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!