13. Ruins
The first of several Japanese bands on the list is Ruins, the project of drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. Although they have gone through multiple lineup changes (including Yoshida performing solo as Ruins Alone), the group is predominantly comprised of two individuals: Yoshida on drums, and various collaborators either on bass or saxophone (in sister-project Sax Ruins). Inspired heavily by the prog rock operas of Magma, Ruins' music is unbelievably complex for a duo to perform. He composes everything in score form, with some of the time changes and passages being insanely tricky for anyone to play. But Yoshida isn't just anyone - he may well be the most impressive drummer in the world. Ruins tracks tend to be rapidly-shifting shapes, with the bass (or sax) warping weirdly around the precise drum parts. Vocals are chanted in the made-up language of Zeuhl (a throwback to Magma) in an utterly odd way that sounds almost alien. On top of everything else, the band reconstructs classical pieces and rock songs so that they match the rest of their oeuvre, building medleys from the remains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8HrN9_2z7U