Guitar International's Robert Cavuoto has issued a new interview with ANIMETAL USA guitarist Chris Impellitteri (IMPELLITTERI). An excerpt follows:

Q: Tell me how Animetal USA was formed?

A: "It was put together by our record label, Sony. They really had the vision for this band. They thought it would be an interesting mutation if they took the metal world and the anime audience and permeated them together. They would help us find a market, an identity, and people who would listen and come to the shows. Basically, they had looked at a band out of Japan that had done this, around 1991, it was called Animetal. It was very popular only in Japan. They were said to have great success. Sony thought, and I hate this word, what if we put a ‘supergroup’ together and made it an international band? Rudy Sarzo said I was the only choice for guitar, and I was flattered. When I got the call from our now manager I asked “can put my own spin on this?” considering it’s actually half an original song and half a cover. Lyrically it’s the cover part as well as the main song theme, especially if it’s a really well-known anime song. Basically, we put together the original music that I write with the anime lyrics."

Read the complete interview at this location.

Animetal USA, also - featuring singer Mike Vescera (OBSESSION/ex-LOUDNESS), bassist Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO), and drummer Jon Dette (ex-SLAYER) - made their live debut in the US on June 29th during the Anime Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. An interview with the band conducted by KawaiiKakkoiiSugoi.com can be seen below. Performance footage is also available.

Animetal USA released their second album, entitled Animetal USA W, on June 6th in Japan.

The tracklisting:

'Touch' (TV anime Touch OP)

'Cat's Eye' (TV anime Cat's Eye OP)

Hero Medley:

- 'Devilman no Uta' (TV anime Devilman OP)

'Let's go Rider Kick' (TV tokusatsu Kamen Rider OP)

'Tatakae! Kamen Rider V3' (TV tokusatsu Kamen Rider V3 OP)

'Himitsu Sentai Goranger' (TV tokusatsu Himitsu Sentai Goranger ED)

- 'Ultra Seven no Uta' (TV tokusatsu Ultra Seven OP)

Dragon Ball Medley:

- 'Cha-la Head-cha-la' (TV anime Dragon Ball Z 1st OP)
- 'We Gotta Power' (TV anime Dragon Ball Z 2nd OP)

'Galaxy Express 999' (movie Galaxy Express 999 theme song)

'We Are!' (TV anime One Piece 1st OP)

'Yuzurenai Negai' (TV anime Magic Knight Rayearth OP)

Girl's Anime Medley:

- 'Moonlight Densetsu' (TV anime Sailor Moon OP)
- 'Cutie Honey' (TV anime Cutie Honey OP)
- 'Attack No. 1 theme' (TV anime Attack No. 1 OP)
- 'Himitsu no Akko-chan' (TV anime Himitsu no Akko-chan OP)
- 'Mahoutsukai Sally' (TV anime Mahoutsukai Sally OP)

'Ai Oboeteimasuka/Do You Remember Love?' (movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? theme song)

JAM Project Medley:

- 'Vanguard~Max On~Skill'

'Give Lee Give Lee Rock Lee' (TV anime Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals OP)