Anthem (band)

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This article is about the rock band. For other uses, see Anthem (disambiguation).
Anthem
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresHeavy metal
Years active1981–1992, 2000–present
LabelsVictor, King, Universal, Nuclear Blast
MembersNaoto Shibata
Akio Shimizu
Isamu Tamaru
Yukio Morikawa
Past membersTakamasa Ohuchi
Hiroya Fukuda
Eizo Sakamoto
Toshihito Maeda
Akifumi Koyanagi
Hideaki Nakama
Hirotsugu Homma
Graham Bonnet
Websiteheavymetalanthem.com

Anthem (アンセム, Ansemu) is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the many 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.

History

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Early years (1981–1985)

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Anthem was founded in Tokyo during 1980 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 Fukuda. In December 1984, vocalist Toshihito Maeda also left and Anthem drafted Eizo Sakamoto for their debut eponymous album, issued in July 1985 by Nexus and licensed to Europe via Roadrunner Records.

Success (1985–1992)

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Their first studio release featured classic songs like "Wild Anthem" and "Warning Action". Their first EP single in 1986, entitled "Xanadu", was the first known song to be used for promotion of a brand new video game, namely Nihon Falcom's computer RPG Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu. Their second album, Tightrope, released 21 April 1986, showcased a more catchy, melodic sound with an improved vocal performance by Sakamoto. Bound to Break was to be the last album featuring Eizo Sakamoto for nearly two decades. 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).[1] 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: after the album No Smoke Without Fire was completed, this time without the band's staple producer / engineer Chris Tsangarides, Hiroya Fukuda (guitar) left and was replaced by Hideaki 'Shadow Walker' Nakama. Hideaki Nakama left the band after the tour was done and the search for a new guitarist began.

Disbandment (1992–2000)

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After many auditions, the young Akio Shimizu joined the band to replace Nakama. In 1992, the band released Domestic Booty. However, classic-style heavy metal was out of fashion in the early 90s, and with the explosion of grunge 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 tour covering many cities of Japan and released the VHS/CD Last Anthem: Live recorded at Nissin Power Station, which was the band's last show for nearly eight years.

Reform (2000–2011)

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After the long hiatus, Anthem returned in 2000, with the album Heavy Metal Anthem 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 played together with Shibata in Loudness) replaced Takamasa Oouchi on drums and Eizo Sakamoto returned to the vocals. In 2001, they released Seven Hills. In 2002 came Overload, which is considered by most critics[by whom?] to be much more aggressive than Seven Hills. In 2003, the band recorded Live' Melt Down at Citta Club Kawasaki. 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 anniversary with a special tour, where all members of the band since 1985 played the band songs in their respective formations. The Kawasaki show of this tour was filmed and released on DVD as "20th Anniversary Tour".

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. This was their last album with record label company JVC.

2012–present

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As of 2012, Anthem has signed with record label Universal Music and has released a new single "Evil One" in September 2012 and following with an album, Burning Oath, that was released in October 2012.

On 10 January 2013, the band announced it was on hiatus after Shibata was diagnosed with stomach cancer.[2] The bassist declared that he was cancer-free and healthy as of 2021. [3] After the recovery of Shibata the band played a couple of return shows in July 2013 with the Live Circus Tour following these again in September and October 2013.

In February 2014 singer Eizo Sakamoto left the band for a second time and was replaced by former singer Yukio Morikawa. The group also announced that drummer Isamu Tamaru, who had been filling in as a guest drummer for the band since 2012, would replace Homma as the permanent member. Production of a new album will start in the spring. A kick off tour with the new line-up was also undertaken: 7/19 Nagoya, 7/26 Osaka, 8/2 Kawasaki.

Absolute World, Yukio Morikawa's first album as the band's vocalist since Domestic Booty in 1992, was released on 22 October 2014.[4] The band toured throughout November in support of the album.[5]

On 17 April, the band announced through its website, the title of their next album, Engraved, which was released 21 June 2017. A video was released for the single, "The Artery Song."

The band announced that their greatest hits album, Nucleus, which will feature English-language versions of their songs, will be released on 29 March 2019 by Nuclear Blast Records. On 17 December 2018, the band released "Black Empire", originally sung by Eizo Sakamoto and now by Yukio Morikawa, as the first single off the album.[6] Anthem announced an Anthem 2001 vs. Anthem 2021 tour for 2021 in which old and current members appeared on stage. [7]

Members

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Current members

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  • Yukio Morikawa: lead vocals (1988–1992, 2014–present)
  • Akio Shimizu: guitars, backing vocals (1991–1992, 2000–present)
  • Naoto Shibata: bass, backing vocals (1981–1992, 2000–present)
  • Isamu Tamaru: drums (2012–present)

Former members

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  • Toshihito Maeda: lead vocals (1981–1984)
  • Eizo Sakamoto: lead vocals (1984–1988, 2000–2014)
  • Akifumi Koyanagi: guitars (1981–1983)
  • Hiroya Fukuda: guitars (1983–1990)
  • Hideaki Nakama: guitars (1990–1991)
  • Takamasa Ohuchi: drums (1981–1992)
  • Hirotsugu Homma: drums (2000–2012)

