Witness the melodic hard rock anthem that captured Japanese hearts but remained a hidden gem elsewhere.
The Song
"Can't Believe" is a standout track from Lionsheart's self-titled debut album, released in 1992. Penned by Steve Grimmett, Mark Owers, and Stephen Owers, the song epitomizes the band's melodic hard rock style, characterized by powerful vocals and intricate guitar work. Its sound drew comparisons to established acts like Whitesnake and Blue Murder, showcasing a polished yet hard-edged approach.
The track features the classic lineup of Steve Grimmett on lead vocals, Mark Owers on guitar, Steve Owers on bass, Anthony Christmas on drums, and Graham Collett on keyboards and harmonica. The songwriting and creative direction for the debut album, including "Can't Believe," largely stemmed from the Owers brothers.
The Artist
Lionsheart is a British heavy metal band formed in the New Forest, Hampshire, in 1990. Founded by twin musicians Mark and Steve Owers, they soon enlisted the formidable vocal talents of Steve Grimmett, formerly of Grim Reaper and Onslaught. The band carved a niche with their fast tempos, instrumental prowess, and aggressive yet melodic musicianship, aligning them with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) subgenre.
Despite a "cold response" from the British press and rock fans, Lionsheart found significant and immediate success in Japan with their debut album. This unexpected regional popularity became a defining characteristic of their early career, allowing them to thrive even when their home market remained largely indifferent.
Chart Performance
While specific single chart positions for "Can't Believe" across various territories are not widely documented, its impact was most profoundly felt in Japan. The song's accompanying music video played a crucial role in the commercial success of the debut album, Lionsheart, in that country.
The album itself achieved a "high ranking" on the Oricon Album Chart in Japan and its follow-up, Pride in Tact, went on to sell over 100,000 copies in the region. The exposure of the "Can't Believe" video contributed to the album reportedly selling out within hours of hitting Japanese stores and even "keeping the new Bon Jovi album off the number one spot" at one point.
Cultural Impact
"Can't Believe" served as a cornerstone of Lionsheart's initial breakthrough, particularly in the discerning Japanese melodic rock scene. The song, along with its video, helped solidify the band's reputation for delivering high-quality, guitar-driven melodic hard rock. This disproportionate success in Japan, contrasted with a lukewarm reception in their native UK and the US, highlights the diverse global appeal of melodic metal in the early 90s, often overlooked by Western markets due to the burgeoning grunge movement.
The song remains a fan favorite and a testament to the powerful vocal delivery of Steve Grimmett and the melodic craftsmanship of the original Lionsheart lineup. It is considered an "important track" within the band's discography.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "Can't Believe" drew "glaring similarities" to Whitesnake's iconic "Still of the Night" video, a fact even noted by band keyboardist Graham Collett.
- The video features a dog at the beginning, a detail that even members of the band couldn't figure out the reason for, describing it as something "no one could ever figure out why there should be a dog at the beginning of a Lionsheart video!"
- The director of the "Can't Believe" video was reportedly responsible for several successful movies in Japan, which likely contributed to its high-quality production and saturation airplay there.
- The success of the "Can't Believe" video and the debut album in Japan was heavily bolstered by "relentless promotion" from Masa Ito, described as "almost certainly the biggest rock DJ/presenter in Japan at that time."