It's definetly going to be in my Top 5, I'm already sure about that. It has a lot of energy and proof that after 30 years they still have it, as I expect from Anthem. I've been AC series fan since the first part came out. And with the later ones it was really getting better.

Same with me, I often listen to them on my iPod as well. I love all of their albums but for me the new one gets a big highlight. You're Assassin's Creed fan too? That's great ;D You've already played the newest part as Connor? I've Widnows XP so far, but this week I'm getting Windows 7.

Very good taste. Especialy Anthem with massive amount of plays \m/

your top tracks list is pretty awesome!! Anthem are the best band ever!!

Now I understand why you don't like the whole keyboard idea XD Too bad, then that means you don't like the first track in the album, it's a really good one >.< I agree with finnish metal sucking though XD Also, I think you're mistaken about the whole 80's thing, they had a keyboardist on Heavy Metal Anthem in 2000 and Black Empire in 2008 (it had a few synth sounds on some tracks), same with Immortal and Eternal Warrior =P

How did you manage to listen to that program? I tried to download the application Anthem crew suggested, but couldn't find any link or any sort of hints of how to use it lol. I don't know what you're talking about, the synths added an awesome "melodic" feel to the tracks it is present, maybe it was the bad quality of the sound that made you consider them as crap XD It is my 4th time listening to the album, and I fall more and more in love with it, tho I'm a bit dissapointed at a few tracks, especially to the instrumental of this album >.<

Hey, got the new album of Anthem? It's so awesome ^o^ You can ask me for it if you want~

Oh, whew, I was afraid I was his only non-Japanese fan, haha. I just wish it were easier to find his CDs.

Another 山田晃士 fan? ='D

And I really should make a kill for that Nerima video/DVD you keep talking about, those things are so rare T.T And I agree with the character limitation, but still I think you'll agree that it's better than me to stalk you on WLM XD (I don't use it that often either, I would rather use Skype)

Still don't understand why Eizo should be prosecuted instead of Naoto, they're both males lol. Also, perhaps I don't find the lyrics so disturbing, or at least not bothering because I, in turn aren't on good terms with my mother, or my sister (at times, tho lately I've been getting along well with her XD). Regardless of Eizo's physique, it's still funny and a bit disturbing for someone like me to watch him bouncing his trails and crevices, but still makes for a good laugh, because he's cute =3 I think Eizo is the "perfect" metal voice rather than just "good", instead of the dead grunts (or whatever they call it) that pussy bands use so much these days. Also, don't find much of a difference, besides him singing with more power nowdays, so I don't really think he sang worse in the past =P The Graham Bonnet album was good in terms of the instrumental cover, but in terms of voice... he wasn't really fit, tho I do like some of the translated lyrics.

I know Eizo's not mad, but he acts like it sometimes, he's a perfect spaz XD But we all love him for that, don't we =D Any reason why that would be so disturbing to hear that song from Eizo? And if you find that repulsive, wait until you see how Eizo thrusts his hips when he sings the song during the Immortal tour, I was on the floor XD Also, another funny moment that comes to mind from the same tour, is when Eizo rolled down all those stairs at the end of Distress (as stated before, one of my favs... I have something for dramatic music XD) "Eizo can't sing" - I can't believe you said that =O But I agree with you, I find their live performances of their songs much more pleasing, except for a few songs which they sing quite akwardly such as Grieve of Heart and Running Blood, which are one of my favs too T.T Oh, and the Anthem Ways album drives me insane XD

And from their "legacy" albums: 1. Hunting Time - Like SevenHills, I like every single track on this one (besides the last one, listened to it too many times before... stupid random feature in Winamp lol) 2. Bound to Break - Like above, especially Machine Made Dog and it's intro, it's so moody XD This album also marks Eizo's epitome in his career at that time (wish he wouldn't have left the band >.< ... IIRC it was due to health issues) 3. Tightrope - Each and every one besides the last track (again Winamp...) 4. Gipsy Ways - Love in Vain, Gipsy Ways (duh), Silent Child, Night Stalker 5. Domestic Booty - Mr. Genius, Gold & Diamonds (this one feels like a melodic metal piece, quite interesting to hear such at thing from a japanese band at that time O.O ), Cry in the Night, Dice of no Mercy, Silent Cross 6. Anthem - I haven't placed this in last because I like it the least, but I don't really like the fact that the sound is so fuzzy and that Hiroya here wasn't 100% good at it bach then=P

