Anthem - Hunting Time (1989) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, KICS-91176]

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Anthem - Hunting Time (1989) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, KICS-91176]

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This is the second album release by the incarnation of Anthem with Yukio Morikawa on vocals. By this time Yukio Morikawa was a welcome and suitable replacement for Eizo Sakamoto, and his confident (to say the least) vocal delivery indicates that he was comfortable in the recording of this album. Or was he?

Apparently during the recording of this album, he lost his voice and had to have an injection into his throat muscles in order to continue recording. In order to conserve his voice, after his excruciatingly painful injection, he would not talk outside the vocal recording booth and had to communicate via writing on paper. It is in this tradition of military discipline that Anthem is based. Bassist/band leader Naoto Shibata is famous for being rigidly authoritarian as well as always having time for the fans of the band. An ideal band leader if ever there was one, he is an extremely respected bassist figure in the Japanese heavy metal world.

Under the strong leadership of band leader Naoto Shibata, a great album was born. Possibly heavier than it's predecessor, it boasts 8 tracks of heavy metal greatness, many with that '80s futuristic' feel, which some may think is naff but which I adore. More on that in the track by track. Track by track:

1. Juggler ECatchy opening tune, but heavy and driving. The guitar solo, as we have come to expect of Hiroya Fukuda, especially since 'Gypsy Ways' is excellent, with a variety of techniques keeping listeners interested A
2. Hunting Time ETitle track, and the album's best. It was for this track that Morikawa had to endure that injection to make his voice last. Great backing and solo guitar work, and drum performance from an (apparently!) injured Takamasa 'MAD' Ohuchi. A+
3. Evil Touch EGood speed tune. A
4. Tears for the Lovers EA great melancholic tune, with a beautiful intro. A+
5. Sleepless Night ECatchy tune, but with a dramatic guitar line leading us out of the track. This combination of catchiness and drama characterises Morikawa-era Anthem, especially 'Gypsy Ways' and this album. A
6. Jail Break EStarts off as a rocker, but has an amazing bridge section that really draws the attention, a futuristic 80s moment (like 'Key to the City' from Tony MacAlpine's 'Maximum Security' for example, or even parts of 'Somewhere in Time' by Iron Maiden). Effective, but the aforementioned combination of catchiness and drama is unusual. A
7. Let Your Heart Beat EStarts off heavy but turns out to be a real minor-key emotional affair, textured by nice keyboard work in the bridge section, yet again. Anthem are experts in the field of building up to a chorus. Nice dreamy guitar solo melody too. A+
8. Bottle Bottom EA fast rocker, not bad, but doesn't live up to the rest of the album. It just doesn't quite seem to fit the mood of the album. I think it would sit better on the next album, 'No Smoke Without Fire' (1990). Then again maybe not. B+

Seriously, 'Hunting Time' lives up it's predecessor which is itself considered an absolute classic of Japanese heavy metal, Anthem have really hit a sustained creative groove and this is only the second Morikawa-era album! Of course, it's helped by the membersE(especially Hiroya on guitars and MAD on drums) great improvement, probably another consequence of a strong band leader. Anthem have, from the first album to this album, improved greatly as musicians (like Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest, mark of a good musician). Amazing.

The only problem is the number of tracks. Only 8? But then again, if they can keep it consistent, then I'd rather have the strongest group of songs possible, and this album Anthem have got dead right. The track order and selection are optimal. Astounding stuff from this incredible band.

~ maidenpriest, Metal-Archives

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Anthem - Hunting Time (1989) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, KICS-91176]

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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 handful of 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.

Early years (1981–1985)
Anthem was founded in Tokyo during 1981 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 Fukada. 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)
Their first studio release featured classic songs like 'Wild Anthem' and 'Warning Action'. The next release, Tightrope showcased a more catchy, melodic sound with an improved vocal performance by Eizo. Bound to Break was to be the last album featuring Eizo Sakamoto for nearly two decades, and was by far his most impressive vocal performance to that point. 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). With the departure of Eizo in 1988, Naoto recruited Yukio Morikawa to the band's vocal position. With Yukio came the album Gypsy Ways, considered the band's most enduringly popular album. Yukio'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 90's Anthem dealt with another departure, this time Hiroya Fukuda (guitar) left and was replaced by Hideaki 'Shadow Walker' Nakama which recorded the album No Smoke Without Fire, this time without the band's staple producer / engineer Chris Tsangarides. Hideaki left the band after recording just the one album and the search for a new guitarist began.

Disbandment (1992–2000)
After many auditions, the young Akio Shimizu joined the band to replace Hideaki. In 1992, the band released Domestic Booty, one of their best albums, with amazing technical songs (courtesy of Akio): Venom Strike, Renegade, and The Dice of No Mercy. Unfortunately, classic-style heavy metal was out of fashion in the early 90's, and with the explosion of grunge in the U.S. and the Visual Kei movement in Japanese music, Naoto decided to put an end to the band. The members of Anthem followed the album's release with a very big tour covering many cities of Japan and finally they released the VHS/CD Last Anthem - Live recorded at Nissin Power Station, which was to be the band's last show for nearly eight years.

Reform (2000–present)
After the long hiatus, Anthem returned in 2000, with the album Heavy Metal Anthem which featured the vocalist Graham Bonnet (from Rainbow), 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 briefly played together with Shibata in Loudness replaced Takamasa on drums and Eizo returned to the vocals. In 2001, they released Seven Hills, showcasing an entirely new musical direction for the band, although still firmly rooted in 80s heavy metal. In 2002 came Overload, which is considered by most critics to be much more aggressive than Seven Hills. In 2003, the band recorded Live' Melt Down in Citta Club Kawazaki, with a setlist full of classics and an amazing[peacock term] performance by Eizo. 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 year anniversary with a special tour, where all members of the band since 1985 played the band songs in their respective formations. At the final show of this tour was filmed the DVD "20th Anniversary Tour" (again at Club Citta in Kawazaki).

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.

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Anthem - Hunting Time (1989) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, KICS-91176]

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Anthem - Hunting Time (1989) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, KICS-91176]

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