EP REVIEW: Battle Against Damnation – Lovebites
LOVEBITES have had quite a whirlwind year. Since exploding onto the scene last year with their debut EP and acclaimed debut full-length, Awakening From Abyss, the Japanese quintet have gone from strength to strength with a storming set at Hyper Japan and winning Best New Band at Mondays’ Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards; not bad for a band who only formed two years ago. Now, the band arrive with Battle Against Damnation, a four track EP, and intend to keep their bursting momentum surging forward.
Despite only clocking in at a meagre 19 minutes, Battle Against Damnation encapsulates everything that LOVEBITES are becoming revered for; a hurricane of riffing and soaring operatic heavy metal. The Crusade opens the record in the best possible manner through a ferocious twin guitar dual before Asami‘s commanding vocals take centre-stage. The speed here is relentless as a barrage of high-octane drumming and blistering riffing keeps the momentum running in top gear and Midori‘s solo in the track’s later stages demonstrates the technical prowess at their disposal.
From there, LOVEBITES go for the jugular. Break The Wall features one of the most tenacious opening segments on the record as a heavy wall of riffing boasts the capacity to snap your neck before Asami‘s vocals creep into the mix, ebbing and flowing to the thrashing rhythm effortlessly. This bombardment makes up the weight of the track but where they truly soar is through a brilliantly executed mid-tempo switch that allows breathing space thanks to the exemplary guitar work from Midori. Similarly, Above The Black Sea is a emphatic track full of character. Awe-inspiring orchestral elements blend seamlessly with the twin neo-classical guitar lines that will have your jaw planted firmly on the floor and the infectious vocal lines in the chorus will swirl in your head for days to come.
The final track, Under The Red Sky, offers one final bout of shred and brings the album to the close in the best possible manner. Riffs gallop like cavalry charging into battle whilst lead play swirls above the carnage like a maelstrom and at the heart of the sonic whirlwind, Asami delivers arguably her best vocal deliveries to date. Her vocal range here is impeccable as her operatic style never dips in quality and adds a glossy flourish to LOVEBITES‘ razor-sharp sound. A solid end to the record indeed.
Whilst Battle Against Damnation is only four tracks long and it could leave you yearning for more, there is no doubting the sheer quality on show here. LOVEBITES have presented another record that will surely keep their momentum surging forward. Technically brilliant and utterly emphatic, this EP offers a solid insight into The Land of the Rising Sun’s hottest new export.
Rating: 9/10
Battle Against Damnation is out now via JPU Records.
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