Anthem is a Japanese heavy metal band that emerged during the early 1980s in Tokyo. Formed by Toshihito Maeda, Akifumi Koyanagi, Naoto "Ski" Shibata and Takamasa Ohuchi, Anthem quickly established themselves as a prominent force in the Japanese metal scene. In 1985, Anthem released their self-titled debut album, introducing their classic songs like "Wild Anthem" and "Warning Action." The album showcased their raw energy and solidified their place in the heavy metal landscape. The following year, their EP single "Xanadu" gained attention after being featured in the promotional campaign for the video game Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu. With the departure of Maeda in 1984, Anthem enlisted vocalist Eizo Sakamoto for their second album, Tightrope (1986). This release displayed a more melodic and catchy sound, showcasing Sakamoto's improved vocal performance. The band's popularity grew with the release of their third album, Gypsy Ways, featuring Yukio Morikawa on vocals. It became Anthem's most popular album, followed by Hunting Time (1989), which featured hit single "The Juggler." After disbanding in 1992, Anthem made a triumphant return in 2000 with Heavy Metal Anthem, featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals, followed by Seven Hills (2001), Overload (2002), and Eternal Warrior (2004), with critics praising the band’s new aggressive musical stylings. Anthem's discography continued to expand with Immortal (2006), Heraldic Device (2011), and Burning Oath (2012), signing with Universal Music shortly after, leading to the release of Absolute World (2014) and Engraved (2017) featuring hit single "The Artery Song." In 2019, Anthem released their greatest hits collection, Nucleus, featuring English-language versions of their songs with “Black Empire” quickly becoming a fan favourite. Their twentieth studio album, Crimson & Jet Black was released on April 21, 2023, charting at number 12 and solidifying their status as one of Japan's most successful and influential heavy metal bands of all time.
