400https://i.ur.com/ezY6WgT.gif Rock as a Queer Metaphor Rock is a Ladys Modesty is a story about selfrepression and selfacceptance. Lilisas love for rock music is an intrinsic part of her being something she cant repress even if she tried. Shes under serious pressure from her mother to fit in at the prestigious Oshin Girls Academy and to earn the title of Noble Maiden a feat that requires her to become the perfect representation of what it means to be a proper lady. Lilisa is determined to achieve this goal but it requires her constant effort to hold back the less prim and proper aspects of herself such as her serious temper penchant for vulgar language and of course her secret passion for the guitar. When she finds Otoha the perfect example of a Lady she aspires to be going absolutely ham on the drums in the music room after school shes provoked into participating in a jam session with her that quickly turns into a heated battle of instruments. Otoha plays like a dominatrix thats literally how shes depicted in the scene tempting her further and further into the thralls of the rhythm and reigniting Lilisas inner rage fueling her desire to express it through rock. 400https://i.ur.com/WGM83DC.gif At first Lilisa denies that she could ever do another passionate collaboration with Otoha but the temptation is too much to resist and thus begins a partnership between the two that leads to them forming a band and aiming to one day grace the stage of Fuji Rock. Throughout the show the bands best sessions are depicted as an experience bordering on orgasmic. By playing guitar Lilisa isnt just having fun or devoting herself to a hobby shes losing herself in the pleasure of it spurred on by Otos provocative drumming and verbal berating. Rock isnt a game to her its what she lives for its a core part of her identity. Are you getting how this fits as a queer metaphor yet? Its not exactly subtle and the innuendo can feel rather heavyhanded at times but that doesnt detract from my enjoyment in the slightest. A story about breaking free from the suffocating confines of stereotypical femininity to have sweaty sadistic/masochistic passionate sessions with your lesbian polycule band I mean whats not to love? Rockin Out With Our Cocks Out 400https://i.ur.com/MOGoanh.jpeg Most of the humor in this show comes from the girls hard rock attitudes. They arent afraid to push boundaries and get down and dirty. Lilisa and Oto swear like sailors which might feel like cheap humor to some but the shock of hearing lines like Whip yours out too you limpdked mofo never wore out its charm for me. The girls refined and polite behavior while attending their highclass academy compared to their hardcore rock sessions filled with innuendo makes for an undeniably hilarious contrast. Is it Yuri? 400https://i.ur.com/dxf8Ii6.gif Some might question if this show is actually yuri or if its yuri bait. Although the yuri moments are often played for laughs especially the more explicit scenes the shows queer themes and yuri fanservice make it a pure joyride for any GL enjoyer. If it is bait its the goddamn juiciest worm Ive ever been hooked on. Lilisa and Otos dynamic of pushing each other harder and harder all while smiling in pure bliss makes them the perfect partners. Theyre both undeniably in love with rock and their shared passion carries over. Theres plenty of shipping potential with the other band members as well and the show doesnt shy away from teasing us with moments of chemistry between any pair in the group. Music You Can See and Feel The musical performance within a band anime is really what can make or break the entire show. Honestly this is where Rock is a Ladys Modesty shines the most. Other band anime Ive watched have good music dont get me wrong but no other band animes sound mixing and sense of performance realism in particular has left me feeling exactly the way the show wants me to feel in the same way that Rock is a Ladys Modesty has. When Tina is just starting out and she sucks you can hear it she sucks. When she starts practicing and getting better theres an actual noticeable improvement that sounds just as unpolished but passionate as an amateur should be. When Lilisa is knocked off her game you can hear it. Her performance is weaker. She still sounds amazingly talented with impressively polished technical playing but when she finally gets kicked into gear? It knocks your socks off. The emotion in the music is totally there. The ability this show has to have you make you feel the hype as if youre an actual member of the audience is an astonishingly impressive feat. 400https://i.ur.com/HmNeGSI.gif The CG mocapped animation can be jarring at first but in my opinion it really added a lot to the immersion of the music scenes. Hats off to BANDMAID for their performance. Adding to the musical performances as well are the stunning visual metaphors the show incorporates to express the feelings of the band members right before a major shift in the performance. When Otoha and Lilisa first play collaboratively with a symphonic band they sweep them up in a tornado of sound progressively getting faster and louder. When Tina loses her rhythm during the battle of the bands shes getting swallowed up by a dark forest trying to claw her way out. 400https://i.ur.com/Dthmpfz.gif Performances are never dull for even a moment in Rock is a Ladys Modesty theyre utterly engaging thanks to the shonenbattlelike dialogue dynamic soundmixing and striking visuals. The Band Members 400https://i.ur.com/PIicRAk.jpeg Lilisas character really shines through with how exaggerated and expressive they animate her. Shes brash and abrasive often losing her cool and laying down a seriously offensive scolding on anyone unworthy of playing rock. She takes her goal to become the Noble Maiden extremely seriously showing how ambitious and hard working she can be highlighted by her impressive guitar abilities shed honed from a young age. Her conflicting desires to please her family and to absolutely shred it make for a compelling main character. 400https://i.ur.com/ARhhtd7.jpeg Otoha is so unhinged and I love her for that. Nothing matters to her except the pleasure she experiences from playing rock. She delivers absolutely brutal lines with a voice as sweet as honey. Shes a greedy lover demanding more from everyone around her pushing them to be their best selves. When shes a little less worked up shes the supportive glue holding the band together a perfect trait for a drummer mirroring the important role in maintaining the groups rhythm. 400https://i.ur.com/t4vlrD5.jpeg Taking the prince of the girls school trope and making that girl secretly an autistic weirdo with a big chest heart was honestly a brilliant choice. Tina provides a nice contrast to the harsher members of the band especially as a foil for Tamaki although its up to you to decide if you find her tendency to talk through her plushie Usami charming or offputting. 400https://i.ur.com/29nuf5g.jpeg Tamaki is the stonecold ice queen bassist of the group. She only has respect for Oto and shes not afraid to make that clear making for some nice midseason conflict when she joins. As a guitarist who prefers bass myself I love her choice to play the instrument that speaks to her more despite her talent for both and although she hides her emotions I think that really speaks to her own motivations to chase the pleasure of playing rock. Final Thoughts Were in a new golden age of Girls Band anime but even with the competition Rock is a Ladys Modesty manages to stand out with its unique setting bold sense of humor and music that gets your head banging and middle finger in the air. If youre looking a show that can you have you laughing your ass off one moment fangirling over a yuri scene the next and bring everything home by blowing you away with some killer hard rock this is the show for you.