Higher and Higher!
Only few months passed since the
Lovebites splendid debut album has broken down the door to my world
and overturned a fair amount of titles on the shelf. The ladies seem
to follow 'make hay while the sun shines' adage and do it a serious
way, furthermore, giving a live show at Wacken Open Air on August of
2018, they became the first Japanese all-female rock band to visit
this German festival. And even if another European performances have
been scheduled for this year, four new songs managed to complete
their third offer. The magic of „Awakening from Abyss” provoked
extremely high expectations for new Ep, and as compared to the
full-length, one thing should be mentioned at first: three songs have
been written by Miyako („Break the Wall” with a help of Miho).
For me it's pretty clear, she is becoming a musical leader in the
crew. The first one called „The Crusade” was also chosen to be a
promotional video piece and... I liked it instantly. Being a modern
version of Iron Maiden's „Be Quick or Be Dead”, it's like a war
hammer hit in my occiput. And if this heavy song confirms the
whiteness is still in great condition, Asami left me speechless.
That's true she showed herself as a volcano of true emotions, but in
„The Crusade” (during chorus in particular), she is full
uncontrollable vitality when she sings „... break free, fight to
live on, forever strong...”.
After such an optimistic yet furious
opening Lovebites craft „Break the Wall” which is described in
the booklet as the fastest and most aggressive song in band's short
history. Very mechanic, with almost thrash-based portions of riffs it
does a havoc. But, wait, not all the time, there's a surprise, an
unexpected guest in the middle: after the duo leads, one-minute
lasting fabulous calm break appears. This great balance of emotions
shifts the song into something spectacular. In turn the second part
of the Ep has been influenced by Rachmaninoff. If „Above the Black
Sea” is concerned, „Piano Concerto No. 2” is the main reason
Miyako wrote that song and payed the homage to his work. Her vision
worked here perfectly, it's worthy to mention amazing guitar leads
from both guitarists. And just as on the debut, one track belongs at
least to Mao as a music writer, however „Under the Red Sky” seems
to be the answer to European power metal, especially when it comes to
bombastic chorus. Based on mentioned Russian, it is very optimistic
song in musical form, sometimes, in the second part, even fairy-tale
with seraphic voice of Asami.
So, is there anything to complain
about? Seemingly the Lovebites machine looks impeccably, but I'd like
to hear louder Miho lines in the final mix on next recording. Yep,
exactly, as the new album called „Clockwork Immortality” has been
announced to be released on 5th December 2018. This year!
That's absolutely incredible, however I'm not fully surprised at the
news as they're just toiling Japaneses. And I am not afraid of the
result: the band is in very good form providing fascinating piece of
music since its beginning. It is young vivid and modest (just take a
look on liner notes from the booklet) organism with absolutely
fanstastic cooperation, especially in Midori and Miyako performance.
In conclusion, these twenty-one minutes are totally worthy to fight
against (musical) damnation and looking at the song titles with their
four definite articles, I can write: The Lovebites.
88/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in October, 2018)
