Ranking all of Lovebites songs from weakest to best. (Updated with Outstanding Power songs )
Power/speed/thrash metal band Lovebites comprise the best and most vital heavy metal band in a long, long time. Not in recent memory have I been so compelled to purchase every album and EP by a band. They play heavy metal by old school rules with no emo or core bullshit, yet the infusion of what can best be called “anime music” influence has given them a fresh take on metal that only they can get away with.
The band themselves are still relatively new (8 years old as of this writing), so a challenging task such as ranking a discography by songs is not THAT difficult (they've just now crossed the 60 mark). Still for such a compelling body of work, nothing is easy, and one else on the internet has done this yet (no, really), so allow me to the first so that everyone afterwords will base their future opinions around my glorious E-peen*. Covers such as Eagle Fly Free and Painkiller will not be included. They’re more like rare oddities rather than quirky staples all Green Manalishi for Judas Priest or Last Caress for Metallica. Like anything, certain songs seen as staples will be called not so great, and songs you may not have heard of will be called the best thing ever!
So without further adieu:
72. Phonenix Rises Again
Still accepting Mao-written songs? Strike one. This being not of his better contributions like "The Bell In The Jail" or "Holy War"? Strike two. Being an obnoxiously stereotypical happy power metal two-steps-back after the sonic breakthrough of "Dream No More?" Strike three.
71. Journey To The Otherside
I know, I know, it’s about former bassist and leader Rosanna Miho coping with the loss of her father, but like Running Wild’s “Diamonds of the Black Chest,” something about this chorus rubs me the wrong way. Nothing really sticks out rhythmically or musically either.
70. Wicked Witch
I can never remember how this one goes.
69. Lost In The Garden
The only time Lovebites approach Dragonforce levels of silliness. That extended outro… nah, this ain't it.
68. Someone's Dream
Fami gets a bass solo. Neato. The rest of the song is rather generic. Chorus ain't great either.
67. Inspire
Typical power metal, even with the piano. Decent enough, but at this point I’m more interested in soft/slow following through than a bait and switch into something fast.
66. Wheels On Fire
Well, it's better than the Cream album with the same(ish) name, but I never liked that album very much to begin with.
65. Nameless Warrior
Blinding fast song with a somewhat interesting breakdown, but loses points for being the “new song on the greatest hits album.” Not worth buying the compilation in question if you already have everything. If you still buy 2 disc greatest hits import CDs from Japan, you could do worse than get a copy. At least "Journey To The Other Side" isn't on it.
64. Spellbound
A staple of Lovebites catalog is the “gallop.” (The Trooper, Run To The Hills). However, the only difference between this and the other gallopers are the cheesy keytars. Miyako actually uses it live, which sounds cool, until you actually see it and you realize keytars are the one thing from the 80s that should have stayed there. Loses points for only being available on an extremely hard to find single.
63. & 62. Shadowmaker & Bravehearted
OVERRATED & OVERRATED. Two multi-syllabic one word piles of forgettable that I still can’t tell apart from each other. Along with We The United, these two have outstayed their welcome in the setlist. Also, I love dearest Harupi Sweetchu, but if she is in fact a songwriter, how come she hasn’t written anything since this? (post Outstanding Power addendum: She now has two songs to her name, but still) Even Midori has more songs than her at this point.
61. We The United
OVERRATED. It's another fast song among many that doesn't have any real hooks. The only real bit of interest is there's a minute long harmony solo between Midori & Miyako.
60. Golden Destination
Another average gallop. On it’s own its fine, but not what I would designate as the second single (for the excellent Electric Pentagram, THE album of the 2020s).
59. Blazing Halo
Fami's first metal song! And it's the shortest Lovebites song to date! Only has 11 more to go to catch up (write something with a Van Halen shuffle like "The Unbroken" next).
58. Scream For Me
Cool skank beat that implies a Sum 41 influence. But Sum 41 didn’t write 6 minute songs that should have been 4. Or at least not with the millennials nostalgic for Warped tour.
57. The Spirit Lives On
Has the unenviable task of following the legendary title track of their fourth album. Nothing we haven’t heard before.
56. Break The Wall
OVERRATED. Lovebites have a few songs that would be highlights on Testament and Overkill albums. This is not one of them. Possibly the most mid-thrash song ever. That middle interlude part would be more interesting if it was its own song.
55. Liar
Much more creative fusion of orchestra and metal than anything Nightwish made since the 00s. They'd get better at it though.
54. Today is The Day
Colony drop of an opening section gives into more typical J-Rock flavored power metal. Fun tune, but lower tier compare to the rest of the Electric Pentagram songs.
53. Puppet on Strings
Empty Daydream part 2. Not a bad thing, but this got banished to "rare single B-side" status like Spellbound did. They ought to at least put it on a live album. Above average solos and harmonies in the middle. Would work ok as Sailor Moon ending credits.
