Search - Animetal :: Animetal Marathon: Tokusatsu

Speed Metal + Japan+Fanboys = Animetal

09/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Remember the theme songs from the television shows that you watched as a kid? The theme from "Davy Crockett," "Schoolhouse Rock," or even "The Banana Splits Show?" Got the memory in your head and in your ears?
Good. Now take that music, and give it to an up-and-coming speed-metal rock band who is enthusiastic about their music. Really enthusiastic. On-the-edge-of-an-explosive-aneurysm enthusiastic.
Now take that entire concept, and apply it to the Japanese "Tokusatsu" ("costumed superhero") craze of the 70s, and you begin to get the concept behind the band "ANIMETAL."
The lyrics to these kiddie\pre-teen superhero shows are not so much sung as screamed. Or perhaps "howled" is a better word. Thrashing electric guitars and competent bass do their best to accompany the vocals, creating an effect which is only mildly less jarring if you can actually understand the meaning behind the Japanese lyrics.
This band's work is aimed at a very, VERY specific crowd: If you are old enough to remember these "classic" theme songs, yet still young enough to bang your head to some pretty harsh (and a little amatuerish) speed metal music, then this band's music is definately for you."