Japan Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the 1990s

Being Human builds melody-centered hard rock from clear vocals, lyrical keyboards and finely detailed guitar.

Dir En Grey's debut album, released on 28 July 1999, thirteen tracks running 64:47.

Engine is the fourteenth Loudness album, released by Rooms Records on 7 July 1999. It was the third and last studio record by the line-up of Takasaki, Yamada, Shibata and Homma.

Sensitive Pictures is an early Blindman album built from soaring vocals, sharply defined guitar work and keyboard color.

Dragon is the thirteenth Loudness album, released by Rooms Records on 5 August 1998 — the second record by the line-up of Takasaki, Yamada, Shibata and Homma.

Ghetto Machine is the twelfth Loudness album, released in Japan by Rooms Records on 5 July 1997. It was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, and was the first album with bassist Naoto Shibata.

Outrage's seventh album, out on 25 January 1997. It is the last full-length by the four-man line-up before Naoki Hashimoto left in 1999.

X Japan's fifth album, out on 4 November 1996. It is the last before the band broke up, and the last to carry new work by hide.

Outrage's sixth album, out on 25 May 1995. Megalomania, which opens it, is still played live today.

Heavy Metal Hippies is the eleventh Loudness album, released in Japan on 21 December 1994. After Taiji Sawada and Munetaka Higuchi left, Hirotsugu Homma came in on drums and Akira Takasaki played the bass parts himself. Chris Tsangarides recorded and mixed it.

Luna Sea's fourth album, out on 26 October 1994. It reached number two on the Oricon chart and was certified platinum, and it settled the band's standing.

Outrage's fifth album, out on 25 September 1993, from the point at which they began taking in elements from well outside thrash metal.

X Japan's fourth album, out on 25 August 1993. It holds nothing but the 29-minute title piece, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Domestic Booty is Anthem's seventh studio album, released on 16 March 1992. It is the first record with Akio Shimizu on guitar and the last studio album before the band broke up that July.

Loudness, released on 10 June 1992, is the only studio album by the band's third line-up: Masaki Yamada of Ezo on vocals and Taiji Sawada of X on bass. Akira Takasaki produced it himself and took the tuning down a semitone. It entered the Oricon chart at No. 2.

On the Prowl, released on 25 February 1991, marked the band's tenth anniversary. It pairs English-language self-covers of early Loudness songs with new material, and was the second and last album with Mike Vescera.

Outrage's fourth album, out on 25 October 1991. It was their first recorded abroad, produced by Stefan Kaufmann, formerly of Accept.

No Smoke Without Fire is Anthem's sixth studio album, released on 21 March 1990. It was their first record made abroad, cut in London with Tony Taverner, and it carries a guest appearance by Don Airey of Rainbow.

Outrage's third album, out on 10 September 1990. It extends the two before it while opening out the arrangements to give the singing room.