also growls. They are releasing a new album in June 2024 that is a real killer): ua-cam.com/video/LQIDqudG_DQ/v-deo.html Cyntia (2011 Second wave, hard, heavy, but with prog and symphonic touches) ua-cam.com/video/FnhObh5i_3U/v-deo.html D-Drive (2009 Instrumental progressive metal and fusion; Mixed gender. Extraordinary, technical dual lead guitars featuring Yuki and Seiji) Here is a one of my favorites, a spectacular, moody jazz-blues-prog fusion number: ua-cam.com/video/m5G3nXJtSzQ/v-deo.html Disqualia (2015 Destrose spin-out, featuring Narumi, one of the best guitarists of this generation, and Hazuki, then an up-and-coming talent who is now a core member of Nemophila) ua-cam.com/video/-M5zBKrTJRg/v-deo.html Doll$Boxx (2012 Wild mix of metal, electropop, and god-knows what else; a collaboration between Fuki, best-known as the co-founder of Unlucky Morpheus, and Gacharic Spin) ua-cam.com/video/mu2z4Uf9Tgc/v-deo.html East of Eden (2023 Supergroup assembled by Ayasa, the fabulous violinist whose day job is with Morphonica, one of the BangDream projects. Guitar: Yuki from D-Drive; Drums: Mizuki from Lonesome Blue; Bass: Wakazaemon, from Marty Friedman’s band; Vocals: Minato Akane, from Predia) “Evolve” ua-cam.com/video/gL2GQWhJaNQ/v-deo.html existTtrace (2003: Visual Kei, progressive, technical, some death-metal and goth touches) They have kept their original lineup intact for 20 years and counting. ua-cam.com/video/Oz1Lv8XGBF0/v-deo.html Fate Gear (2015 Super-group, one of the Destrose spinouts-continually changing lineup built around Mina (g) and (until very recently) Erica (b); I consider this video one of the best on this list): ua-cam.com/video/tLQbsoKQN-0/v-deo.html Gacharic Spin (2009 Founded by two high school classmates, Hana (Dr, Vo, multiple instruments) and Koga (B) who had already been in other bands (and was previously a lingerie model). Everything from punk-pop to heavy metal and progressive; highly technical) Here is their first video, with original singer Armmy (d. 2015): ua-cam.com/video/vfzIt20_xXg/v-deo.html Gallhammer (2003 Black/Death/Doom/Punk; this is from their 2007 UK/Europe tour; co-founder Vivien Slaughter is now making electronic ambient music!): ua-cam.com/video/2fTiyOO1nZE/v-deo.html Galmet (2006 Straight-up death metal, but in prom dresses) ua-cam.com/video/PnvrOLeRt-I/v-deo.html Ganglion (2010 Metal with a hint of electronica): ua-cam.com/video/q9j4t3Ms-Sg/v-deo.html Hagane (2018 Started with Sakura posting blistering metal guitar covers on youtube while in high-school, and the rest of the girls finding her; full lineup came together in 2019. (note: sadly, the group just disbanded in early 2023) Here, Sakura does a magical solo using a Phrygian scale at warp speed: ua-cam.com/video/k8NTRJ_yTxY/v-deo.html Hanabie (2019 Kawaii death metal, deathcore, thrash. Technical. Most frequent comment is “That’s nuts.” One of the bands to watch over the next few years, they are playing three North American festivals in 2023.) ua-cam.com/video/G18yyvPCiTM/v-deo.html Kakumei (2013--see Trident, below) Koiai/Lisa-X Band (Prodigy 16-year-old guitarist Lisa-X and a rotating cast of fellow bandmembers, often including Hazuki (of Disqualia and Nemophila). Lisa-X formed the band in 2013. She has done collaborations with a host of top musicians including Polyphia, Saki, Yuki (of D-Drive) and Billy Sheehan. ua-cam.com/video/mN_oLqTka6M/v-deo.html After original vocalist Rina left the band, they rebranded as Koiai. Here they are with Kanade Sato on drums, Kotono on vocals and Wakazaemon on bass. Lonesome Blue (2021 Progressive rock, pop-metal fusion. This was Narumi’s (see below) long-awaited new band; unfortunately, she parted ways with them after only one album.) This song is a wild fusion of classic Disco with Metal: ua-cam.com/video/aEdyEEnMTy8/v-deo.html Lovebites (2016 Modern Power, Speed, Thrash and Heavy Metal. Already making a global splash, melodic but face-meltingly technical. Here is their most famous official