In the ever-evolving landscape of Japanese metal, few bands have risen to international prominence as quickly and decisively as LOVEBITES. Their third studio album, "Electric Pentagram," released on January 29, 2020, stands as a testament to their musical prowess and unwavering dedication to the power metal genre. This monumental work not only solidified their position in the global metal scene but also showcased their remarkable growth as musicians and songwriters.
## From National Success to Global Recognition
Following the release of their second album "Clockwork Immortality" in December 2018, LOVEBITES embarked on an incredibly busy schedule that would shape the direction of their third album. The first half of 2019 saw the all-female quintet touring extensively, starting with their Japanese tour in January, opening for Arch Enemy in China in March, and performing at prestigious European festivals including Download Festival in both the UK and Spain, as well as Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium in June.
These international performances built upon the momentum generated by their historic appearance at Wacken Open Air in August 2018, further expanding their global fanbase and establishing LOVEBITES as serious contenders in the international metal arena. What makes their journey even more impressive is that amidst this hectic touring schedule, the band was already laying the groundwork for "Electric Pentagram."
Guitarist and keyboardist Miyako revealed that she began writing songs from late 2018 through March 2019, worked on arrangements from March to May, and started recording drums in June 2019. As was her custom, she initiated the writing process before the other members, ultimately composing half of the album's tracks. Meanwhile, bassist Miho and vocalist Asami maximized their time on the road by writing lyrics in hotel rooms between performances—a testament to the band's work ethic and commitment.
## The Concept: Protecting Heavy Metal
The album's title, "Electric Pentagram," carries significant meaning for the band. Traditionally associated with protection, the pentagram's five points symbolize the five members of LOVEBITES. According to the band, the title represents their mission of "protecting heavy metal."
Miyako shared an interesting insight about the title's origin: prior to the album's release, some had questioned whether the band might pivot toward a more pop-oriented sound due to their growing popularity. "Electric Pentagram" served as a definitive answer—a reassurance to metal fans that LOVEBITES would remain steadfastly committed to their heavy metal roots.
The album cover, created by Spanish artistic duo The EasyRabbit CreArtions (David López Gómez and Carlos Vincente León), features a wolf and a pentagram. The wolf, which has appeared on nearly all of the band's releases, symbolizes LOVEBITES' position as a "lone wolf" in the music scene, playing a non-mainstream genre like heavy metal in an industry often dominated by more commercial sounds.
## Production and Sound
Maintaining their established production partnership, LOVEBITES once again collaborated with the Finnish team of Mikko Karmila (mixing) and Mika Jussila (mastering) at the renowned Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. This consistency in production has helped the band develop their signature sound—crystal clear yet powerful, allowing each instrument to shine while maintaining a cohesive wall of sound.
For the recording, Miyako primarily used a Dean USA Icon guitar and a Peavey amplifier, while Midori favored ESP E-II Horizon guitars and a Kemper Power Rack. The latter allowed her to reproduce specific amplifier sounds in any recording studio by simply bringing a USB with preset configurations. Notably, "Electric Pentagram" marks the first time Midori employed eight-finger tapping technique on a studio recording, showcasing the band's continuous technical evolution.
## The Musical Journey: 12 Tracks of Pure Metal
At 70+ minutes with 12 diverse tracks, "Electric Pentagram" is an ambitious work that demonstrates LOVEBITES' versatility while maintaining their core power metal identity. Each song has its own story and inspiration:
**1. "Thunder Vengeance" (5:37)** - Composed by Miho in early spring 2019 after watching Slayer perform at Download Festival Japan, this explosive opener sets the tone for the album with its aggressive energy and technical precision.
**2. "Holy War" (5:45)** - Initially created by frequent collaborator Mao (of Light Bringer), this track underwent significant changes during recording. It's the first LOVEBITES song with lyrics credited to all five members collectively. Midori revealed that the song was inspired by Brazilian power metal legends Angra, with her guitar solo particularly influenced by former Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro.
**3. "Golden Destination" (5:41)** - Written by Miho as a tribute to British metal, this track was released as a single on February 19, 2020. The bassist compared it to "Don't Bite the Dust" from their debut releases, suggesting it represents how she would approach that song with her evolved compositional skills.
**4. "Raise Some Hell" (5:10)** - A departure from the band's typically serious lyrical themes, vocalist Asami wanted to create something more fun and lighthearted for their audiences. Miyako speculated that spending time with American hard rockers Halestorm might have influenced this more straightforward hard rock approach.
**5. "Today Is The Day" (5:57)** - Maintaining the album's relentless pace, this energetic track showcases the instrumental prowess of the band members and Asami's powerful vocal delivery.
**6. "When Destinies Align" (6:15)** - Perhaps the most personally significant track for Miyako, who had been saving the temporary title "Lovebites" since 2017 for a song she deemed "divine" enough to bear the band's name. Described as melodic speed metal, the lyrics written by Asami appropriately focus on the five band members themselves.
**7. "A Frozen Serenade" (6:51)** - Created specifically as a winter ballad to complement the album's January release, this track features beautiful acoustic guitar work. Despite noting that acoustic guitar is more challenging than electric since even minor mistakes are clearly audible, Miyako reported completing the solos quickly.
**8. "Dancing with the Devil" (6:01)** - A milestone track marking guitarist Midori's first songwriting credits with the band. Originally written for "Clockwork Immortality" but held back, Midori reworked the riffs and arrangements for this album. With a slower BPM than typical LOVEBITES material, it aims for a heavy, groovy feel with what Asami described as R&B elements.
