SABER TIGER rise FASTEN-003E

Rising from the North: Saber Tiger’s ‘Rise’ EP (Blue Sleeve Edition)

Today’s entry looks at a specific pressing of an early EP from the legendary Sapporo heavy metal band Saber Tiger. This is the “Rise” EP, released on the independent Fasten Up Records label with the catalog number FASTEN-003E.

Issued in 1987, this 7-inch vinyl plays at 33 ⅓ RPM and represents the second pressing of the release. It is easily distinguished from the original version by its blue sleeve design (the first press was red) and a slightly different front layout. The back cover also differs, notably featuring an advertisement for their “Crush & Dush” 12-inch single and omitting the price tag found on the original.

The EP features five tracks that capture the intense early style of the band:
A1: Rise
A2: Maboroshi
B1: Break Down
B2: Jealousy
B3: The Sabbath

This release is a vital piece of history from the Hokkaido metal scene, documenting the early days of a band that would become a long-running institution in Japanese heavy metal. It captures their raw power and melodic sensibilities before they evolved into the major act they are known as today. Some copies of this release are known to have been signed by the band members, with the autographs being real rather than printed as part of the artwork.