Saber Tiger

The groundbreaking Japanese heavy metal outfit Saber Tiger formed in 1981 in Sapporo, Hokkaido and became known for their deft ability to blend melodic and technical metal to powerful effect. Founded by guitarist and long-running member Akihito Kinoshita—the band's only original remaining member—Saber Tiger drew early influences from the burgeoning global heavy metal movement, combining elements of traditional heavy metal, speed metal, and progressive metal to create an intricate sound that helped them become of the country's most popular heavy metal groups. They released three albums through an indie metal label—INVASION (1992), AGITATION (1994), and TIMYSTERY (1995)—before signing a deal with Tokuma Japan Communications. Their 1997 major label debut Project One (1997) featured Ron Keel on vocals and took the band's career to new heights. They went on to unleash a steady supply of solid albums throughout the 2000s, including FUSE (2002) and INDIGNATION (2005), despite undergoing periods of hiatus and personnel changes. Their 2011 album Decisive, along with subsequent releases like Bystander Effect (2015), marked their international breakthrough, gaining them a broader audience outside of Japan. Saber Tiger have continued to put out albums consistently since then, such as Obscure Diversity in 2018, PARAGRAPH V in 2021, and ELIMINATED in 2024.

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