52. Soul Defender
"What's that, Judas Priest stole the 'A Frozen Serenade' acoustic interlude for 'Giants In The Sky?' Well we'll just steal something from Invincible Shield then!"
51. The Crusade
Ever since Bastardhead called this an unashamed rewrite of Aces High, I’ve never quite been able to hear it otherwise, but at least this song’s dissonant harmonies don’t fuck up live albums like Aces Highs do (yeah I said it, sue me).
50. Pledge Of the Saviour
Solid chorus, and the motif guitar harmony sounds inspired from Thin Lizzy’s Renegade. Always a plus. Would be higher if not for the fadeout. Fuck fadeouts.
49. Warning Shot
More like a warning death star blast. More interesting than most of the “staples” from Awakening.
48. Out of Control
Considerably less generic than Anton's, and at least Miyako knows to change a couple of notes to the "Swords & Tequilla" riff.
47. Dystopia Symphony
The closest they get to “flower metal” (a rather gaudy piano lick is the hook of the song), but not as bad as "Lost In The Garden."
46. We Are The Resurrection
Solid opener that indicates (albeit nervously) that the departure of Miho will not affect the intensity one iota.
45. The Apocalypse
Great thrasher with a killer chorus that stumbles a bit with an awkward plodding breakdown.
44. Addicted
Solider opener to the supposed AOR influenced album. You know its AOR because it opens with acoustic guitars.
43. Victim Of Time
Fast and furious Judgement Day cut worthy of being on Overkill’s 2010s output.
42. One Will Remain
Solid closer which, unlike "Phoenix Rises Again," transitions masterfully from the previous song.
41. Forbidden Thirst
Remember Running Wild's Black Hand Inn? Haruna was able to remember Black Hand Inn. And without anyone's help!
40. Unchained
Sticky breakdown, stickier chorus.
39. Reaper's Lullaby
This one almost seems too fast. As in, I'm not sure if Haruna actually drummed on this and not AI. I'm sure I will eat a dumptruck sized bucket of crow if she can pull it off live (especially if it shows up in the Budokan setlist), but for now I'm gonna stash it in the middle.
Main theme appears to be the primary phrase to the guitar solo from Budgie deep cut "Don't Go Away." If unintentional, wonderful. If they stole it, even more wonderful.
37. Glory, Glory To The World
Guitarist Tatematsu Midori supposedly wrote this being inspired by sermons in black churches. I can’t say I’ve ever heard of black churches operating at 380 bpm, but what do I know? (Bumped up a couple spots cos I like it as a grand finale).
36. Mastermind 01
Ska-flavored like Scream For Me, but unlike the latter, this trims the fat. In the context of the Clockwork Immortality album, it serves as a great primer for M.D.O.
35. Silence The Void
THRAAAAAASSSSH!
34. Above The Black Sea
Symphonic metal done the right way. Proof pudding that female guitarists are better suited to run bands than male keyboardists. At least I assume that Miyako runs the band now. I could be wrong (dark horse guess is Haruna).
33. Paranoia
Halfway through the Electric Pentagram cycle, Asami discovered a newfound love for thrash. After a one minute entry fee (similar to Set The World On Fire) we find she has a better understanding of it than the big 4 did in 2021 and do in current year (and judging from recent outputs, better than Exodus and Dark Angel).
32. Signs Of Deliverance
Walls Of Jericho style riff opens to a song not quite of its caliber, but is worthy of Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1. (Keeper 1 is inferior to WoJ IMO. Both are inferior to Keeper 2).
31. Rising
Opening will trick you into thinking it’s faster than it is. Nifty waltzy piano interlude. Bit of a carbon copy of Liar. As of this writing, this is their highest streamed song on Spotify. post Outstanding Power addendum: make that was, Rising is not even in the top 10 current streamed anymore. Beyond the current 10 being streamed the most, Spotify won't let you look at tracks beyond those statistics. And I ain't donating to Daniel's Ek's miltary-tech charity. Fuck him).
30. Burden of Time
“Steamrolling [sic] like an 18 wheeler with a drunk driver driving, there’s no surviving.” -Inspectah Deck
29. Dissonance
Asami’s self-proclaimed peak of her thrash songs. No argument here.
28. Where's Identity
It's like someone said to them "'Stand & Deliver' but lean even more into Exodus." Success!
27. The Bell In The Jail
Doomy crushing intro gives way to something off of Black Rose. Nothing wrong with sounding like Thin Lizzy musically, but a Phil Lynott-esque tale to go with it would have done wonders.
26. Winds of Transylvania
This one is the literal anime theme song. Though they should have called it Tornados of Transylvania cos after hearing this you’ll feel like your kidneys have shifted.
