What you see, is what you get. When saying this about the Japanese band Lovebites, I do not mean “girl metal”, but I am referring to the title of their new album Outstanding Power. A couple of years ago the band was already reviewed for their album Clockwork Mortality . Since then the band worked very hard, because two more albums were released before their newest addition. So they’ve established a nice rhythm, and now we can also catch these ladies from Tokyo at the bigger festivals.
You’re not really missing out on much if you happen to have skipped an album by this band. You can tell the production has improved significantly, but in terms of content, this is very characteristic, well-executed heavy/power metal. It reminds me somewhat of the intense themes of their much older compatriots in X Japan. And of course the female vocals are quite distinctive. Powerful, that’s for sure, and with some similarities here and there to singer Saiki of Band-Maid, a band I’ve lost track of for a while now. Lyrically, Lovebites goes in a completely different direction, though the depth of the basslines certainly reveals similarities to Band-Maid as well. Musically, this is less catchy but more powerful, featuring impressive guitar solos and pounding drums. It’s no surprise to find a band like this on Metal Archives, though it does have a somewhat commercial sound to it.
In addition to their harder tracks, the band certainly offers some more mellow moments, such as on Dream of Kings or Eternally, but even songs like these are laced with solos that are sure to appeal to fans of Blind Guardian or Hammerfall. Still, Lovebites doesn’t quite match the epic scale of those bands, and that typical Japanese hard rock/heavy metal stamp always comes into play. Phoenix Rises Again is one of those typical songs you’ve heard done differently in the past, but it’s executed flawlessly. This isn’t just about writing a catchy riff; it’s about diving really deep into solos. At other moments, alongside the virtuoso Slash-style solos, there are also some great old-school hard rock moments, like on Out of Control. Definitely worth checking out.
Although the band offers plenty of variety within and between songs, I don’t feel like there’s really a standout hit here. The band’s second video might just be a contender, though, because Reaper’s Lullaby is nice and thrashy and melodic with a dark edge. The characteristic depth in the guitar solos is also present, and so you’re blown away for a solid five minutes. It’s not enough to make me go out and buy a Lovebites shirt just yet or make a trip to the next summer festivals just for this band. This is all excellently executed, and they’ll likely have a huge crowd of fans waiting for them even without me. After all, I’ve come across quite a few reviews that rate the ladies higher than my meager final score for this brilliant performance. So be it.
Score:
75/100
Label:
Napalm Records, 2026
Tracklisting:
- The Castaway
- Silence The Void
- Forbidden Thirst
- Blazing Halo
- Dream Of King
- Phoenix Rises Again
- Out Of Control
- Wheels On Fire
- The Eve Of Change
- Reaper’s Lullaby
- Eternally
- One Will Remain
Line-up:
- Haruna – Drums
- Midori – Guitar
- Asami – Vocals
- Miyako – Guitar, synth, piano
- Fami – Bass
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