To further strengthen their position at the top of Japan’s metal scene, ANTHEM switched labels for the 2012 release of ✻urning Oath« - on which guest musician Isamu Tamaru played drums on all but one song. They released a total of 5 studio albums between 20 - »Seven Hills«, »Overload«, ✾ternal Warrior«, ✻lack Empire« and »Heraldic Device« - proving that ANTHEM was very much an “active” band. Instead of reforming the original lineup, Shibata decided to move forward by writing new music with a new lineup of Akio Shimizu (guitar), Eiji Ohtake (vocals) and Hirotsugu Honma (drums). Its release and subsequent Japan tour led to huge demand among fans for an ANTHEM comeback. The band’s return was spurred by 2000’s »Heavy Metal Anthem« - an album of ANTHEM songs rearranged by Naoto and Akio, featuring Graham Bonnet’s vocals. Impressed with his talent, leader Naoto Shibata decided to finish their next album, ✽omestic Booty« (1992) with Shimizu, before disbanding after the release tour. Vocalist Eizo Sakamoto left shortly after, and was replaced by Yukio Morikawa for »Gypsy Ways« (1988) and »Hunting Time« (1989), both extremely successful releases which cemented their reputation as leaders of Japanese traditional heavy metal.įollowing the release of »No Smoke Without Fire« (1990) and many auditions, ANTHEM found their new guitarist, Akio Shimizu, who was 21 at the time. The band's popularity grew with the release of their 2nd album, »Tightrope« (1986), and they were able to break into the American market with their 3rd full length, ✻ound To Break« (1987).

They released their major debut, ✺nthem” in 1985 and continued to tour relentlessly.

Formed in Tokyo in 1981, ANTHEM turned heads with their intense and heated performances.

Anthem absolute world 2014