5 Metal Albums Anime Fans Might Like

Salutations fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I think there are plenty of anime fans out there that are into Heavy Metal, and there are a bunch of metalheads who might be curious about anime (And manga by an extent). In the world of metal, there are a lot of bands who’s brushed up against the land of the rising sun at a bus stop, or have flat-out glomped Japan in an effort to absorb it’s goodness. Hell, there’s some bands who embraced anime & manga themes without actually doing so on certain releases! I wanted to show off a couple of these kinds of records, so without any more delays, here are 5 metal albums.....that anime fans might like.

(I realized in hindsight that most of this list is Power Metal. Not surprising, given the nature of that style & plenty of other anime/manga.)

1) Whispered - Metsutan: Songs of the Void (Song)

If you were to tell me a year or two ago that there was a band in Finland that was one part Death Metal, one part Power Metal, and one part Japanese folklore & instrumentation, I would have laughed for minutes on end. Color me surprised when towards the end of last year I happened to discover such a band alongside another Finnish gem I’ll be talking about later (Hint Hint), and said discovery took me by surprised. It make take a little bit to interpret this bizarre mix, but trust me when I say that it somehow works. Somehow, the brutality of the Death Metal mixes with the upbeat nature of the Power Metal, and it’s all tied together with the ribbon that is the Japanese folklore/instrumentation. You might be taken aback at first, but Whispered’s 3rd release really is something to look out for!

2) W.A.S.P. - Still Not Black Enough (Song)

A bit of an oddball choice, but hear me out on this one!

Sometimes, life isn’t all sunshine & rainbows. Sometimes, life is painful, and we go through some of the worst it throws at us. However, on occasion it’s this darkness and pain that actually pushes us to do something positive with ourselves. In the case of this obscure gem, sometimes the characters we hold close to our hearts go through some tough times. Sometimes the bad guy wins a fight, or maybe a friend or family member gets hurt. They gets into a tough spot, and for a bit they stay there. Eventually, however, they manage to get out of the rut that they were in. It may take a while, but eventually they do. That’s Still Not Black Enough in a nutshell: tragic & sad, yet somehow there’s a pathway through all of that pain that’ll lead you into something better. Even if you’re not in a bad spot, I still recommend this album to anyone that likes their metal on the more hidden side of popularity!

3) Sabaton - Heroes (Song)

For every piece of tragedy in the world, there is always a counterbalance to it. In the case of this list, we have perhaps one of Sabaton’s most upbeat records in the form of Heroes. Though there is some seriousness to be had with certain tracks, the overall experience is definitely a happy one. There were some truly remarkable people during World War 2: From the daring escapades of the all-female division of the Russian airforce, to the Polish solider who entered into Auschwitz to save his people (My particularly favorite track), and to the German tank commander who defied Hitler to save civilians from Berlin, Heroes is an honest & genuine collection of tales about the soldiers who fought during one of the darkest times in our world’s history. Given what the Earth is like right now, perhaps we need them once again.

4) HammerFall - Legacy Of Kings (Songs)

The best things are always built upon the past. Whether metal, anime, manga, or gaming, the ones who came before helped create what we love, and they deserve our attention (Or at the very least, respect). In the case of HammerFall, they most easily earn my respect! Taking a slightly different turn when it comes to Power Metal, the band forgoes the usage of keyboard that’s so prevalent in the style, and instead goes for all out guitar, bass, and drums. This in turn make them feel more like a typical metal band but with considerably more cheese put into the dish, and it’s one I happily devour! Uplifting in so many ways, Legacy Of Kings is proof that there’s more than enough room for Heavy Metal to have sunshine, rainbows, and plenty of times for it to be warm & fuzzy.

5) Everfrost - Blue Eyed Emotion (Song) & Winterider (Song)

I’ve gushed about these beautiful Finnish dudes 3 times last month......and I’m sure as shit not stopping any time soon!

There have been plenty of bands, metal or otherwise, that have certainly caught me with my pants down. However, there has never.....ever, been a band that genuinely blindsided me much like these five gents! Though the other albums on this list anime fans will certainly fit into the swing of things....these two records are essential metal albums for all lovers of anime & manga! From the cover art, to the comics within, it’s obvious that these releases are genuine love letters to the hobbies that Everfrost loves. Even taking out the anime & manga connections, both Blue Eyed Emotion & Winterider are absolutely solid Power Metal records. From the guitar & bass, to the keyboard, and to the drums, you are in for a cheesy, awesome, and badass experience. I can’t recommend these albums more than I already have, so seek these guys out already!

