Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Foreign Rock Bands, Popular Bands

PoisonAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper – Poison

Alice Cooper, known as a pioneer of American shock rock.

His music, which took the world by storm in the 1970s, is rooted in heavy metal and hard rock, yet distinguished by unique, horror film–style staging.

He broke through in 1970 with the single “I’m Eighteen,” and reached his commercial peak with the 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies.

His provocative performances—featuring guillotines and fake blood—sent shockwaves through the rock scene of the time and influenced countless artists.

He still performs regularly, and his theatrical stage shows remain as potent as ever.

If you enjoy dark, horror-tinged productions, he’s an artist you should definitely experience.

ParanoidBlack Sabbath

BLACK SABBATH – “Paranoid” (Official Video)

Black Sabbath is a British rock band that continues to be respected as the original heavy metal band.

The period with vocalist Ronnie James Dio is also highly regarded, but many still champion the original members as the golden era: charismatic heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, who cemented the power-chord riff in the public consciousness, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.

The band generally reserves the name “Black Sabbath” for this lineup.

They have produced many albums, but 1970’s Paranoid, packed with famous songs, is a work that could be called a sacred text.

CharlemagneBlossoms

Blossoms – Charlemagne

This song was my first introduction to the band Blossoms.

When I heard the intro, I thought it sounded like the backing track of a Japanese kayōkyoku karaoke.

But as the song went on, I was drawn in by Blossoms’ uniquely pop sensibility.

There’s a catchiness in their deliberate use of “cheesy” sounds—what you might call a subtractive approach—and yet they maintain a perfect balance that never feels lacking.

I think they’re an outstanding pop band.

Leave A TraceChvrches

CHVRCHES – Leave A Trace

Songs built from airy, translucent vocals, catchy melodies, and hard-hitting electronic beats are truly wonderful! When talking about this band, it’s impossible to avoid saying, “Mayberry’s vocals are beautiful.” The band themselves seem to dislike that kind of idol-like marketing, so maybe phrasing it this way isn’t ideal—but it’s undeniably true that her beauty is real and a major part of the band’s appeal.

On top of that, their songs and live performances are fantastic, so I absolutely think this is a band you should check out!

The FlameCheap Trick

Cheap Trick – The Flame (Official Video)

Cheap Trick, who have been active in the American rock scene for many years, are a legendary band formed in 1973.

They shot to stardom with the 1978 album “Cheap Trick at Budokan,” driven by the smash hit “I Want You to Want Me.” They continued to release numerous classics and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Their appeal lies in a unique sound that fuses British pop and hard rock, along with energetic stage performances.

As a standard-bearer of power pop, they have had a major influence on later metal and alternative bands.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy catchy melodies paired with a heavy, full-bodied sound.

Everywhere You TurnLongwave

Longwave – Everywhere You Turn (VIDEO)

What surprised me most was that this band has a music video on VEVO.

I’m grateful that there was a proper release.

I ended up watching it over and over.

It rocks in a really good way, and the guitar sound is super cool.

In The Aeroplane Over The SeaNeutral Milk Hotel

Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

If I were to form a rock band centered around acoustic guitar, I would completely model it after this band.

That’s how impactful the song and album were.

This band is also from the United States, so if you’re interested, definitely look them up and give them a listen.