Trust me - if Haruna wanted to flex it would sound MUCH different. She's very sensitive to the overall sound of the band. The constant double kicks are there for a reason.

@guitarzen5999

11 ай бұрын

If Haruna wanted to flex, it could be the end of civilization as we know it😂

@williamcase426

11 ай бұрын

No flex fr fr

Thank you Doug, from the bottom of my heart. Lovebites is this 63 year old’s favourite band - ever. They are ridiculously talented, they play everything you can imagine within the framework of what they prefer to refer to as Heavy Metal. As a composer you might very well be interested in two pieces by the band. “Swansong” is a piece written by classical pianist turned guitarist Miyako, and the version to use is the one where she plays Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude as a prelude to the song, which itself, being Lovebites, is suitably impressive. The other is a piece Asami co-composed with Mao Yamamoto, who has arranged many of the Lovebites songs that Miyako’s hasn’t arranged (because she is a prolific writer and arranges her own compositions). The song is called “A Frozen Serenade” and the 2021 live version is an absolute must. The ladies are actually better live than in the studio. No, really. And finally, all four feet 9 inches of drummer Haruna is known for her double kick bass. A Lovebites song without it is rare, but there are several. Her forte’ is her cymbal work. I hope by now that you have listened to Judgement Day again, because her cymbal accents are sublime.

I know you hear fast double bass kicks but if you listen more intensely, there is a lot of other drum parts that are so in the pocket and very tight you’d have a different thought. Love you for listening to them. They are really good and have lots more great music.

This is a song written by _asami,_ the singer, who is not a composer and is one of the few tracks she has done, with the assistance of _Mao,_ who is one of the biggest music writers in the whole japanese metal scene. He does not work only for Lovebites. The context in which this was released helps understanding what's going on. Lovebites lost their founder and leader in summer 2021, the bassist _miho,_ and the rest of the girls decided to keep on with the project on their own, but they took close to two years of a hiatus to put stuff on their lives in order, find a new bassist and let the covid situation to finally get to normal. _Asami_ has mentioned that with Judgement Day, that was the first thing they did since they stopped, she felt like they were going to be put under judgement by everyone, who would check if they would still be worthy as they had been in the past with miho, and with this song they wanted to prove they still had the thing. This is the song everyone had to judge. The context is also important to understand the start and the end. Lovebites is a band known for having two excellent lead guitar players with incredible solos all the time. Those first notes is the first time we hear fami playing the bass in Lovebites. This two renowned lead guitars for the first time go to the back and become rhythm guitars and let the girl (she was only 20) catch all the protagonism, just on her first track. That said, one of the guitar players _(miyako,_ black hair) is a trained pianist since she was two and well versed in classical music. She composes half of the songs of the band, you should check one of her tracks instead. It is a deep cut, but it would be really interesting for you to check *Dystopia Symphony,* it really fits the content you do on your channel.

@hgus

11 ай бұрын

Thanks.

@clintonwilcox4690

11 ай бұрын

That's great that they didn't let the COVID situation stop them. One of my favorite bands is from Japan and they ended up disbanding because COVID made it impossible to play rather than simply taking a hiatus until life got back to normal.

The Japanese rock and metal scene is a deep and wonderful rabbit hole. Imagine what could come from a society where a minimum of 10 years of music education is mandatory. This is Japan. I highly recommend the bands Band Maid, Nemophila, Hanabie, and Asterism. Enjoy it, It is a hell of a ride.

@thinj8257

6 ай бұрын

I think Doug could *really* get some enjoyment out of Kanami's writing on some of the more intricate Band-Maid stuff. The instrumentals in particular would probably really hit for him, when she writes those she plays with the arrangement of things in interesting ways. Onset and From Now On are both so good.

Glad to see that you have taken the time to check out Lovebites. They are one of my favorite metal bands right now. :)

Haruna is a very busy drummer even by power metal standards. All packed into a 146cm package.

1. Lovebites - Swan Song with Chopin intro Live 2020. 2. Band-Maid - Shambles mv. Doug, these two songs will make you smile with satisfaction.

Haruna is a beast on drums. Power metal is known for fast steady drumming, but Haruna is built different. She is a master at cymbal/bell/china work, and adds all sorts of that along with fills throughout. I disagree with your take on her drumming because I feel you are missing everything she does along the way and are just too focused on the underlying beat. Miyako & Midori are the best dual leads I personally have ever heard. Fami's bass lines are sick in this song. Asami's vocals are forward and powerful. After 50+ years of listening to metal, Lovebites is now my all-time favorite band. I enjoyed your honest reaction and analysis.

@1970Phoenix

11 ай бұрын

She really is the epitome of complex but efficient drumming. Her cymbal work, fills and foot work are elite, and she does it for two hours straight during a concert.

@Yupppi

11 ай бұрын

She's great at drumming, and she surely puts in decorative details, but if you exhaust the ears with constant buzz, they stop picking up nuances and it feels numbing unfortunately. The overall theme, feel and beat is still constant and consequently exhausting even if it's full of great details. Like a freight train at full speed. For people who enjoy that it's great, don't get me wrong. The thing is, he just expresses how he feels about it, there's no disagreeing with someone's feelings. Even if we'd feel different, they're not wrong.

@mmcpa

11 ай бұрын

@@Yupppi I guess I just can't relate to the idea of getting exhausted by the assault.

@SomethingToDo360

11 ай бұрын

@@Yupppi It’s not just this guy either. I noticed different people giving similar criticism; having an issue with the continuous uptempo drumming on the Judgement Day album. Like asking for a little more variation. I understand it personally, but it doesn’t seem to always go well when someone brings it up.

@alekhidell

10 ай бұрын

@@Yupppi I agree to a point. But to decide at the outset that you don’t like the drumming style means you have prejudiced yourself whether intentionally or not. Just like the tendency to record music at maximum volume, something which began in the 90’s I think, the result can be that you end up hearing a continuous noise. But I’m older than Doug, and prior to discovering Lovebites, Rush was my favourite band. So I know what skilful drumming is. Had you suggested to me that I listen to someone playing at Haruna’s tempo, I would not have been impressed. But what Doug has inadvertently done is reinforce a confirmation bias. “I don’t like it so I won’t like it”. Had I done that I wouldn’t be listening to Lovebites now. Once you accept it for what it is, whether or not it’s your personal preference, it actually makes her drumming *ESSENTIAL* to Lovebites sound. She uses it in context, it’s not used for the sake of it.

