JPU Records [Release date 24.02.23]
I first became aware of Lovebites a few years back when they opened for Dragonforce. Not knowing the band’s musical leanings, I was very surprised that night at their blend of power and thrash metal which went down a storm with the Dragonforce crowd.
Following a short hiatus brought about by the departure of founding member and bassist Miho, the band are back with an album full of anthemic metal songs. All tracks are played at breakneck speed but with great song writing and musicianship throughout.
Opening track ‘We Are The Resurrection’ could be a nod to their recent downtime and line-up changes and it does prove the band have risen above the turmoil and are back with a bang. Opening with a big symphonic flourish the band then wade in at a furious pace. The playing throughout is first class with Miyako and Madori leading the way with a twin guitar attack which leads into a great melodic chorus. Stirring stuff!
The pace and melody continue with the title track of the album ‘Judgement Day’, this has a Middle Eastern feel to the keyboard melody which punctuates the song. Again, the riffage rate is phenomenal as is the drumming by Haruna. ‘The Spirit Lives On’ flashes past like a bullet train on greased rails whilst ‘Wicked Witch’ gallops along on a wave of bass that could take on Steve Harris at his best.
A dirty bass line then kicks off ‘Stand And Deliver (Shoot Them Down)’ which is pure metal harking back to the NWOBHM complete with a killer chorus. The dual guitars of Miyako and Madori are brought to the fore again for ‘Victim Of Time’ which also features an excellent vocal performance from Asami.
‘My Orion’ slows things down a bit and is a solid, straight forward rocker. This is probably the most accessible song on the album and is an obvious single. Normal service is soon resumed though with ‘Lost In The Garden’ which again gallops along on a chugging riff shot through with melody. The mid- section gives all the band a chance to shine which they do with aplomb.
We are then thrown back into thrash metal territory with ‘Dissonance’ which could well have come from an early Anthrax or Testament album, form an orderly pit for this one! Things are rounded off with ‘Soldier Stands Solitarily’ which would keep the pit spinning with more thunderous riffs and drumming.
If you like your music hard, heavy and shot through with melody and harmony then this is most definitely the album for you. If this is ‘Judgement Day’ for Lovebites then I would say they are doing just fine! ****
Review by David Wilson
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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