Check out J-Generation′s best J-Pop and J-Rock album/single jackets of 2025, chosen by J-Generation’s writers Dave Cirone and Marc Bowie.
THE ORAL CIGARETTES – Altergeist 0000
David: THE ORAL CIGARETTES busted out this album back in January, and it’s still got high replay value. The album jacket’s bold colors and devilish look are a perfect fit for the band’s “don’t give a f*ck about sales” approach to their latest release.
THE ORAL CIGARETTES- DIKIDANDAN MV
ONE OK ROCK – Detox
Marc: The band is nothing if not consistent. On their eleventh LP, they stick with hard-hitting, overdriven riffs that power anthemic choruses and add touches of electronica for sonic flavor. It’s hard to tell what’s melting on the cover, but the unsettling image is offset by the sheer power of the music.
ONE OK ROCK – Tropical Therapy MV
INABA / SALAS – Atomic Chihuahua
David: This irresistible puppy chomping on a guitar cable comes to us from Koshi Inaba (vocalist of B’z) and American guitarist Stevie Salas, reuniting for their third album. The chihuahua follows the band’s tradition of spotlighting animals on their album jackets, like Chubby Groove‘s pig and Maximum Huavo‘s rooster.
INABA / SALAS – EVERYWHERE MV
Avantgardey – OKP Cipher
The jacket cover for Avantgardey’s first single “OKP Cipher” is fair warning of the insanity ahead. No surprise that this track was produced by GRP, the mind behind “Not On The Sidelines” from Street Fighter 6.
Avantgardey – OKP Cipher MV
Yuko Suzuhana – Samurai Diva
David: Yuko Suzuhana — known to worldwide fans as the vocalist of Wagakki Band — is more “Diva” than “Samurai” in this classically beautiful portrait. It’s not a surprising take, but it catches your eye from across the room. With all the color and effects, it might be easy to pass over the intensity in her eyes. A serious performer with a powerhouse voice.
Yuko Suzuhana – Samurai Diva MV
PLASTIC GIRL IN CLOSET – HIGH HEART
Marc: PLASTIC GIRL IN CLOSET gets labeled as “shoegaze” but their sound mines all kinds of genres from early ’80s synth pop melodies to grunge guitar. The minimalist cover artwork doesn’t even hint at the diversity of songwriting inside, but it still makes for a strong image.
PLASTIC GIRL IN CLOSET – Can’t Stop My Heart MV
RAISE A SUILEN – FIGHT ADDICT
David: RAISE A SUILEN brings epic sci-fi grandeur to this image for “FIGHT ADDICT”, the ending theme for Cardfight Vanguard DivineZ Deluxe FINAL. The single itself is pretty poppy (and RAS has been known to go dark and heavy), so it’s kind of a bait and switch but still a good image for the band.
RAISE A SUILEN – FIGHT ADDICT MV
LITTLE LILITH – RUIN
David: Major dark fantasy vibes coming from this cover. I like that LITLLE LILITH points their visuals away from the glamor shots used by so many female metal bands. Raw and mysterious suits them just fine.
LITTLE LILITH – DELETE MV
Wednesday Campanella – Kawaii Girl
David: Wednesday Campanella’s vocalist Utaha is all attitude in this brightly-colored jacket photo. The Kawaii Girl jacket’s heavy visual effects and high energy presentation match the album’s complex production style (with bangers like “Wo Ai Ni”, “Summertime Ghost”, and “Moving Point P”).
Wednesday Campanella – Wo Ai Ni MV
OZworld – 369 No 6
One of Japan’s most intriguing hip-hop artists, OZworld makes a fierce statement in this image for 369 No 6, the second part of his 369 trilogy. “HIGHEST”, the Okinawan rapper’s collab with JP THE WAVY, is a standout track.
OZworld – UTAGE3.0 MV
