Japanese female Power/Speed Metal act LOVEBITES, one of Japan’s most important names in Heavy Metal, returns from hiatus with a new member, a new music video and a new album. “Judgement Day” was released on February 22nd, 2023 via JPU Records. A day before the release the band has dropped an official music video for “Stand And Deliver (Shoot ’em Down.)”.
“Judgement Day,” the fittingly titled album will be the first to feature the band’s new line-up, which now includes bassist Fami, who was selected after an audition process and is just 20 years of age. Fami also brings an added charm to the quintet, including her signature slap technique. The album contains ten completely new songs, mixed and mastered by Finnish masterminds Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila, who have worked on all of the band’s studio albums.
The cover art for the album features a wolf, an incarnation of the band that has appeared on all of Lovebites’ previous albums. This time, as the title suggests, the wolf clutches scales that weigh good and evil within its jaws, and is captured sprinting between the sun and the moon.
A video on demand and CD bundle is also available directly from JPU Records’ website. It features a documentary of the bassist auditions which includes interviews with the members of the band, as well as Fami while she was still one of the finalists – all with English subtitles. It also includes four studio sessions; “The Hammer of Wrath,” “Golden Destination” and “Shadowmaker” from the audition finals, and “Bravehearted,” the first session with Fami as an official member of LOVEBITES. There is also a third edition that includes the CD, the video on demand content and a ‘Judgement Day” T-shirt. Additionally, 50 orders of this latter bundle will randomly receive a sleeve case that has been signed by the members of the band.
“Judgement Day” track listing:
- We Are the Resurrection
- Judgement Day
- The Spirit Lives On
- Wicked Witch
- Stand And Deliver (Shoot ’em Down)
- Victim of Time
- My Orion
- Lost in the Garden
- Dissonance
- Soldier Stands Solitarily
You can watch the official music video for “Stand And Deliver (Shoot ‘Em Down)” below:
