Reviews list for Lovebites - Judgement Day (2023)

Lovebites' era with bassist Miho has some of the best modern-day power metal material I've heard recently. Almost every song is an absolute gem, with very few tracks that are bad or even mildly good. Some of my favorite songs by the band are the ones written by Miho who had to leave the band in 2021, causing the band to take a small break to look for a new bassist. They eventually hired the young Fami. She and the rest of this spectacular band consisting of vocalist Asami, guitarists Midori and Miyako, and drummer Haruna, stand strong with another amazing album Judgement Day! Not as perfect as most of their material with Miho, but still brilliant.

They've pretty much picked up where they left off in Electric Pentagram and Glory, Glory to the World, having their usual Euro-infused power metal sound with occasional dips into classic hard rock/metal and speedy thrash metal. The total length is about 3 quarters that of Electric Pentagram, which is convenient because of how compressed the mastering is this time around. And as for the songwriting, Asami has started writing more than just pop-ish songs and ballads.

Opening track "We are the Resurrection" is a fantastic way to usher in their new era. The chorus has so much drama and triumph. That makes that highlight the best one of the album, and we're only just getting started. Melody and aggression unite in the title track, which has proven Asami expanding her songwriting comfort zone. Lovebites has more of their Blind Guardian-esque power metal in "The Spirit Lives On". Although nothing's ever weak, "Wicked Witch" doesn't connect well, but it's still fine. That's where we start seeing the band's glory being toned down a bit in the Fami era.

Next up, "Stand and Deliver (Shoot 'Em Down)" is more aggressive with a great chorus to engage live crowd, particularly in those gang vocals. With that, I consider it the "Raise Some Hell" of this album. Continuing the thrashy vibe is "Victim of Time" in the crushing guitarwork while maintaining the melody. At this point, the band needs a song to break up the speed, and thus we have "My Orion". The tempo is slower but quite upbeat. It's no ballad or semi-ballad like "A Frozen Serenade", but it works.

There's some theatrical brilliance in "Lost in the Garden". Asami has some of the most emotional vocal power here. "Dissonance" rips through heavy dissonance. Finally the melodic end track "Soldier Stands Solitarily" speeds through melody and intensity to make another spectacular standout. Cool neoclassical soloing by Miyako too!

Judgement Day has excellent consistency, and while it may not beat their other releases like Electric Pentagram, they've made a greater comeback than one would expect. Fami's bass is as prominently used as Miho's, which shows the band's justice for their bassists. No matter the slight turbulence, Lovebites shall be hailed as the best Japanese power metal band of this decade. Lots of firepower in this album, so listen before you judge!

Favorites: "We are the Resurrection", "Judgement Day", "Stand and Deliver (Shoot 'Em Down)", "Lost in the Garden", "Soldier Stands Solitarily"