Anime Expo 2012 presents US concert debut of ANIMETAL USA

Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture celebration, will present the U.S. concert debut of the anime-inspired heavy metal band, ANIMETAL USA, when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. ANIMETAL USA promises to take AX by storm with its furious combination of classic and original anime music, metallic riffs, solos, powerful vocals and futuristic make-up and costumes. As Official Guests of Honor, the band will also participate in a meet-and-greet, autograph signing and a focus panel.

The phrase “metal super group” was custom-made for ANIMETAL USA whose members include singer Mike Vescera (Obsession/ex-Loudness), bassist Rudy Sarzo (Blue Öyster Cult, ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio), guitarist Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri), and drummer Jon Dette (ex-Slayer, Testament). Adding to the group’s stellar rock pedigree, former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman has joined Impellitteri in arranging its tunes. ANIMETAL USA’s self-titled, October 12, 2011 debut album has been gold-certified in Japan and has hit the #1 spot on Amazon’s Hard Rock Heavy Metal chart and #2 on Amazon’s Anime chart in Japan. The band’s sophomore album entitled “W,” set to release in the U.S. in June 2012, includes “Give Lee Give Lee Rock Lee,” the opening theme song of the global anime marvel “NARUTO” spin off series, “NARUTO-SD-Rock Lee No Seisyun Full Power Ninden.” For more info visit http://animetalusa.com.

The date and time of the ANIMETAL USA concert will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.anime-expo.org.

Animetal USA join the previously announced AX 2012 line-up that includes Culture Japan’s Danny Choo, popular voice actors Jamie Marchi and Steve Blum, and Japanese pop star LiSA.