This bites

I've always found it frustrating when a rock band's guitarist learns to punch a few chords on a piano, and then suddenly they're a guitarist/keyboardist. You're not a keyboardist, you just know how to play Chopsticks. Or Jump. Here's an example.

Yes I'm being sarcastic. That was incredible. The band is Lovebites and I'm absolutely astounded at their overall musicality. They have two of the best guitarists I've ever heard, and I love how they both have solos in each song. That wasn't even their best one: this is. (If you want to skip the intro, go to 1:25)

So, two of the best guitarists I've ever heard, and the freaking drummer is insane. I don't know how many beats per minute she's putting out but holy crap. Their instruments just seem like extensions of their bodies, I can't recall seeing metal musicians that gave me that impression so strongly. I'm worried that I'm being too impressed by them because they are women, since metal just sounds hyper-masculine to me and it's not something I expect from that direction. But the upside is that Lovebites is correcting any such latent sexism.

This song is a close second.

So . . . did I mention the singer? My first listen I thought she was excellent, but not my particular cup of tea. Then I played it for my wife (who hates metal) and she said she sounds a lot like Ann Wilson from Heart. I don't know why that changed my perception of it, but now I love her.

Here's another song that they just released a few months ago:

I'm not into symphonic metal that much, but I am amazed again at their musicality. Here's another:

Yeah. Every single one of these musicians could front their own band and be the premiere performer, but instead they banded together (ha!) for the sole purpose of overwhelming me.

Now you'll notice I didn't mention the bassist. I'm not confident I can judge bass playing. But she is the founder and leader of Lovebites, and she writes a lot of their songs, though not all by a long shot. So she is the cornerstone; the band is her vision. And she just quit. I discovered the band three weeks ago and one week ago they announced she was leaving. The rest of the band says they're not breaking up but they'll take a hiatus. I stopped keeping track of new bands and popular songs a few decades ago, so this is the first time I've become emotionally attached to one for a while. I'm not saying it's my fault the bass player left, but . . . well . . . it's kind of a coincidence, don't you think? Groucho Marx said he wouldn't want to belong to a country club that would have someone like him for a member. Maybe the bassist didn't want to be in a band that would have someone like me as a fan.

Anyway, here's another Japanese all-girl metal band:

Update (Sep. 21): OK, sorry, this is their best song.

Ho. Ly. Crap. That first guitar solo is insane, and the second one is just haunting.

Update (Oct. 5): Sorry, darn it, sorry, this is their best song:

I'm starting think their best song will just be whichever one I listened to last.

Update (Nov. 16): Wow, here's yet another all-girl Japanese metal band.

Update (Nov. 21): OK, I'll stop updating after this. The last band above is Nemophila, and here's another song of theirs that just came out:

And here's another band:

And now back to Lovebites. I was telling my brother-in-law earlier tonight that I haven't been this excited about a band since high school. I think what gets me is the two guitarists. The solos and duets just absolutely overawe me, even in the songs I otherwise think are just OK. This is the video of one of the first songs they released. It stops in the middle to advertise their first album and their first Japanese tour, which is kind of weird. But it's still amazing, so stick with it.

Finally, here's a song they just released that will be on their upcoming Best Of album.