Loudness (band)
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
-based heavy metal
band formed in 1981 by guitarist
Akira Takasaki
and drummer
Munetaka Higuchi
. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums (five in America)
by the end of 2009 and reaching the Billboard Top 100 in their moment of maximum international popularity. Despite numerous changes in their roster, the band continued their activities during the 90s, finally reuniting the original line-up in 2000. On 30 November 2008 original drummer Munetaka Higuchi
died from liver cancer at a hospital in Osaka at age 49. Loudness replaced him with Masayuki Suzuki
and are still active to this day.
, bassist Hiroyuki Tanaka and drummer Munetaka Higuchi
, coming off the split-up of the pop-rock band Lazy
in February 1981. The three musicians, and Takasaki in particular, were unsatisfied with the musical direction of their previous band and wanted to test their abilities in new avenues. The rising movement of new Japanese heavy metal
acts (Bow Wow
, Anthem
, etc.) fit the aspirations and musical tendencies of the young musicians. Nevertheless, bassist Tanaka soon renounced to be part of the new metal band, searching success in the anime
soundtrack business with the band Neverland
. Takasaki recruited his childhood friend Masayoshi Yamashita
as bass player and, after a few auditions, the band found a singer in former Earthshaker
member Minoru Niihara
.
With this line-up, Loudness signed for the major label Nippon Columbia
and recorded their Japanese-language debut album
, The Birthday Eve
. Despite the reduced presence of the heavy metal genre in the Japanese media at the time and the lack of a single to launch the album, The Birthday Eve and the concerts to support it were quite successful. The flashy shred guitar
work of Takasaki and the solid musicianship of the other band members became soon a trademark of their performances in studio and on stage. The band, excited by the good sales response in Japan, produced four studio albums in rapid succession, while guitarist Takasaki found the time to start his solo career, releasing the album Tusk of Jaguar
, which the other group members played in.
In 1983, after recording their third album The Law of Devil's Land
, they embarked on their first United States tour, followed by a tour in Europe. They moved to Europe
to record their fourth album Disillusion, performing several concerts there, as documented in their second video Eurobounds
. As an attempt to break in the international scene, the band re-recorded the vocal tracks of the album Disillusion in English language, releasing their first album outside of Japan in 1984.
co-manager Joe Gerber, they inked an international record deal with Atco Records
. Such an achievement was the first in Japanese music history for a hard rock band. Their fifth album, the Max Norman
produced Thunder in the East, was recorded in the USA and was very successful. It was their first American release and it peaked at No. 74 in the Billboard album chart
, relying much on the strength of the single "Crazy Nights".
Their sixth album, Lightning Strikes
, was once again produced by Max Norman and charted at No. 64, receiving very good reviews and making Loudness a worldwide attraction. The album was released in Japan in a different version, under the name Shadows of War
. Their success in the United States
had pushed the group to write more commercial pop-metal tunes, like the single "Let It Go", which was quite different from what they had done in all their previous albums. Following this new and apparently chart-rewarding direction, the band lost some of their supportive Japanese fan base, which did not accept the homologation to the US glam metal
standards of bands like Ratt
and Motley Crue
.
Following the Jealousy
EP in 1988, singer Niihara was fired from the band, after producer Max Norman’s suggestion that an English speaking vocalist could help the band break through in the American market. The chosen American vocalist was former Obsession
frontman Mike Vescera,. Minoru Niihara
continued his singing career in Japan as frontman of the metal bands Ded Chaplin, Sly and XYZ→A, besides releasing a solo album. The new Loudness’ line-up recorded two studio albums, Soldier of Fortune in 1989 and On the Prowl
in 1991. The latter included only three new songs among remakes of older material translated and sung by Vescera. Despite extensive tours and strong support from their label, the new albums did not improve the band's status in America and, on the contrary, reduced further the Japanese fanbase of Loudness. After the release of the single "Slap in the Face", Vescera left Loudeness during their 1991 American tour, to join Yngwie J. Malmsteen
's band. He was replaced by former Ezo
vocalist Masaki Yamada
to finish the tour. The change of personnel did not influence the success of the band, because the sudden predilection of the American audience for the gritty and aggressive sound of grunge
and alternative rock
bands at the beginning of the 90s, had already de facto put an end to the American adventure of Loudness, as well as to the careers of many other bands from the glam and heavy metal scene.
also left the band and was replaced by former X Japan
bassist, Taiji Sawada. This line-up produced the self-titled album Loudness
in 1992 and the 1993 live album Once and for All
. The sound and the music presented in these works is heavier and more aggressive than in the albums produced in America and marks the beginning of a new phase in the career of Akira Takasaki, main composer of the band.
