┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Anthem - Nucleus-(27361 48012) + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Release Date.Apr-23-2019 Encoder......L3.100 -v0 ║ │ │║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year.........2019 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 13 cd2: 10 ║ │ │║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.heavymetalanthem.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Anthem Rating : You Decide! ║ │ │║ Album : Nucleus-(27361 48012) Label : Nuclear Blast ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ It pretty much goes without saying that the ║ │ │║ author of this review is a shameless devotee of ║ │ │║ metal that is fast, heavy, and not averse to ║ │ │║ bringing on the melodic splendor to rival the ║ │ │║ mainline rockers whoÆve routinely dominated the ║ │ │║ radio-waves. The zenith of this particular niche ║ │ │║ came to a head at the dawn of the 90s, which ║ │ │║ ultimately proved to be the beginning of the end ║ │ │║ thanks to a combination of record label ║ │ │║ treachery, prominent bands suffering breakups or ║ │ │║ lull in activity, and the ascendancy of the ║ │ │║ scourge of SeattleÆs grunge scene. Spearheaded ║ │ │║ by Judas PriestÆs Painkiller, an album that was ║ │ │║ largely a response to the rise of the faster and ║ │ │║ more dangerous sounding thrash metal style, and ║ │ │║ immediately followed up by obvious yet ║ │ │║ formidable emulations such as U.D.O.Æs 1991 ║ │ │║ smash Timebomb, this speedy metallic approach to ║ │ │║ traditional heaviness would all but redefine the ║ │ │║ sub-genre and eventually pave the way for ║ │ │║ throngs of European and a few American acts at ║ │ │║ the dawn of the new millennium. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ However, there was one final word before the ║ │ │║ great torch of metal was temporarily ║ │ │║ extinguished in the 1990s, another expression of ║ │ │║ a speed-infused, and almost thrashing mainline ║ │ │║ heavy metal greatness from the eastern fringe of ║ │ │║ the metal world. Courtesy of one of JapanÆs ║ │ │║ veteran mainstays Anthem, and featuring a ║ │ │║ vocalist that was all but a dead-ringer for ║ │ │║ Alcatrazz/Rainbow front man Graham Bonnet, ║ │ │║ 1992Æs Domestic Booty was, if nothing else, a ║ │ │║ mighty swansong that provided the heavy metal ║ │ │║ faithful with another successor to the ║ │ │║ Painkiller predecessor to cling to as the walls ║ │ │║ fell. Thankfully, due to the rekindling of the ║ │ │║ flame in the early 2000s, this mighty outfit ║ │ │║ would reform and eventually reunite with their ║ │ │║ most prominent front man Yukio Morikawa to ║ │ │║ unleash the fury on a new generation. Thus ║ │ │║ stands Nucleus, the third offering of this fold ║ │ │║ with Morikawa at the microphone, and a full on ║ │ │║ volley of speed-infused goodness to rival heavy ║ │ │║ metalÆs early 90s climax to boot. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The hybridization of a biting, Judas Priest- ║ │ │║ infused riff assault with a more traditional ║ │ │║ hard rocking vocal grit out of the late 70s ║ │ │║ plays brilliantly on every single second of this ║ │ │║ album, roaring across the beaten path like a ║ │ │║ mighty freight-train and leaving a massive ║ │ │║ trench behind it. Things kick off with a mighty ║ │ │║ trifecta of high octane speeders in ôImmortal ║ │ │║ Bindö, ôBlack Empireö and ôOverload, each one ║ │ │║ capable of trading blows with the more intense ║ │ │║ offerings one might hear out of Primal Fear or ║ │ │║ Paragon, yet also possessed of a consonant ║ │ │║ melodic air that wouldnÆt be out of place on the ║ │ │║ rotation of a mid-80s rock radio station. One ║ │ │║ might expect that after such a blistering start ║ │ │║ that Anthem might opt to give the listener a ║ │ │║ slower offering to recuperate, but immediately ║ │ │║ following is the quasi-thrashing beast of a ║ │ │║ speeder ôStrangerö, punching the afterburners ║ │ │║ like a slightly more power metal-like answer to ║ │ │║ PriestÆs ôMetal Meltdownö, with guitarist Akio ║ │ │║ Shimizu lighting up his fret board like both ║ │ │║ Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing in one person. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The frenzied metallic mayhem proves to be, if ║ │ │║ nothing else, relentless as slower offerings ║ │ │║ prove to be few and far between. Occasions are ║ │ │║ made for a handful of mid-paced nods to a more ║ │ │║ Accept meets W.A.S.P. sound on the chunky groove ║ │ │║ machine ôLinkageö and the rocking sing-along ║ │ │║ anthem ôEchoes In The Darkö, and the ║ │ │║ instrumental lead guitar extravaganza out of a ║ │ │║ Joe Stump solo album ôOmega Manö definitely ║ │ │║ takes things back to a more moderately fast ║ │ │║ pace. Furthermore, in what can be described as ║ │ │║ one of the most unique hybrids of old school ║ │ │║ rocking heavy metal meets symphonic pomp and ║ │ │║ bluster, the 7-minute epic masterpiece ôGhost In ║ │ │║ The Flameö is all but a total boon for power ║ │ │║ metal and old school Judas Priest enthusiasts ║ │ │║ alike. But all things considered, this is ║ │ │║ basically an album obsessed with speed, ║ │ │║ dominated by furious cruisers like ôVenom ║ │ │║ Strikeö and ôEternal Warriorö, occasionally ║ │ │║ giving way to equally fast yet more epic, power ║ │ │║ metal-leaning brilliance in ôAwakeö, arguably ║ │ │║ the best song on here and an obvious nod to the ║ │ │║ masterful blend of chorus fanfare and impact- ║ │ │║ based speed metal pioneered by Kai Hansen. