Animetal (アニメタル, Animetaru^?) is a Japanese novelty heavy metal band who specialize in metal covers of the theme songs of classic and modern Japanese anime and tokusatsu television series. Heavy metal is a form of rock music characterized by aggressive, driving rhythms and highly amplified distorted guitars, generally with grandiose lyrics and virtuosic instrumentation. ... The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

They are comprised 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 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. Eizo Sakamoto , February 23, 1964–) is a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. ... This article is about the rock band Anthem. ... This article is about the heavy metal band Loudness. ...

Their music can be classified as high-energy melodic speed metal with a very high level of musical virtuosity, especially on the guitarists'(initially Shi-Ja for the first four albums, then Syu from Animetal Marathon V to the present) and bassist's (band constant Masaki) part. Masaki in particular from Animetal Marathon IV on 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.

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 (almost what one would call pop-metal) than the rest of the Animetal discography. Pink Lady was a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto (Mie) and Keiko Masuda (Kei). In Japan, they are fondly remembered for the incredible run of pop-chart hits they enjoyed from roughly 1976 to 1979, but in the United States... Mitsuyo Nemoto (Nemoto Mitsuyo, 根本美鶴代, born March 9, 1958 in Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese pop singer and actress. ...

While they're known more for their covers, the band has a few original songs including the ballad Towa no Mirai from the Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack. It has been suggested that Sakabato be merged into this article or section. ... This article lists media information on Rurouni Kenshin, a manga and anime series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. ...

Discography

• Animetal Marathon (アニメタル・マラソン, Animetaru Marason^?)
• Animetal Marathon II: Tokusatsu Collection (アニメタル・マラソンⅡ ～特撮編～, Animetaru Marason Tsū ~Tokusatsu Hen~^?)
• Best of Animetal (アニメタルのベスト, Animetaru no Besuto^?)
• Animetal Marathon III: Tsuburaya Productions Collection (アニメタル・マラソンⅢ ～円谷プロ編～, Animetaru Marason Surī ~Tsuburaya Puro Hen~^?)
• Animetal Lady Marathon (アニメタル・レディー・マラソン, Animetaru Redī Marason^?)
• Complete First Live
• Complete Last Live
• Animetal Lady Marathon II (アニメタル・レディー・マラソンⅡ, Animetaru Redī Marason Tsū^?)
• Animetal Marathon IV (アニメタル・マラソンⅣ, Animetaru Marason Fō^?)
• Animetal Marathon V (アニメタル・マラソンⅤ, Animetaru Marason Faibu^?)
• Animetal Marathon VI (アニメタル・マラソンⅥ, Animetaru Marason Shikkusu^?)
• Animetal Marathon VII: Fight! Metal Hero (アニメタル・マラソンⅦ ～戦え!メタル・ヒーロー～, Animetaru Marason Sebun ~Tatakae! Metaru Hīrō^?)
• The Animetal: Rebirth Heroes
• Decade of Bravehearts

Animetal Marathon ) is the first album released by Animetal. ... Animetal Marathon II: Tokusatsu Collection ) is the second album by Japanese heavy metal band Animetal. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Animetal Marathon III: Tsuburaya Productions Collection ) is the third full length album by Japanese heavy metal band Animetal. ... Tsuburaya Productions (円谷プロダクション) is the production company founded by the late special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and is now run by his family. ... Animetal Marathon IV ) is the fourth full album by Animetal. ... Animetal Marathon V ) is the fifth full length album by Japanese heavy metal band Animetal. ... Animetal Marathon VI ~The Sentimental~ ) is the sixth full length album by Japanese heavy metal band Animetal. ... Animetal Marathon VII: Fight! Metal Hero ) is a 2005 album by the Japanese heavy metal band Animetal. ...

External links

• Animetal (official site) (Japanese)
• SHOUT IMPACT !! English Eizo Sakamoto fan site
• MusicBrainz entry
• YouTube clip of the band performing the theme song for Science Ninja Team Gatchaman