So You Wanna Get Into J-Rock

Much like how we have K-Pop and K-Rock, there are also J-Pop and J-Rock. Last month, we talked about J-Pop group MADKID, so I figured this month it would be nice to highlight a variety of J-Rock groups. Some you may have heard of due to their involvement in anime openings, some are globally known, and others can be considered hidden gems outside of Japan. Let’s get into it!

Versailles

The first time I heard J-Rock, I didn’t realize it was going to become one of my favorite genres almost 10 years later. Versailles, also known as Versailles Philharmonic Quintet, was formed in 2007 by vocalist KAMIJO and guitarist HIZAKI. The lineup has stayed consistent over the years, with the only change coming due to the death of member Jasmine You. Versailles’ music is best described as symphonic metal, with the group also falling into the Visual Kei scene as well. While they sadly haven’t released music in a long time, the group announced that their next single will be released on June 21, 2023, 11 years after the release of their single album Rhapsody of the Darkness featuring the track of the same name and “Illusion.” Check out arguably their most popular music video for their track “MASQUERADE,” and if you’re a fan, make sure to check out KAMIJO’s solo music as well (I highly recommend his track “HEEL”).

the GazettE

Have you ever watched Black Butler? That’s how I first heard of the GazettE, as their single “SHIVER” was used as the opening theme for the anime, and I was hooked on first listen. Their first album was released in 2003, with their most recent release being their 2021 album MASS. Another Visual Kei group, the GazettE’s music ranges in sound. Sometimes they have a more basic rock sound, other times they’re heavy metal, and it’s something I truly admire about the group. Variety is the spice of life after all, and their discography has something for everybody. Example: my favorite track is “HEADACHE MAN,” a blend of so many different metal sounds it’ll make your head spin, but then I also love their track “D.L.N.” Make sure to check out another favorite track from their most recent album, “BLINDING HOPE,” below!

MAN WITH A MISSION

A group that’s been around since 2010, MAN WITH A MISSION has one of the best origin stories as to why they wear wolf masks: created by a biologist named Dr. Jimi, the group was frozen after helping contribute to evil in the world and only unfroze in 2010 due to global warming, and are now here for either good or evil. I don’t think any origin story or album concept can compete with that. Like the GazettE, MAN WITH A MISSION creates songs under a variety of rock genres and has also had their songs used for an anime, with the most notable probably being track “Merry-Go-Round” used for the Season 5 opening of My Hero Academia. Another track, “Break the Contradictions,” was used for the theme of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax tournament in 2018. Along with their anime and wrestling collaborations, the group also released a song featuring Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump - check it out below!

SiM

Arguably one of the most internationally well-known J-Rock groups on this list due to their songs “The Rumbling” and “Under the Tree” being used as opening and ending songs respectively for Attack on Titan, SiM formed in 2004. The group’s name stands for “Silence iz Mine,” which is also the title of their first full album. While their releases have been focused on rock and metal, they’ve also blended in the genres ska, reggae, hip-hop, and punk. Their song lyrics have a rebellious edge to them, making SiM the perfect group to listen to when you’re mad at the world (and also why they made for the perfect group to do an opening for Attack on Titan). In 2020, they released their album THANK GOD, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO KiLL ENEMiES. Track “Smoke in the Sky” is a fun blend of reggae and rock, “FATHERS” samples the prelude from Final Fantasy, and the music video for title track “BASEBALL BAT” features cameos from some of J-Rock’s biggest artists (including MAN WITH A MISSION and Taka from ONE OK ROCK).

ONE OK ROCK

Blowing up globally without the need of an anime opening to help them out, ONE OK ROCK formed in 2005 and released their first album two years later. The group’s name is a spoof on the time when they would meet to practice: one o’clock (specifically in the morning). As Japanese makes no distinction between Ls and Rs, the “o’clock” became “o’crock,” which then led to “OK ROCK.” Originally releasing their music under Amuse, Inc., the band left that agency and created their own in 2021, 10969 Inc., while also releasing music under U.S. record label Fueled by Ramen. “10969” is another way of expressing the group's name thanks to the utilization of Japanese wordplay - wan-ō-ku-ro-ku. Most of ONE OK ROCK’s music falls under the blanket of pop-punk and alternative rock, but they still have a wonderful range in their albums. Their most recent release came last year with the album Luxury Disease, with track “Renegades” used in the movie adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin while a censored version of “Vandalize” is featured as one of the ending themes for the Sonic Frontiers video game soundtrack. Check out this live performance of one of my favorite ONE OK ROCK tracks, “Memories.”

Edited by Omani