Often known for bringing eccentric sounds into the metal palette, Japan has a host of bands that have an instantly recognizable sound. Acts like Sigh, Blood Stain Child, Band Maid, or even Babymetal quickly come to mind. But many don’t dig down the way that do with European regions, resulting in a wealth of acts that fly under the radar outside of Japan itself. Part of this may be due to the pop-blend that causes more ‘dyed in the wool’ metalheads to run screaming to the hills, but solidly metallic acts still reign in some circles, like Hagane, or Lovebites. New act Lonesome_Blue comes blurs the two lines entirely, and with a pedigree that should impress.
Vocalist Nomura Maiko and bassist Hirose Yuki come from the idol video game Tokyo 7th Sisters, and come together with successful solo guitarist Narumi and drummer MIZUKI, as well as English lyrics written by Lovebites’ asami. This sribe first encounted the act with their debut video for “Parallel World” last year, which featured Ayasa Doya (of Bang Dream‘s Morfonica) on violin and performing a fiery solo alongside Narumi. The rest of their debut EP, First Utterance, were solid enough but didn’t manage to resonate as much as “Parallel World” did. But with Second to None a mere few months later (the Japanese release was in December 2022), the band has quickly developed into something really special.
Lonesome_Blue manage to catch fire in a bottle with a combination of power metal energy and flash mixed with Japanese rock and idol Jpop. It’s really the combination of elements that makes the act compelling, as lead-off “Face the Fear” quickly makes note of – launching into metallic riffs and playful melodies at frantic pacing, coupling it with a pop sense of hooks when it gets to the chorus. It’s a fun dynamic – danceable to the point where it gets you moving, yet the heavier instrumentation keeps it from being a ‘in one ear and out the other’ type hook. The band leans hard into the soaring, epic power metal vibes on “Blue Like Sapphire (The Flower of Hope)” where the uplifting chorus all but compels you to shout out the lyrics as you raise a fist amid the galloping riffs. “Superhero” lately channels that same feeling with a more mid-tempo track as the playful riffs dance around your ear. “Rising Up for Gloria” ends things with a full-on blaze of power metal ethos as the driving tempo never relents, giving MIZUKI her most furious performance on the drums atop Narumi’s energetic riffs.
But it’d be a ‘by the numbers’ album if it was just full of power metal fury. Instead, the band veers into different avenues over the course of the remaining tracks. The most notable departure is that of “Body Rock,” where sassy rock vibes overtake the metal undertones, resulting in the album’s most playful song, also allowing Nomura’s vocals to reach more into pop territory as well. Also impressive is her enunciation, with barely noticeable accent, a big feat if you listen to many of these types of acts. The more groovy “Aurora” also stands out, with a more mid-tempo pace and a blend of pop and rock allowing for some excellent leadwork by Narumi to really catch your attention, not to mention the toe-tapping chorus.
An energetic debut release that oozes personality and fun, Second to None should position Lonesome_Blue as one of the Japanese acts to look out for within the metal/rock scene. Given the seeming international push behind them, one can only hope the world will take notice as they continue to grow. A perfect release for modern metal fans who want something that feels familiar, but just reaches outside of their normal comfort zone a tad. Come for the power metal shred, but get hooked by their triumphant pop/rock sensibilities that they coat it with.