Animetal
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese novelty heavy metal band who specialized in metal covers of theme songs from classic and modern Japanese anime
and tokusatsu
television series.
They were composed of several luminaries of the Japanese metal scene, most notably vocalist Eizo Sakamoto
, who has been involved off and on with Anthem
(one of the first Japanese heavy metal bands to achieve name recognition outside of Japan in the 1980s alongside Loudness
) as well as participating in various other projects including the pop rock group Nerima, the JAM Project
, and a successful solo career where he also plays lead guitar as well as vocals.
Their music can be classified as speed metal
, power metal
and thrash metal
with a very high level of musical virtuosity, especially on the guitarists' (initially She-Ja for the first four albums, then Syu
from Animetal Marathon V to the present) and bassist Masaki's parts. Masaki, in particular from Animetal Marathon IV onward, has shown an intensely active and aggressive approach to his instrument with fluid soloing, manic slapping and popping, energetic fills, and crashing chords for punctuation. The albums are structured as nearly seamless barrages of short songs woven into well-structured medleys that sound as though the band simply enters the studio and lays down virtually the entire album from start to finish in one go, with occasional overdubs and breaks in the action here and there.
Part of the band's nostalgic factor is their incorporation of popular rock/metal instrumentals into some of the songs. For instance, their version of "Choujuu Sentai Liveman
" is played to the tune of Judas Priest
's "Breaking the Law
".
The lyrics are almost entirely in Japanese with occasional lines of "Engrish
", which may partly account for why they are virtually unknown outside of Japan, aside from the fact they admittedly are playing to a very small niche market. For a short time, they incorporated Pink Lady
vocalist Mie
into the band, hence the name change to "Animetal Lady", and recorded two albums with her distinctive and melodic vocals that are much more commercially accessible than the rest of the Animetal discography.
While they're known more for their covers, the band has a few original songs, including the ballad from the Rurouni Kenshin film.
As of 2006, the band is currently on indefinite hiatus. Sakamoto has since begun a similar project called Eizo Japan.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese novelty heavy metal band who specialized in metal covers of theme songs from classic and modern Japanese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
television series.
They were composed of several luminaries of the Japanese metal scene, most notably vocalist Eizo Sakamoto
Eizo Sakamoto
is a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is most famous for being the lead vocalist of 1980s band Anthem. In the 1990s he started up the band Animetal which performed heavy metal covers of anime and tokusatsu opening and closing themes. He also was...
, who has been involved off and on with Anthem
Anthem (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.-Early years :Anthem was founded...
(one of the first Japanese heavy metal bands to achieve name recognition outside of Japan in the 1980s alongside Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
) as well as participating in various other projects including the pop rock group Nerima, the JAM Project
JAM Project
JAM Project is an anime music genre "supergroup" based in Japan, originally founded on July 19, 2000 by famous 1970s theme song artist Ichirou Mizuki...
, and a successful solo career where he also plays lead guitar as well as vocals.
Their music can be classified as speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
, power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
with a very high level of musical virtuosity, especially on the guitarists' (initially She-Ja for the first four albums, then Syu
Syu
is a Japanese musician, best known as leader and guitarist of metal band Galneryus. But also performs guitar and lead vocals in Spinalcord , and was formerly a member of Animetal. On September 29, 2010 he released a cover album named Crying Stars -Stand Proud!-, covering songs from Scorpions,...
from Animetal Marathon V to the present) and bassist Masaki's parts. Masaki, in particular from Animetal Marathon IV onward, has shown an intensely active and aggressive approach to his instrument with fluid soloing, manic slapping and popping, energetic fills, and crashing chords for punctuation. The albums are structured as nearly seamless barrages of short songs woven into well-structured medleys that sound as though the band simply enters the studio and lays down virtually the entire album from start to finish in one go, with occasional overdubs and breaks in the action here and there.
Part of the band's nostalgic factor is their incorporation of popular rock/metal instrumentals into some of the songs. For instance, their version of "Choujuu Sentai Liveman
Choujuu Sentai Liveman
is the twelfth entry of Toei Company's Super Sentai television series. The last Super Sentai title of the Shōwa period, it aired on TV Asahi from February 26, 1988 to February 17, 1989. It is the first Sentai with three members at the start, with two others joining up later in the series. In...
