November is stacked for heavy music in Tokyo. Bushbash hosts two death fests eleven days apart, Earthdom has four heavy nights between Oct 31 and Nov 22, and some of the best-known noise and black metal acts on the international circuit come through.
Everything here comes from the venue calendars Music in Japan tracks, and each show links to its listing for the latest times and prices. Listings change, so check before you go. Looking for the emo, post-hardcore and punk tours instead? See overseas bands playing Tokyo live houses this autumn.
The death fests
Sun Nov 8, Koiwa Death Fest vol.99 at Bushbash (Koiwa). The long-running Koiwa Death Fest series reaches its 99th edition with LAVATORY (Malaysia) and SLAUGHTERCULT (Australia) on top. Also on the bill: CAASSIMOLAR, FUNERAL MOTH, EVIL, AFTER DISMANTLING and GUT EXPLOSION. Listing
Sun Nov 15, DEATH METAL ATTACK!!! Vol.4 at Earthdom (Shin-Okubo). DELZOR, ACHILLES, BRUTAL DECAY, Mortify and OxGxD. Open 18:00, start 18:30, advance ¥2,500. Listing
Thu Nov 19, ASAKUSA DEATH FEST 2026 at Bushbash. NECROPHILE, MORGUE BREATH, FECUNDATION, PUTRID VOMIT CHRIST and ABRUPT DEMISE. Listing
Noise
Sat Oct 31, Brainbombs (Sweden) at Earthdom. The Swedish noise-rock band's Japan tour comes to Earthdom, with Merzbow, ZENOCIDE and RAMPS. Open 18:00, start 18:30, advance ¥2,900. Listing
Sun Nov 22, DEAFKIDS (Brazil) at Earthdom. The Brazilian band shares the bill with Melt-Banana, BIRUSHANAH and STAGNATION. Open 18:00, start 18:30, advance ¥4,000. Listing
Tue Nov 24, BIG BRAVE (Canada) at Fever (Shindaita). The Montreal band plays with DMBQ, preparationset and SALLT. Open 18:30, start 19:00, advance ¥6,000. Listing
Black metal and beyond
Sat Nov 21, Wiegedood (Belgium) at Bushbash. The Belgian black metal band, with From, infinity and pale. Listing
Mon Nov 23, Oathbreaker (Belgium) at Shimokitazawa Era. With kokeshi. Open 18:30, start 19:30, advance ¥6,800. The listing notes that tickets are sold through LivePocket. Listing
Crust, grind and hardcore
Fri Nov 20, ESS-EM (Australia) at Earthdom. With 有刺鉄戦, GOLGO BUTCH and デッドバンビーズ. Open 18:30, start 19:00, advance ¥2,500. Listing
Sun Nov 8, 甘い誘惑#64 at Moonstep (Nakano). A birthday special for members of BANJAX and PSYCHEDELIC GRINDER, with 経血, Table, DANCE WITH ME and DE-CULTURES. Open 17:00, start 17:30, advance ¥3,000. Listing
Worth the trip to Yokohama
El Puente is in Nishi-Yokohama, roughly 40–50 minutes from central Tokyo by train. It has two Australian bills this month:
- Fri Nov 6: SLAUGHTERCULT, with GUT EXPLOSION and SORE, two days before their Koiwa Death Fest set. Listing
- Tue Nov 17: CARCINOID and DESTRUKTOR, with CAASSIMOLAR. Open 18:00, start 19:00. Listing
Before you go
- Times: Bushbash and some smaller rooms don't always publish exact times in advance. Check the listing or the venue's page closer to the date.
- Cash: the door price plus a drink ticket (usually ¥500–700), in cash.
- Getting there: Koiwa is on the JR Sobu line, east of central Tokyo. Leave time to get back before the last trains.
If the death fests are new to you, the unwritten rules of Tokyo metal shows is worth reading first.
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