In 1993, the band was again on the verge of falling apart, with the departure of both Higuchi, who went to play in Niihara’s Sly, and Sawada, who founded Dirty Trashroad. Akira Takasaki remained the only founding member, with a band to reinvent. In this period he traveled to India
and converted to Buddhism
, somehow finding the right motivations to not disband Loudness. He convinced Yamada to stay as singer and, with his help, recruited former Ezo
drummer Hirotsugu Homma to the band. The trio produced in 1994 Heavy Metal Hippies
, a transitional studio album, where Takasaki tried to mix the old Loudness’ sound with grunge and world music
influences. To bring the band on tour, Takasaki completed the roster with Naoto Shibata, bassist and leader of the then disbanded Japanese heavy metal band Anthem
. This new incarnation of Loudness released three other studio albums (Ghetto Machine
, Dragon
and Engine
) and one live album (Loud 'n' Raw
) between 1994 and 1999. The sound of these releases is quite different from the band’s earlier works, with Takasaki’s compositions veering strongly towards groove metal
with heavy psychedelic
and ethnic influences. Homma’s double bass drum beat is another important difference from earlier Loudness’ sound.
The band toured regularly in Asia
and went to Europe, where they participated to the 1999 edition of the Dynamo Open Air
Festival.
and doing a celebrative tour. Although intended to be a one-time event, the popularity of the band's reunion in their native Japan was overwhelming and the band decided to continue recording and live activities.
At least one studio album and one DVD release have followed every year since the 2001 reunion, in addition to one-off recordings, like 2005's theme song for famed K-1
fighter Musashi
("The Battleship Musashi").
In the new Loudness’ studio albums, the band tries again the fusion of different musical influences with the melodic metal sound of the band from the 80s, adopting very different styles of composition. The result is often a rather inhomogeneous collection of songs, going from classic heavy metal sound to speed metal, thrash metal and grunge, with ethnic and even hip hop
influences. The band’s popularity remains very high in Japan, where they continued touring every year. Loudness even tried a new approach to the international market, with the reissue of the albums RockShocks
and Racing
in English language and an international tour that brought the band back to the USA, as documented in the DVD "Loudness In America '06".
In April 2008, just two months after releasing the album Metal Mad
, Loudness went on hiatus, when drummer Munetaka Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer. They played with Mötley Crüe
in October 2008 at the Greater Tokyo Area
's Saitama Super Arena
, with session drummer Kozo Suganuma (Fragile, Ded Chaplin) filling in for Higuchi. On 30 November 2008 Munetaka died from his illness at a hospital in Osaka at age 49.
In December 2008, the band issued the following statement on their website about passing of their dearest friend and original drummer Munetaka Higuchi:
, which was released in May 2009. The new material was based on drum tracks recorded by Higuchi before his death. Upon the album's release, they introduced their new drummer in Masayuki Suzuki
. The band went on tour in 2009, presenting only material from their first four albums and announced their following album titled King of Pain
, which was released in May 2010. Also in 2010, Loudness featured at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany and did a brief European tour. Loudness returned to America for their 30th Anniversary tour in May and June
2011.
In an interview with Guitar World
and posted on YouTube
on July 11, 2011, Akira Takasaki commented on King of Pains lack of solos and speed. He said that the reason for this was the band's desire to introduce Masayuki Suzuki, their new drummer. Takasaki also stated that the next album's playing would be "much more speedy, much more aggressive" than King of Pain.
On August 22, 2011, the website YesAsia posted a pre-order link for the new Loudness CD, Eve To Dawn. As of August 22, 2011, the album is slated to be released in Japan on September 14, 2011.