MV-it’s even better than Shadowmaker IMO) ua-cam.com/video/hLFelI93VkM/v-deo.html Mardelas (2014 Another spin-off from Destrose; mixed male/female; leader Marina Hebiishi has one of the best voices in the biz) ua-cam.com/video/Wd8P7wTnWJs/v-deo.html Mary's Blood (2008 The first major Destrose spin-out; Jedi-level lineup.) Here, Saki murders her guitar without breaking any nails: ua-cam.com/video/MLM2unV0kwU/v-deo.html Maximum the Hormone (1998 Crazy, chaotic mashups of deathcore, nu-metal, pop and high-speed rapping. Co-founder Nao (drums) is the female member of the band. She has been a major influence on female drummers throughout Japan.) This clip captures just a bit of the madness: 予襲復讐 (Yoshu Fukushu) ua-cam.com/video/beN5ep5MrdY/v-deo.html MergingMoon (2010 Mix of prog and melodic death metal. Vocalist U is Japan’s terrifying answer to Tatiana of Jinjer) ua-cam.com/video/sIL-vgHNOu0/v-deo.html Muses (2020 Hard fusion with funk overtones; Supergroup assembled by the guitarist, Rie aka Suzaku, and including Juna Serita, the phenomenal bassist who was previously with Tokyo Groove Jyoshi and is now also with the Jazz Avengers. They absolutely rip. ua-cam.com/video/exbIYCTQdpo/v-deo.html Mutant Monster (2008 Punk-pop, really good at it. Unfortunately, they have not been active in some time.) ua-cam.com/video/Fd6ymMR40NU/v-deo.html (Comments are space-limited so look for Part II in the next comment.)
Part II of The List: Narumi (solo prog-rock and fusion compositions-a change of pace from a master guitarist who was once the star lead for Destrose. She was part of Lonesome Blue, but recently left. I’m sure she will turn up with another band.) ua-cam.com/video/cRyCaHjwIgk/v-deo.html Nemophila: (2019 Supergroup of ex-Mary's Blood guitarist Saki, ex-Lipstick vocalist Mayu, ex-Disqualia guitarist Hazuki, ex-Hölderlins bassist Haraguchi-san, and ex-Soramimi drummer Muratatam. I’ve seen them live and they are just explosive.) Note: As of early 2024, Saki has left the band to pursue other projects, so they are currently a 4-piece. ua-cam.com/video/lh-dVLKP314/v-deo.html 54 Nude Honeys (1992 Early Japanese punk-they toured the UK and Europe, and reports are that their crowds were as crazy as the crowds at Sex Pistols concerts) ua-cam.com/video/jHnJSoGN5Mk/v-deo.html Otoboke Beaver (2009 in-your-face feminist thrash punk, way out there) They have toured Europe and the U.S.: ua-cam.com/video/fkWfFXnLpYg/v-deo.html Paranoid Void (Extremely technical prog and math rock, founded by three high-school classmates, maybe the most mind-bending band on this list.) “Ukiyo” ua-cam.com/video/LIP0uf6Lpco/v-deo.html Rie aka Suzaku (Instrumental guitar virtuoso. She is also the founder of Muses, a high-intensity fusion band (see above.) ua-cam.com/video/2riBS7MvZvc/v-deo.html Sokoninaru (2011 Progressive metal, math rock, extremely technical; male/female cofounders) ua-cam.com/video/MVxl0zXZBR4/v-deo.html Sonic Lover Reckless (2018 Special project of Miyako Watanabe, one of Lovebites’ two incomparable guitarists) ua-cam.com/video/DXZ-qhxd1VI/v-deo.html Telecide (2016 Metalcore, aggressive and melodic at the same time) Disbanded; Natsumi, their drummer, is now the drummer for Bridear ua-cam.com/video/keq-7ZCluFc/v-deo.html Tricot (2010 Post-progressive math-rock, highly technical with crazy time signatures and polyrhythms) ua-cam.com/video/P_B_GalsJrE/v-deo.html Trident (formerly Kakumei, renamed in 2020 with some personnel changes. Evolved from pop-punk to thrashier hard rock; several lineup changes but the bassist and lead singer have been constants) ua-cam.com/video/9k9txMouU34/v-deo.html Unlucky Morpheus (2008 Female leads Fuki (vo) and Jill (violin). This band is a deep well unto itself, they cross many subgenres of metal; Fuki and Jill also do other projects and Fuki is lead for at least two other bands including Doll$Boxx, above) ua-cam.com/video/PTuWOWF_0r8/v-deo.html Wagakki Band (2012 Folk-Metal fusion band, all jedi-level musicians, half of them play