1). Band-Maid!! Five Japanese women who dress in stylized maid outfits and write and play the best rock music I've heard in at least thirty years. If you're not familiar with them, hop on YouTube and look up the killer set they played at last year's Lolapalooza.
2) Lovebites -- five other Japanese women who dress in elegant white outfits and play power metal. I'm not knowledgeable about metal but YouTube reactors frequently compare them, favorably, with Iron Maiden. Lovebites writes terrific songs and has a jaw-dropping level of virtuosity and a hugely accomplished, non-shrieky singer. Lots of stuff available on YouTube. "Holy War" is a good starter.
3) Nightwish -- this band's been around since the 90's, but unfortunately I didn't discover them until recently. Great, great music, apparently classed as "symphonic metal". Lots on YouTube.
