Anthem were in the first wave of Japanese acts that were influenced by bands such as Loudness and Bow Wow. This is the 3rd album by the band from ’86 and it’s quite good, it has great songs and rocks hard. It also helps that they have a great guitar player in Hiroyuki Fukuda who can seriously play. It’s straightforward metal, nothing outrageous in the time signature category, but it does what it says on the tin.
The opening salvo of Victims In Your Eyes and Night After Night really set the tone for the album, as both are up-tempo rockers with killer solos. Double kick drum heaven is next with Death To Death, and it does have a slight NWOBHM feel to the song – especially with the riff and a great melodic solo. I suppose Tightrope Dancer is the title track, and again more of the same, straight up metal with a big riff that does remind of a Blackmore Rainbow pattern.
Side 2 starts with Driving Wire, which is about as fast as trad metal goes before you can call it thrash. This should loosen the dandruff for you as you assume the pose. Fingers On The Trigger is next up and it’s slows the pace down with an almost glam feel to the riff. Light It Up is the penultimate track and it’s the best. They are trying something almost Van Halen at the beginning, until we settle down to a more traditional riff and groove. The album closes out with Black Eyed Tough and it’s peddle to the metal time again as the band race to the finish.
I actually prefer Anthem to most of the other Japanese bands as they are more melody and hook orientated with the music. If you would like to own this little gem, then go over to Oldies.com and you will be able to pick this up for $1.99 – and that my friends is a bargain.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