traditional Japanese instruments and the other half play standard metal instruments. They announced in January 2024 that they will go on indefinite hiatus at the end of the year.) This song was originally written for a virtual (AI) singer, referred to as a Vocaloid: ua-cam.com/video/Q2meWkWqc-I/v-deo.html Yōsei Teikoku (1997 Rock-Folk-Metal-Electronica fusion ensemble) Set up in a fictional Fairy Empire, led by founder Yui, they have done a lot of anime themes and sound-tracks and also perform original songs live, in character. ua-cam.com/video/_EeYxtAeaX4/v-deo.html There are many more. Others that come to mind are BRATS (cofounded by one of the members of Ladybaby), Drop’s, Stereopony, Scandal (still touring globally), and Princess Princess, which all tend more in the pop direction. On the metal side, there are the Bang-Dream projects, which are live groups based on Manga series (there are 9 bands so far in Bang-Dream). And of course, there are other female-fronted Kawaii-metal groups like Ladybaby and Ironbunny, to name the two best-known after Babymetal. I have found listings of over 600 such bands dating back to 1980. The ones listed above are my picks as the most interesting for reasons of quality, longevity or historical impact. If you find others you think belong on this list, please let me know. And if you find a dead link, also please let me know so I can fix the list. Thank you!
Kind of funny and at the same time not how much quality comes from 'over there', isn't it? 🤭 The lovely Ayasa has shown a very good instinct with the selection of musicians for this project. 🤘🏻🔥 _____________________ _"America invented rock. England improved it. And now, Japan has perfected it."_ ※ Band-Maid ※ Gacharic Spin ※ Lovebites ※ Nemophila ※ East of Eden ※ Hanabie ※ Asterism ※ Trident ※ Nek! ※ Hades ※ etc.
AYASA, the violinist, is the leader of the band. WAKAZAEMON, the leftie bassist with the five string axe, has played for Marty Friedman and KOIAI... MIZUKI, the drummer, also plays for Lonesome_Blue... YUKI, the guitarist, also plays for D_Drive and has collaborated on the Shred Racers project along Nemophila's Saki, Ediee Ironbunny and Li-Sa-X . Sorry, Akane Minato is a great singer, but I don't see her similarity to Saiki, who has a lower tone voice and more pop style.☺ And this song doesn't sound power metal at all (Aldious or Mary's Blood), to me it's much closer to prog rock, YUKI's rhythm guitar doesn't feel that dominant in the mix and gives way to AYASA's violin, something similar to what Machiya does in Wagakki Band to give space in the mix to traditional instruments.😉
East Of Eden Live at Zepp Tokyo(2023.10.8) Blu ray 104min (13 songs & 4MC) + Behind the scenes 22min Mini Album/CD «Forbidden Fruit -1st piece-” (5 songs - 23min) Ayasa & Nozomu Wakai Live «Pied Piper» ua-cam.com/video/GtfJWCSdz_s/v-deo.html&lc=Ugw-6372wp9NU3Pbmld4AaABAg Ayasa Best I Special Edition CD + Blu-ray Live 28min. "Rosenkreutz" ua-cam.com/video/4KJYWAczaiE/v-deo.html LIVE !! Ayasa Theatre episode 7 Blu-ray Disc 53min «Re:Birth» ua-cam.com/video/Br6-UQhZxes/v-deo.html «The Reason Why» ua-cam.com/video/qDvKVxFe7VA/v-deo.html Ayasa & Sword of the Far East live 2012«Air on the G String» ua-cam.com/video/a3vTsRhsUng/v-deo.html 【Ayasa】phoenix/nowisee feat.Ayasa LIVE MV ua-cam.com/video/y0A8VraJAt8/v-deo.html DESTINIA/Romero/Ayasa/Wakai ua-cam.com/video/-3PPL-xDbYU/v-deo.html Amazing street rock violonist Ayasa 2014 ua-cam.com/video/ELDELkBdglw/v-deo.html Shangai stadium 2019 ua-cam.com/video/KGF-08CmRIA/v-deo.html Ayasa live 2022 «Swan Song» ua-cam.com/video/s_2Y27Ct1R4/v-deo.html Ayasa & Akira MV“忘却のセイント”ua-cam.com/video/hGb3TcoK02Y/v-deo.html Yuki & D_Drive Studio MV «Unkind Rain» ua-cam.com/video/m5G3nXJtSzQ/v-deo.html Yuki & D_Drive Live «Begin Again» ua-cam.com/video/P0fuh1dA4wA/v-deo.html
The band was put together by Ayasa the violinist, all members are also in other bands/project:
- Ayasa (Violin) from Morfonica, a band from the Bang dream franchise.
