ANIMETAL

In 1996 during a conversation between producers Yoshio Nomura and Yorimasa Hisatake (who would later on be Animetal's producer), the following idea arose: "Why not meld anime songs and metal together?" Thus, the animetal concept was born.

In October vocalist Eizo Sakamoto (ex ANTHEM) released Animetal's first single, ANIMETAL, under the Fun House label. At first, the CD was believed to be popular only with those who were maniacs for anime songs however; over 50,000 copies were sold rather quickly.

In 1997, the band made its debut with Sony Music with some new famous members in the line up: She-Ja (ex GARGOYLE) on guitar, TAKE-SHIT (COCOBAT) on bass, KATSUJI (GARGOYLE) on drums, and still Eizo Sakamoto on vocals. The band then recorded its second single: This is Animetal. The following album came with another line up that would stay the same for a couple of years: Eizo Sakamoto on vocals, She-Ja on guitar and MASAKI (ex JACKS'N JOKER) on bass. Yasuhiro Umezawa (ex REACTION) also played drums for a short while before leaving.

In March, Animetal Marathon, their first album, reaches the 9th position of the Oricon Chart and 300,000 copies were sold. By spring, the concept evolved with the arriving of Mie (ex Pink Lady) as a female vocalist and they released a new single. By December that year, they recorded the song eien no mirai, their first non-cover song, as the ending theme of the successful anime Rurouni Kenshin.

1998 marked the Animetal phenomenon as they broke the borders of Japan with the release of This is Japametal Marathon in seven countries of East Asia, including Taiwan, China and Singapore. However, despite their popularity, within a year, after 150 cover songs, the band decides to have a break and played their last live on July 31st, 1999.

In 2001, although the members had side projects, they decided to come back for a live entitled Animetal ALIVE 2001, followed by the release of Animetal Marathon IV under the Avex label. However, despite the success of this comeback, She-Ja left the band in 2002.

Syu, a young guitar genius and a member of the bands GALNERYUS and AUSHVITZ, joined Animetal in 2003. They recorded the fifth Animetal Marathon that included songs coming from world famous anime like Saint Seiya and Evangelion.

In 2006, Animetal played a goodbye concert in Paris and they're once again on a break so that the members can fully concentrate on their side projects.