Hunting Time

From 1985 until 1990, Anthem were a serious productive band; they had released one album after another and most of it was of superb quality. However, it wouldn't be until their fifth album where everything would just fall into place.

What I find puzzling is how Hunting Time sounds sounds more like the logical successor to Bound to Break which had came out two years before. Compared to the band's other pre-break up material, this album also feels more imaginative than Tightrope Dancer and No Smoke Without Fire, which draw heavily from the Screaming for Vengeance and Defenders of the Faith formula. I’ll probably never find out why Anthem tried to distinct themself from your ordinary heavy/speed metal band at this point, but I’m glad that they did. Opening up with ''The Juggler'' it's getting clear Anthem were aiming for something completely different here - the riffs sound somewhat puzzling as they twist and turn around the maniac vocals as if the rock-y Gypsy Ways, which was easily their most accessible effort from the time, had never happened. It’s this sort of intensity that makes Hunting Time so addictive. You can almost visualise the sweat falling off these Japanese men’s heads while they’re playing their hearts out. The title track sums this up best and has one of those ‘’based on the intro this should be a fantastic track’’ introductions – imagine the James Bond theme combined with Sabbath’s Die Young intro before kicking into high gear. ''Evil Touch'' is no slouch either, with a classy main riff, elegant shredding around the verses and a catchy chorus. (Maybe catchy isn't the right word, but it's English and therefor a lot easier to grasp!)

This is also the first album to feature singer Yukio Morikawa, who doesn’t sound very different from his predecessor, but has a little more muscle in his voice. In fact, calling him the Japanese variant of Graham Bonnet wouldn’t really be far off. His pronunciation leaves me a little confused at times but it doesn’t really bring the album down or anything – quite the contrary really. I used to think that ‘’Jail Break’’ featured a line that said ‘’we are assholes’’ but it’s actually ‘’we are echoes’’, which makes the track more entertaining to me. But yes, what a tune! Guitarist Hiroya Fukuda goes wild during its chorus (what was the last time you heard tapping sounding this efficient?) and the additional keys sound like they came straight from the 70’s, but manage to fit in this ripper of a track anyway.

Hunting Time gets a little intense here and there, but it’s not much too complain about. ‘’Let Your heartbeat’’ is more of a stomping sing-along-y rocker than anything else – it’s not bad, but a little out of place here and would have made a better appearance on Gypsy Ways. ‘’Tears for the Lovers’’ shows the band at their most sensitive, yet comes off strangely appealing with hypnotic guitars leads sounding like teardrops of those yearning for love once lost. The vocals appear to be more restrained yet heartfelt here and this only makes me wish the band wrote more ballads at one point, because they were clearly capable of more than just rocking out.

So yeah, this is Anthem at their peak. Lyrically you might not be able to make much out of it (I'm certainly not) but if Hunting Time doesn't get you in the mood to throw the horns or bang your head, you better go see a doctor.

Anthem was on quite a run when the band released Hunting Time exactly one year after the incredibly catchy Gypsy Ways. The second album with melodic and skilled singer Yukio Morikawa successfully mixes the energy and speed of the band's first three outputs with the catchy and melodic approach of the critically acclaimed predecessor. Anthem found its very own style with this release.

The record opens with a bang in form of the unchained up-tempo track ''The Juggler'' with gripping riffs and howling guitar sounds, a vividly pumping bass guitar, wild yet precise drumming and a more variable vocal effort mixing an uplifting melodic approach with a rawer undertone. This outstanding opener exemplifies Anthem's unique style on this record.

The record features more vivid tunes like the powerful ''Evil Touch'' with its ferocious instrumental section and outstanding guitar solos that is occasionally lightened up by a few epic keyboard passage reminding me of organ sounds.

On the other side, there are also more melodic, creative and complex songs such as the diversified and almost progressive title song ''Hunting Time'' where each band member showcases his incredible talent in six passionate minutes without ever drifting off towards instrumental wankery.

Another song that needs to be pointed out is the rhythmic ''Let Your Heart Beat'' with its thunderous drum play and surgical opening riff before the song gets more melodic and almost danceable towards the longing and soothing chorus, supported by occasional backing vocals, melodically howling guitars and a few decent keyboard patterns. Just like the more explosive opener, this song that never gets boring or predictable perfectly represents what Anthem stands for and can be considered an overlooked highlight on this release as well as in Anthem's long career.

The excellent song material progresses in diversified yet logical order as heavier tracks are often followed by more melodic tunes. Everything is hold together by a refreshingly organic production by Chris Tsangarides who collaborated with the band for a third time in a row.

Anthem was at the height of its career in the late eighties and early nineties. Ultimately, it's a matter of personal taste whether your prefer the more catchy and melodic Gypsy Ways or the more diversified and heavy Hunting Time. Personally, I slightly prefer the latter because the band sounds so variable, unchained and creative and delivers eight killer tracks without any fillers. Anthem has also found its very own style on this record and can't be compared to any other artists or bands here. The energizing and precise instrumental work sounds better than ever before and the vocals find the right balance between energy and melody. Any fan of classic heavy metal of the eighties should own Anthem's Hunting Time.

This is the second album release by the incarnation of Anthem with Yukio Morikawa on vocals. Please read my review on 'Gypsy Ways' for my views on him in detail, and the history of his involvement with the band. 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.