- Yuki (Guitar) from D_Drive, instrumental HR/HM you need to check, try Unkind Rain my favorite from them there is a studio session of it on their channel. Met her in Japan after a D_Drive last November she is so cool and genuine and fanatastic guitar player, she is with Kanami or Miyako among my favorite guitarists atm.
- Wakazaemon (Bass) support bassist/solo artist. She is in a lot of different projects one of them was being recruited by Marty Friedman to tour with him.
- Mizuki (Drums) from Lonesome_Blue another rock/metal band you need to check. Try Face the Fear on their official YT.
- Akane Minato (Vocals) former idol who was in the Predia and Mochi to Cheese with Akane and Kanami.
The bass player was in the KOIAI video I suggested. Akane (vocalist) was in Predia and Mochi to cheese with affiliation to Band-Maid and Yuki (guitar) has done some work with Lisa-X and Hazuki from Nemophila
To my ear, the violin is the lead instrument. They make it work well. How do they do it? Japan has mandatory music education from age six to age fifteen. The high schools also offer performance venues where the students can get stage experience. As a result, by the time they graduate from high school, they are highly trained seasoned performers ready to enter the professional world. Japan also has top-notch music colleges for those students who want to take their training even further. Of course, this expertise is not limited to the metal bands. Japanese rock, pop, jazz, classical, etc. are all as good or better than anything you have ever heard.
Guitarist Yuki is a monster - her main band is an instrumental 4-piece. Waka-Chan on bass plays with Marty Freidman (ex-Megadeth). Do o need to go on! East Of Eden are set to explode this year - their first concert Blu-ray is exceptional. 🤘🎸🐺
The pink hair bassist is Wakazaemon. She also plays with Marty Freidman in his tour band. So, if you go his live, you can see her play too.
The tone of Akane's voice is quite common among female singers in Japan, in fact, it resembles that of LiSA, Aoi, Ayano, Mikako, Lil Fang, although the latter is Chinese, etc., especially when the tone of the voice itself is raised.
This is a new supergroup, and an emphatic statement on the depth of talent in the Japanese metal scene. Most of the members have roles with other bands, so it’s not clear this is more than a project, but we’ll see. What we’ve seen so far is spectacular.
The hook? This is a metal band built around a violinist. (The closest thing I know of is Unlucky Morpheus, where Jill often takes a lead role). Ayasa plays a custom five-string electric violin--hard to get more metal than that.. She is also the founder of the band.
Personnel:
Violin: Ayasa (currently with Morphonica)
Guitar: Yuki (founder and co-lead in D-Drive)
Bass: Wakazaemon (bassist with Marty Friedman and other projects)
Drums: Mizuki (Lonesome Blue)
Vocals: Akane Minato (x Predia, several other groups)
They have posted four songs in very different styles so far, all showing off great songwriting, jedi-level mastery of their instruments, and Akane’s powerful vocals. They have also issued their first EP. Definitely a band to watch!
You should also check out the various members in their other projects, especially D-Drive, which is an amazing instrumental outfit that takes guitar harmonies to a rarified level.
This drummer is also on another band called Lonesome_Blue, both bands are my favorite new japanese bands (2022 afterwards)
Good that you noticed the similarities between Atsumi and Minato's singing styles. It was quite obvious that when they both started receiving intensive coaching about 5 years ago, they had the same vocal coach, since they were employees of the same company at the time.
ベーシストであるwakazaemonは KOIAIのサポートベーシストでもあります。
もちろん｢a new picture｣の動画でベースを弾いてるのも彼女です。
Ok, in your wrap-up you talk about how this world just keeps expanding for you, and how it keeps destroying your preconceptions. So it's time you see what some of the community call The List (I may have posted this in your comments a long time ago, but this is an updated version).