Okay, I had to hit pause at 6:48 because at this point it's the secocnd time you made a negative comment about the drums. As a drummer I am sitting here shakinig my head. Haruna's drumming is exactly what a song like this needs. As you already noted, this song runs in and out of several different odd time signatures, and so basic or more reserved drumming would not fit. Power/Melodic metal such as this requires what we affectionately refer to as "The New Math" style of drumming. Okay, now at 8:12 again making a negative comment about the drumming. Try to remember, people with your background use to make the same criticisms of Nieil Peart of Rush, and they still make the same critic of drummers like Mike Portnoy and Mike Mangini. If Haruna were to pull back in just a little this song, as would the majority of Lovebites other songs, would not have the same drive or punch. With regards to the lyrics, the song, from my understanding, is a message to the fans that declares that the band is back and they understand that peoeple will be judgeing. That everyone has their own opinions and beliefs, but only time will tell how Lovebites will be judged.

@boyzyu

11 ай бұрын

Spot on !

@1970Phoenix

11 ай бұрын

Haruna is an elite drummer, and her playing fits perfectly with this style of music.

Lovebites is Deadly Precision, Ultra Technical and Completely Classy. A band of Virtuoso's quite honestly.

Haruna is the MVP. The helmsman. Without her mastery, Lovebites wouldn't be the same.

Thanks for your reaction. If you have any plans of doing further Lovebites reactions, I recommend live performances of the following songs: "Edge of the World" and "Frozen Serenade". Both songs offer quite a lot of variety and are not all "double bass (drums)" from beginning to end.

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

+1 for these suggestions

Thanks for taking a look at LOVEBITES, these extremely talented ladies deserve so much more recognition than they are currently receiving. I would not have chosen is song as a first-listen, but love just about everything they do....and yes, Live is always best! Cheers!

About the Judgment Day video-its a song about battle with your own fears. If you can conquer your own fear you can do anything. Thats why they all have their light and dark side here. A battle with yourself, your darkest thoughts and fears-thats how Asami described the whole thing more or less. This band is special. You aint see nothing yet.

Nice, thank you for bringing these women up. There are songs that would fit into the neo-classical nomenclature, like Swan Song, which is preceeded by a short Chopin intro that you may enjoy. About this song, it's the first after an almost 2-year hiatus during which they recruited a new bassist, the dark-haired guitarist had a child and so on. The judgement day is the fans, judging if they still "got it", according to an interview i read. I don't know anything about the imagery in the video. Musically one of the most proficient set of musicians this metalhead have come across in 40+ years. One of...

As a fellow classical musician, I hope that you can react to Lovebites' Swan Song with Chopin intro live. This will give you a more accurate idea of their compositional talent and depth . Miyako (pianist/guitarist/composer) also references another Chopin etude in her solo. Simply a pleasure to listen to. Haruna's drumming is also a lot more sympathetic to the track (yes, it is fairly constant double bass pedal, but hey, that's the metal style they play. But, her accents, fills and comps are sublime)! . Enjoyed your reaction reaction.;

I think Swan Song with Chopin intro would have been a better choice for this channel.

This could be your foot in the door. So many talented Japanese bands, many all female. Give Band Maid, Nemophila, Gacharic Spin and Doll$Box a try. All extraordinarily talented and all different (although the last two feature the same instrumentalists).

@luisnunes3863

11 ай бұрын

I'll add Unlucky Morpheus! 🤘🤘 Phenomenal bands coming out of Japan.

@jamie4993

11 ай бұрын

@@luisnunes3863 I focused on solely female bands as a starting point. Don't want to overwhelm Doug with choice quite yet.

Very exited to see your reaction to this band, they play more than just power metal, for my taste they thrash metal songs are some of the bests metal songs realeased in nowdays, hope you come back with them. Lovebites is one of this new wave of female metal bands that is shacking the japanese scene today and its awesome.

Everything I want from a band. Bloody Lovebites 🐺 I love'em

Lovebites is not just a power metal band. They play a seamless and innovative blend of speed-power/thrash/prog/neoclassical metal/heavy rock/power ballads which affords them their own unique sound. As a classical composer, you might be interested to hear the neoclassical metal side of Lovebites, I recommend "Swan Song with Chopin Intro" LIVE : kzread.info/dash/bejne/iXac1tOgmburcZc.html . If you want to witness how truly talented this band is, I suggest "A Frozen Serenade" LIVE : kzread.info/dash/bejne/c5ls0rOPpZC4fps.html

@henny1356

11 ай бұрын

I think Speedmetal explains it best.

Perfect beautiful metal song..goosebump. Haruna was an unpredictable drummer that can put any insane fills beautifully.👍 Great analysis bro

I've probably listened to 100 reactions to this song, including several from professional drummers, and I've never before heard someone criticise the drumming as being "incessant".

@pappapata

11 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂

@randypeters366

10 ай бұрын

I don't think he knows much about anything. I would imagine he's intermediate level at best on any instrument.

@pappapata

10 ай бұрын

He is a classical composer with ecclesiastical overtones and his main instrument is the piano. Both as composer and instrumentalist. But he can't handle drumming like this.😄

@randypeters366

10 ай бұрын

@@pappapata Being a composer means nothing to me. It doesn't mean he can play at an advanced level. I seriously doubt if he's very well knownn

@randypeters366

10 ай бұрын

I'm not butthurt. I think he's a joke. There's an old saying about professors. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Just my opinion. Musical doctorates mean nothing to me. Did I hurt your widdo widdo feelings? @@nahadoth2087

Oh HELL yeah, Lovebites! These girls are here to shred and there's not much more to it. And, honestly, I love that. I don't think I've heard a bad album from them. Same as Band-Maid, these are really talented musicians from Japan here to have a good time and rock the hell out

welcome to the world of Lovebites the world of beautiful ballads, heavy, power, speed, thrash metal.