And these were 5 metal albums that anime fans might enjoy. As I’ve said before, otaku & metalheads have far more in common that both sides are willing to admit, and these albums definitely show those connections off. Well, the other half of January is here, so see you towards the end of the month for some more content!

My Top 5 Serious Anime Of All Time

Hello Fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and happy 2020!

I’m definitely looking forward to what I got planned for this year, and for that matter, the entire decade. With a new period of times comes some changes to the Heavy Metal Otaku blog. Despite the possibility of World War 3 on the horizon, I’m doing the best I can to keep my spirits up. I guess because of the environment we’re in right now, I’m starting the year off with something serious. Not massively so, as I got something a bit happier further into January. In the meantime, here are my top 5 serious anime of all time. Let’s begin!

5) Crimson Wolf (Hon Ran)

Starting things off is what might very well be the most unintentionally hilarious OVAs I’ve ever watched. On the surface the idea seems quite intriguing (Adverting the apocalypse caused by the discovery of Genghis Khan’s tomb, leading into fantasy/government conspiracy), and to a certain degree it’s used well. However, the potential is ruined by a short length, oddly paced story, and some of the most out there lines ever recorded for a dub. I could also put Crimson Wolf in the “Comedy” category in a big moment of irony, but the potential within keeps me from doing so.......barely.

4) Bleach - Diamond Dust Rebellion

From something accidentally funny to something stereo typically Shonen, Bleach is perhaps one of the most iconic shows in the style. Whether reviled or beloved, anime fans will usually have this as one of if not their first Shonen shows they’ve ever watched. In regards to the movies, they’re shrunken equivalents of a season of the show (In all the right/wrong ways), save for a bit more seriousness given the stakes that are raised. Out of all the movies, I was always impressed by Diamond Dust Rebellion: despite following the Shonen trope somewhat to a T, the threat against Ichigo & the Soul Society seemed genuinely powerful, and it affects some of the characters pretty harshly. Like Crimson Wolf this movie is not for everybody (Perhaps even more so), but for people like me, this easily fits the bill for something fun and serious.

3) Bible Black

I think is the first time in the 5+ years of the Heavy Metal Otaku blog that I’ve actually talked about a hentai, and man did I pick an infamous one. For even casual fans of adult-themed anime, most know of this series for it’s particularly hilarious dub, but what an equal amount of people don’t know is how surprisingly in-depth Bible Black is. There’s actually story! There’s actually depth! There’s actually character! The atmosphere is dark, and even scary at points. There isn’t a massive amount of story, depth, and character due to the pornagrapic nature, and the dark/scary parts seems slightly comical because of what I said above, but the original series & even most of the sequels have a little bit of heft to it. If you’re one of those people who like their hentai with more substance, then Bible Black might be what you’re looking for.

2) A Silent Voice

Okay, now we’re getting serious.

If there was any anime on this list that I would consider to be serious. Maybe even bordering on realistic.....it would have to be A Silent Voice. I praised this movie back in 2017 despite it being an honorable mention, and I’ll still praise it today. Perhaps what makes it a little superior over the original manga is the usage of subtly throughout the movie, which in turn makes the heavy emotional gutpunches that much more powerful. Dealing with physical disabilities, bullying & the damage it does, and dealing with the consequences of one’s actions, A Silent Voice is one of those OVAs that everybody should watch. Whether you’re an anime fan or not, you shouldn’t miss this.

1) Cowboy Bebop

True story: I never watched this classic show in it’s heyday. It wasn’t until the re-release back in the early 2010s that I finally bought it, sat down, and gave it a watch.......that’s when it hit me!

Now, I will say that I do have an issue or two. I’m not the biggest fan of moral ambiguity/moral greyness, but the show does it well for the most part. I’m not the biggest Jazz fan, but the soundtrack for the series is incredibly. What really gets Cowboy Bebop as my number 1 favorite serious anime.....is that it’s a show about people. More specifically, it’s about an examination of people. An examination into their past, how they currently function when we meet them, and the potential to what they may become later in their lives. It’s pretty neat to see if this aspect of the show is true, and it’s neat to see so many other things as well (Race, Film Noir, etc). If there was an anime that is serious and can convert potential anime fans, then Cowboy Bebop is it.

So those were my 5 favorite serious anime of all time. As per usual, my lists always have strange choices on them, and this one is definitely no exception. Well, to step away from seriousness, I got something fun planned for later on this month. So join around the mid of January, where anime & Heavy Metal will collide! See you then.