Well then I do suppose he's spiritually more present to Eizo, since they share more memories XD Also, the naming is appropriate, just that for me, MAD is more like "creepy" mad, than funny mad (as Eizo is) if you know what I mean =P Does Naoto Shibata have a blog, or you were refering to Eizo's? Also, speaking of line-ups, I do think Anthem has quite a full pallette with all it's past members. Also, wanted to tell me what are your top favourite Anthem albums and fav songs from them (I know this can be quite hard to answer at times XD) I'll start~ 1. Seven Hills - This is the only album on which I like all their tracks XD 2. Eternal Warrior - Omega Man, Distress, Life Goes On, Let the New Day Come, Soul Cry 3. Immortal - The Beginning, Betrayer, Echoes in the Dark, Road to Nowhere, 4. Overload - Overload (duh), Ground Zero, Rough and Wild, Desert of the Sea, Eternal Mind 5. Black Empire - Heat of the Night, Black Empire (duh again~), Telling You, You, Go Insane

I agree that MAD has some other good points than Homma, and he is indeed the founder, but that doesn't really make him a better singer XD Still don't know how well they both sing in comparison =P I always thought Homma is much more professional and is more accurate in his drumming in comparison to MAD who's weirdness always freaked me out XD But by saying that I don't dislike MAD, actually as you can see here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=O8SPu0qM4dQ, MAD was on drums on that tour, since Homma had an injury at the time, and I can say the drumming sounds awesome, and wish they would release a DVD of that T.T I think Naoto changed the drummers and never reverted because he probably wanted to keep the band's sound "fresh", as in to not have the same drummer with the same tecniques, as it might get boring, you could probably expect Naoto to change back to MAD or to another drummer in a few years if that's what his plan was. That bit was in the tour footage section, at the end of the DVD IIRC

Any reason for prefering MAD on vocals? XD Too bad about the lack of recording, at this time again I wish I was in japan just to go to one of their concert and have a laugh XD I've never imagined them doing this thing all the time, but as you said I probably didn't suspect because I've only seen the "official" stuff ^^; And about that weird abusing material, I think it might be the band's decision, or they wanted to make Shibata a "surprise" XD But anyway I wouldn't know for sure since I've seen that bit, and at first I tought it was on the Back Then DVD since they were having a discussion in a yard somewhere and were dressed like that lol.

(continued from below) I don't know where exactly they played in that formation, but sure would like them to release a DVD of that gig XD You could use Naoto on drums as an idea for your tattoo ^^

I think I was wrong about all the Nakama affair, it seems that the album doesn't credit him at all. Well I probably assumed he played the guitars on that album since he was in the "Love on the edge" PV, and also he played two songs from No Smoke without Fire on the 20th anniversary DVD. Also I've seen Shibata making jokes on Eizo when they were recording the Immortal album, from the Live Immortal DVD, too bad I couldn't understand what he actually said X.X Akio was laughing his ass off in his booth tho Nerima Macchoman DVDs? O.O I'm even more overwhelmed with envy now T.T Wish I could buy then, but now I know where to buy them from ^_~ I agree with you on X, that's why I never listen to them these days, also their move to LA is just what makes me disconsider them lol About Shibata and drumming, you probably have seen this (since you said you bought the second Prologue Live Boxx CD): http://i51.tinypic.com/2j457v8.png But I really had a laugh at that one (I'll continue above)