Japan has had an active all-girl rock and metal scene since at least 1981. This is a starter list of all-female (or in eight cases, mixed gender) metal, punk, hard-rock and post-rock bands, with founding dates where I know them. It's alphabetical, except for the first three, which are at the top of the list for historical reasons. They set the table for the explosion of Japanese female hard-rock, punk and metal bands. Note: I have tried to pick clips that are high quality and are representative of the band's style.
If you put the question out there, you are likely to get suggestions mainly for Aldious, Band-Maid, Babymetal, Lovebites, Nemophila, Unlucky Morpheus and Wagakki Band. (If you are a long-time reactor you have undoubtedly seen some of these). You can’t go wrong with any of them, but find time to check out more of the bands on this list. They are all worth the time and deserve the love, and many will really surprise you. My personal favorites include Asterism, Bridear, Doll$Boxx/Gacharic Spin, existTtrace, Hagane, Hanabie, Mary’s Blood, Sokoninaru and Tricot. Ok, her goes:
Show-Ya (1981 The original female J-metal band, founded before Metallica-this is from their 24th (!) anniversary concert-and they are still touring) They have a strong Deep Purple vibe, and in my view they belong in any rock or music hall of fame: “I am the Storm” ua-cam.com/video/oJ_5Gv3vFjQ/v-deo.html
Shonen Knife (1981 The world’s first bubblegum punk band. They have done several world tours, and opened for Nirvana, who were big fans. They also perform as a Ramones tribute band called Osaka Ramones): ua-cam.com/video/w9LUlYzOiWs/v-deo.html
Destrose (2005; This band was never stable, but has become almost mythic in metal history, because they spun off so many great bands, including Lovebites--you will recognize the drummer and bassist.) Here are two clips-a lot of them get taken down so please let me know if either of these is dead:
ua-cam.com/video/JpyzVlPJC2g/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/e-CH-FLS2kM/v-deo.html
(This cuts off just after Narumi’s guitar solo-but they didn’t cut that, and it’s gorgeous.)
Aldious (2008 Glamorous and kick-ass rockers-one of the first generation all-girl metal bands, along with Destrose) ua-cam.com/video/sfkJT0rra-8/v-deo.html
Asterism (2013 Power trio that will melt your face off- the guitarist Haruka Noma is off the charts talented and just turned 21) ua-cam.com/video/IfxMi0Bx4x0/v-deo.html
Babymetal (2010 The flagship “Kawaii metal” band and the most well-known Japanese metal act outside of Japan. Combining “Kawaii” (cute) Japanese pop tropes over thunderous heavy metal backing) ua-cam.com/video/cK3NMZAUKGw/v-deo.html
Band-Maid (2013 OK, there are 160+ great songs by them. Easily the best known band on this list other than Babymetal, they are more hard rock and prog than metal. Did a 14 city US tour in 2022 that sold out 48 hours after being listed, and a 2023 global 10th anniversary tour. There is a ton of fan footage of that tour up on youtube, a lot of which is great stuff.) Here is a live clip: ua-cam.com/video/FHpuEqMAcDg/v-deo.html
Bridear (2011 Heavy, technical-and their tiny bassist also growls. They are releasing a new album in June 2024 that is a real killer): ua-cam.com/video/LQIDqudG_DQ/v-deo.html
Cyntia (2011 Second wave, hard, heavy, but with prog and symphonic touches)
ua-cam.com/video/FnhObh5i_3U/v-deo.html
D-Drive (2009 Instrumental progressive metal and fusion; Mixed gender. Extraordinary, technical dual lead guitars featuring Yuki and Seiji) Here is a one of my favorites, a spectacular, moody jazz-blues-prog fusion number: ua-cam.com/video/m5G3nXJtSzQ/v-deo.html
Disqualia (2015 Destrose spin-out, featuring Narumi, one of the best guitarists of this generation, and Hazuki, then an up-and-coming talent who is now a core member of Nemophila) ua-cam.com/video/-M5zBKrTJRg/v-deo.html
Doll$Boxx (2012 Wild mix of metal, electropop, and god-knows what else; a collaboration between Fuki, best-known as the co-founder of Unlucky Morpheus, and Gacharic Spin) ua-cam.com/video/mu2z4Uf9Tgc/v-deo.html
