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Raise your fist for metal!

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 03/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Japanese traditional heavy metal band Anthem emerged with their self-titled debut album in 1985. The band, clearly obsessed with bands like Judas Priest and Accept, wasn't terribly original, and they struggled with English lyrics, but their enthusiasm for the music and sheer energy makes that easy to forgive.



Anthem is a high-speed, metal for metal's sake kind of album, full of odes to fast living ("Red Light Fever", "Racin' Rock") and the power of rock ("Rock n' Roll Stars"). It's all fast riffing and fist pumping rock action. Compared to what Loudness was doing at the time, Anthem's debut comes across as less polished and technically proficient, but more energetic and "metal".



Anthem isn't as polished as later albums (see, for example, 1987's Bound to Break), but I can't see any true 80's metal fan not liking it. If you love the old school heavy metal sound, an album like this from a band that obviously loved what they were doing is sure to put a smile on your face.



NOTE: King Records remastered and reissued most of the Anthem back catalog in 2000. They're available, but only in Japan and only for Japanese import prices."