On Nov. 15, the Japanese all-female heavy metal group, LOVEBITES, performed at The Vermont Hollywood, the capstone show to their Eternal Phenomenon tour. Being their second ever visit to the United States, the performance attracted fans from across California and beyond.
To a general audience, LOVEBITES is relatively obscure compared to the Japanese heavy metal giants like “BABYMETAL” and “Loudness,” but within the smaller heavy metal niche, the group is highly renowned.
“I am a global metal head, but I believe that you cannot have a reasonable discussion on heavy metal in the third decade of the 21st century without talking about the Japanese all-girls scene because it is red hot right now,” said Steve Hinkley, a fan from El Monte.
Their cult-following was evident as, despite occurring on one of the rainiest days in Los Angeles, the venue was filled to the brim with avid fans, not wasting their opportunity to see LOVEBITES in person. Fans came sporting the band’s merchandise such as the tee shirt from the previous tour.
The performance started with a bang, with each member of LOVEBITES striking a pose, clad in their iconic white outfits. The most noticeable thing at first that sets LOVEBITES apart from the crowd is their fashion, contrasting the usual black outfits the heavy metal genre is known for, LOVEBITES almost exclusively wears white. This choice not only gives them a unique identity but grants them greater stage presence through brightness and contrast.
Asami, the lead vocalist, shouted at the crowd to make this concert the greatest ending ever, before opening with their first song, “Glory to the World.”
While their aesthetics help LOVEBITES stand out, it is their music that has created their avid fanbase. The magic starts first with their inspiration, references from some of the greats, such as their song “Holy War” musically referencing Megadeth’s “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.”
You can hear all their influences, and they pay respect and homage to all the greats,” said John Martin, a fan from Los Angeles.
While Lovesbites references older heavy metal, they go a step beyond, incorporating these pieces and ideas to enhance their music even further.
“I think what makes them different is just the way that they kind of, they take [older heavy metal] influences and make something new out of them,” said Eric Ward, another fan.
“These girls rip out beats, harmonies, melodies, and rhythms harder than 90% of bands that ever existed,” said Steve Hinckle, another fan.
Throughout the performance, the crowd was high with energy, pumping their fists and chanting to the songs. One member waved a Japanese flag to show their support. This excitement culminated in a fusion between a conga line and mosh pit forming in the center of the crowd, with fans spinning in a circle to the beat of the songs.
LOVEBITES kept in mind crowd interaction throughout the performance, leaving space within and during the songs for cheering and chanting. This was especially highlighted with the song “Raise Some Hell,” with Asami singing the phrase “make some noise,” prompting the crowd to respond with “raise some hell.”
After completing their set, the band left the stage, but the crowd erupted chanting “LOVEBITES” for an encore. As a sendoff and to treat the enthused crowd, they performed two last songs, ending off on what is considered to be the band’s anthem, “We The United.”
With the performance over, the curtains close on the “Eternal Phenomenon Tour,” but LOVEBITES will be continuing to push their success further. In March 2026, they will be performing at the Budokan, one of the most prestigious venues in Tokyo.
As Biff Yamazaki, a fan from Los Angeles, said: “Right now, [LOVEBITES is] really, really near the top.”