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...
-based heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band formed in 1981 by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Akira Takasaki
Akira Takasaki
is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Munetaka Higuchi
Munetaka Higuchi
was the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums (five in America)
by the end of 2009 and reaching the Billboard Top 100 in their moment of maximum international popularity. Despite numerous changes in their roster, the band continued their activities during the 90s, finally reuniting the original line-up in 2000. On 30 November 2008 original drummer Munetaka Higuchi
Munetaka Higuchi
was the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
died from liver cancer at a hospital in Osaka at age 49. Loudness replaced him with Masayuki Suzuki
Masayuki Suzuki (drummer)
, nicknamed "Ampan", is the current drummer for the heavy metal band Loudness. He joined the band in 2009, a year after the death of their original drummer, Munetaka Higuchi....
and are still active to this day.
1981 - 1984: From Lazy to Loudness
The band was started by guitarist Akira TakasakiAkira Takasaki
is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
, bassist Hiroyuki Tanaka and drummer Munetaka Higuchi
Munetaka Higuchi
was the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
, coming off the split-up of the pop-rock band Lazy
LAZY (band)
is a Japanese rock band founded in 1977 by the young classmates Hironobu Kageyama, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki. The three founders soon found in their own school the drummer Munetaka Higuchi and the keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up...
in February 1981. The three musicians, and Takasaki in particular, were unsatisfied with the musical direction of their previous band and wanted to test their abilities in new avenues. The rising movement of new Japanese heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
acts (Bow Wow
Vow Wow
is an influential hard rock band formed in 1975 in Japan.- 1975–1983: Bow Wow :Formed by guitarist and vocalist Kyoji Yamamoto in 1975, with guitarist Mitsuhiro Saito, bassist Kenji Sano and drummer Toshihiro Niimi, Bow Wow soon signed to Victor and released their self-titled debut a year later. In...
, Anthem
Anthem (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.-Early years :Anthem was founded...
, etc.) fit the aspirations and musical tendencies of the young musicians. Nevertheless, bassist Tanaka soon renounced to be part of the new metal band, searching success in the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
soundtrack business with the band Neverland
Neverland (band)
is a Japanese rock band founded by former Lazy members Hiroyuki Tanaka and Shunji Inoe after the dissolution of Lazy. The band was active in the 1980s.-Members:*Vocal: Tomoaki Taka*Guitar: Takumi Abe*Bass: Hiroyuki Tanaka*Keyboard: Shunji Inoe...
. Takasaki recruited his childhood friend Masayoshi Yamashita
Masayoshi Yamashita
is the original and current bass guitarist of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.He first started playing bass in a band called Black Rose...
as bass player and, after a few auditions, the band found a singer in former Earthshaker
Earthshaker (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
member Minoru Niihara
Minoru Niihara
is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act...
.
With this line-up, Loudness signed for the major label Nippon Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and recorded their Japanese-language debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, The Birthday Eve
The Birthday Eve
The Birthday Eve is the first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1981 only in Japan. The 24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition CD includes two additional tracks not on the original release, coming from the first single of the band...
. Despite the reduced presence of the heavy metal genre in the Japanese media at the time and the lack of a single to launch the album, The Birthday Eve and the concerts to support it were quite successful. The flashy shred guitar
Shred guitar
Shred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...
work of Takasaki and the solid musicianship of the other band members became soon a trademark of their performances in studio and on stage. The band, excited by the good sales response in Japan, produced four studio albums in rapid succession, while guitarist Takasaki found the time to start his solo career, releasing the album Tusk of Jaguar
Tusk of Jaguar
Tusk of Jaguar is the first solo studio album by Japanese guitarist Akira Takasaki, best known for his work in the bands Loudness and Lazy. It was released in 1982 only in Japan and reissued in 2005. The album is actually a joint effort of Takasaki and keyboard player Masanori Sasaji, who composed...
, which the other group members played in.
