Talk about being blown away from the first tone coming out of my speakers. If the start of the album "Crimson & Jet Black" by the mighty Japanese band ANTHEM doesn't blow you away, don't even bother to listen to the rest. I don't care what kind of Metal you are into, this is how you impress an audience from the first second onwards. These guys have been going for almost forty years (they formed in 1984), but they still sound like they are made out of pure adrenaline.

When you have listened to "Snake Eyes" and "Wheels Of Fire", and you are sitting still, you're either dead or deaf. You just cannot avoid headbanging along, tapping your feet and wondering whether the chandelier will be able to hold your weight when you start swinging from it. This will certainly get you going. The songs mentioned are not only uplifting, bloody fast, rather furious and definitely addictive, they're also of a very high quality.

And that latter part is one thing that continues to stand out throughout the whole "Crimson & Jet Black" album. ANTHEM have been able to make sure you get your money's worth, and a lot more on top of that. But there is one thing that keeps me wondering. How is it possible to still have so much inspiration when you are recording your twentieth (yes 20^th!!) studio album. the other thing that I am weirding myself out about is why have I not been keeping up with all ANTHEM are doing? Why? Simple; if this is the quality that ANTHEM usually puts out, listening to them and enjoying their music will prevent you slipping into depression, being sad, having negative thoughts. That's how happy this kind of fast Heavy Metal makes me.

And no, it is not all perfect. Sometimes you do hear the Japanese accent in the lyrics. At other times you feel the solo could have been just that sorter, or longer for that case. But on the whole ANTHEM have put out a corker of a record with "Crimson & Jet Black". I have to admit that I am glad that not all the bands have put out so many good records all these years. My wallet wouldn't be able to handle the strain. But there you have it, we have another gem to listen to, "Crimson & Jet Black". ANTHEM are certainly honouring their name.