East of Eden (2023 Supergroup assembled by Ayasa, the fabulous violinist whose day job is with Morphonica, one of the BangDream projects. Guitar: Yuki from D-Drive; Drums: Mizuki from Lonesome Blue; Bass: Wakazaemon, from Marty Friedman’s band; Vocals: Minato Akane, from Predia) “Evolve” ua-cam.com/video/gL2GQWhJaNQ/v-deo.html
existTtrace (2003: Visual Kei, progressive, technical, some death-metal and goth touches) They have kept their original lineup intact for 20 years and counting. ua-cam.com/video/Oz1Lv8XGBF0/v-deo.html
Fate Gear (2015 Super-group, one of the Destrose spinouts-continually changing lineup built around Mina (g) and (until very recently) Erica (b); I consider this video one of the best on this list): ua-cam.com/video/tLQbsoKQN-0/v-deo.html
Gacharic Spin (2009 Founded by two high school classmates, Hana (Dr, Vo, multiple instruments) and Koga (B) who had already been in other bands (and was previously a lingerie model). Everything from punk-pop to heavy metal and progressive; highly technical) Here is their first video, with original singer Armmy (d. 2015): ua-cam.com/video/vfzIt20_xXg/v-deo.html
Gallhammer (2003 Black/Death/Doom/Punk; this is from their 2007 UK/Europe tour; co-founder Vivien Slaughter is now making electronic ambient music!): ua-cam.com/video/2fTiyOO1nZE/v-deo.html
Galmet (2006 Straight-up death metal, but in prom dresses) ua-cam.com/video/PnvrOLeRt-I/v-deo.html
Ganglion (2010 Metal with a hint of electronica):
ua-cam.com/video/q9j4t3Ms-Sg/v-deo.html
Hagane (2018 Started with Sakura posting blistering metal guitar covers on youtube while in high-school, and the rest of the girls finding her; full lineup came together in 2019. (note: sadly, the group just disbanded in early 2023) Here, Sakura does a magical solo using a Phrygian scale at warp speed:
ua-cam.com/video/k8NTRJ_yTxY/v-deo.html
Hanabie (2019 Kawaii death metal, deathcore, thrash. Technical. Most frequent comment is “That’s nuts.” One of the bands to watch over the next few years, they are playing three North American festivals in 2023.) ua-cam.com/video/G18yyvPCiTM/v-deo.html
Kakumei (2013--see Trident, below)
Koiai/Lisa-X Band (Prodigy 16-year-old guitarist Lisa-X and a rotating cast of fellow bandmembers, often including Hazuki (of Disqualia and Nemophila). Lisa-X formed the band in 2013. She has done collaborations with a host of top musicians including Polyphia, Saki, Yuki (of D-Drive) and Billy Sheehan. ua-cam.com/video/mN_oLqTka6M/v-deo.html After original vocalist Rina left the band, they rebranded as Koiai. Here they are with Kanade Sato on drums, Kotono on vocals and Wakazaemon on bass.
Lonesome Blue (2021 Progressive rock, pop-metal fusion. This was Narumi’s (see below) long-awaited new band; unfortunately, she parted ways with them after only one album.) This song is a wild fusion of classic Disco with Metal: ua-cam.com/video/aEdyEEnMTy8/v-deo.html
Lovebites (2016 Modern Power, Speed, Thrash and Heavy Metal. Already making a global splash, melodic but face-meltingly technical. Here is their most famous official MV-it’s even better than Shadowmaker IMO) ua-cam.com/video/hLFelI93VkM/v-deo.html
Mardelas (2014 Another spin-off from Destrose; mixed male/female; leader Marina Hebiishi has one of the best voices in the biz) ua-cam.com/video/Wd8P7wTnWJs/v-deo.html
Mary's Blood (2008 The first major Destrose spin-out; Jedi-level lineup.) Here, Saki murders her guitar without breaking any nails: ua-cam.com/video/MLM2unV0kwU/v-deo.html
Maximum the Hormone (1998 Crazy, chaotic mashups of deathcore, nu-metal, pop and high-speed rapping. Co-founder Nao (drums) is the female member of the band. She has been a major influence on female drummers throughout Japan.) This clip captures just a bit of the madness: 予襲復讐 (Yoshu Fukushu) ua-cam.com/video/beN5ep5MrdY/v-deo.html
MergingMoon (2010 Mix of prog and melodic death metal. Vocalist U is Japan’s terrifying answer to Tatiana of Jinjer) ua-cam.com/video/sIL-vgHNOu0/v-deo.html
Muses (2020 Hard fusion with funk overtones; Supergroup assembled by the guitarist, Rie aka Suzaku, and including Juna Serita, the phenomenal bassist who was previously with Tokyo Groove Jyoshi and is now also with the Jazz Avengers. They absolutely rip.