In 1983, after recording their third album The Law of Devil's Land
The Law of Devil's Land
The Law of Devil's Land is the third studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1983 only in Japan and later distributed in Europe by Roadrunner Records. The CD reissue of 2005 contains two extra songs coming from the English version of the band's third single.-Track...
, they embarked on their first United States tour, followed by a tour in Europe. They moved to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to record their fourth album Disillusion, performing several concerts there, as documented in their second video Eurobounds
Eurobounds
Eurobounds is the second home video released by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released on BETA, VHS, Laserdisc and VHD formats in 1984. This release documented the first European tour of the band, with footage from concerts in England, Holland, Belgium and West Germany. Columbia...
. As an attempt to break in the international scene, the band re-recorded the vocal tracks of the album Disillusion in English language, releasing their first album outside of Japan in 1984.
1985 - 1991: American years
Finally in 1985, through the management of Twisted SisterTwisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
co-manager Joe Gerber, they inked an international record deal with Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
. Such an achievement was the first in Japanese music history for a hard rock band. Their fifth album, the Max Norman
Max Norman
Max Norman is a retired record producer and recording engineer in the 1980s and 1990s. He produced many acclaimed heavy metal releases, and was renowned for his top notch production. Max got his "big break" while he was the resident engineer at Ridge Farm Studios in London, England...
produced Thunder in the East, was recorded in the USA and was very successful. It was their first American release and it peaked at No. 74 in the Billboard album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, relying much on the strength of the single "Crazy Nights".
Their sixth album, Lightning Strikes
Lightning Strikes (Loudness album)
Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
, was once again produced by Max Norman and charted at No. 64, receiving very good reviews and making Loudness a worldwide attraction. The album was released in Japan in a different version, under the name Shadows of War
Lightning Strikes (Loudness album)
Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
. Their success in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had pushed the group to write more commercial pop-metal tunes, like the single "Let It Go", which was quite different from what they had done in all their previous albums. Following this new and apparently chart-rewarding direction, the band lost some of their supportive Japanese fan base, which did not accept the homologation to the US glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
standards of bands like Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
and Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
.
Following the Jealousy
Jealousy (Loudness EP)
Jealousy is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in May 1988 only in Japan, a market that the band felt to have neglected in favour of American audiences. It would also mark the final recording with the classic line-up, until Spiritual Canoe in 2001. In fact singer Minoru Niihara would...
EP in 1988, singer Niihara was fired from the band, after producer Max Norman’s suggestion that an English speaking vocalist could help the band break through in the American market. The chosen American vocalist was former Obsession
Obsession (band)
Obsession is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 famous for spawning the career of singer Michael Vescera.The band first came on to the scene on the Metal Massacre 2 compilation from Metal Blade Records. After that, the band released the albums Scarred for Life and Methods of Madness under...
frontman Mike Vescera,. Minoru Niihara
Minoru Niihara
is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act...
continued his singing career in Japan as frontman of the metal bands Ded Chaplin, Sly and XYZ→A, besides releasing a solo album. The new Loudness’ line-up recorded two studio albums, Soldier of Fortune in 1989 and On the Prowl
On the Prowl (album)
On the Prowl is the ninth studio album of Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It is also their second and last album with American vocalist Mike Vescera, before his leaving to join Yngwie Malmsteen's band for the album The Seventh Sign...
in 1991. The latter included only three new songs among remakes of older material translated and sung by Vescera. Despite extensive tours and strong support from their label, the new albums did not improve the band's status in America and, on the contrary, reduced further the Japanese fanbase of Loudness. After the release of the single "Slap in the Face", Vescera left Loudeness during their 1991 American tour, to join Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Malmsteen became known for his neo-classical playing approach in heavy metal music which became a new musical style in the early 1980s.- Early life :...
's band. He was replaced by former Ezo
Ezo (band)
was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed as FRATVACKER in the spring of 1982 in Sapporo, Japan out of the remnants of two high school bands, POWER-STATION and SCRAP...
vocalist Masaki Yamada
Masaki Yamada
Masaki Yamada is a Japanese science fiction author. He has won the Nihon SF Taisho Award, the Seiun Award three times, and an award for mystery fiction. His first story was in 1974. His novel Aphrodite was translated into English in 2004...
to finish the tour. The change of personnel did not influence the success of the band, because the sudden predilection of the American audience for the gritty and aggressive sound of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands at the beginning of the 90s, had already de facto put an end to the American adventure of Loudness, as well as to the careers of many other bands from the glam and heavy metal scene.