"We are Lovebites and we play Heavy Metal" ed note - Thank God!

I discovered Lovebites a couple weeks back via another reacting video. I think they're great and while, yes, they are a PowerMetal band, their sound is - to me - grounded in an 80s ThrashMetal style (albeit with modern techniques and production values). Concerning your thoughts about the drums, this 'machine gun' sound/approach was very common, and, in its own way, was responsible for the music's intensity. Personally, I love it; it creates a very energized groove that just make you want to mosh or stage dive. But, I can see where it might be overwhelming. A good reaction. Best! J

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

Well said. I agree. Welcome to the wolfpack my friend.

Great review :) I'm a longtime metal fan, since the 1980s. "Power metal" is my favorite subgenre, but yeah, the non-stop machine-gun kick drums are probably my least favorite characteristic of the genre. It is, unfortunately, present in almost every power metal band, and a large percentage of the songs in the genre. To a certain extent, speaking from the perspective of a bassist, I feel like it's the drums stepping on the bass player's toes. I mean, the stock "metal bass line" consists of the bassist sitting on a single note, usually the root, playing rapid 8th or 16th notes, so the drummer doing the same thing with the kick drums is, in my opinion, not just doubling the bass line, but overpowering it. Granted, I have a jazz background, and in jazz the bassist is considered the primary timekeeper, and so jazz drummers tend to reserve the kick drum for accents. (For the record, I was a jazz saxophonist, not a jazz bassist.) Nevertheless, Lovebites is currently my favorite band in the world. Not my "all-time" favorite band (that honor goes to Rush), but my favorite among currently active bands. I highly recommend taking a look at "A Frozen Serenade". It's an absolute masterpiece.

Thank you for reacting to LOVEBITES. LOVEBITES has about 60 songs. Please keep up the good work LOVEBITES. LOVEBITES was formed in 2016 by Miho(Ba) and Haruna(Dr), members of the band "DESTROSE", which went on hiatus in 2015. The girls made their major label debut in 2017 (March 24) with "THE LOVEBITES EP". On 18 June 2018, LOVEBITES won 'BEST NEW BAND' at the Metal Hummer Golden Gods 2018 awards organised by the British metal magazine METAL HUMMER. On 4 August, LOVEBITES performed on the W.E.T stage at WACKEN OPEN AIR 2018, one of the world's largest annual metal festivals in Germany, with the 10,000 capacity venue almost full. "Bloodstack open air 2018(Aug. 10)" also participated. On August 20,2018, LOVEBITES announced that it has partnered with X-ray Touring, one of the largest players in the UK booking agent industry. LOVEBITES toured the Netherlands, Germany, France and UK from November 13-21, 2018. Asami (Vo) of LOVEBITES appeared as a guest on stage at Halestorm "Download Japan 2019(March 21)", singing alongside "Lzzy" Hale on Halestorm's 'Love Bites', which gave the band their name. I participated in "dowload Festival 2019(June 15)". And Asami of LOVEBITES appeared as a guest on stage at Halestorm Download Festival UK 2019, singing alongside "Lzzy" Hale on Halestorm's "Love Bites" again after Japan. LOVEBITES join DragonForce on UK tour 2019(Nov. 2-14). On 2 December 2019, LOVEBITES was the support act for the Tokyo leg of Halestorm's Japan tour. To be continued, fill in next time. Asami(Vo) Miyako(G - Key ‐ Piano Black hair) Midori(G) Haruna(Dr) Miho(Ba) First Bassist New bassist from 'JUDGEMENT DAY' songs. Bassist of this song Fami(Ba) New Bassist

@fab1901

11 ай бұрын

Thank you for your reaction to LOVEBITES. I introduced LOVEBITES to you about 8 months ago. I am very happy that you have finally taken up LOVEBITES. The first live videos of the following songs are now available. "LOVEBITES / Nameless Warrior [Official Live Video taken from "Knockin' At Heaven's Gate"]" Meet Miyako (G - Key and Piano black hair), the main composer of this bant. She is a pianist, classically trained in piano from the age of 3 to 18. She has been self-taught on the electric guitar since the age of 18 and continues to this day. In the next song, Miyako incorporates classical piano into metal music. "LOVEBITES Swan Song Chopin Intro'' live with lyrics "LOVEBITES A Frozen Serenade" 2021 LIVE in Tokyo with lyrics Fami(LOVEBITES) is a five-string bassist who can dance, sing and play and has 677,000 KZread subscribers. You will be amazed by new bassist Fami's slapping and fast finger picking. If you watch "Alien Alien" on her KZread channel, which was uploaded 4 years ago with 10,820,000 listens on her content, you will be amazed at her world-class slapping skills. KZread channel "Fami。" [alien alien Bass cover]" kzread.info/dash/bejne/g5OJ09ytp7ynf7g.html Fami signed a contact for the "Bacchus Handmade Series signature headless bass WOODLINE5AC-HL Fami" at the age of 19. Fami is currently 20 years old. Fami will turn 21 on 1 June 2023.

Swan Song with Chopin intro

Lovebites is a band that is even better Live also.

Lovebites in a Heavy Metal band.

Yes ! I've been waiting for this reaction ! One of my favorite bands for sure ! Super talented ! Please check out some of their live performances !

You are going to love Miyako. A classical concert pianist, who is prone to playing classical pieces on stage ie Chopins revolutionary etude, a bit of Tchaikovsky and has a solo album with piano covers also arranged by herself. She is a maestro and a talent that comes around once in a generation!!

@davidtormaschy9988

11 ай бұрын

@DougHelvering. Miyako also has a CD where she does cover songs on the Piano. Halloweens "Eagle Fly Free", Metallica's "Battery", with a Deep Purple song along with two other influences for her and Addicted by Lovebites. She does an awesome job on all six songs. I don't listen to piano, but she had me hypnotized by her play.

