I’m old enough to remember when live albums were the exception rather than the rule. Live After Death, Worldwide Live and Made In Japan had a rarity value that made them feel a bit special and they were often unleashed at optimum moments in a band’s career. Yet, it seems for most artists every other release is now a live outing and perhaps the worst offenders are Japan’s LOVEBITES. Their seventh (double) live album inside six years, No More Tragedy captures the band doing what they do best but in terms of serving up something new, it is oddly unsatisfying.

As regular readers will know I am a fan of LOVEBITES and have been tracking their progress since their debut EP dropped in 2017 and musically, they’ve hardly put a foot wrong over their nine year career and that’s precisely why No More Tragedy feels disappointing. All of the band’s live albums have been double sets, they’ve all been recorded in their native Japan and they’ve all been captured in larger venues and in that respect No More Tragedy (recorded at Tokyo Garden Theater on 1st September 2024) offers nothing new. Sure, the likes of ‘Wicked Witch’ and ‘Unchained’ have never appeared on a live album before, but in the bigger scheme of things this album is pretty much interchangeable with their other live releases. It’s the lack of invention that lets this release down: the band have a good relationship with the UK, so it would have been nice if this album had been recorded on last year’s European jaunt (their show at London’s Garage was particularly explosive). Alternatively, they could have hit us with a live-in-the-studio affair, recorded in front of a few competition winners or fan club members, or even an acoustic live album, just something to give things a fresh angle.

However, when it comes the music LOVEBITES are undoubtedly leaders in their field and No More Tragedy finds them at their blistering best. In guitarists Midori and Miyako the band have a pair of guitarists who could rival Maiden’s Smith/Murray or Priest’s Tipton/Downing, whilst bassist Fami has made the spot her own (no mean feat considering she replaced founding member Miho) and is all over the fretboard like a rash. Given the band’s technical proficiency (they’re pretty much all top of their class), these live renditions don’t veer too much from their studio counterparts and that is where frontwoman Asami steps in. Not only has her English improved over the years, but so has her stagecraft and she riles up the crowd ensuring the likes of ‘Unchained’ and ‘Don’t Bite The Dust’ are delivered with live oomph. Of course, a metal gig wouldn’t be complete without the requisite drum solo and the pint sized Haruna turns in an intense performance with the album’s even handed production ensuring the skins sound big and boomy. In fact, the album’s mix is a real boon and authentically recreates the live experience and will reward playing on an old school hi-fi or headphones.

Such is the hardcore nature of the LOVEBITES fanbase that anything the band release is guaranteed a certain amount of sales, so it’s a shame No More Tragedy didn’t try to be more original. While the new or casual fan might be enamoured with No More Tragedy, the long term aficionado will be better off opting for the video version which includes an 80-minute tour documentary.

• No More Tragedy is released via JPU Records on 4th April 2025.
• Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube Channel

Track List:

Disc One:

1. The Crusade
2. When Destinies Align
3. M.D.O.
4. Rising
5. Wicked Witch
6. Unchained
7. Stand And Deliver (Shoot ‘Em Down)
8. Set The World On Fire
9. The Final Collision

Disc Two:

1. Thunder Vengeance
2. Holy War
3. A Frozen Serenade
4. Soldier Stands Solitarily
5. Judgement Day
6. Raise Some Hell
7. Drum Solo
8. Don’t Bite The Dust
9. The Spirit Lives On
10. Under The Red Sky
11. Shadowmaker
12. We The United