" is played to the tune of Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
's "Breaking the Law
Breaking the Law
"Breaking the Law" is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. The song is one of the band's better known singles, and is recognized by its opening guitar riff.-Music video:...
".
The lyrics are almost entirely in Japanese with occasional lines of "Engrish
Engrish
refers to unusual forms of English language usage by native speakers of some East Asian languages. The term itself relates to Japanese speakers' tendency to inadvertently substitute the English phonemes "R" and "L" for one another, because the Japanese language has one alveolar consonant in place...
", which may partly account for why they are virtually unknown outside of Japan, aside from the fact they admittedly are playing to a very small niche market. For a short time, they incorporated Pink Lady
Pink Lady (band)
is a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto and Keiko Masuda...
vocalist Mie
Mitsuyo Nemoto
Mitsuyo Nemoto is a pop and heavy metal singer and actress, better known by her stage name . She was a member of the popular 1970s idol group Pink Lady, known in the United States for their self-titled TV program.Nemoto has pursued a solo career following Pink Lady's 1981 breakup...
into the band, hence the name change to "Animetal Lady", and recorded two albums with her distinctive and melodic vocals that are much more commercially accessible than the rest of the Animetal discography.
While they're known more for their covers, the band has a few original songs, including the ballad from the Rurouni Kenshin film.
As of 2006, the band is currently on indefinite hiatus. Sakamoto has since begun a similar project called Eizo Japan.
Final lineup
- Eizo SakamotoEizo Sakamotois a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is most famous for being the lead vocalist of 1980s band Anthem. In the 1990s he started up the band Animetal which performed heavy metal covers of anime and tokusatsu opening and closing themes. He also was...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1996–2006) - SyuSyuis a Japanese musician, best known as leader and guitarist of metal band Galneryus. But also performs guitar and lead vocals in Spinalcord , and was formerly a member of Animetal. On September 29, 2010 he released a cover album named Crying Stars -Stand Proud!-, covering songs from Scorpions,...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2003–2006) - Masaki – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1997–2006)
Former/guest members
- Katsuji – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1997–2006) - MieMitsuyo NemotoMitsuyo Nemoto is a pop and heavy metal singer and actress, better known by her stage name . She was a member of the popular 1970s idol group Pink Lady, known in the United States for their self-titled TV program.Nemoto has pursued a solo career following Pink Lady's 1981 breakup...
– lead vocals in Animetal Lady (1997–1998, 2002) - Kouichi Seiyama – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1997–1998, 2002) - Marty Friedman – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
on one track on Animetal Lady Marathon II (2002) - Nov – vocals on "Ai o Torimodose!!" (2001)
- Mitsuo Takeuchi – vocals on "Galactic Gale Baxinger" (2001)
- She-Ja – guitar (1997–2001)
- Yasuhiro Umezawa – drums (1997–1998)
- Shinki – drums on "Yuuki no Akashi" (1998)
- Munetaka HiguchiMunetaka Higuchiwas the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
– drums on Animetal Summer and "Sentimetal" (1997) - Take-Shit – bass on This is Animetal (1997)
Albums
- This is Japanimetal MarathonThis is Japanimetal MarathonThis is Japanimetal Marathon is an internationally-released album by Japanese novelty heavy metal band Animetal. The album consists mainly of Animetal Marathon mixed with select tracks from the band's singles along with those of Animetal Lady...
(Asia-only release) - Complete First Live
- Complete Last Live
- Decade of BraveheartsDecade of BraveheartsDECADE OF BRAVEHEARTS is the final studio album released by the Japanese heavy metal group Animetal. It features full length covers of various songs that they have covered on their other albums with one new song that has not appeared on any other album....
Singles
- "This Is Animetal" from Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Shishi from Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Shishi ending theme of Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Shishi
- "THE ANIMETAL ～RE-BIRTH HEROES～"
- "For The Bravehearts Only!"