Yeah! Metal lives on in Japan, Ukraine (Jinjer) and Australia (12 foot Ninja). Fami’s slap cover of Alien Alien made me a fan

Thanks for reacting to Lovebites! It was great, hope you further do it again with another of their most of 60 songs from different heavy metal subgenres, under a variety of influences and even different band phases, since they've started a while ago and already made singular and historical their path in nowadays' heavy metal music.

Welcome & thanks from Japan 有難う💛。 Lovebites is one of the best bands in our country. Their live performance is much better than MVs. We say "Japan is the country obsessed by Rock Music". The history is very long and the obsession started in 1966 when Beatles visited Japan and held 5 concerts at Budokan. Speaking of hard rock / heavy metal music, a number of bands started to come to Japan since as early as 1970s : Led Zeppelin / Grand Funk Railroad (1971), Deep Purple (1972), Queen (1975), Kiss (1977), Cheap Trick / Van Halen / Scorpions (1978), Judas Priest (1978/79) and so on. Now, any type of rock can be enjoyed here, especially by many all-female or women-fronted bands. They are daughters of American / European rock, for sure. (Many are grand-daughters in terms of age.) Uh-oh, we also say "Japan is the country obsessed by Jazz". It had started earlier than rock 😄

@hgus

11 ай бұрын

Thanks.

50% of Lovebites songs is power metal but other 50% they play thrash metal, heavy metal, speed metal, neo classical even they play ballad too

LOVEBITES - a heavy metal band. 🤗In all the interviews the Ladies refer to themselves as a heavy metal band (not power metal). They play progressive, speed, thrash, power, neoclassical metal, hard rock, classical music, some songs have elements of symphonic metal (58 original songs and musical compositions for 2017-2023). Often combine several genres in one song. At every concert, Asami (lead vocals) yells to the audience: 'We are LOVEBITES. And We play heavy metal !' LOVEBITES YT channel : The Japanese heavy metal band LOVEBITES releases the new live Blu-ray, DVD and double-CD featuring night 1 of their two comeback shows 'WE ARE THE RESURRECTION' with new bassist Fami in this March. And ect ... To understand the meaning and significance of the song (and the Music Video) one needs to know the history of the band prior to the release of their album 'Judgement Day'. One article from Wikipedia is not enough to understand what the band went through.🤗 P.S. In the 'Judgement Day' Music Video, Asami (lead vocals) doesn't catch up with anyone. She runs away, looking back, fearing persecution. They catch up with her, knock her down to the ground, she is in despair and .... suddenly she sees a sword stuck in the ground not far from her.

@hgus

11 ай бұрын

And THIS is the Judgment Day because actually every day is to fight the evil.

@dg6729

11 ай бұрын

Sounds like typical cheesy power metal to me.

@GrayFox14

11 ай бұрын

@@dg6729 And what is next ? 😊What did you want to say?

@GrayFox14

11 ай бұрын

@@hgusI agree with you. Also, in my opinion, the lyrics of the song show the struggle with oneself in order to overcome the difficulties that arise in life.

@1970Phoenix

11 ай бұрын

@@dg6729 So, if you don't like Power Metal, perhaps try their thrash songs, or don't you like typical cheesy thrash metal songs either?

(As some comments mention Miyako's solo album from June 2023 with piano covers of heavy metal songs) Miyako - Etude Op.23 - kzread.info/dash/bejne/jGp-utezh5zMgM4.html 1. Battery (Metallica) 2. Far Beyond The Sun (Yngwie Malmsteen) 3. Eagle Fly Free (Helloween) 4. The Loner (Gary Moore) 5. Burn (Deep Purple) 6. Addicted (LOVEBITES)

@stand.and.deliver.5

11 ай бұрын

Would be very interesting to get the opinion of a classical composer 👍🏻

I've been a fan of Lovebites since the beginning. I heard of them on website that does metal news. I listened to that first song, Don't Bite the Dust, and was hooked. I preordered their first EP and that was it. I was a fan for life. They are easily one of the best metal bands performing today. They don't tour much outside Japan which sucks because I want to see them live real bad.

@boyzyu

11 ай бұрын

Miyako mentioned in an Instagram LIVE a few months ago that if she could tour overseas now (then when she was LIVE), she would immediately do so. I interpret that as they are not ready to do so in 2023. factors ? Just speculating, but what comes to mind are very young children, being on hiatus for nearly 2 years and just getting back into the swing of things, Fami just joined and she needs to be eased in gradually from the LIVE perspective, and so on. In terms of overseas tours by the band, I'll watch out for announcements for 2024.

So glad you took the time to get Lovebites on your channel. I've listened to a lot of your reactions. I feel there are much more interesting songs by Lovebites that would suit your channel better and also show off more of the band's talents. I recommend A Frozen Serenade. kzread.info/dash/bejne/c5ls0rOPpZC4fps.html

@TheCyberMantis

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, I think he would like "Frozen Serenade" better. He would probably not like "Solitary Soldier". Too fast. He doesn't seem to like fast drumming.

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

@@TheCyberMantis SSS has the constant double pedal. A Frozen Serenade is much more varied. One of their best songs.

@One808

11 ай бұрын

Agreed. Or Edge of the World.

So, the video was going back and forth between them and their dark side, in the mirror. The shadow was chasing her until she picked up the sword, and broke the mirror, containing their dark images, as indicated by the glass shards on the ground, with their dark images on them, at the end.

Thanks for reacting to Lovebites Doug, much appreciated. I see that the Wolfpack has descended on you in numbers! Lovebites fan support is not huge but global in reach, and hopefully expanding if they tour overseas in 2024. As you've probably been told ad infinitum, their work is best appreciated in live performances. I'm 65, and have seen some of the bigger rock acts on stage over the years, and these ladies play the cleanest, tightest live shows I've ever witnessed. They are all highly talented musicians (yes, including Haruna on drums, lol!) and their outstanding prodigy is Miyako. As mentioned by others, as well as being a brilliant lead guitarist, she is classically trained on piano, and has produced some wonderful piano covers for her side project, Etude, Op. 23. Well worth checking out. Cheers from Australia.

