Album Review: Lovebites - Electric Pentagram
Reviewed by Neil Bolton
I first heard about Lovebites when they were announced to play at Bloodstock 2018. Squatter, on Bloodstock radio, played one of their tracks as he felt many a festival fan would be new to them also. Lovebites formed in 2016 in Japan and are getting a larger and larger fan base. Mainly due to the fact they play their style of speed metal, power metal, traditional metal, very well. And after watching them also at the aforementioned festival, on the main stage I may add, they can also do it live.
I have heard them referred to as manufactured, which is wrong! They were created by bass player Miho and drummer Haruna, collecting the rest of it members along their journey. I have even heard them called K Pop. Wrong country sorry!
'Electric Pentagram' is the title of their latest album, and if you are familiar with their work, and like it, you will like 'Electric Pentagram'. If you didn't like them previous, you probably still won’t. Not changing much from their earlier album 'Awakening From The Abyss'; the first track 'Thunder Vengeance' carries on in the same vein. All musicians involved are very accomplished, fast and precise. The vocals are somehow a little different though, I find them a little more “cute” than on the earlier recordings. I hope this is not a deliberate move.
'Holy War' has the same excellent guitar work, and indeed the next track, 'Golden Destination', has a lovely duel guitar Maiden-esque sound. With bass guitar also leaping to the fore. This album does create a good air guitar atmosphere. 'Raise Some Hell' goes a bit more metal again, but I can’t put my finger on it, the vocals are just a tiny bit... off. 'Frozen Serenade' seems like the 80's rock ballad you were, let’s face it, waiting for.
If you have listened to this album to this point, and carried on reading this revue to this point, you must be interested in Lovebites, and you will not be disappointed with anything you hear on this recording.
Look after that air guitar, and practice at least two hours a day!
Lovebites release 'Electric Pentagram' via JPU Records on January 31st.