25. The Awakening/Hammer Of Wrath
THRAAAAAAAAAAASH! GO! (second only to Tomas Lindberg)
24. Holy War
The other big hit on youtube, or at least among vocal coaches (possibly because passerby think it’s a Megadeth cover. It’s not). A decent enough constructed song, with an excellent Stained Class- esque lead break from Miyako.
23. My Orion
A girl power anthem waiting to happen. Mid-paced and glorious. Dammit ladies, go back to midpaced! You’ve fulfilled your fast song quota (I feel like a dad telling the daughter to slow down during driving lessons).
22. Eternally
Wait wait wait wait. You're telling a mother wrote a tender metal ballad about her newborn....AND IT DIDN'T SUCK!!?
21. Dream of King
It's like the curbstomp scene of American History X, except it's Spiritbox biting the curb. Can't quite decide if the techno bits are a little too long or just the right length, and that's what makes the song exciting!
20. Empty Daydream
Clockwork Immortality is regarded as being the most AOR influenced album. This track is the most AOR, and it’s charming.
19. The Unbroken
This one has a Van Halen swing that you find on Hot For Teacher and Sinner’s Swing. Wish one or two songs from Judgement Day did this.
18. The Eve of Change
Conjugation tricks are at hand. I think Matt Pike used this trick on "Bastard Samurai" as well. Imagine Lovebites covering High on Fire and/or Enforcer? That would rule!
17. Stand & Deliver (Shoot Em Down)
Motorhead meets Spice Girls. Nasty and sassy.
16. M.D.O.
Another brilliant, deadly thrasher and well deserved live staple. Is to Lovebites what N.F.L. (and A.I.R.) is to Anthrax. Pay particular attention to the chorus riffage underneath the chants.
15. Raise Some Hell
A coked up Black Label Society with a pinch of Saxon’s "Denim and Leather."
14. Thunder Vengeance
THRAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSH!!
13. Judgement Day
Asami writing this deadly scorcher of a lead single on a piano is so shocking it’s the equivalent of the “TONY STARK BUILT THAT IN A CAVE WITH SCRAPS” meme. And that final scream...Jesus. Bruce, King Diamond and Rob would be proud.
12. Dancing With The Devil
Stadium stomper worthy of its own stage in BlazBlue. Awesome R&B vocal runs at the end. MAKE MORE SONGS LIKE THIS DAMMIT!
11. Set The World On Fire
Why yes Virginia, those are blast beats. If I was Testament or Exodus and I had to follow Lovebites when they play this song, I’d be sweating bullets (pun intended).
10. No Time To Hesitate
UNDERRATED. A death-from-the-skies chorus worthy of being an anime theme song.
9. When Destinies Align
Beloved classic. Opening harmony riff worthy of Somewhere In Time or Piece of Mind. Could be their best song if it was a little shorter.
8. Epilogue
Limited Edition 2018 "Still In Love With You." Gary Moore, Brian Robertson, and Scott Gorham (and Phil Lynott for that matter) would and should be proud. Remember kids, the number one important detail in putting piano ballads in metal is god-tier guitar solos.
7. Under The Red Sky
The proper Lovebites concert grand finale. Lyrically, it’s Electric Funeral taken to a power metal abstraction. Typical happy power metal chorus, but given the subject matter that’s a miracle.
6. Don’t Bite The Dust
Classic bloody classic. A unanimously beloved single and live staple. This is the song we wish Iron Maiden would go back to writing after locking Steve Harris in a cellar.
5. Swan Song
Exquisite classical flavored power/speed metal. Even better live when the fadeout to piano is replaced with a dead-stop.
4. Edge of the World
Crystallized perfection of the soft-to-loud, slow-to-fast formula. The last 2 minutes are worthy of a Sailor Moon final battle. Asami’s vocals are powerful enough to pull you out of heroin addiction on a path to Bilderberg success.
3. The Final Collision
THE MOST UNDERRATED. That S-tier chorus alone is worth every penny of Clockwork Immortality. (Given that Lovebites are obscure by American standards, that's a lot of pretty pennies). If this was the first Nightwish single with Floor, Tarja would have been memory holed faster than you can say JewWario.
2. Soldier Stands Solitarily
A top secret black ops satellite meant to shatter moons and crater planets. Goes toe to toe with the Angel Of Deaths, Strike Of The Beasts, Disciples of The Watches, Riot Of Violences, and other assorted L’amours staples.
1. A Frozen Serenade
This Asami penned masterstroke is what legions of Euro-symphonic assclowns have been trying -and miserably failing- to create for the past 20 years. What makes this track seminal is not only what does, but what it doesn’t do. No beauty and the beast vocal stupidity, no guitars taking a backseat to orchestras. A truly progressive movement with nay a single note wasted. Worthy of Rick Beato, Charismatic Voice AND Professor of Rock studies.
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