@rainerzufall42

11 ай бұрын

Miyako - Etude Op.23 - kzread.info/dash/bejne/jGp-utezh5zMgM4.html 1. Battery (Metallica) 2. Far Beyond The Sun (Yngwie Malmsteen) 3. Eagle Fly Free (Helloween) 4. The Loner (Gary Moore) 5. Burn (Deep Purple) 6. Addicted (LOVEBITES)

My fellow Wolfpack mates have already covered alot of the ground I was going to, but that's good...less for me to type! 😉 It seems a central topic here is Haruna's drumming, which I have mad respect for. Known as The Little Big Engine, it's amazing what this pint-sized (4'8" I believe) dynamo can do. She works a pretty large drum kit so dang efficiently, and she has worked years to get to that point. You better be real efficient if you're gonna pound skins for over 90 minutes without missing a beat or breaking a sweat. Their songs need that to drive the rhythm, and the band needs it to deliver the tight sound they have. And boy, does Haruna deliver! But I hear what you're sayin', Doug (and some others here.) Maybe that's a part of the reason LOVEBITES hasn't gotten the massive popularity other "lesser" bands have. The average rock, R&B, or even hard rock consumer can't wrap their heads around the onslaught served up in their thrashier compositions. It's one thing to be universally respected for your talent, but obviously, that doesn't guarantee you'll be hugely "popular." As good as their studio productions are, it's the live performances that are really where it's at for this band. I don't know how many of you in the Wolfpack here got to see the watch party for the upcoming DVD release the band hosted online on Saturday (8/12), but it's easily in my top 5 live performances as far as impact it had on me. It was an incredibly emotional return to the stage for the ladies who hadn't performed in front of a live audience in 2 years. You could easily see and feel the joy and energy the band exuded throughout the set; but Asami...my god, Asami; if you couldn't tell that performance meant absolutely everything in the world to her, you weren't paying attention. When she addressed the audience during the first MC break, I just totally lost it. I don't speak Japanese, but I hope someone, at some point, can provide a full translation of everything she said. Her speech was dialed down so it seemed like she was in your living room having a quiet conversation with you. You could feel her sincerity and the raw emotion in her voice , which trembled at times while her eyes welled with tears betraying the smile on her face. I love this band and these women like a father...I'm so proud and inspired by their talent, hard work, and what they've achieved; and look forward to see where they go. Hopefully, one place they go will be the US, cuz I'd be at the front of the line to buy tickets to their show. Thanks for giving your time to check out LOVEBITES, Doug. If you wanna check out something else from them, just listen to the Wolfpack; they're already steering you in the right direction. This band is NOT a one trick pony! 🐺🤘🎸

@rainerzufall42

11 ай бұрын

If this is the "less for me to type" version, which is the long version? Just kidding, you're absolutely right!

@metalmark1214

11 ай бұрын

Great write-up Cory. I became a member of the Wolfpack 18 months ago. I watched the concert on 8/12/23 and saw the happiness of the ladies performing live again. Fami fitting in very well. I heard that Miyako is taking English lessons. I'm hoping that they come to the USA in 2024 or 2025.

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

@@metalmark1214 I think they will tour America. I know they want to.

I'm glad that you gave these talented ladies a listen as I've requested them a while ago haha. And you might want to listen to A Frozen Serenade next. It's a very different song and it features some of Haruna's best drumming.

Doug - if you are going to listen to female JRock you also need to listen to Band Maid (hard rock not metal but with metal and other rock style influences). They have been around since 2013. I recommend listening to Manners or if you want just an instrumental From Now On. As far as I am concerned they are some of the best hard rock composers/arrangers our there (and I am an old Rush fan!).

lovebites alwas live ! :)

This band is on anotther level nothing in metal can compare with them. They are beyond metal genre 🐺🤘LOVEBITES 🤘🐺 the team of five thrashpower metal godesses. "We're not here to be cute, we're here to be heavy" Asami🎤 R&B, jazz, soul, metal, rock singer, lyrics, (only English all songs one is exeption in Japanesse language) she trained ballet. Haruna 🥁⭐one of the best drummer worldwide, founder, (PEARL drums) Fami🎸 bass guitar player and composer (FREEDOM guitar, BACCHUS hand made, bespoke guitar) Midori🎸 lead, rythm guitar, spanish guitar, back singer, (ESP guitar) Miyako🎸 lead, rythm guitar, spanish guitar, piano, keybord, back singer, main composer but all Ladies compose. (DEAN guitar, GIBSON guitar) classic influences, piano virtuoso Welcome to the magic world of Lovebites. Thanks for Great review 🌹🌹🌹Miho Rosana🎸 ex_bass guitar player the legend and boss of the band, lyrics, founder, back singer, (ESP_AMAZE guitar) "OK, Haruna give me the beat" Asami to Haruna. "Scream for Me" Daughters of the Dawn~Live in Tokyo 2019 Nickname of Lovebites Fans WOLFPACK 🤘🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🤘 Unofficial anthem "We The United" live Tokyo Zepp divercity 2020. Lovebites - Interview - Paris, France - November 20. 2018 Subtitles: English, Français, Deutsch, Español, русский, Italiano kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z3-krKSeY9aYmZM.html The name of the band "Lovebites" derives from the song "Love Bites, So Do I" by Halestorm kzread.info/dash/bejne/gXeGw6qEpc-eqLw.html Lovebites and Dragonforce London 2019 fall common tour kzread.info/dash/bejne/faJ7sryxlrKnnco.html NO TIME TO HESITATE LISTEN TO LOVEBITES kzread.info/dash/bejne/Zaxsl9WCmbq7oto.html LOVEBITES SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/LovebitesTheBand WOLFPACK SIDES LOVEBITES fans WE PLAY HEAVY METAL🐺🤘 facebook.com/groups/278200502817260 LOVEBITES Fans Worldwide 🌏🤘 facebook.com/groups/lovebitesfansworldwide LOVEBITES WORLDWIDE 🐺🌏 facebook.com/groups/Rosana.miho.lovebites LOVEBITES International Fanclub 🐺🌏 🤘 facebook.com/groups/lovebitesinternationalunofficialfanclub LOVEBITES_The Lovebites & Miho appreciation group 🐺🤘🌹facebook.com/groups/603076340973012/posts/613670429913603 LOVEBITES Pics 🐺📸🤘 facebook.com/Lovebites-Pics-107748192002193 LOVEBITES_European Wolfpack 🇪🇺🐺🤘facebook.com/groups/206362524872803/?ref=share LOVEBITES Latinoamérica 🌏 ⭐ facebook.com/groups/1154061975000348/?multi_permalinks=1204418293298049¬if_id=1642516878521875¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif LOVEBITES BRASIL🇧🇷 facebook.com/groups/651554215413256 Alcatéia LB FangsBrasil (Lovebites Brasil Fangs) 🇧🇷 facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058773859494 LOVEBITES FANS HUNGARY 🇭🇺 facebook.com/groups/633995108124762 LOVEBITES France🇨🇵 facebook.com/LovebitesFrance LOVEBITES Fans Deutschland🤘WE PLAY HEAVY METAL 🇩🇪 facebook.com/groups/2234697443332496/?ref=share LOVEBITES / FANS ESPAÑOL 🇪🇸 facebook.com/groups/1160707970996372 LOVEBITES FANS ITALIA🇮🇹 facebook.com/groups/456590596125468 LOVEBITES POLSKA GIVE ME THE BEAT🇵🇱 facebook.com/groups/215822307683239 LOVEBITES USA🇺🇸 mobile.twitter.com/lovebites_usa "WE ARE LOVEBITES AND WE PLAY HEAVYYYY METAAAAL!!!" Stay safe. Stay Lovebites 2:10