Timeline

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<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:90 top:10 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1981 till:23/04/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = 

  id:vocals           value:red           legend:Lead_Vocals
  id:guitar           value:green         legend:Guitar
  id:bass             value:blue          legend:Bass
  id:drums            value:orange        legend:Drums
  id:Lines            value:black         legend:Studio_Album

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:4 start:1981 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1981

LineData = 

  at:21/07/1985 color:black layer:back
  at:21/04/1986 color:black layer:back
  at:05/03/1987 color:black layer:back
  at:21/05/1988 color:black layer:back
  at:02/05/1989 color:black layer:back
  at:21/03/1990 color:black layer:back
  at:06/03/1992 color:black layer:back
  at:22/08/2001 color:black layer:back
  at:09/10/2002 color:black layer:back
  at:21/07/2004 color:black layer:back
  at:30/08/2006 color:black layer:back
  at:29/10/2008 color:black layer:back
  at:06/07/2011 color:black layer:back
  at:24/10/2012 color:black layer:back
  at:22/10/2014 color:black layer:back
  at:21/06/2017 color:black layer:back
  at:29/03/2019 color:black layer:back
  at:07/09/2020 color:black layer:back
  at:21/04/2023 color:black layer:back

BarData = 

  bar:Maeda             text:"Toshihito Maeda"
  bar:Sakamoto             text:"Eizo Sakamoto" 
  bar:Morikawa              text:"Yukio Morikawa"
  bar:Akifumi           text:"Akifumi Koyanagi"
  bar:Fukuda              text:"Hiroya Fukuda" 
  bar:Nakama                text:"Hideaki Nakama"
  bar:Shimizu              text:"Akio Shimizu"
  bar:Shibata             text:"Naoto Shibata"
  bar:Ohuchi             text:"Takamasa Ohuchi" 
  bar:Homma               text:"Hirotsugu Homma" 
  bar:Tamaru              text:"Isamu Tamaru"

PlotData = 

  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Maeda          from:start till:01/07/1984  color:vocals
 bar:Sakamoto          from:01/07/1984 till:01/02/1988         color:vocals
 bar:Morikawa           from:01/02/1988 till:01/10/1992  color:vocals
 bar:Sakamoto          from:01/10/2000 till:01/02/2014  color:vocals
 bar:Morikawa        from:01/02/2014 till:end         color:vocals
 bar:Akifumi        from:start till:01/07/1983 color:guitar
 bar:Fukuda        from:01/07/1983 till:01/01/1990         color:guitar
 bar:Nakama           from:02/01/1990 till:01/06/1991    color:guitar
 bar:Shimizu          from:02/06/1991 till:01/10/1992  color:guitar
 bar:Shimizu          from:01/10/2000 till:end  color:guitar
 bar:Shibata          from:start till:01/10/1992  color:bass 
 bar:Shibata          from:01/10/2000 till:end  color:bass
 bar:Ohuchi          from:start till:01/10/1992  color:drums 
 bar:Homma            from:01/10/2000 till:01/02/2012  color:drums
 bar:Tamaru           from:01/02/2012 till:end         color:drums

</timeline>

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Member
Vocals Guitars Bass Drums
1985 Anthem Eizo Sakamoto Hiroya Fukuda Naoto Shibata Takamasa Ohuchi
Ready to Ride EP
1986 Tightrope
1987 Bound to Break
1988 Gypsy Ways Yukio Morikawa
1989 Hunting Time
1990 No Smoke Without Fire
1992 Domestic Booty Akio Shimizu
2000 Heavy Metal Anthem Graham Bonnet
2001 Seven Hills Eizo Sakamoto Hirotsugu Homma
2002 Overload
2004 Eternal Warrior
2006 Immortal
2008 Black Empire
2011 Heraldic Device
2012 Burning Oath
2014 Absolute World Yukio Morikawa Isamu Tamaru
2017 Engraved
2019 Nucleus
2020 Explosive!!: Studio Jam Graham Bonnet

Yukio Morikawa

2023 Crimson & Jet Black Yukio Morikawa

Live albums

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Year Title Member
Vocals Guitars Bass Drums
1987 The Show Carries On! Eizo Sakamoto Hiroya Fukuda Naoto Shibata Takamasa Ohuchi
1992 Last Anthem Yukio Morikawa Akio Shimizu
2003 Live' Melt Down Eizo Sakamoto Hirotsugu Homma
2005 The Show Carries On! – Complete Version Hiroya Fukuda Takamasa Ohuchi
Prologue Live Boxx Akio Shimizu Hirotsugu Homma
2010 Prologue Live Boxx 2
2015 Trimetallic Yukio Morikawa Isamu Tamaru

Compilations

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  • 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
  • 2015: Anthems 2000–2011 (2CDs + DVD)
  • 2019: Nucleus

Singles

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Year Title Album
1986 Xanadu Non-album Single
1990 Love on the Edge No Smoke Without Fire
2000 Gypsy Ways (Win, Lose or Draw) Heavy Metal Anthem
2001 Grieve of Heart Seven Hills
2002 The Voices Overload
2004 Onslaught Eternal Warrior
2006 Immortal Bind Immortal
2008 Heat of the Night Black Empire
2012 Evil One Burning Oath
2013 Blast Non-album Single
2014 Shine On Absolute World
2017 The Artery Song Engraved
2019 Black Empire Nucleus

Video/DVD

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  • 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
  • 2013: Live Unbroken
  • 2016: 30+

References

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