ua-cam.com/video/exbIYCTQdpo/v-deo.html
Mutant Monster (2008 Punk-pop, really good at it. Unfortunately, they have not been active in some time.)
ua-cam.com/video/Fd6ymMR40NU/v-deo.html
(Comments are space-limited so look for Part II in the next comment.)
Omg amazing information here, I’ll definitely go through this!!!
Part II of The List:
Narumi (solo prog-rock and fusion compositions-a change of pace from a master guitarist who was once the star lead for Destrose. She was part of Lonesome Blue, but recently left. I’m sure she will turn up with another band.) ua-cam.com/video/cRyCaHjwIgk/v-deo.html
Nemophila: (2019 Supergroup of ex-Mary's Blood guitarist Saki, ex-Lipstick vocalist Mayu, ex-Disqualia guitarist Hazuki, ex-Hölderlins bassist Haraguchi-san, and ex-Soramimi drummer Muratatam. I’ve seen them live and they are just explosive.) Note: As of early 2024, Saki has left the band to pursue other projects, so they are currently a 4-piece. ua-cam.com/video/lh-dVLKP314/v-deo.html
54 Nude Honeys (1992 Early Japanese punk-they toured the UK and Europe, and reports are that their crowds were as crazy as the crowds at Sex Pistols concerts) ua-cam.com/video/jHnJSoGN5Mk/v-deo.html
Otoboke Beaver (2009 in-your-face feminist thrash punk, way out there) They have toured Europe and the U.S.: ua-cam.com/video/fkWfFXnLpYg/v-deo.html
Paranoid Void (Extremely technical prog and math rock, founded by three high-school classmates, maybe the most mind-bending band on this list.) “Ukiyo” ua-cam.com/video/LIP0uf6Lpco/v-deo.html
Rie aka Suzaku (Instrumental guitar virtuoso. She is also the founder of Muses, a high-intensity fusion band (see above.) ua-cam.com/video/2riBS7MvZvc/v-deo.html
Sokoninaru (2011 Progressive metal, math rock, extremely technical; male/female cofounders)
ua-cam.com/video/MVxl0zXZBR4/v-deo.html
Sonic Lover Reckless (2018 Special project of Miyako Watanabe, one of Lovebites’ two incomparable guitarists) ua-cam.com/video/DXZ-qhxd1VI/v-deo.html
Telecide (2016 Metalcore, aggressive and melodic at the same time) Disbanded; Natsumi, their drummer, is now the drummer for Bridear ua-cam.com/video/keq-7ZCluFc/v-deo.html
Tricot (2010 Post-progressive math-rock, highly technical with crazy time signatures and polyrhythms) ua-cam.com/video/P_B_GalsJrE/v-deo.html
Trident (formerly Kakumei, renamed in 2020 with some personnel changes. Evolved from pop-punk to thrashier hard rock; several lineup changes but the bassist and lead singer have been constants) ua-cam.com/video/9k9txMouU34/v-deo.html
Unlucky Morpheus (2008 Female leads Fuki (vo) and Jill (violin). This band is a deep well unto itself, they cross many subgenres of metal; Fuki and Jill also do other projects and Fuki is lead for at least two other bands including Doll$Boxx, above) ua-cam.com/video/PTuWOWF_0r8/v-deo.html
Wagakki Band (2012 Folk-Metal fusion band, all jedi-level musicians, half of them play traditional Japanese instruments and the other half play standard metal instruments. They announced in January 2024 that they will go on indefinite hiatus at the end of the year.) This song was originally written for a virtual (AI) singer, referred to as a Vocaloid:
ua-cam.com/video/Q2meWkWqc-I/v-deo.html
Yōsei Teikoku (1997 Rock-Folk-Metal-Electronica fusion ensemble) Set up in a fictional Fairy Empire, led by founder Yui, they have done a lot of anime themes and sound-tracks and also perform original songs live, in character.