Thanks for the reaction Doug. Hope you check out a few more songs by these ladies, they have over 60 to choose from. Although I will admit the drumming is almost always the same, constant pounding (I love it). 😂🤣😂🤣🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Hi Doug. This is what I know about the meaning of the song. For one and a half year before this song the basist left the group. And also we got covid. So, the group went into a hiatus. Did not perform and did not know what to do and also felt rather bad about that. I can assume they discussed to even terminate the band. Then they decided to try again and started to look for a new basist. They had a HUGE tryout. And they found Fami. Which is a young girl that was in the same situation. She have a bass KZread channel and is very popular, but she started to doubt that continue with bass was her future. But now Fami and Lovebites found each other and hope and happiness was there again. And then they planned the come back. And that day would be the judgement day. The day when it was decided if it would work out. The black versions of themselves represents their gloomy state of mind when everything was hopeless. And the white versions are the new incarnation of themselves. And now they have to conquer their old gloomy souls that are chasing them. The only thing I do not understand is the ending. Maybe it is just to make an ending. Or maybe they mean that it is not decided yet. But BTW, now it is decided. They are making a fantastic tour. You should look at The Hammer of Wrath from that tour. Then you could also decide if you like the drummer better. She is very good.

@rolandkarlsson7072

11 ай бұрын

BTW - I do understand that a drummer that chills a bit more and then bursts out in more serious drumming now and then could be a more interesting drummer. But generally, this is not Haruna. Except for some songs. She can do it. She can play other genres. But, as I say, I think you will like her drumming more in The Hammer of Wrath. It is more varied.

@guitarzen5999

11 ай бұрын

They wrote the song before Fami joined the band. As a matter of fact the album was done before Fami got into the studio to re-record the bass parts.

@fab1901

11 ай бұрын

This is a live talk by Asami. There is light and darkness in things, and that means that even if you overcome the darkness, the same thing will happen all over again.

Miyako writes 70% of their songs. She is a classically trained pianist and didn't start playing guitar until 19 or 20. During an interview she said the guitar solos are written separately by her and Midori. They come together in the studio and workout the final composition.

going to add to another comment, you have to listen to what the drummer is doing. Haruna is a master, your not hearing all shes doing, there is a method to the madness

Songs like this are for headbanging. I need that sometimes.

This song was composed by Asami and Mao (freelance composer, keyboardist for Lightbringer, programmer, production), Mao has composed around 40% of the songs for Lovebites, the other composer for Lovebites is Miyako (dark haired guitarist, also an excellent piano player) and she has composed over 50% of the songs for Lovebites. Whenever you get back to Lovebites perhaps you can do one of the songs composed by Miyako for comparison/contrast, probably the go to recommendations will be "Swan Song" (with Chopin Intro) or "Stand and Deliver"

I was intrigued the first time I saw a Lovebites video. A Japanese all-girl band dressing in white instead of black - much more sexy than wearing all black. I don't listen to much shred, but these ladies play as well as any guys, maybe better. Hope they make it to America someday.

Many of their songs have uplifting lyrics. I certainly find them as therapeutic as the music itself.

Would be interesting to see Galneryus on here being that we're on the topic of Japanese metal bands. They actually have a song called Angel Of Salvation which has parts inspired by Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto!

Don't forget that its an image in a mirror of her running away at the end.

Doug...they are AWESOME! They are my absolute favorite band. I came across them during the pandemic and trying to recover from Neck/Spine surgery...and to this day, I must listen to their songs 4-6 times a week. Hopefully if they come to the US on tour, I will be healthy enough to see them. When you have time, check out their backgrounds. I think you will be impressed.

Drumming was beyond awesome... perfection 👍🏻

HARUNA !!! HARUNA !!! HARUNA !!! 🤘🐺🤘

@TheCyberMantis

11 ай бұрын

Princess Haruna's power is only exceeded by her ultimate cuteness! 🥴☺

@brandydynamite5877

11 ай бұрын

@@TheCyberMantis Oh yes indeed ! 👍😁👍

This band had never really clicked with me until their latest album, but it is really excellent. Some killer tracks on it. Very talented band!

Finally a reaction to the best female metalband on earth. Try the live version of Swan Song with on piano the Chopin Intro from 2020.

every song tastes better when you analyze it, specially if you do it with master Doug. Thanks again Doug, I love your comments master.

The non stop drumming is pretty much a hallmark of power metal. Haruna does have some interesting fills to be fair.

@mmcpa

11 ай бұрын

More than interesting...amazing in every song. She is anything but a straight-line drummer.

@nightwishlover8913

11 ай бұрын

Yup. Doug is just going to have to get used to it.