1992 - 1999: Back to start
Soon after their return to Japan, Masayoshi YamashitaMasayoshi Yamashita
is the original and current bass guitarist of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.He first started playing bass in a band called Black Rose...
also left the band and was replaced by former X Japan
X Japan
is 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...
bassist, Taiji Sawada. This line-up produced the self-titled album Loudness
Loudness (album)
Loudness is the tenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1992 only in Japan, after the band had terminated the recording contracts with US labels. Original bass player Masayoshi Yamashita was replaced with Taiji Sawada and the American vocalist Mike Vescera with former Ezo...
in 1992 and the 1993 live album Once and for All
Once and for All
Once and for All is the third live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1993 and is the only live album with the formation that recorded the album Loudness in 1992...
. The sound and the music presented in these works is heavier and more aggressive than in the albums produced in America and marks the beginning of a new phase in the career of Akira Takasaki, main composer of the band.
In 1993, the band was again on the verge of falling apart, with the departure of both Higuchi, who went to play in Niihara’s Sly, and Sawada, who founded Dirty Trashroad. Akira Takasaki remained the only founding member, with a band to reinvent. In this period he traveled to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and converted to Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, somehow finding the right motivations to not disband Loudness. He convinced Yamada to stay as singer and, with his help, recruited former Ezo
Ezo (band)
was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed as FRATVACKER in the spring of 1982 in Sapporo, Japan out of the remnants of two high school bands, POWER-STATION and SCRAP...
drummer Hirotsugu Homma to the band. The trio produced in 1994 Heavy Metal Hippies
Heavy Metal Hippies
Heavy Metal Hippies is the eleventh studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and mixed by Chris Tsangarides and released in 1994 only in Japan. After the defection of bassist Taiji Sawada, Akira Takasaki played both the lines of bass and guitar on the album...
, a transitional studio album, where Takasaki tried to mix the old Loudness’ sound with grunge and world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
influences. To bring the band on tour, Takasaki completed the roster with Naoto Shibata, bassist and leader of the then disbanded Japanese heavy metal band Anthem
Anthem (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.-Early years :Anthem was founded...
. This new incarnation of Loudness released three other studio albums (Ghetto Machine
Ghetto Machine
Ghetto Machine is the twelfth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1997 only in Japan and recorded at the famous Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California...
, Dragon
Dragon (Loudness album)
Dragon is the thirteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1998 only in Japan.-Track listing:#"9 Miles High" - 3:45#"Dogshit" - 4:45#"Wicked Witches" - 4:25#"Crazy Go Go" - 4:17#"Voodoo Voices" - 4:24#"回想" - 1:56...
and Engine
Engine (Loudness album)
Engine is the fourteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1999. All music is by Akira Takasaki and all lyrics by Masaki Yamada, except "Ace in the Hole" with music by Hirotsugu Homma and lyrics by Kayla Ritt.-Track listing:...
) and one live album (Loud 'n' Raw
Loud 'n' Raw
Loud 'n' Raw is the fourth live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1995 only in Japan. "Speed King" is a cover of the Deep Purple's song from the album Deep Purple in Rock.-Track listing:#"Desperation Desecration" - 7:12...
) between 1994 and 1999. The sound of these releases is quite different from the band’s earlier works, with Takasaki’s compositions veering strongly towards groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
with heavy psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
and ethnic influences. Homma’s double bass drum beat is another important difference from earlier Loudness’ sound.
The band toured regularly in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and went to Europe, where they participated to the 1999 edition of the Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...
Festival.
