Glory, Glory, to the World

Glory, Glory, to the World is the third extended play by Japanese heavy metal band Lovebites. The EP was released in Japan on March 10, 2021, by Victor Entertainment. It will be released in the United Kingdom by JPU Records on May 28, 2021. It debuted at number 10 on the "Billboard Japan" Hot Albums chart, and number 11 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
Background.
"Glory, Glory, to the World" was written and recorded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lovebites' tour in support of their third album, "Electric Pentagram", was halted half-way through and the members could not decide what to do. They received the opportunity to write a theme song for the anime series "Vlad Love", and set to work on it in spring 2020. Work on the EP started in the summer. Unlike previous writing and recording sessions, all five band members threw in ideas and shaped the songs.
Vocalist Asami said it took a long time to arrange the songs as traveling was difficult due to the pandemic. However, she did visit each member at their home as it is always faster to exchange ideas in person. Guitarist Midori came up with the album title from the line "Glory, glory, hallelujah" in the song "Battle Hymn of the Republic". It became "Glory, Glory, to the World" in reference to the global pandemic. In a press release the band said, "On one hand, working on this album during the spread of coronavirus has been mentally draining. On the other, the music created in such darkness has managed to become full of feelings of salvation and light. This body of work is full of a positive power unlike anything else in the history of LOVEBITES".
Like all of their releases, it was mixed by Mikko Karmila and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. Also returning, The EasyRabbit CreArtions, a duo of Spanish artists David López Gómez and Carlos Vincente León, provided the cover art of a wolf. The wolf, which appears on all but the band's debut release, symbolizes that by playing the non-mainstream genre of heavy metal Lovebites are a "lone wolf" in the music scene.
Themes.
Opening track "Glory to the World" was composed by Midori. She was inspired by attending Sunday services at black churches whenever she visits the United States or the United Kingdom. She has always liked gospel music, and said the song has elements of gospel and a section for pipe organ. Describing church music as "powerful," particularly when enhanced by worshipers, the guitarist arranged the song to be "sacred" and church-like in a broad sense. Midori cited the unison and harmony between the two guitars and bass on "Glory to the World" as the most difficult thing on the EP due to how fast some phrases are. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asami wrote the lyrics to have a positive message and also included the phrase "hallelujah" to have a "holy element."
The Miyako-composed "No Time to Hesitate" was the last song written for the EP. With the other three tracks already decided, Asami wanted another upbeat song. The singer praised the drum arrangement done by Haruna for significantly changing the impression the song gives when compared to its demo.
Speaking of "Paranoia", Asami said it came from her newfound love of thrash metal. Previously she wrote ballad-type tracks, but decided to give thrash a try as she enjoys performing Lovebites' songs "The Hammer of Wrath", "M.D.O." and "Thunder Vengeance". She initially assumed that thrash songs would be the hardest to sing, but has since found that she is able to record such songs in one take. Although she normally starts with the melody when writing songs, for thrash songs she starts with the guitar riff and said melody comes last. The vocalist revealed that since she can not play guitar, she writes the riffs on piano, which makes it difficult for guitarists Midori and Miyako to replicate. However, Midori said this is a challenge she enjoys, as she too also uses keyboard to write guitar solos, and that the guitar on "Paranoia" was done quickly.
Asami said that "Dystopia Symphony" has a "suite-like image" with various developments like progressive rock. She revealed that Miyako composed it based on Ludwig van Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 8". Midori believes it is the first time she has played this kind of progressive rock.
Some versions of the EP include the song "Winds of Transylvania". It was written to be the opening theme of the anime series "Vlad Love". Asami, who co-composed it with the band's frequent collaborator Mao, heard that the anime's staff particularly liked thrash metal, and after various meetings with them, it was decided to use a speed metal song instead of a melodic one. She made it during spring 2020 and initially did not plan to make it into a full song, revealing that it took a lot of trial and error to fit the 89-second time limit of the opening animation. Midori said the thing that stands out the most in the 89 seconds are the dive bombs she plays on the track. Its piano intro uses Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" as a motif. The song was previously included on a CD with the three other themes of the anime that was released at Ichigo Animation's CulZone stores on January 9, 2021.
Release.
"Glory, Glory, to the World" was released in Japan on March 10, 2021, by Victor Entertainment. Limited Edition A includes a DVD of three music videos; the video for "Glory to the World" and two versions of the video for "Winds of Transylvania". Limited Edition B includes a second CD with "Winds of Transylvania" and its instrumental version. The music video for "Glory to the World" features the band playing in a church and an actor portraying Jesus Christ resurrected in the current era. The music video for "Winds of Transylvania" features Asami dressed in a black outfit based on that of the main character in "Vlad Love", while one version of it also features scenes from the anime. The sold out national Ride for Vengeance Tour was originally set to take place between January 24 and March 5, but was rescheduled to between March 12 and April 6 following the Japanese government's declaration of a second state of emergency due to the pandemic and its extension.
It will be released on CD and vinyl in the UK on May 28, 2021 by JPU Records. Their version includes "Winds of Transylvania" as a bonus track.
Reception.
"Glory, Glory, to the World" debuted at number 10 on the "Billboard Japan" Hot Albums chart. It reached number 11 on the Oricon Albums Chart and charted for four weeks. It also peaked at number 11 on "Billboard Japan"s Top Albums Sales chart, which is based only on physical sales.
Peter Dennis of "AVO Magazine" wrote that "Glory, Glory, to the World" finds Lovebites further developing their sound and reaching new levels of technicality. He described opening track "Glory to the World" as creating an "ethereal, almost quasi-religious feel that makes the coming storm even more volatile" and called "No Time to Hesitate" a "punchy, hard-hitting" "metal masterclass" that highlights Haruna's drumming.
Personnel.
Lovebites
Other