Heavy metal Japan has been known for being a huge successful area for metal bands from around the world in which case majority of recorded live shows have been recorded and filmed in Japan. The most popular genres of metal in Japan are Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Neo-classical Metal, and Doom Metal. Early power metal band X Japan and 80's heavy metal bands Loudness and Anthem were the most successful Japanese bands with X Japan having mainstream success in Japan and Loudness having mainstream success worldwide. ------------------------------------------ Power metal, usually combined with Neo-classical Metal, is among the most popular metal genre in Japan with bands such as Animetal, Ark Storm, Concerto Moon, Galneryus, Onmyo-Za, Wizards' Hymm and X Japan. Most popular power metal bands outside Japan that have had success in Japan were Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Angra, Gamma Ray, DragonForce, Sinergy, Helloween, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dragonland, and Firewind. Animetal should be noted as Animetal performs covers of Japanese TV theme songs in power metal form. ---------------------------------------------- Extreme metal is more underground with melodic death metal and doom metal being the most popular from the extreme metal following. Bands include Blood Stain Child, Church of Misery, Boris, Eternal Elysium, Green machine, and many others. Arch Enemy and Children of Bodom have also enjoyed great success in Japan.