@TheCyberMantis

11 ай бұрын

@@nightwishlover8913 He obviously did not grow-up listening to metal. So this style of drumming is something different for him. Some people like it, some people don't. Metal music usually has aggressive drumming. Fast and technical.

@nightwishlover8913

11 ай бұрын

@@TheCyberMantis True - but Doug has done enough analyses of metal songs to know by now.

@TheCyberMantis

11 ай бұрын

@@nightwishlover8913 True, but he doesn't seem to like non-stop fast drumming. I'm sure he would not like "Soldier Stands Solitarily".

I read somewhere that this music is about those years between the departure of Miho and arrival of Fami. As a musical man instead of a lyricist man, I leave for someone to comment better.

Lovebites is even better live!

Incessant drumming comes with power metal territory; it's a hallmark of the style and may not be to everyone's taste. Not all their songs are pure power metal though, they have a lot of songs with more variable drumming. The lyrics and video can, I think, be interpreted in two different ways, but both require that you know a little about the band and Asami's lyrics for other songs. One easy reading is that this is the first song they came out with after a lenghty hiatus, the loss of a band member and after the pandemic, a period of trial for the band, and they are laying their new creation before the fans to be judged. Knowing something about Asami's other lyrics though, there is another way to interpret both the lyrics and the video. Many of her lyrics are about overcoming inner darkness and inner resistances. Bad things in the past may chase you, but it is important that you fight back, you might find means to do so everywhere (a random sword in the forest), and it is important that you don't enshrine/encase your inner darkness like in a picture and let it dominate you, but that you smash the emotional glass encasing it, as it were. You saw correctly that the forest scene is metaphorical when you saw Asami making a fist in both the forest and the band setting and one morphing into the other. You'll also notice that the smashed picture (or mirror) has the dark personalities of the members in it, not the light ones. But there is always another darkness to fight, another resistance to overcome, that's why the song returns to its beginning.

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

well said on the video's meaning

Well that’s your opinion, but not with an understanding of power metal. Little 4’9” Haruna has been described as one of the top power drummers in the world.

I would recommend as a classical composer do Lovebites Swansong live with Chopin Intro

🐺🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Love Lovebites

As you think about the theme of the music, trying to run from Judgement Day. That adds to the reason for the fast drums. The drums are typical of thrash metal. Please listen to the song Swan Song with the Chopin intro to see their versatility.

WHAT?!?!? Doug does LOVEBITES?!?!? Here we go! Thanks Doug!

These are my Metal Queens. My favorite band, who took the top spot from Iron Maiden of 40 years. All of the ladies a very talented and accomplished musicians. Asami - vocals, Midori (blonde) - Lead guitar, Miyako (dark hair), Lead guitar and keyboards, Fami - bass, Haruna - percussion. Yes the ladies (M&M) really can shred. This is power metal and drumming as it is in this song is par for the course, but they have a vast array of different sounds in their discography. I know you are not a fan of double bass and fast unrelenting drums Doug. I'd strongly recommend Swan Song with Chopin Intro Live, it is much different.

@sondebueu

11 ай бұрын

Frozen serenade.. better.

@metalmark1214

11 ай бұрын

@@sondebueu Either one, I don't mind, He could do Edge of the World also. To me, all are great.

Miyako, the dark-haired lead guitarist is also a great "classc" pianist , and use her skills on songs like Swan song (intro Chopin)

@evilvolts

11 ай бұрын

Swan Song with Chopin Piano Intro kzread.info/dash/bejne/iXac1tOgmburcZc.html

@raybl9295

11 ай бұрын

These songs feature Miyako's classical piano training. ' Empty Daydream ' Live with a Rachmaninoff piano intro, from his Concerto no 2, I believe. ' Swan Song with a Chopin intro ' the Revolutionary Etude ' Also ' Frozen Serenade ' features a piano/classical guitar interlude. an amazing show piece for this band.

🔥LOVEBITES🐺WORLDCLASS🔥 THIS BAND IS PERFECT🤘🏻 THANKS FOR YOUR REACTION

Some song suggestion with this band. Swan song (live) with Chopin intro, When Destines Align ( Music video ). I think those songs will satisfy Your brain a bit ! *-)

Do the live version of Swan Son with Chopin intro. Right up your alley.

🤘🏽LOVEBITES RULES🤘🏽

"And the glass breaks again!" Jim Ross: "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!"

Through the eyes or rather, ears, of a classical composer, I get his view on the drumming, but he's not quite getting it in terms of power metal though. With all due respect, power metal and this band's brand of metal in particular , is a wholeee other ballgame. Haruna is a boss!❤

Guys, you are amazing. Complaining to double bass, you missed that drum pattern was changed each scene. It was this "boring" (first time to hear such estimation) double bass that kept the rithm and allowed hands to make unique pictures with toms and cymbals, including accents on vocal, not only instruments. I heard "7/8" in the reaction, but it was one of Midori's comments that if someone would try to make a cover, they have to learn transition from 7/8 to 8/8. I admit that this song has a lot of easter eggs, may be even more than in other Lovebites' songs and it could be impossible to discover all of them from the first hearing, but I still hope that some reactor could find at least one of them. As of the outro: you may only temporarily defeat the evil (or your own dark part), then you have to run from it again, and again, and again.

Here's a link to a TV appearance from March this year, you'll get a better understanding of them as people , the music they play and Asami explains how and why the name judgement day was chosen, and this is from the actual band not Wikipedia, it also has English subtitles. kzread.info/dash/bejne/i3V_zs16Zriwds4.html Just so you know, what you see as the meaning is not even close, you will see and understand after watching.

"Break the wall", live version, please.

Nothing more perplexing than reactors not doing the research they need to do!......lazy!!!? Best metal band on the planet right now....period! Research research research!!!

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

How much time do you expect reactors to spend when creating their videos? Not all of them have time to do research on every band if they do hundreds of reaction videos. Concluding it is laziness is rather harsh and judgmental don't you think?

@ChadTheDragonLord

11 ай бұрын

Also, the first few minutes of this video shows that he did do research on the band. Or were your comments targeted at other reactors?

