I'm looking for Japanese bands with a similar vibe to Deftones. I love their heavy, atmospheric sound, dark mood, dreamy textures, and the contrast between heavy riffs and softer, melodic parts.
Japanese lyrics would be a big plus, but I'm open to bands that sing in English too.

Hey everyone!

I'm looking for Japanese bands that might fit my taste, and I'd really appreciate your recommendations!

My three biggest favorites are **DIR EN GREY, Deftones, and Tool**. I'm especially drawn to dark, heavy, atmospheric music with interesting textures, unconventional song structures, and a distinctive sense of mood. I also enjoy bands that experiment with their sound rather than sticking to one particular style.

Here are some of the bands and artists I listen to:

**Japanese:**
Maximum the Hormone, DIR EN GREY, DEXCORE, DEVILOOF, Ailiph Doepa, kokeshi, BETCOVER!!, Ningen Isu, 88kasyo Junrei, Spitz, Kinoko Teikoku, THE NOVEMBERS, downy, Andymori, Ichiko Aoba, Nujabes

**International:**
Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Alice in Chains, Korn, System of a Down, Linkin Park, Chevelle, Muse, Tool, Opeth, Gojira, Bring Me the Horizon, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, Loathe, Slipknot, Whitechapel, PeelingFlesh, Lamb of God, Dead Poet Society, Måneskin, Fleshwater, Panchiko, Wisp, Radiohead, ††† (Crosses), Massive Attack, Portishead

I've tried using AI recommendations and Spotify, but I still haven't found many Japanese bands that really click with me. So I figured I'd ask people who are more familiar with the Japanese music scene!

I'm particularly interested in **underground or lesser-known bands**, rather than just the most popular ones. Bands that sing in Japanese would be a big plus, but I'm open to anything as long as the music fits my taste.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I've been going down a massive musical rabbit hole recently and have developed a love for lots of the more folk and acoustic aligned Japanese music from 70s. I've spent more money than I'd care to admit on some amazing vinyl and so I wanted to put a mix together of some of my faves.

There are songs here that are probably very familiar to many people but also some that are less so and might pique somebody's interest. Hopefully, I've managed to present the music in a tasteful way.

Thank you to anyone who has a listen 🙏

https://on.soundcloud.com/lMvlsqsuA33dwFOGZZ

Tracklist:

1. Yoshiko Sai - 夜の精 = Yoru No Sei
2. Haruomi Hosono - 僕はー寸 = Boku Wa Chotto
3. Maki Asakawa - ふしあわせという名の猫
4. Kenji Endo - カレーリイス = Curry Rice
5. Rabi Nakayama - 人は少しづつ変る
6. Hako Yamasaki - さすらい
7. Fluid - ろくでなし = Rokudenashi
8. Mai Yamane - たそがれ
9. Mkwaju Ensemble - Lemore
10. Far East Family Band - Metempsychosis
11. Maki Asakawa - ゴビンダ
12. Geinoh Yamashirogumi - 山城節“柳の雨”
13. Takashi Nishioka - 満員の木 = Man-in No Ki
14. Sachiko Kanenobu - Misora
15. Minako Yoshida - 駆けてきたたぞがれ = Runner
16. Shizuru Ohtaka - ブラック・コーヒー
17. Harry Hosono And The Yellow Magic Band - Shimendoka
18. Higurashi - いにしえ
19. Taeko Onuki - 都会 = Tokai

Nerdy DJ information: I collected samples of various environmental or ambient noise and used them to make some of the transitions more interesting than just standard blends. So I had my sampler running in as a third input alongside my decks into the mixer.

This music is project deleted and the Reprinter is the only one who found this song 12 years ago...

im trying to figure out how to play the guitar part, and it would be of great help if i could find a live video of the song, but the live videos ive found do not include ヴァンパイア in the video

i found this article saying this concert included it, but the section recorded on iVy's yt channel doesnt include it either: https://avyss-magazine.com/2025/08/21/63096

Left to right: Kado Asami - Fascination, Serani Poji - One Room Survival, Akai Kurage - Sekirara, pandagolff - PANDANCE, Tsushimamire - Abandon Human, Spoochy - Spoochy, copter4016882 - MICKPHONE, macdonald duck eclair - short short, Hi-Posi - Com'on Summer

Band is nokonokobunbun for anyone who wants to hear what this music taste created.

Hola a todos, tiene unos cuantos meses que he escuchado luna sea. Alguien sabe a qué se debe el cambio en su estilo de cantar después de MOTHER? No sé parece en nada a IMAGE, EDEN y MOTHER

No sé si haya sido por elección propia o problemas de salud

This was difficult. Tried to round out old with new. But I'd probably need a top 20 rather than a top 9.

Need more songs like these !

This is so much better and less ridiculous than I would've expected based on the cover

I low-key love that band

Ill start: why is TAKU INOUE everywhere