Whenever people ask for Japanese music recommendations there's one band I always recommend: Lovebites. They're an all-female band formed in 2016 and they play a blistering brand of power metal that has gained them attention around the world.
One of my good friends keyed me into them when he saw them in Japan. That was one of their first performances and he had no idea what to expect. We're both big metalheads and I don't take any of his recommendations lightly. If he says they're good, they're good. I like to joke that I listen to two types of music: metal, and (anything) Japanese and Lovebites ticks both boxes. Lovebites play the speedy type of power metal which has been made famous by bands like Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Kamelot, and Sonata Arctica.
Lovebites has released a total of three studio albums with the latest, "Electric Pentagram," in January 2020. The group has played at Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock Open Air, Download Festival, and Graspop. They supported DragonForce's UK tour and have toured various locations in Europe. Unfortunately for me, they have yet to come to America.
Mamoru Oshii's newest project, Vlad Love, features Lovebites in the 'Mai' version of the opening theme "Winds of Transylvania." Oshii is someone you might remember from things like the Ghost in the Shell movie, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, , Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, and Patlabor. His newest project is the comedy Vlad Love and it gives me some of the vibes of his first major work, Urusei Yatsura.
A video featuring the girls of Lovebites and the main characters of Vlad Love was released earlier this month. In the latter part of the video the five main characters take the band's places on stage as the vocalist and musicians. From the quality of the playing you can tell that real footage was used as a base. Main character Mai Vlad Transilvania takes up vocalist Asami's spot.
Oshii had the following to say about Lovebites:
“When I happened to see a Lovebites music video, I could immediately see parallels between the five members and the main character of ‘Vlad Love’. They are like a heretic of Heavy Metal, wearing bright white outfits while playing intense music.
“They are the perfect choice to take charge of a theme song to an anime not bound by convention or common sense. And above all, their name couldn’t be more fitting!”
Vlad Love also counts Kanako Takatsuki and her vocal/dance group BlooDye among its associated acts. We covered Kanako's appearance on Lantis' New Generation Live here. BlooDye will sing an alternate version of the opening which will be the 'Mitsugu' version.
Vlad Love was set to premiere earlier this spring but was delayed until October. It was then delayed again and currently does not have a full release set. A special version of episode one will be available on the Vlad Love YouTube channel on 12/18.
For more information please visit https://www.vladlove.com/en/