Artists like Maximum the Hormone

Dir En Grey is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in February 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. With a consistent lineup of vocalist Kyo, guitarists Kaoru and Die, bassist Toshiya, and drummer Shinya, they have released twelve full-length albums. Numerous stylistic changes have made the genre of their music difficult to determine, though it is generally considered to be a form of metal. Originally a visual kei band, the members later opted for more subtle attire, but have continued to maintain a dramatic image on stage.

The Pillows were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989. Originally a quartet, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato continued the band as a trio for another 33 years, following the departure of bassist Kenji Ueda in 1992. They are best known in the West for providing the soundtrack for the anime series FLCL. The Pillows suddenly announced their disbandment at the end of January 2025, and Sato died from cancer in March 2026.

Man with a Mission is a Japanese rock band which was formed in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, in 2010. The band currently consists of five band members, with stage names of Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, Kamikaze Boy, DJ Santa Monica and Spear Rib (drums). Their distinguishing feature is that all of the members wear differently designed wolf masks during both their concerts and their music videos. Many of their singles have been used as theme songs for a variety of anime, live-action movies, and video games.

Toru Kitajima , better known as TK, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He rose to prominence as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Ling Tosite Sigure, which formed in 2002. In 2011, he started to release solo material as TK from Ling Tosite Sigure .

Yousei Teikoku is a Japanese rock band formed in 1997. Their music mixes elements of gothic metal, heavy metal, electronic, and classical music. Their works include the opening tracks of several anime series, including Future Diary, Magical Pokan, Innocent Venus, Kurokami: The Animation, The Qwaser of Stigmata, Big Order, and the Tokyo ESP soundtrack. After releasing several independent albums, the band released seven major-label albums with their current label Lantis: Gothic Lolita Propaganda, Metanoia, Gothic Lolita Doctrine, Gothic Lolita Agitator, Pax Vesania, Shadow Corps(e) and The Age Of Villains.

Galneryus is a Japanese power metal band, formed in Osaka in 2001 by guitarist Syu and vocalist Yama-B. Originally the only official members, the two utilized several support musicians until bassist Tsui, keyboardist Yuhki, and drummer Jun-ichi officially joined for the release of their debut album in 2003. Yama-B left the group in 2008 citing musical differences, and Yu-To, who replaced Tsui in 2006, left the following year. Galneryus recruited Sho on vocals and Taka on bass, and released the album Resurrection in 2010. Jun-ichi left in 2016, and the following year the band released their highest-charting studio album, Ultimate Sacrifice, which reached number 13. In 2017, Loudwire named Galneryus one of the 10 Best Japanese Metal Bands.

Nico Touches the Walls was a Japanese rock band formed in 2004. The band members were: Mitsumura Tatsuya, Sakakura Shingo, Furumura Daisuke & Tsushima Shotaro. In the same year, they won the Lotte Prize at the Yamaha Teen Music Festival. Rising quickly, they signed to "Senha & Co." before signing to Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records in 2007. Their debut single, in a major label, "Yoru no Hate", was released in February 2008.

Lynch is a Japanese visual kei metal band formed in 2004. The band's concept is "uniting heavy music with beautiful melodies." As of 2023, the group has released three EPs, twelve albums, and 25 singles.

Ellegarden is a Japanese rock band formed in December 1998 in Chiba Prefecture. Its lineup consists of vocalist/guitarist Takeshi Hosomi, guitarist Shinichi Ubukata, bassist Yuichi Takada, and drummer Hirotaka Takahashi. After releasing five studio albums, including the Oricon number one Eleven Fire Crackers (2006), the band announced an indefinite hiatus in 2008. In May 2018, Ellegarden announced a reunion and held their first national tour in 10 years.