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Rapid Log: 015 - Hagane Discography

Hagane is an all-female band from Tokyo, Japan, formed in 2018 by Sakura (guitar) alongside Mayto (guitar) and Kanako (drums). Junna later replaced the drummer position in 2024. UyU took over vocals after Chiemi—who hadn't been heard from since the first EP—was replaced, before eventually being shifted out for Nagi, who remains the vocalist to this day. Carrying the melodic power metal torch, the group has been quite productive with three EPs, three maxi-singles, and two full-length albums, despite still being relatively young.

Since I've already covered the album Code;9021 (2022), the data below includes everything else.

EpisodeØ (2020)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 8/10

Tracklist:

1. Brave 7.5/10

2. To cover 7/10

3. Connect 8/10

4. Soulbeats 7/10

5. WintrySky 8/10

OVERALL: 75/100

Labradorite (2020)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 8/10

Tracklist:

1. E-102y 7/10

2. Labradorite 7.5/10

3. Sin 8/10

4. Labradorite (instrumental) 7.5/10

OVERALL: 75/100

Supervillan (2021)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 7.5/10

Tracklist:

1. Change the future 8/10

2. Supervillan 8/10

3. 侵喰の夜 7/10

4. Supervillan 7/10

OVERALL: 75/100

Life Goes on! (2024)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 9/10

Tracklist:

1. Victoire 8/10

2. 天下五剣 8.5/10

3. Hero Time 8.5/10

4. DATT 7.5/10

5. Life Goes on! 9/10

OVERALL: 85/100

Top of the Tower (2025)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 8.5/10

1. Top of the Tower 7.5/10

2. Not Lose 8.5/10

3. Kagome 8/10

4. Out of the darkness 9/10

5. Start our journey 8/10

6. 剣のレコード -Records of TSURUGI- 7.5/10

7. Over the fate 7.5/10

8. Salvation 8.5/10

9. Catch the star 8.5/10

10. With a dream 7.5/10

11. Half scream 7.5/10

OVERALL: 80/100

Amour Chain (2026)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 9/10

Tracklist:

1. Amour Chain 8.5/10

2. Amour Chain battle ver. 7.5/10

3. Amour Chain orchestra ver. 9/10

4. Amour Chain orchestra game ver. 10/10

5. Avenir 8/10

OVERALL: 90-/100

Metal Quest (2026)

Production: 9/10

Composition: 8.5/10

Tracklist:

1. Embark on a Quest 8.5/10

2. Black diamond 7.5

3. We are the knight 8.5

4. 月光-TSUKIKAGE- 8.5

5. The rising of the shield 8.5/10

OVERALL: 80+/100

Comments

I don't mean to glorify Japanese products, but Hagane here truly demonstrates the excellence of Japanese power metal—especially in the Nagi era—compared to their European-American counterparts. Their journey feels episodic, with fantasy themes dating back to EpisodeØ. The first EP sounds a bit raw, and the clean guitar riff on "WintrySky" evokes a dream of post-power metal—much like post-black metal sounds to my ears. Then the chorus of "Labradorite" delivers the most emotional atmospheric side during the UyU era. Similar offerings on the debut album include "BlackCult," "Sword of Judgement," and "Zero."

Hagane also underwent a major lineup change in 2023 with the departure of UyU, Kanako, and Mayto. However, that marked the beginning of a new chapter for the group. The EP Life Goes On! immediately struck a chord with me, and the title track along with "Not Lose" delivered an even stronger emotional punch than the UyU era. In addition to keyboards, Japanese folk elements like the shamisen added new color—heard on tracks like "Kagome"—while the crowd-shout vocal style on songs like "Life Goes on!", "Catch the Star" and "We are the Knight" reminded me of MyGo!!!!!. The single Amour Chain also made a significant contribution to their career, being used as the soundtrack for the Nintendo Switch game CRAZY CHA!N -Elpis no Kusari-. A 10 is clearly well-deserved for the orchestral version featuring piano and violin—utterly irresistible to me. Cinematic and emotional.

So, if you like power metal on the rawer side, go for the UyU era; but if you want speed and full-on melody, choose the Nagi era. Hagane is also recommended for fans of Dragon Guardian, Light Bringer, Mary's Blood, Elfensjón, Ave Mujica, Wagakki Band, and the like. Yeah, but I'm grateful they're power metal rather than just hard rock—even though laypeople might just call it heavy metal or J-metal.

That's all.

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