𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…
July 21, 1985 — Japanese Metal band Anthem released their self-titled debut full-length studio album via Nexus and licensed to Europe via Roadrunner Records. Listen
One of the most successful Japanese Metal bands (alongside Loudness and Earthshaker) Anthem's debut album featured the single "Wild Anthem".
Background:
One of the first major Japanese Heavy Metal bands, Anthem emerged in the wake of scene leaders Loudness and Earthshaker in the early 1980s. The group quickly parlayed great success in their homeland into a slew of international releases before lineup changes and the paradigm shift from Hard Rock to Grunge forced the group to disband in 1992 (only to re-form eight years later).
It was thanks to the efforts of pioneers Loudness and Bow Wow in the late '70s that Japan truly discovered Heavy Metal, resulting in a flurry of activity at the start of the next decade, with dozens of new bands vying for attention.
Formed in 1981 by bassist Naoto Shibata, Tokyo's Anthem slowly built a local following despite dealing with the a revolving door of musicians early on in their young career.
On Anthem's self-titled debut, the band performed classic Heavy Metal as viewed through their Asian vantage point, featuring vocalist Eizo Sakamoto, guitarist Hiroya Fukuda, and drummer Takamasa Ohuchi, this lineup would come to epitomize the band's most successful era.
The Wells Perspective:
The most outstanding parts of the debut, are definitely the vocals. They are unique and varied, always sounding just a bit over the top. I would describe them as truly emotional and sometimes urgent. I also want to point out that there are some well performed guitar solos on this release, with many interesting ideas; such as unique distorted guitar sounds, which give the songs a more progressive vein at some points. — E.N. Wells
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Notice: Any reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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