ua-cam.com/video/_EeYxtAeaX4/v-deo.html
There are many more. Others that come to mind are BRATS (cofounded by one of the members of Ladybaby), Drop’s, Stereopony, Scandal (still touring globally), and Princess Princess, which all tend more in the pop direction. On the metal side, there are the Bang-Dream projects, which are live groups based on Manga series (there are 9 bands so far in Bang-Dream). And of course, there are other female-fronted Kawaii-metal groups like Ladybaby and Ironbunny, to name the two best-known after Babymetal. I have found listings of over 600 such bands dating back to 1980. The ones listed above are my picks as the most interesting for reasons of quality, longevity or historical impact. If you find others you think belong on this list, please let me know. And if you find a dead link, also please let me know so I can fix the list. Thank you!
Amazing information thank you so much
Kind of funny and at the same time not how much quality comes from 'over there', isn't it? 🤭
The lovely Ayasa has shown a very good instinct with the selection of musicians for this project. 🤘🏻🔥
_____________________
_"America invented rock. England improved it. And now, Japan has perfected it."_
※ Band-Maid ※ Gacharic Spin ※ Lovebites ※ Nemophila ※ East of Eden ※ Hanabie ※ Asterism ※ Trident ※ Nek! ※ Hades ※ etc.
Who needs synths when you've got a fiddle....
AYASA, the violinist, is the leader of the band.
WAKAZAEMON, the leftie bassist with the five string axe, has played for Marty Friedman and KOIAI... MIZUKI, the drummer, also plays for Lonesome_Blue... YUKI, the guitarist, also plays for D_Drive and has collaborated on the Shred Racers project along Nemophila's Saki, Ediee Ironbunny and Li-Sa-X .
Sorry, Akane Minato is a great singer, but I don't see her similarity to Saiki, who has a lower tone voice and more pop style.☺
And this song doesn't sound power metal at all (Aldious or Mary's Blood), to me it's much closer to prog rock, YUKI's rhythm guitar doesn't feel that dominant in the mix and gives way to AYASA's violin, something similar to what Machiya does in Wagakki Band to give space in the mix to traditional instruments.😉
Awwww ty baby
Song of the year for me! They are no metal, tho.
you are late to the party man like really late
East Of Eden Live at Zepp Tokyo(2023.10.8)
Blu ray 104min (13 songs & 4MC) + Behind the scenes 22min
Mini Album/CD «Forbidden Fruit -1st piece-” (5 songs - 23min)
Ayasa & Nozomu Wakai Live «Pied Piper» ua-cam.com/video/GtfJWCSdz_s/v-deo.html&lc=Ugw-6372wp9NU3Pbmld4AaABAg
Ayasa Best I Special Edition CD + Blu-ray Live 28min. "Rosenkreutz" ua-cam.com/video/4KJYWAczaiE/v-deo.html
LIVE !! Ayasa Theatre episode 7 Blu-ray Disc 53min «Re:Birth» ua-cam.com/video/Br6-UQhZxes/v-deo.html
«The Reason Why» ua-cam.com/video/qDvKVxFe7VA/v-deo.html
Ayasa & Sword of the Far East live 2012«Air on the G String» ua-cam.com/video/a3vTsRhsUng/v-deo.html
【Ayasa】phoenix/nowisee feat.Ayasa LIVE MV ua-cam.com/video/y0A8VraJAt8/v-deo.html
DESTINIA/Romero/Ayasa/Wakai ua-cam.com/video/-3PPL-xDbYU/v-deo.html
Amazing street rock violonist Ayasa 2014 ua-cam.com/video/ELDELkBdglw/v-deo.html
Shangai stadium 2019 ua-cam.com/video/KGF-08CmRIA/v-deo.html
Ayasa live 2022 «Swan Song» ua-cam.com/video/s_2Y27Ct1R4/v-deo.html
Ayasa & Akira MV“忘却のセイント”ua-cam.com/video/hGb3TcoK02Y/v-deo.html
Yuki & D_Drive Studio MV «Unkind Rain» ua-cam.com/video/m5G3nXJtSzQ/v-deo.html
Yuki & D_Drive Live «Begin Again» ua-cam.com/video/P0fuh1dA4wA/v-deo.html
Amazing thank you!!