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ For anyone who remembers the original run that ║ │ │║ this lesser known outfit (at least outside the ║ │ │║ confines of the Japanese scene) in the late 80s ║ │ │║ up until 1992, Nucleus is yet another in a ║ │ │║ recent succession of albums that shows a veteran ║ │ │║ band unbowed by the passage of two decades. It ║ │ │║ is likewise a bittersweet occasion as this is ║ │ │║ the first album out of this heavy metal ║ │ │║ institution since the passing of legendary metal ║ │ │║ producer Chris Tsangarides, who often lent his ║ │ │║ talents to this band, along with countless ║ │ │║ others and who was the man at the controllerÆs ║ │ │║ chair when Judas Priest recorded their 1990 ║ │ │║ magnum opus. One might even go so far as to say ║ │ │║ that the ongoing speed/power metal scene in ║ │ │║ Germany and elsewhere for the past 20 years owes ║ │ │║ its existence in large part to TsangaridesÆ ║ │ │║ legacy, and AnthemÆs latest LP could be seen as ║ │ │║ both a fitting tribute and a grand keepsake for ║ │ │║ one of metalÆs fallen masterminds. In his ║ │ │║ memory, let all who love their metal bombastic ║ │ │║ and hook-driven raise their lighters or glasses ║ │ │║ to the sky, and play this album loud and proud! ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Originally written for Sonic Perspectives ║ │ │║ (www.sonicperspectives.com) ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ------------------------------------------------ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Anthem is one of the biggest Japanese metal ║ │ │║ bands from the 80Æs metal scene. While Loudness ║ │ │║ was able to break into the U.S. Metal market ║ │ │║ during that time, so many other great bands ║ │ │║ struggled to find a foot hold in the U.S. ║ │ │║ Anthem, unfortunately falls into that group. It ║ │ │║ certainly wasnÆt for lack of trying or musical ║ │ │║ talent. I have been a huge fan of the band, ║ │ │║ wellà.since the 80Æs and have continued to ║ │ │║ follow their career as they have released some ║ │ │║ incredible albums over the years. Nucleus is a ║ │ │║ greatest hits compilation that has been re- ║ │ │║ recorded with English vocals. If youÆre a die ║ │ │║ hard fan like me, you already know these songs, ║ │ │║ but it is nice to hear them sung in English and ║ │ │║ re-mastered with great sound. However, this ║ │ │║ album would be a perfect place for listeners who ║ │ │║ always wanted to hear these songs but couldnÆt ║ │ │║ quite deal with the high cost of buying import ║ │ │║ albums of the band from Japan. Nucleus also ║ │ │║ comes with a second bonus disc that features ║ │ │║ ôLiveö renditions of some of the bandÆs greatest ║ │ │║ songs. If you already have the original CDÆs, ║ │ │║ the ôLiveö disc is certainly an added incentive ║ │ │║ to pick this up. Yukio Morikawa does a great ║ │ │║ job on these songs, including the ones that he ║ │ │║ didnÆt originally sing on. This is a great buy, ║ │ │║ especially when you consider that you get all of ║ │ │║ these hits in English along with the live ║ │ │║ material. The second disc covers more of the ║ │ │║ bandÆs earlier material while the first one ║ │ │║ covers mostly recent hits and material back ║ │ │║ through the 90Æs. I remember playing ôMachine ║ │ │║ Made Dogö so many times on cassette that it ║ │ │║ finally broke. The band sounds as good, if not ║ │ │║ better than ever and the production on these ║ │ │║ tracks are superb. A great album by a great ║ │ │║ band. Anthem is one of the bands that prove ║ │ │║ metal music is truly universal. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Band Members: ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Naoto Shibata (Bass) ║ │ │║ Akio Shimizu (Guitars) ║ │ │║ Yukio Morikawa (Vocals) ║ │ │║ Isamu Tamaru (Drums) ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ - CD1 [ ] │ │ - [ ] │ │ 01 - Immortal Bind [04:32] │ │ 02 - Black Empire [04:51] │ │ 03 - Overload [04:25] │ │ 04 - Stranger [04:17] │ │ 05 - Linkage [04:51] │ │ 06 - Eternal Warrior [05:06] │ │ 07 - Ghost In The Flame [07:59] │ │ 08 - Venom Strike [04:48] │ │ 09 - Awake [04:54] │ │ 10 - Omega Man [04:07] │ │ 11 - Pain [04:17] │ │ 12 - Echoes In The Dark [05:09] │ │ 13 - Unbroken Sign [04:19] │ │ - [ ] │ │ - CD2 [ ] │ │ - [ ] │ │ 01 - Gypsy Ways (Live) [05:47] │ │ 02 - Love In Vain (Live) [04:45] │ │ 03 - Bad Habits Die Hard (Live) [04:46] │ │ 04 - Legal Killing (Live) [04:35] │ │ 05 - Cryin┤ Heart (Live) [05:20] │ │ 06 - Silent Child (Live) [04:32] │ │ 07 - Midnight Sun (Live) [04:53] │ │ 08 - Shout It Out (Live) [04:25] │ │ 09 - Final Risk (Live) [03:59] │ │ 10 - Night Stalker (Live) [05:08] │ │ │ │ Total Length : [111:4] min │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