2000 - 2008: Reunion
In 2000, Yamada manifested his wish to quit Loudness and suggested a reunion with the original line-up to celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary. Takasaki agreed with him and dismissed Homma and Shibata, asking at the same time Higuchi, Niihara and Yamashita to rejoin the band for the event. The original members of the band reunited in 2001, releasing the album Spiritual CanoeSpiritual Canoe
Spiritual Canoe is the fifteenth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan. It also marked the first time since 1988's Jealousy that the original and classic line-up recorded together.....
and doing a celebrative tour. Although intended to be a one-time event, the popularity of the band's reunion in their native Japan was overwhelming and the band decided to continue recording and live activities.
At least one studio album and one DVD release have followed every year since the 2001 reunion, in addition to one-off recordings, like 2005's theme song for famed K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
fighter Musashi
Musashi (kickboxer)
is a retired professional Japanese Heavyweight karateka and kickboxer. He is 4 time K-1 Japan tournament champion, a former WAKO Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist...
("The Battleship Musashi").
In the new Loudness’ studio albums, the band tries again the fusion of different musical influences with the melodic metal sound of the band from the 80s, adopting very different styles of composition. The result is often a rather inhomogeneous collection of songs, going from classic heavy metal sound to speed metal, thrash metal and grunge, with ethnic and even hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
influences. The band’s popularity remains very high in Japan, where they continued touring every year. Loudness even tried a new approach to the international market, with the reissue of the albums RockShocks
RockShocks
Rockshocks is an album of self-covers by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, released in Japan in 2004, contains tracks taken from the first five studio album of the band from the '80s, played again with a more modern sound and different musical arrangements than the originals...
and Racing
Racing
A sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
in English language and an international tour that brought the band back to the USA, as documented in the DVD "Loudness In America '06".
In April 2008, just two months after releasing the album Metal Mad
Metal Mad
Metal Mad is the twenty-first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2008 only in Japan. It would be the last album before Munetaka Higuchi's death in November 2008.-Track listing:#"Fire of Spirit" - 2:58...
, Loudness went on hiatus, when drummer Munetaka Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer. They played with Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
in October 2008 at the Greater Tokyo Area
Greater Tokyo Area
The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan, consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo . In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the , , and others....
's Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. Its spectator capacity is 37,000 at maximum settings.This main arena capacity is between 19,000-22,500 when events such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, gymnastics, boxing, mixed martial arts and...
, with session drummer Kozo Suganuma (Fragile, Ded Chaplin) filling in for Higuchi. On 30 November 2008 Munetaka died from his illness at a hospital in Osaka at age 49.
In December 2008, the band issued the following statement on their website about passing of their dearest friend and original drummer Munetaka Higuchi:
"Munetaka Higuchi passed away from liver cancer at a hospital in Osaka city in the morning of 30 November 2008. With permission from his family, we are officially announcing his passing. We realize this announcement came late and we apologize for that. With his and his family's request, a wake and funeral will be held privately. For the press and the fans, we will make sure that you have an opportunity to say your goodbyes to him at later time. For the last eight months since he was diagnosed with liver cancer, he had been in and out of the hospital several times for the treatment. For the entire time, he was very positive and bravely fighting this disease. He had this strong desire to come back to the stage to play for the fans again. His death came very suddenly and was a very immature one. He lived his life to the fullest as a rock drummer who always gave us hopes and dreams. His heart and soul for music will be succeeded for a long time to come. Munetaka, we are grateful for all your hard work and the great 49 years you lived with us here in this world. We would like to express our appreciation for all your condolences sent here for him."
2009 - present: Recent events
The band confirmed through Takasaki that, despite the recent loss of drummer Munetaka Higuchi, they would be recording a new studio album titled The EverlastingThe Everlasting (Loudness album)
The Everlasting is the twenty-second studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2009 only in Japan, after the death of original drummer Munetaka Higuchi, whose pre-recorded drum tracks were used on this album. It was also 15th and last album recorded by the original line up...
, which was released in May 2009. The new material was based on drum tracks recorded by Higuchi before his death. Upon the album's release, they introduced their new drummer in Masayuki Suzuki
Masayuki Suzuki (drummer)
, nicknamed "Ampan", is the current drummer for the heavy metal band Loudness. He joined the band in 2009, a year after the death of their original drummer, Munetaka Higuchi....
