Bridear

Playing Graz, Austria, 2018-11-27

One of Bridear’s early publicity photos carried the text, “Gal Metal Band from Fukuoka” which I think was pretty much to the point.
  The instrumentals are strong. IMHO, Kimi sounds more garage-punk than metal, usually. When they have another singer (Misa until her exit) doing metal “death growl” lines back and forth with her, THEN it sounds more metal. Just my opinion. Can’t do that every song though because it’s hard on the throat.
They do several numbers with guitars playing identical notes, plus a few harmonizing as well, then back. Kinda neat.
  “Skew Lines” (2016) was one of their densest metal offerings. Lately, trying for a more “commercial” approach, “Dear Bride” (album “Helix” 2018) sounds more PowerPop. There’s a lot in between.
     They were formed in 2011 and have had only one change in the members. Their 2013 album “Overturn the Doom” had a cover scene that is darkish on the viewer’s side, but a door is partway open with a bright light shining from beyond... and several of their songs include the idea of light overcoming darkness, which illustrates my impression that Japanese female metal bands tend to be heavy-duty with their instruments and at the same time, more positive in spirit and message than many western death-metal bands. They clearly plan on winning and living.

Lead guitarist Misa departed in 2017, citing different goals (she was not feeling the new pop-ish direction as I understand), and early in 2018 they gained Misaki. Since then they recorded the album “Helix”.
https://visualioner.com/2018/03/30/misaki-has-joined-bridear-new-look/

Official website, which has a button for which language to use:
https://bridear.jp/

YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqkHezzlbqWrmOhoTcZTVjg

https://twitter.com/Bridear_info

https://mobile.twitter.com/Bridear_info

And this is Misaki’s page -
https://twitter.com/black_rainyday

Metal Archives page:
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Bridear/3540368187

And
https://www.last.fm/music/Bridear

Former guitarist Misa:
https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Misa/515792

https://www.jrocknews.com/2017/09/bridears-misa-depart-european-tour.html

A review of the 2018 “Helix” album. A dude is doing the growls on G-A-M-E? Sigh. Can anyone confirm/deny?
https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Bridear/Helix/703055/Liquid_Braino/198103

A live version of G-A-M-E, which definitely has Kimi doing the growls.
           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiFZ_JWKVwE

Group member profiles:
https://bridear.jp/profile/

Yoshitsuru is leaving at 2018 year end:
https://bridear.jp/news/美弦%E3%80%80脱退のご報告/