My Exploration of Japanese Power Metal Continues

So, a couple of months ago, I mentioned that I was embarking on a quest to discover more of the Japanese melodic power metal scene. Since then, I've gone back to my ongoing search on a few different occasions, and have dug up some really great talent which I'd like to share with everyone. In an effort to get beyond the few well known Japanese melodic metal bands like X Japan and Concerto Moon, I've recently discovered a charming band known as Aldious. This group consists of four attractive women who DEFINITELY know how to shred and write an enjoyable tune. Here's the first full track off of their debut release, Deep Exceed:

Some who are already familiar with Japanese power metal have probably heard the name Dragon Guardian. I was in fact introduced to this group by the WolfenFlesh (then Oakenson) himself, and have become a fan since. Dragon Guardian is, as I understand it, a one-man symphonic power metal project by a fellow named Arthur Brave. Brave has a female vocalist work with him on his albums, and produces some very fast-paced and catchy material. Like a lot of artists from Japan, his artwork is similar to that seen in anime media. I know that this puts some people off (originally, myself included), but do not be dissuaded! This is wonderfully sweeping and first-rate music for those that enjoy the style.

Meet Saint Deamon.

It's been a while since I just threw a band out quick without a full review, so here it is. Everyone needs to know about Sweden's Saint Deamon.

These fellows have been around for a couple of years, dropping their first album In Shadows Lost from the Brave in 2008, and following it up in May of 2009 with Pandeamonium. You see already that the band has a penchant for kind of dumb titles and spelling, but don't let that deter you from checking out their albums, as they are high-quality works.

Saint Deamon play a mid-tempo and vocal-centric variety of power metal that is a bit more simplistic than what we're usually used to hearing from the genre. This doesn't at all imply boredom however, and Saint Deamon are the sort of power metal that will appeal to those who love the genre, as well as more traditional metal fans who need something a little slower paced with less kick drum. Allow me to demonstrate with a track:

As you'll notice, they do struggle a bit with coherent English, but not so much that the music isn't understandable or enjoyable. Here's one more track off of their debut, hope you enjoy!

Herman Frank!

I'm somewhat active on the Metal Archives forums (more as a reader than as a contributor), and I'd seen people throwing around the name Herman Frank for a while. Specifically, about his solo album "Loyal to None". I saw it was straight-up heavy metal, which is good, but it's not my power fix, so I put off checking it out. This morning I threw the album on and got blasted out of my seat!

This cd is incredible! I haven't heard such delightfully heavy and dynamic traditionally-styled metal like this in...maybe almost ever! The vocals are POWERFUL and commanding, the guitars are fantastic, and the hooks just keep coming. I'd like to share with you the opening track of "Loyal to None", and hope it floors you like it did me. Enjoy!

Wow, Last Tribe!

All right, so it's pretty rare that every single song from a band makes me raise my eyebrow and look it up, but that's been case lately with Sweden's Last Tribe. This band is dead, and actually only lived for three or four years, releasing 3 full-length albums before they broke up. Its former members are now scattered across the European metal scene (Primal Fear and Meshuggah, to name a couple).

But what music they made! Progressively-tinged power metal that is devastatingly catchy. I'm rather surprised that I haven't heard this band mentioned more often in circles of the power metal elite. It's about time for me to thoroughly examine all three of Last Tribe's offerings, and start looking for elusive hard-copies of their music. For the time being, here's a taste of their work, hope you dig it as much as I do!

EDIT: "The Uncrowned" kept me up half the night last night. This is damn good.

These aren't the songs I really wanted to share, but there's not that much of this band up on YouTube. These songs are still very enjoyable.

"The Uncrowned"

"Dreamer"

Oh hi there Skywings, didn't see you there!

No, I am indeed lacking in knowledge when it comes to J-rock. Indeed, Japanese music has been a blind spot on my radar in general. However, given my maddening addiction to power metal, and the quality of a couple of Galneryus releases that I've heard, I decided to check out Japan's power metal offerings a little further.

I have thus far been blown away by what I've found! I'd like to share one of my first discoveries: a band called Skywings, and a couple of tracks off of their sole studio album "Advent Melody". I'm going to review this album sometime soon, but let me give you an idea of just what you're in for, this is quality melodic power metal!

J-Rock? J-Rock! :D

It seems that some of you (even The Protagonist, of all people!) are not too familiar with J-rock, which is totally okay since it's kind of an obscurity when it comes to North America and, I imagine, in other countries outside of Japan too (the J, afterall, is short for Japan).

Instead of blogging about J-rock for 45 minutes (it's too early for such activity), I'll instead provide three slick videos from three slick artists to simultaneously give you an audio and video Japanese experience. :P Oh, and if you want to get technical, all of these bands are associated with the visual kei movement specifically, which is kind of a J-rock sub-genre.

- - -