. The band went on tour in 2009, presenting only material from their first four albums and announced their following album titled King of Pain
King of Pain (Loudness album)
King of Pain is the twenty-third studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2010 only in Japan. It also marks the full-length debut of drummer Masayuki Suzuki....
, which was released in May 2010. Also in 2010, Loudness featured at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany and did a brief European tour. Loudness returned to America for their 30th Anniversary tour in May and June
2011.
In an interview with Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
and posted on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on July 11, 2011, Akira Takasaki commented on King of Pains lack of solos and speed. He said that the reason for this was the band's desire to introduce Masayuki Suzuki, their new drummer. Takasaki also stated that the next album's playing would be "much more speedy, much more aggressive" than King of Pain.
On August 22, 2011, the website YesAsia posted a pre-order link for the new Loudness CD, Eve To Dawn. As of August 22, 2011, the album is slated to be released in Japan on September 14, 2011.
Current
- Minoru NiiharaMinoru Niiharais the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act...
(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...
, 1981–1988; 2001–present) – Minoru Niihara was born on 12 March 1960. His first band was EarthshakerEarthshaker (band)is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
, in which he sang and played bass. He was influenced by blues music and became a member of the band in 1981. He departed the band in 1988, but after working with several bands (including Ded Chaplin, Sly and XYZ→A) returned to Loudness. He released a solo album in 2006 in addition to recording an album with XYZ→A. - Akira TakasakiAkira Takasakiis the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
(electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, 1981–present) – Akira was born in Osaka, on 22 February 1961. He first started his music career as a member of the band LazyLAZY (band)is a Japanese rock band founded in 1977 by the young classmates Hironobu Kageyama, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki. The three founders soon found in their own school the drummer Munetaka Higuchi and the keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up...
. His musical style did not fit well with Lazy's sound and he decided to make his own original band, Loudness. - Masayoshi YamashitaMasayoshi Yamashitais the original and current bass guitarist of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.He first started playing bass in a band called Black Rose...
(bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, 1981–1991; 2001–present) – Masayoshi Yamashita supports the band's music with his bass sound. He was asked to join Loudness since he was friends with Akira. - Masayuki SuzukiMasayuki Suzuki (drummer), nicknamed "Ampan", is the current drummer for the heavy metal band Loudness. He joined the band in 2009, a year after the death of their original drummer, Munetaka Higuchi....
(drums, 2009–present)
Previous
- Hirotsugu Homma – (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 ....
) (1994–2001) (EzoEzo (band)was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed as FRATVACKER in the spring of 1982 in Sapporo, Japan out of the remnants of two high school bands, POWER-STATION and SCRAP...
, AnthemAnthem (band)is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.-Early years :Anthem was founded...
) - Naoto Shibata – bass (1994–2001) (AnthemAnthem (band)is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the handful of heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.-Early years :Anthem was founded...
) - Masaki Yamada – (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...
) (1992–2001) (EzoEzo (band)was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed as FRATVACKER in the spring of 1982 in Sapporo, Japan out of the remnants of two high school bands, POWER-STATION and SCRAP...
) - Mike VesceraMichael VesceraMichael Vescera is an American heavy metal singer for various bands and projects like Loudness, Obsession...
– (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...
) (1989–1991) (Killing Machine, The Reign of TerrorJoe StumpJoe Stump is an American guitarist and composer. He plays neo-classical metal, in a style similar to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. He has released albums with his band, Reign of Terror, and as a solo artist. He also plays the lead guitar for the symphonic metal band HolyHell...
, ObsessionObsession (band)Obsession is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 famous for spawning the career of singer Michael Vescera.The band first came on to the scene on the Metal Massacre 2 compilation from Metal Blade Records. After that, the band released the albums Scarred for Life and Methods of Madness under...
, Palace of Black, Safe Haven, Roland GrapowRoland GrapowRoland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
, MVP, Yngwie J. MalmsteenYngwie J. MalmsteenYngwie Johann Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Malmsteen became known for his neo-classical playing approach in heavy metal music which became a new musical style in the early 1980s.- Early life :...
