Anthem [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Anthem | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 4, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: King Japan
• ASIN: B0009I8VYK
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,984 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wild Anthem

2. Red Light Fever

3. Lay Down

4. Racin' Rock

5. Warning Action!

6. Turn Back To The Night

7. Rock 'N' Roll Stars

8. Blind City

9. Star Formation

10. Steeler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Raise your fist for metal!, March 13, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anthem (Audio CD)

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.