Well, it must have been shown somewhere on TV as that recording didn't seem to have been made by a single person. You are too good at teasing since you almost made me think I insulted my own idols XD As for privateness, I agree at the point with Nakama, but he was also with anthem on the "No Smoke Without Fire" album =P It is also true for Eizo Sakamoto, as he isn't so shy, more rather outgoing and quirky at that too XD But he knows how to control it, and makes out of him the perfect and the funniest person ever, not to mention he has a great voice ^^ Oh, and I do also hate visual kei, and I hate X for "inventing" it, but at least they have a few nice songs =P I especially love their "Phantom of Guilt"

Never heard of that nickname, so that's probably why the confusion started =P And I agree, I hate it when people don't state where their material comes from, tho I suppose those videos were just VHS rips of a TV show or something. All I know is the fact that the audio was so faint that I had to boost up the volume to the maximum to hear anything. As for the insult, I agree it could be like that, but what I know for sure is that I didn't mean it so, for the fact that I was just surprised by the fact they even were wearing such thing as make-up XD And now that you mention Akio's shyness, I can notice that in most of their recordings, he acts quite unusual, so now I know why ^^;

Oh, so you were refering to him. I tought his name was Toshiko Maeda instead O.O I saw some videos on YouTube with Anthem in 1983-1984 (a very bad recording at that lol), and saw him with the band at that age, and they sang a song that I couldn't find on any of their most recent albums, I suppose they dropped them after being unsuccessful with any labels. Oh, and in no way I was trying to insult Akio, as he's a god with a guitar XD And now that you mention it, they do look like they all wear lisptick. Why exactly was Akio hiding? That actually makes him cute, not that he isn't always like that =P

My nick there is andy_blah, and you can notice that's me because of my huge Anthem collection =P Which Tony are you refering to?, by the way. And thanks alot for the last scan too, it's so awesome~ Too bad Akio Shimizu looks a little bit too visual-key-like in it XD

Instantly added you as a friend ^o^ I see that you also have some rare photos there, especially in your avatar, wich looks somewhat like Naoto~ The large one is probably from their last anniversary tour from 2010 Now, I'll have to stop my freakishness before I turn into a nutter XD

Too bad it seems there aren't many Anthem fans around here, at least not as much as I expected. I mostly "guessed" where those photos are from by their clothing ( please don't think I'm gay or something XD) hair, or by the background. For the first one it was that weird clothing they wore during the "Show Must go On!" tour (the last one before Eizo left), and also most of the photos on the Bound to Break album they wore those clothes. For the second one I think that scene was in the footage on the DVD =P I take it that you don't know where the 3rd is from, or as you said it was probably from their site ^^; And the last one is awesome, thanks for sharing, I think I might update their JpopSuki profile with that one, if you don't mind ^^ Oh, and I think you'll enjoy this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dvupkFFRWmU It's my fansub of Grieve of Heart ^o^ (did the timing, not the translation tho)

Herro~ Thanks for accepting my friend request. You might find it weird and too sudden that I added you, but I'm just an Anthem fanatic and decided to do so =P Just noticed the glorious wall of Shibata and Sakamoto photos, and donnot know where 2 of them are from, perhaps you can help me =P The first one is surely from the Bound to Break booklet (I think), the second is from their Show Must go on tour footage, the third I don't know, the 4th is from when they were doing the Immortal album, and the 5th is probably from the Immortal tour 3/5, not that bad, I think this proves I'm an Anthem freak XD

Ahaha, I can definitely see that! xD

In that first pic, it is hard to believe Eizo was the same person. @__@ Shibata hasn't changed much, hehe.

Oh and those pics on your profile are adorable!!! Eeek!

Yeah, Annie's voice is cool, his English is also good. A lot of Japanese metal bands have annoying/horrible singers - especially VK and black metal singers - so it is refreshing. The Yellow Monkey is great! Good for anytime I'm in a surfer-ish, rock n' roll-ish mood. xD Some songs I absolutely love, but some songs are just casual "eh" songs that I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy. Kinda the same relationship I have with Blankey Jet City.

I just heard about them a few months ago. I saw on some website about them having a new album and decided to check them out and now I already bought 3 CD's of them! That's cool though! :D

Strange? xD In a good or bad way? lol

I like your About Me. :)

Oh hi, thanks very much for your comment! Ah Anthem is awesome!