J-Metal Reviews: SHOW-YA "Outerlimits"

By Badman

Welcome back headbagers from all around! I am back for another weekly J-Metal album review! Today I have a special treat for you metal-loving motherf**kers! I've been chomping at the bit for weeks to write about today’s album. With no further ado, I present the most notorious Japanese all-female Metal band of all time: SHOW-YA!!!

Hailing from Tokyo, the band was formed in 1981 by Keiko Terada (vocals) and Miki Nakamura (keyboards). Four months after forming, they won the Yamaha EastWest '81 Battle of The Bands. Due to that win, the band would be invited to the Yamaha EastWest multiple times from 82-84 despite the few lineup changes along the way. Their multiple appearances quickly gained the band notoriety which snagged them a record deal with Toshiba EMI in 1984. Although SHOW-YA successfully signed a deal, the guitarist opted out of the band leaving the band in dire need for another member. As fast as the lineup change happened, they quickly hired guitarist Miki Igarashi, and completed the core lineup fans famously know: Keiko Terada on vocals, Miki “Captain” Nakamura on keyboards, Miki “Mittan” Tsunoda on drums, Satomi Sendba on bass, and Miki “Sun-Go" Igarashi on guitar. They would release records yearly from the mid-80’s onward. Although they have a sizable body of work in the 80’s, a few records are a bit hit or miss for me...except one of them. That one album is monstrous "Outerlimits"! 

"Outerlimits" is SHOW-YA’s seventh full-length album and was released in July 1989. The album is composed of eleven tracks with a runtime of forty-seven minutes. With the 90’s around the corner, Metal had a long almost ten year run, with the metal market becoming over saturated with bands. Metal’s reign on the world was “ending”, bot for SHOW-YA! It hit the Oricon charts at number three. That’s right number three in all of Japan! "Outerlimits" was one hell of a success.

On my first listen it shattered all my expectations. I came into this album holding my breath and bracing for impact to only be slapped across the face with one of THE finest Metal albums ever made. Keiko’s excellent vocal delivery is breathtakingly powerful! Mittan’s drums are booming and CRISPY! Captain channels the power of John Lord (Deep Purple keyboardist) giving refreshing textures and flavors to each track. Satomi’s bass playing is on point, and her tone is perfectly deep and crisp cutting perfectly through the mix. Last but not least, Sun-Go absolutely shreds and always delivers the tastiest of licks. So what tracks are standouts and what tracks can be passed up? To be honest, all the tracks in Outerlimits are BANGERS! My favorites and recommendations are "私は嵐 (Watashi wa Arashi)", "OUT OF LIMITS", "BATTLE EXPRESS", "限界 LOVERS (Genkai LOVERS)", "祈り (Inori)", and  "野性の薔薇 (Yasei no Bara)".

"Outerlimits", in my opinion, is one the closest-to-perfect Metal records I’ve ever listened to. It has a great mix of Metal, Bluesy Rock 'N Roll, and Hard Rock all thrown into a blender. Every band member put their 100+ percent into this record and it shows in their execution and the musical composition of each song. This record is a straight banger and nothing less! I highly, highly recommend to give "Outerlimits" a full listen. I guarantee that it will be a worthwhile Heavy F**KING Metal experience!

Standouts:
OUT OF LIMITS
LOOK AT ME!
限界 LOVERS (Genkai LOVERS)
TROUBLE
野性の薔薇 (Yasei no Bara)
祈り (Inori)
戒厳令の街 (Kaigenrei no Machi) - CRY FOR THE FREEDOM
BAD BOYS
私は嵐 (Watashi wa Arashi)
Paranoia Paradise
BATTLE EXPRESS

The entire album can be listened to (probably not the most authorized of sources) via the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqQFeTyGNlo