Anthem (band)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo
. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness
and Earthshaker.
for their debut eponymous album, issued in July 1985 by Nexus and licensed to Europe via Roadrunner Records
.
for nearly two decades, and was by far his most impressive vocal performance to that point. The album was full of classics ("Empty Eyes", "Bound to Break", "Soldiers") and introduced the band's long-time world-famous producer, Chris Tsangarides
(perhaps best known for producing Judas Priest
's classic 1990 album, Painkiller). With the departure of Sakamoto in 1988, Shibata recruited Yukio Morikawa to the band's vocal position. With Morikawa came the album Gypsy Ways, considered the band's most popular album. Morikawa's voice made the band a great success at that time and he was similar in style, vocal range and ability to Graham Bonnet
. In 1989, the album Hunting Time
was released and the song "The Juggler" was used as a PV. In the beginning of 90s, Anthem dealt with another departure, this time Hiroya Fukuda (guitar) left and was replaced by Hideaki 'Shadow Walker' Nakama which recorded the album No Smoke Without Fire, this time without the band's staple producer / engineer Chris Tsangarides
. Hideaki Nakama left the band after recording just that one album and the search for a new guitarist began.
in the U.S. and the Visual Kei
movement in Japanese music, Shibata decided to put an end to the band. The members of Anthem followed the album's release with a very big tour covering many cities of Japan and finally they released the VHS/CD Last Anthem - Live recorded at Nissin Power Station, which was to be the band's last show for nearly eight years.
which featured the vocalist Graham Bonnet (former lead singer of Rainbow
and Alcatrazz
). The album is entirely composed by classic songs of the band rearranged with English lyrics. The lineup on Heavy Metal Anthem was: Graham Bonnet (vocals), Naoto Shibata (bass), Akio Shimizu (guitar) and Takamasa Oouchi (drums).
Later, Hirotsugu Homma (who had briefly played together with Shibata in Loudness
) replaced Takamasa Oouchi on drums and Eizo Sakamoto returned to the vocals. In 2001, they released Seven Hills
, showcasing an entirely new musical direction for the band, although still firmly rooted in 80s heavy metal. In 2002 came Overload, which is considered by most critics to be much more aggressive than Seven Hills. In 2003, the band recorded Live' Melt Down
in Citta Club Kawazaki, with a setlist full of classics and an amazing performance by Sakamoto. In 2004 the band released the single "Onslaught" followed by the album Eternal Warrior
, which continued in the same sound direction as Overload. In 2005, Anthem celebrated their twentieth year anniversary with a special tour, where all members of the band since 1985 played the band songs in their respective formations. At the final show of this tour was filmed the DVD "20th Anniversary Tour" (again at Club Citta in Kawazaki).
In 2006 Anthem released Immortal, followed by the single and PV of "Immortal Bind". The most recent output has seen Anthem push even further into the Power Metal-tinged style showcased on 'Domestic Booty' and Eternal Warrior with 2008's Black Empire. A PV of "Heat of the Night" was released shortly after the album hit in November 2008 and has thus far garnered even more positive critical reviews than Immortal.
Their much anticipated album 'HERALDIC DEVICE' was released in 2011.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
and Earthshaker.
Early years (1981–1985)
Anthem was founded in Tokyo during 1981 as a quartet, composed of singer Toshihito Maeda, guitarist Akifumi Koyanagi, bass player Naoto Shibata (also known as "Ski") and drummer Takamasa Ohuchi. Koyanagi left in late 1983 to be replaced by Hiroya Fukada. In December 1984, vocalist Toshihito Maeda also left and Anthem drafted Eizo SakamotoEizo Sakamoto
is a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is most famous for being the lead vocalist of 1980s band Anthem. In the 1990s he started up the band Animetal which performed heavy metal covers of anime and tokusatsu opening and closing themes. He also was...
for their debut eponymous album, issued in July 1985 by Nexus and licensed to Europe via Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
.
Success (1985–1992)
Their first studio release featured classic songs like "Wild Anthem" and "Warning Action". The next release, Tightrope showcased a more catchy, melodic sound with an improved vocal performance by Sakamoto. Bound to Break was to be the last album featuring Eizo SakamotoEizo Sakamoto
is a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is most famous for being the lead vocalist of 1980s band Anthem. In the 1990s he started up the band Animetal which performed heavy metal covers of anime and tokusatsu opening and closing themes. He also was...
for nearly two decades, and was by far his most impressive vocal performance to that point. The album was full of classics ("Empty Eyes", "Bound to Break", "Soldiers") and introduced the band's long-time world-famous producer, Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides is a British Grammy-nominated record producer, sound engineer, and mixer. He is best known for his work with many heavy metal bands, including Judas Priest, Anvil, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Helloween, and Yngwie Malmsteen...
(perhaps best known for producing Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
's classic 1990 album, Painkiller). With the departure of Sakamoto in 1988, Shibata recruited Yukio Morikawa to the band's vocal position. With Morikawa came the album Gypsy Ways, considered the band's most popular album. Morikawa's voice made the band a great success at that time and he was similar in style, vocal range and ability to Graham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet is an English rock vocalist, and songwriter. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist, and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri.-Early days:Bonnet was born in Skegness in 1947...
. In 1989, the album Hunting Time
Hunting Time
Hunting Time is a 1988 Turkish drama film directed by Erden Kıral about the 1980 Turkish coup d'état. It was entered into the 38th Berlin International Film Festival....
was released and the song "The Juggler" was used as a PV. In the beginning of 90s, Anthem dealt with another departure, this time Hiroya Fukuda (guitar) left and was replaced by Hideaki 'Shadow Walker' Nakama which recorded the album No Smoke Without Fire, this time without the band's staple producer / engineer Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides
Chris Tsangarides is a British Grammy-nominated record producer, sound engineer, and mixer. He is best known for his work with many heavy metal bands, including Judas Priest, Anvil, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Helloween, and Yngwie Malmsteen...
. Hideaki Nakama left the band after recording just that one album and the search for a new guitarist began.
Disbandment (1992–2000)
After many auditions, the young Akio Shimizu joined the band to replace Nakama. In 1992, the band released Domestic Booty, one of their best albums, with amazing technical songs (courtesy of Shimizu): Venom Strike, Renegade, and The Dice of No Mercy. Unfortunately, classic-style heavy metal was out of fashion in the early 90s, and with the explosion of grungeGrunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
in the U.S. and the Visual Kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
movement in Japanese music, Shibata decided to put an end to the band. The members of Anthem followed the album's release with a very big tour covering many cities of Japan and finally they released the VHS/CD Last Anthem - Live recorded at Nissin Power Station, which was to be the band's last show for nearly eight years.
Reform (2000–present)
After the long hiatus, Anthem returned in 2000, with the album Heavy Metal AnthemHeavy Metal Anthem
Heavy Metal Anthem is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's return album, released nearly 8 years since their disbandment in the early 1990s, it's the eighth studio album...
which featured the vocalist Graham Bonnet (former lead singer of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
and Alcatrazz
Alcatrazz
Alcatrazz is an American heavy metal band formed in 1983 by Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea.-History:The band's initial line-up consisted of former Rainbow frontman Graham Bonnet, young Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen who had recently left American band Steeler, Gary Shea and Jimmy...
). The album is entirely composed by classic songs of the band rearranged with English lyrics. The lineup on Heavy Metal Anthem was: Graham Bonnet (vocals), Naoto Shibata (bass), Akio Shimizu (guitar) and Takamasa Oouchi (drums).
Later, Hirotsugu Homma (who had briefly played together with Shibata in Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
) replaced Takamasa Oouchi on drums and Eizo Sakamoto returned to the vocals. In 2001, they released Seven Hills
Seven Hills (Album)
Seven Hills is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's second studio album since their reformation in the year 2000. This album sees the reunion of the original line-up, including vocalist Eizo Sakamoto....
, showcasing an entirely new musical direction for the band, although still firmly rooted in 80s heavy metal. In 2002 came Overload, which is considered by most critics to be much more aggressive than Seven Hills. In 2003, the band recorded Live' Melt Down
Live' Melt Down
Live' Melt Down is the third live album of the Japanese heavy hetal band Anthem, recorded during their "Overload Live" tour of 2003.-Track listing:#"Demon's Ride" - 5:06#"Overload" - 4:34#"Machine Made Dog" - 6:00#"Venom Strike" - 5:11...
in Citta Club Kawazaki, with a setlist full of classics and an amazing performance by Sakamoto. In 2004 the band released the single "Onslaught" followed by the album Eternal Warrior
Eternal Warrior (Album)
Eternal Warrior is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's fourth studio album since their reformation in the year 2000.The band released this album after 2 years of intensive touring and planning...
, which continued in the same sound direction as Overload. In 2005, Anthem celebrated their twentieth year anniversary with a special tour, where all members of the band since 1985 played the band songs in their respective formations. At the final show of this tour was filmed the DVD "20th Anniversary Tour" (again at Club Citta in Kawazaki).
In 2006 Anthem released Immortal, followed by the single and PV of "Immortal Bind". The most recent output has seen Anthem push even further into the Power Metal-tinged style showcased on 'Domestic Booty' and Eternal Warrior with 2008's Black Empire. A PV of "Heat of the Night" was released shortly after the album hit in November 2008 and has thus far garnered even more positive critical reviews than Immortal.
Their much anticipated album 'HERALDIC DEVICE' was released in 2011.
Present members
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Eizo SakamotoEizo Sakamotois a Japanese heavy metal musician who was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is most famous for being the lead vocalist of 1980s band Anthem. In the 1990s he started up the band Animetal which performed heavy metal covers of anime and tokusatsu opening and closing themes. He also was... - Electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Akio Shimizu - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Naoto Shibata - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Hirotsugu Homma
Former members
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Yoshitaka Mikuni - Keyboards - Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
- Drums - Takamasa Ohuchi
- Electric guitar - Kazumasa Saitoh
- Electric guitar - Hiroya Fukuda
- Vocals - Yukio Morikawa
- Vocals - Toshihito Maeda
- Vocals - Graham Bonnet
- Electric guitar - Akifumi Koyanagi
Studio albums
- 1985 - Anthem
- 1985 - Ready to Ride
- 1986 - Tightrope
- 1987 - Bound to Break
- 1988 - Gypsy Ways
- 1989 - Hunting Time
- 1990 - No Smoke Without Fire
- 1992 - Domestic Booty
- 2000 - Heavy Metal AnthemHeavy Metal AnthemHeavy Metal Anthem is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's return album, released nearly 8 years since their disbandment in the early 1990s, it's the eighth studio album...
- 2001 - Seven HillsSeven Hills (Album)Seven Hills is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's second studio album since their reformation in the year 2000. This album sees the reunion of the original line-up, including vocalist Eizo Sakamoto....
- 2002 - Overload
- 2004 - Eternal WarriorEternal Warrior (Album)Eternal Warrior is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's fourth studio album since their reformation in the year 2000.The band released this album after 2 years of intensive touring and planning...
- 2006 - Immortal
- 2008 - Black Empire
- 2011 - Heraldic Device
Live albums
- 1987 - The Show Carries On!
- 1992 - Last Anthem
- 2003 - Live' Melt DownLive' Melt DownLive' Melt Down is the third live album of the Japanese heavy hetal band Anthem, recorded during their "Overload Live" tour of 2003.-Track listing:#"Demon's Ride" - 5:06#"Overload" - 4:34#"Machine Made Dog" - 6:00#"Venom Strike" - 5:11...
- 2005 - The Show Carries On! - Complete Version
- 2005 - Prologue Live Boxx
Compilations
- 1990 - Best 1981-1990
- 1992 - Best II 1981-1992
- 1998 - The Very Best of Anthem
- 2001 - Anthem Ways
- 2005 - Official Bootleg (CD-Version)
- 2005 - Official Bootleg (Boxed set)
- 2007 - Core - Best of Anthem 2000-2007
Video/DVD
- 1987 - The Show Carries On
- 2001 - Back Then
- 2003 - Live' Melt Down: The Show Still Carries On
- 2005 - Anthem 20th Anniversary Tour 2005
- 2009 - Live Immortal
Singles
- 1986 - "Xanadu"
- 2000 - "Gypsy Ways (Win, Lose or Draw)"
- 2001 - "Grieve of Heart"
- 2002 - "The Voices"
- 2004 - "Onslaught"
- 2006 - "Immortal Bind"
- 2008 - "Heat of the Night"