Now you're getting to the good stuff! The rock and roll we all know and love so well is alive - and thriving - thanks to our friends in Japan. After this, I would suggest Band Maid, Nemophila, Scandal, Glim Spanky, Trident, MUCC, and Hanabie, just to name a few. And even then you will have only scratched the surface. 🤘😎🎸🤘🇯🇵

@metalmark1214

11 ай бұрын

I've started down the Japanese rock/metal rabbit hole - Lovebites, Band-Maid, Aldious, Bridear, Mary's Blood, Unlucky Morpheus some of the ones you mentioned.

@Mike739107

11 ай бұрын

​@@metalmark1214 Welcome aboard! It is endlessly rewarding. I keep discovering new bands! So much great music, so little time.

Hey Doug, I really like watching your reactions to metal bands. I have seen your reaction to cemetery gates by Pantera, and I think you would love domination by them as well. Make sure you watch the live version from Moscow '91!

Wolfpack is here for LOVEBITES! 🤘🏼🐺🤘🏼 Lovebites has fast songs, heavy songs, and also slower songs. Their music takes inspiration from many influences. I highly recommend their live performances. These ladies shine on the stage. If you prefer a slower song, check out "Frozen Serenade" or "Epilogue". If you would like to see Miyako play piano, check out "Swan Song" live with Chopin piano intro. It is amazing. They have many videos here on KZread.

Appreciate your honest reaction, but cannot agree with you about the drumming! Haruna is one of the best of all the female Japanese drummers! She and MIHO were in a band called DESTROSE before they formed LOVEBITES! And both are the driving forces behind the two bands (until recently when MIHO stepped down and they found FAMI)

Check out Lovebites Swan Song [+Chopin Intro] live.

You should appreciate guitarist Miyako's other talent in the live "Swan Song with Chopin Intro".

Somebody down below might have explained about the story of this song. Roughly, this is what Asami said in a video. There is the darkness and light in the life. There is the darkness under the light and light gives darkness, and also this album Judgement Day was their judgement day after two year hiatus. Since you are a classical composer, I strongly recommend to try an album from Miyako's personal project Miyako Etude Op 23 which covers six classic metal pieces on piano. Yngwie Malmsteen's Far Beyond the Sun kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZYautLCimtHHe6Q.html is the first number of the album. Although the album is an audio CD, she released one video from the album which is Eagle Fly Free of Halloween kzread.info/dash/bejne/X5xnpK6Lo5O-opc.html. There is the same cover done by full band Lovebites. kzread.info/dash/bejne/hqNmk6qCfL3ciag.html. BTW, this is Yngwie's original piece performed with Japan Philharmonic Orchestra kzread.info/dash/bejne/i6Kdm7OuZ5m7qaQ.html. I'd prefer with a violin. You might like their heavy piece with romantic era classic. Try Swan Song with Revolutionary Etude kzread.info/dash/bejne/iXac1tOgmburcZc.html. Miyako loves classic music from romantic era. Enjoy your journey. Bon voyage!!

@rainerzufall42

11 ай бұрын

Miyako - Etude Op.23 - kzread.info/dash/bejne/jGp-utezh5zMgM4.html 1. Battery (Metallica) 2. Far Beyond The Sun (Yngwie Malmsteen) 3. Eagle Fly Free (Helloween) 4. The Loner (Gary Moore) 5. Burn (Deep Purple) 6. Addicted (LOVEBITES)

@gatograto

11 ай бұрын

@@rainerzufall42 Oh yes, that is right.

Ha! Cool! Just discovered them... pretty awesome. Rhapsody (italian band) should be next.

LOVEBITES guitarist Miyako held her first 2 piano recitals ``A DAY WITH MIYAKO'' at TOKYO FM HALL on November 19th.(both sold out) Eagle Fly Free （HELLOWEEN） Battery （METALLICA） Far Beyond The Sun （YNGWIE MALMSTEEN） Etude Op.10, No.12 （CHOPIN） Ballade No.1 In G Minor, Op.23 （CHOPIN） Moments musicaux Opus 16 No.4 （RACHMANINOV） Empty Daydream (LOVEBITES) Through The Fire And Flames (DRAGONFORCE） Addicted （LOVEBITES） Burn （DEEP PURPLE） STEINWAY Grand Piano

This type of drumming is what power metal is all about The song sounds fun, even though I'm not in love with the vocals

Boss Music! I LOVE Lovebites…so many of their songs remind of Boss music in video games, it’s so amazing! Example: The Final Collision and Empty Daydream…

Excellent review! Thanks so much! Haruna is Haruna. Heavy metal by young, energetic, highly skilled women! They could improve dynamically and rhythmically.

LOVEBITES - Judgement Day lyrics: Never lived Never died Never end No way to go Every night Everywhere Everything Arriving of darkness What is “right” What is “wrong” What is “sin” Who’s to decide? Hide and seek Truth or dare Playing tag Chased by the evil Another back and forth of gaining and losing Running out of my time Each tick of the clock’s taking down piece of my life again Who’s ally Who’s against Who’s to pick All in your hand Up and down, in and out, left or right, answers turn around What do you see in this world full of insanity? When the rain come to end, what’s waiting us Don’t look away This is the truth RISE! THIS IS JUDGEMENT DAY! Life - Given the “foreverness” RISE! THIS IS JUDGEMENT DAY! Life - Leaving name in history Tragedy in the past find salvation Now with the great will, the path lay in front of me Starting here, this is the day! SOLO: midori / miyako /midori /miyako / both Never lived Never died Never end No way to go Every night Everywhere Everything Arriving of darkness What do you see in this world full of insanity? When do we come to ask what's awaiting us, don't look away! This is the truth! RISE! THIS IS JUDGEMENT DAY! Life - Given the “foreverness” RISE! THIS IS JUDGEMENT DAY! Life - Leaving name in history Tragedy in the past, find salvation Now with the great will, the path lay in front of me Starting here, this is the day! Judgement day! Judgement day! Judgement day! Judgement day! ----- lyrics: asami music: asami & Mao arrangement: ? (LOVEBITES) from CD "Judgement Day" 2023