5 Albums to Introduce You to Japanese Hardcore

Since the early 1980s, Japan has fostered a thriving scene of hardcore and punk music. From early innovators, Gauze, to the metallic tinged, GISM, to experimental and noise rock powerhouse, Boredoms, to legendary D-beat group, Disclose, Japan’s hardcore scene has existed nearly in parallel to the United States’ with mutual origins in regional youth movements. To write off Japan’s hardcore and punk community as merely a duplicate or imitator of America or the UK’s scenes due to the widely cited notion of the genres’ origins would be a massive failing on part of ignorance. Though undeniably, America and the UK’s musical influence can be perceived worldwide, to deny the unique cultural and social origins of punk and hardcore (amongst other genres) in Japan (as well as many other parts of the world) is to deny a historic reality of the music itself.

With a rich and sonically diverse legacy of over 40 years, Japan’s hardcore scene is still flourishing to this day with more bands than ever. From crushing power violence to emotive, melodic hardcore, Japan has a little bit of everything, oftentimes, hybridized in ways that offer original and novel takes on the decades old genres. If you’re not already familiar with arguably one of the best and most diverse hardcore scenes globally, here are five albums to get you started!

Endzweck - A Farewell To Arms

First up, we have the melodic hardcore masterpiece, Endzweck’s A Farewell To Arms. Punk rhythms are led by emotive guitar leads and strained vocals with a catchiness that can almost be pop punk sounding at times. This album explodes from the get go, topping off at barely over fifteen minutes, making for quick repeated, head bobbing listens. It stands alongside the best of the early 2000s melodic hardcore renaissance and is highly recommended for fans of other staple bands of the era such as Comeback Kid or More Than Life.

Friendship - Hatred

Some readers may already be familiar with this album. With heavy circulation in online forums, and a release by the US’ based label, Southern Lord, Tokyo based Friendship’s album Hatred has earned itself quite the reputation. Falling somewhere between power violence and grind, Hatred is a blistering, head pummeling love letter to the most extreme aspects of hardcore music. The album literally just alternates from freakishly fast blast beats to sludge level breakdowns, all while being showered in feedback. The band is infamous for their unprecedentedly loud live performances, shrouded public personas, and as of recent years, seeming disbanding and purging of their own online presence. For fans of all that is extreme.

Klonns / Soiled Hate - Different Senses

The Klonns and Soiled Hate Different Senses split is perfect. Klonns’ side features gnarly, blackened hardcore that is as rooted in traditional hardcore punk as it is committed to an innovative, new wave sound. It points towards an exciting new era of Japanese hardcore. Soiled Hate’s side is a 90s influenced, power violence extravaganza. Multi-vocalist, hefty bass lines, blindsiding breakdowns, and chaotic blasts. Two great sounds that just can’t be beat, and all the better on ooposite sides of the same tape. The split also features two very fun synth covers of each respective band by an artist called 剤電 for an interesting twist to end the release.

Stubborn Father - 2002-2012

Osaka’s Stubborn Father have been making noise since the late 1990s. Their 2002-2012 discography tape, released by US based label, Meatcube, is a great place to start playing catch up with one of the more innovative bands within hardcore. Stubborn Father have a distinctly frenzied, even occasionally abstract, sound. Self-described as emoviolence, their music features abrupt time changes, wonky guitar playing, and a backbone in traditional punk music, but it’s hard to really encapsulate their sound in a simplified manner. For those interested in a more unusual take on hardcore punk, Stubborn Father is a great band to look in to.

1000 Travels Of Jawaharlal - Owari Wa Konai

Since its release in 2003, 1000 Travels Of Jawaharlal’s Owari Wa Konai has gained a near cult-like fandom. Ignoring the debate around emo music, its definition, and what are and aren’t its related genres, it’s easy to say that Owari Wa Konai is a real treasure of emotional hardcore music. There is a melodicness to this album that is really special, the music oozes a sentimentality and genuineness that really is most often found in exceptional emo releases, but Owari Wa Konai is far more punk than it is Sunny Day Real Estate, or even screamo. A must listen record that seamlessly blends aggressive and euphoric songwriting.