ANIMETAL USA Schedules First-Ever U.S. Show

May 14, 2012

ANIMETAL USA — the American counterpart to ANIMETAL, the Japanese heavy metal band which specialized in metal covers of popular Japanese anime/tokusatsu theme songs — will make its U.S. live debut at the Anime Expo, which will be held June 29 – July 2 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

ANIMETAL USA is:

* Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, LOUDNESS) - Vocals
* Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO) – Bass
* Jon Dette (SLAYER, TESTAMENT) - Drums
* Chris Impellitteri (IMPELLITTERI) - Guitar

Commented Impellitteri: "We will be playing a lot of our metal/anime songs like 'Mazinger Medley', 'Gachaman', 'Ai Wo Torimodose' and 'Thesis Of A Cruel Angel', as well as the opening track for the next record titled 'Touch', which is pure addrenalin from start to finish."

For more information, go to this location.

In other news, ANIMETAL USA's self-titled debut album, which came out in Japan on October 12, 2011 via Sony Music Entertainment, has been officially certified gold in that country.

Continued Impellitteri: "It is crazy to think we can play arena shows and sell this many records when we are doing something as weird and unique as mixing metal with anime. Very strange to me, but musically this music is really challenging and exciting to perform, especially the first song on our upcoming record titled 'Touch'. The song has about 40% of an original song we wrote titled 'The Haunting'. It sounds a bit like an excited up-tempo BLACK SABBATH! The 'Touch' guitar solo is insane to play! It reminds me of the Randy Rhoads classic solo 'Mr. Crowley', which burns in the intro and then becomes very orchestrated on the second half. I definitely was listening to Randy a lot when I recorded this record... ha ha! Mike, Rudy, and Jon are also killing it on this record. Amazing rhythm section. Tight and powerful! And, as always, Mike has got walls of awesome vocals all over this record with great melody and range. The dude belongs with the THREE TENORS.

He added, "The next record which will be released towards early summer has a bit more of a commercial sound to it, with the exception of few crazy, balls-out-metal songs like 'Touch'!"

The drums on ANIMETAL USA's debut album were laid down by JUDAS PRIEST's Scott Travis. He has since been forced to leave the group due to his touring commitments with PRIEST.

(Thanks: Fullshred)

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