Before we dive into this album, a little more background information. Lovebites is a Japanese all female power and speed metal band that got their name from Halestorms song ‘Love Bites (and So Do I). Lovebites are inspired by bands like Iron Maiden, which is definitely hearable in their playing. Now, continue reading for a short summary of their second album: Clockwork Immortality.

The acoustic intro of Addicted opens the album. After a minute the electric guitars kick in and after that, there’s no more room for brakes. Except maybe at the last song of the album, but we get into that later.

Pledge of the Saviour kicks in fast. I’m almost getting Dragonforce vibes at some parts of the songs. The next song Rising is a song that starts of on a high note an has these storytelling like parts in the middle. Pay attention to the piano part in the middle, according to guitarist and keyboard player Miyako there’s a secret there.

“One of the key sections to ‘Rising’ is a piano and vocal part in the middle, I used this piece to pay my respects to Chopin. If you listen carefully you may be able to notice it. I believe this song will be one of Lovebites’ defining tracks.”

After that, Empty Daydream surprises you with mysterious touch and a catchy riff that gets stuck in your head. Mastermind 01 blows you away with a dark and fast riff. This one gets the song of the album award. The next song M. D.O opens to a fast drum riff of drummer Haruna, and 4 minutes later you are entering Journey to the other side with a deep inhale.

The Opening of The final Collision sounds almost theater like. Awesome guitar solos of Midori and Miyako that are dueling to get the most attention. We the United starts with a fast run down the scale of notes. Followed by harmony of the two guitars. Epilogue surprises me with a piano part together with an acoustic part. A song to take your lighter out and wave it from left to right. Clockworks Immortality closes with a power-balled.

This is the first impression after just hearing it once. It sums up different aspects of the songs but I kinda missed the story. As you see, all the songs are describable in a few sentences, but they all have a different element in between that makes you exited for the next song. Given that this is only their second album, well done, really well done. It does however lack some identity. Like a sound that makes you hear the songs and be like: ‘oh, this is Lovebites!’. I also have to say that his album really needs a second and maybe also a third listen. On the first listen everything is like: ‘this is good, but like not wow’. On the second listen this is like: ‘I’m getting into this, don’t stop’.

Lovebites is not a band that has outstanding technical skills, but they work together so well. Individually they wouldn’t stand out as much as they do together. Each individual puts the other one in a higher place.

Conclusion: a good album, definitely room for improvement in an own individual sound and storytelling. Definitely give it a couple of listens, you won’t regret it.

Release date: December 7th, 2018.
Label: Arising Empire
Tracklist:
01 Addicted
02 Pledge of the Savior
03 Rising
04 Empty Daydream
05 Mastermind 01
06 M. D.O
07 Journey to the Other Side
08 The Final Collision
09 We the United
10 Epilogue