ANTHEM

ANTHEM formed their first steady lineup as a band in 1980 with Toshihito Maeda as vocalist, Akifumi Koyanagi on guitar, Takamasa MAD Ohuchi on drums and Naoto Shibata on bass. A year later Hiroya Fukuda replaced Koyanagi on guitar.

The band was fairly inactive during their formative years. Their first tour was a full two years after their initial launch, but it was the catalyst which boosted the bands' activities. However, just as the band was settling into a steady rhythm, lead singer Maeda parted ways with the band. He was replaced soon after by Eizou Sakamoto.

Soon after the addition of their new charismatic vocalist, the band was signed by the major record label King Records with whom the band released their first two full albums in quick succession. Due to ANTHEM's rapidly rising popularity the band opened their official fanclub "Metal Quire".

The band continued to produce regular LP releases throughout this fertile period. In the spring of 1987, ANTHEM decided to try their luck on the international music scene. They relocated to Los Angeles California, in the USA to perform and promote their material. However, soon after their return, Sakamoto took leave of the band and moved on to other projects. His replacement, Yukio Morikawa, duly took over microphone duties and recorded his first contribution to the band on their next album Gypsy Ways.

During this time the Japanese heavy metal scene was at it's peak, but ANTHEM who staying true to their original heavy metal roots rather than evolve to cater to the more hair metal tastes of the Japanese fans saw their domestic record sales decline, even with the release of their best of album BEST.

Further lineup changes followed and difficult times caused the typical regular ANTHEM releases to become few and far between. Following a two year gap, their album DOMESTIC BOOTY went on sale, but it was sadly the last full release the band would produce before they announced their breakup. In July 1992, ANTHEM played their last final live show, and soon after released LAST ANTHEM a live album featuring their final performance.

After eight years, the band was resurrected, led initially by exRainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet before being replaced by former vocalist Eizou Sakamoto. Joined by original drummer Takamasa MAD Ohuchi but taken over by Hirotsugu Homma soon after the band released their second best of album ANTHEM WAYS. The band’s lineup was completed by guitarist Akio Shimitsu and original member and leader Naoto Shibata on bass.

Their successful revival inspired old fans and allowed them to make many new fans as well. ANTHEM’s return to their previous habit of rapidly producing material included re-releases of old albums, concert DVD’s and CD box sets of live shows.
All of these releases during the same time that the band were recording and releasing brand new original albums on a bi-yearly schedule. Most recently in 2008, their darkest and probably heaviest work to date Black Empire which spawned their successful single release Heat of the Night was released.

Once again firmly in the spotlight, ANTHEM continue to thrive in their long career as one of the seminal bands of the Japanese heavy metal scene.