UNITED

UNITED is a foundational pillar of the Japanese thrash metal scene, formed in 1981 in Tokyo. Initially starting as a Judas Priest cover band (taking their name from the British Steel track), they quickly transitioned into original material, debuting with the seminal 'Destroy Metal' EP in 1985.

The band's history is marked by extreme resilience and a revolving door of members, with the late bassist Akihiro Yokoyama serving as the group's spiritual and musical anchor for over thirty years. Their sound identity is characterized by 'Neo-Thrash' elements, blending the speed of 80s Bay Area thrash with the beefier production and rhythmic 'groove' sensibilities of 90s metal. Critically, they are respected for maintaining a high technical standard across ten studio albums, influencing a generation of Japanese metal acts like Outrage and Volcano. They occupy a unique cultural space as one of the few 80s extreme metal bands to successfully navigate the shift into the 21st century without losing their core aggression or relevance in the global underground circuit.