**9. "Signs of Deliverance" (6:09)** - Dating back to early 2018, this track had been performed live since July 2019 before receiving its official title. Miyako specifically wanted a song featuring synchronized tapping with Midori at center stage, highlighting their technical chemistry.
**10. "Set the World on Fire" (5:48)** - Described by Miyako as thrash metal, this track underwent last-minute arrangement changes at the producer's suggestion, demonstrating the band's willingness to refine their work until the final stages.
**11. "The Unbroken" (5:49)** - Characterized by Miho as the album's most challenging song, this shuffle beat track proved difficult to arrange and record, pushing the band's technical abilities.
**12. "Swan Song" (7:09)** - A magnificent album closer where Miyako combined elements of her favorite classical pieces: Chopin's "Revolutionary Étude" and Dvořák's "New World Symphony." Having trained in classical ballet, Asami was inspired by the piano and classical motifs, which reminded her of "Swan Lake." The track features operatic backing vocals and concludes with a piano passage that Asami says represents the swan's death—a poetic finale to this epic album.
## Release and Pandemic Challenges
"Electric Pentagram" was released in Japan on January 29, 2020, through Victor Entertainment, with special editions offering substantial bonus content. Limited Edition A included a DVD of their Wacken Open Air performance from August 2018, while Limited Edition B featured a 2-CD live album recorded at EX Theater Roppongi in July 2019.
The band planned an extensive seven-date Japanese tour from February to April 2020 to support the album. They even opened a pop-up shop at Shinuku Marui Annex in February, displaying their stage outfits and selling tour merchandise.
However, like countless artists worldwide, LOVEBITES' plans were disrupted by the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The band offered refunds for their February 27 Osaka show and postponed several other performances. Showing their adaptability and consideration for fans, they compensated for these postponements by streaming previous concert videos for free on YouTube, including "Daughters of the Dawn - Live in Tokyo," "Battle in the East," and "Crusaders Standing at Wacken - Live in Germany 2018."
## Critical Reception and Commercial Success
"Electric Pentagram" achieved the band's highest chart positions to date, reaching number 9 on the Oricon chart and number 12 on Billboard Japan—a significant achievement for a metal band in a market often dominated by pop and idol music.
Critics worldwide embraced the album enthusiastically. Metal Nation described it as "12 songs and 70 minutes deep and the pace throughout is as fast and bombastic as anything I've heard," praising its relentless energy while acknowledging the stamina required to absorb such an intense listening experience.
On Metal Archives, one particularly enthusiastic reviewer declared: "The more time passes, the better and better this album gets. Hell, this is my front runner for album of the decade at this point. No one has topped this record."
Kerrang! highlighted the band's commitment to catchiness, noting that "it's this devotion to catchiness that renders Electric Pentagram a sustained blast of entertainment, even at an arguably over-generous 77 minutes."
Tuonela Magazine appreciated how the album "includes the classic ingredients of the genre such as epic melodies and virtuoso guitar playing, but they also incorporate some modern elements," while JRock News praised its "12 electrifying tracks of guitar shredding, face-melting power metal."
The blog Murlough23 noted the album's stylistic diversity: "Some of the songs you'll hear on this album are quite jagged and thrashy, while some are much more melodic and even symphonic, but they never lose their identity."
## Legacy and Significance
"Electric Pentagram" represents a crucial moment in LOVEBITES' career trajectory. Released at the cusp of a global pandemic that would drastically alter the music industry, the album nevertheless succeeded in elevating the band's profile and demonstrating their artistic growth.
Several aspects make this album particularly significant:
- It showcases the band's technical evolution, including Midori's first use of eight-finger tapping on a studio recording and her debut as a songwriter.
- The album features the first LOVEBITES song with lyrics credited to all five members ("Holy War"), highlighting their growing collaborative approach.
- Despite its 70+ minute runtime—unusually long even by power metal standards—the album maintains a consistent quality and energy throughout.
- The diverse inspirations behind various tracks—from Slayer to Angra, from Chopin to Dvořák—demonstrate the band's wide-ranging musical influences and willingness to incorporate elements from different genres while maintaining their core sound.
- The album's release just before the pandemic makes it something of a time capsule—the last major statement from LOVEBITES before the global music industry was fundamentally disrupted.
## Conclusion
With "Electric Pentagram," LOVEBITES delivered a definitive statement of their musical identity and ambitions. The album represents Japanese power metal at its finest—technically impressive, melodically rich, and performed with genuine passion. It balances the classic elements of European power metal with the band's unique sensibilities and diverse influences.
For fans of Japanese female-fronted rock and metal, "Electric Pentagram" stands as an essential listen—a powerful reminder that Japan continues to produce world-class metal acts capable of standing alongside the genre's global elite. Three albums into their career, LOVEBITES had not only found their voice but amplified it to reach metal fans worldwide, protecting and advancing the heavy metal tradition with every thunderous riff and soaring vocal.
## Essential Tracks
- "Golden Destination" - The album's lead single showcases the band's melodic sensibilities while paying homage to British metal traditions.
- "When Destinies Align" - Considered by Miyako to be worthy of bearing the band's name, this speed metal track captures LOVEBITES' essence.
- "Swan Song" - The ambitious album closer demonstrates the band's classical influences and compositional sophistication.
- "Thunder Vengeance" - Inspired by Slayer, this aggressive opener sets the tone for the entire album.
- "Dancing with the Devil" - Featuring Midori's first songwriting contribution, this track shows a slightly different side of the band with its groovy approach.
---
*What's your favorite track from "Electric Pentagram"? Let us know in the comments below!*
Comments
Post a Comment