United (band)
Encyclopedia
United is a thrash metal
band from Japan
formed in 1981. They took their name from the song of the same name
, off of Judas Priest
's British Steel
. Originally a Judas Priest and Black Sabbath
cover band, they began to write their own material in 1983 when bassist Yoko joined. United have played numerous times in North America
and have had a couple of their albums released there as well. They have opened for Anthrax
, Slayer
, Testament
and Machine Head
on their Japanese tours, and in 2010 was Paul Di'Anno
's live band for his. All members are Japanese except their Kuwait
frontman, Kenshin.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
formed in 1981. They took their name from the song of the same name
United (Judas Priest song)
"United" is the fifth track and last single to be released from the album British Steel by heavy metal group Judas Priest. The song is slower than the others from the British Steel album and has an arena rock style.-Personnel:*Rob Halford - vocals...
, off of Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
's British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
. Originally a Judas Priest and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover band, they began to write their own material in 1983 when bassist Yoko joined. United have played numerous times in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and have had a couple of their albums released there as well. They have opened for Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
on their Japanese tours, and in 2010 was Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno
Paul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
's live band for his. All members are Japanese except their Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
frontman, Kenshin.
Members
- Faisal "Kenshin" Al-Salem – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
2009–present - Yoshifumi "Hally" Yoshida – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
1988–present (ex:X JapanX Japanis a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
, Dementia) - Singo Otani – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
1990–present (ex:Rommel, Emperor) - Akihiro "Yoko" Yokoyama – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and manager 1983–present - Akira – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
2004–present (ex:Vacuum)
Former members
- Kouichi "Nao" – vocals 1981–1986
- Yoshiaki Furui – vocals 1986–1995 (ex:Wyvern)
- Shinichi Inazu – vocals 1996–2000
- Masatoshi Yuasa – vocals 2000–2004 (ex:Death File)
- Nob – vocals 2005–2008 (ex:Defame)
- Takeshi "Mantas" Nakazato – guitar 1981–1987
- Masaki "Marchan" Hara – guitar 1981–1988
- Iwao Furusawa – guitar 1987–1990 (ex:Zealous)
- Oz – bass 1981–1983
- Yasu Tsukahara – drums 1981–1983
- Jouichi "Joe" Hirokawa – drums 1985 (ex:Zadkiel, DoomDoom (Japanese band)Doom was a Japanese thrash metal band by former Zadkiel members Takashi and Koh. Formed in Tokyo in 1985, the first line up included Takashi "Taka" Fujita , Koh "Pirarucu" Morota and Jouichi "Joe" Hirokawa . The group released their first EP Go Mad Yourself! in 1986, and the debut album No More...
, Warpigs) - Tetsuo "Tetsu" Takizawa – drums 1983–1985, 1985–1988
- Hirokazu Uchino – drums 1988–1998
- Yusuke Nakamura – drums 1999–2003
Albums
- Bloody But Unbowed (October 14, 1990)
- Human Zoo (September 26, 1992)
- Best Rare Tracks from Underground (March 24, 1995, compilation album)
- N.O.I.Q (March 26, 1996)
- Reload (February 5, 1997)
- Distorted Vision (April 1999)
- Infectious Hazard (April 4, 2001)
- Core (August 7, 2002)
- Nine (December 21, 2005)
- Tear of Illusions (April 20, 2011)
EPs
- Destroy Metal (February 1985, picture disc vinyl in February 1987)
- Beast Dominate (December 1986, picture disc vinyl in April 1987)
- Beast Dominates '92 (1992)
- Burst (May 2, 1997)
V/A Compilations
- Devil Must Be Driven Out with Devil (1986, "Positive War" & "Bite Yourself")
- Emergency Express - Metal Warning 2 (1989, "Suck Your Bone")
- Flower Travellin' BandFlower Travellin' Bandis a Japanese heavy psych outfit that was first active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They reunited in 2007. Vocalist Joe Yamanaka died on August 7, 2011 after a battle with lung cancer.-History:...
Tribute (September 20, 2000, "Make Up") - Tribute to Bad BrainsBad BrainsBad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
(November 29, 2000, "Riot Squad - How Low Can a Punk Get?") - Beast Feast Admission (August 2, 2001, "Cross Over the Line")
- Power Germanys (April 27, 2002)
- Enter the Beast Feast (April 27, 2004, "Sonic Sublime")
- Beast Feast Admission 2K2 (December 17, 2002, "Hate Yourself, Hate Your Own Kind")
- Tribute to Garlic BoysGarlic BoysGarlicboys is a punk band from Osaka, Japan. The current lineup is Peta , Larry, Pessin , and Shin . They are currently known in Japan's "trendy" underground music scene as the "godfathers of new school Japanese hardcore"...
(August 18, 2006, "Skate & Mosh") - 44Magnum44 Magnum (band)44 Magnum is a heavy metal/hard rock band from Japan, originally formed in 1977. After the band disbanded in 1989, they had a thirteen-year hiatus before reuniting and releasing their seventh album, Ignition, in 2002...
Tribute Album (April 2, 2008, "It's Too Bad")