J-Metal Reviews: ANTHEM "BOUND TO BREAK"

By Badman

Welcome back all J-Metal maniacs! It’s been a while, but don’t any of you worry neither A-to-J, nor I, have forgotten about all you headbangers! 2021 is upon us and I am amped up more than ever to deliver doses of sonic steel. Let’s turn up the heat and "Jump in the Fire"!

The first album review of the new year is from a band I hold in the highest regard. Hailing from the renowned Tokyo scene in 1981, they are a monumental cornerstone that helped solidify the foundation in the house of J-Metal! Most importantly, this band dishes out Heavy Metal like it’s nobody’s business. I would like to present... ANTHEM and their skull crushing album "BOUND TO BREAK"! 

"BOUND TO BREAK" released in 1987 and is ANTHEM’s junior full-length album. It’s composed of ten tracks (one song being a short instrumental) that will keep you listening! You are probably wondering, “Why are we starting at their third record?”. Well, to be frank, as much as I love the first two albums, "ANTHEM" (1985) and "TIGHTROPE" (1986), "BOUND TO BREAK" is the band's biggest step forward in all aspects of production and songwriting. The guitars are extremely crunchy. The bass is menacingly burly; you can hear every note! The drums are crispy as hell, but not overbearing. There is no give when it comes to the vocals.  Each wallowing shout, each melody sung is delivered tightly with the utmost power. This can be credited to Producer/Sound Engineer Chris Tsangarides who has worked with the likes of Judas Priest, Yngwie Malamsteen, and Helloween, but this is only one key piece of the puzzle.

The songwriting is the other integral ingredient that makes this record an experience to behold. What "BOUND TO BREAK" expresses is ANTHEM’s progress in song composition from the past two records. The riffs are catchier, making you want to bop your head while throwing up fists. The majority of the songs are absolute standouts, and I'll list the best at the end. My favorite tracks are "HEADSTRONG" (Trapt wish they made this song!), "EMPTY EYES", and "THE SHOW MUST GO ON!. But my most beloved track is the opening song and album title: "BOUND TO BREAK". This song is full of high-flying, in-your-face pure heavy metal. The main riff is a stone cold KILLER that grapples your eardrums like a blackbelt jiu-jitsu practitioner. As important as the other musicians are, what gives the song an extra UMPH is the precisely angsty energy is the vocal execution! It will leave your headbanging!!!

Give ANTHEM'S "BOUND TO BREAK" a good hard listen. You will not be disappointed! 

Standout Songs:
BOUND TO BREAK
EMPTY EYES
SHOW MUST GO ON!
ROCK N ROLL SURVIVOR
SOLDIERS
NO MORE NIGHT
HEADSTRONG
FIRE N THE SWORD

The entire album can be listened to (probably not the most authorized of sources) via the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYoYI9SHT3s