Outrage

Long active on the Japanese circuit since forming in Nagoya, the thrash metal outfit Outrage has issued a steady stream of albums and played countless shows at home since 1987, yet their extensive body of work has remained largely unknown beyond those borders. Although the group first assembled in 1982, it found its footing only after Naoki Hashimoto took over lead vocals from original singer Kazutoyo Ito in 1986, completing a lineup already anchored by guitarist Yousuke Abe, bassist Yoshihiro Yasui, and drummer Shinya Tange; their self-titled debut EP appeared the following year. A run of Metallica-influenced full-lengths followed on domestic major labels—Black Clouds in 1988, Blind to Reality in 1989, The Great Blue in 1990, The Final Day in 1991, Spit in 1993, Life Until Deaf in 1995, and Who We Are in 1997—though most never received international distribution. Hashimoto departed in 1998, after which the remaining members explored mainstream-metal and stoner-rock directions on 24-7 (2002) and Cause for Pause (2004), the latter arriving amid assorted EPs, compilations, and DVDs while Abe also handled vocals. Hashimoto’s return in 2007 restored the band’s aggressive approach, resulting in the 2009 self-titled album for longtime supporters.