X Japan Win Loudwire’s Best Live Band Tournament

We started with 32 amazing live acts and week by week you helped decide who would advance. When all the dust settled and the final votes were counted, X Japan came out on top, besting Pearl Jam in the Best Live Band tournament finals.

They began their run through the tournament by beating out Linkin Park in the first round of the Headbanger Region. They advanced to take on and take down Avenged Sevenfold before facing one of their stiffest competitions in the form of Slipknot in the Headbanger Region finals.

After that, it was onto the final four, where they defeated Stage Dive Region champ Tool in convincing fashion before earning a decisive win over the mighty Mosh Pit region representative Pearl Jam in the Best Live Band tournament finals.

The iconic X Japan built their reputation as one of Japan's top rock outfits with power metal, speed metal and symphonic elements to their music. While they released five studio albums in the late '80s and early '90s, the stage was where they truly made their name, first in their homeland and then branching out to North America within the last decade. Their elaborate production, emotional performances and master craftsmanship have made them a concert favorite and helped propel them to the Best Live Band title. Congrats to X Japan and their fans on the victory.

See the Best Live Band Tournament Brackets: