Anthem were one of a handful of Japanese bands with similar histories, that being a brief glimpse of worldwide fame due to the release of a few early albums outside Japan, followed by a lengthy career relegated to their homeland. Their early work (the only material reviewed here) was similar in style to countrymen Loudness or Earthshaker.

Disbanded since 1992, the group reformed in 2000 and released the novel Heavy Metal Anthem album, a reworking of some older Anthem tunes now featuring noted vocalist Graham Bonnet. Since then, original vocalist Eizo Sakamoto (who hadn't sung with the band since 1987) has returned to the group, and two more recent albums, Seven Hills* and *Overload, have been released.

The Sausage Index