Anthem

Emerging during the early 1980s in the shadow of Loudness and Earthshaker, Anthem stood among Japan’s earliest prominent heavy metal acts. The band swiftly converted domestic popularity into multiple overseas releases, with notable entries including Tightrope (1986), Bound to Break (1987), and Gypsy Ways (1988). Internal shifts combined with the broader move from hard rock toward grunge prompted a 1992 breakup, yet the musicians regrouped eight years afterward and delivered further albums such as Heavy Metal Anthem (2000), Black Empire (2008), and Engraved (2017); these titles moved solidly inside Japan while attracting scant notice from Western listeners.

Loudness and Bow Wow’s late-’70s trailblazing work introduced authentic heavy metal to Japan, sparking a wave of new groups at the outset of the following decade. Bassist Naoto Shibata founded Anthem in Tokyo in 1981, and the ensemble gradually cultivated a local audience while enduring the frequent personnel changes common to young outfits. By the time of their self-titled 1985 debut, Anthem were delivering classic heavy metal filtered through a distinctly Asian lens, with vocalist Eizo Sakamoto, guitarist Hiroya Fukuda, and drummer Takamasa Ohuchi completing the lineup. That configuration defined the band’s most prosperous period, which also encompassed the 1985 Ready to Ride EP along with well-received albums Tightrope (1986), Bound to Break (1987), and the concert recording The Show Carries On (1987). Growing frustration with stalled momentum led Eizo Sakamoto to depart; Yukio Morikawa stepped in for subsequent releases—Gypsy Ways (1988), Hunting Time (1989), and the 1990 pair Best and No Smoke Without Fire (the latter introducing guitarist Hideaki Nakama). Confronted by the rise of grunge and diminishing commercial returns, the remaining members concluded their run in 1992 with a cluster of final projects: another hits collection, a second live set, and the studio album Domestic Booty.

Naoto Shibata appeared on several late-’90s Loudness recordings, yet once that band’s classic lineup reassembled he redirected his focus to Anthem, reviving the group eight years after its dissolution. The reunion initially paired Shibata and Takamasa Ohuchi with guitarist Hiroya Fukuda and veteran vocalist Graham Bonnet—known for Rainbow, MSG, and Alcatrazz—on Heavy Metal Anthem (2000). Bonnet’s brief stay ended quickly, opening the door for Eizo Sakamoto’s return alongside new drummer Hiro Homma; together they produced Seven Hills (2001), Overload (2002), and Eternal Warrior (2004), the last of which leaned into fantasy-themed material. Anthem maintained a power-metal emphasis on Immortal (2006) and Black Empire (2008). Heraldic Device (2011) marked their final release for longtime label JVC before they signed with Universal Music, which issued Burning Oath, followed by Absolute World (2014) and Engraved (2017). In 2019 the band delivered the Nucleus compilation through Nuclear Blast, presenting English-language renditions of signature tracks.