, Dr. SinDr. SinDr. Sin is a rock band, formed in São Paulo, Brazil in 1991 by Eduardo Ardanuy and brothers Andria and Ivan Busic.-Biography:In the mid 1980s, brothers Ivan and Andria Busic played in several metal and hard rock bands together...
) - Taiji Sawada – (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) (1992–1993) (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...
, Kings, Dirty Trashroad) – Taiji Sawada became well-known for playing with XX 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...
. When he left them in 1992, he was invited to join Loudness, which he left after only one year. On 14 July 2011, after attempting suicide by hanging, Sawada was left brain dead. On 17 July, Sawada died after his family decided to stop his life support system. - Munetaka HiguchiMunetaka Higuchiwas the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
(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 ....
, 1981–1993; 2001–2008) – Munetaka Higuchi played in LazyLAZY (band)is a Japanese rock band founded in 1977 by the young classmates Hironobu Kageyama, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki. The three founders soon found in their own school the drummer Munetaka Higuchi and the keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up...
with Akira Takasaki, and later founded Loudness with him. After leaving Loudness in 1993, he formed Sly with Minoru and ex-EarthshakerEarthshaker (band)is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
guitarist Shinichiro Ishihara. On 30 November 2008, Munetaka died after an eight-month battle with liver cancer.
Studio albums
- The Birthday EveThe Birthday EveThe Birthday Eve is the first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1981 only in Japan. The 24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition CD includes two additional tracks not on the original release, coming from the first single of the band...
(1981) - Devil SoldierDevil SoldierDevil Soldier is the second studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1982. The American Daniel McClendon was called to engineer the sound of this album, because there was no Japanese technician experienced enough in heavy metal records at the time. The album won the award for...
(1982) - The Law of Devil's LandThe Law of Devil's LandThe Law of Devil's Land is the third studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1983 only in Japan and later distributed in Europe by Roadrunner Records. The CD reissue of 2005 contains two extra songs coming from the English version of the band's third single.-Track...
(1983) - Disillusion (1984)
- Disillusion (1984) - English version
- Thunder in the East (9 November 1985) #74 (US)
- Shadows of WarLightning Strikes (Loudness album)Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
(1986) - Lightning StrikesLightning Strikes (Loudness album)Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
(1986) - U.S. Remix of Shadows of War #64 (US) - Hurricane EyesHurricane EyesHurricane Eyes is the seventh studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1987 worldwide with standard English lyrics...
(1987) #190 (US) - Hurricane EyesHurricane EyesHurricane Eyes is the seventh studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1987 worldwide with standard English lyrics...
(1987) - Japanese Version - Soldier of Fortune (1989) #18 (JPN)
- On the ProwlOn the Prowl (album)On the Prowl is the ninth studio album of Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It is also their second and last album with American vocalist Mike Vescera, before his leaving to join Yngwie Malmsteen's band for the album The Seventh Sign...
(1991) #7 (JPN) - LoudnessLoudness (album)Loudness is the tenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1992 only in Japan, after the band had terminated the recording contracts with US labels. Original bass player Masayoshi Yamashita was replaced with Taiji Sawada and the American vocalist Mike Vescera with former Ezo...
(1992) #2 (JPN) - Heavy Metal HippiesHeavy Metal HippiesHeavy Metal Hippies is the eleventh studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and mixed by Chris Tsangarides and released in 1994 only in Japan. After the defection of bassist Taiji Sawada, Akira Takasaki played both the lines of bass and guitar on the album...
(1994) #29 (JPN) - Ghetto MachineGhetto MachineGhetto Machine is the twelfth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1997 only in Japan and recorded at the famous Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California...
(1997) #65 (JPN) - DragonDragon (Loudness album)Dragon is the thirteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1998 only in Japan.-Track listing:#"9 Miles High" - 3:45#"Dogshit" - 4:45#"Wicked Witches" - 4:25#"Crazy Go Go" - 4:17#"Voodoo Voices" - 4:24#"回想" - 1:56...
(1998) #49 (JPN) - EngineEngine (Loudness album)Engine is the fourteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1999. All music is by Akira Takasaki and all lyrics by Masaki Yamada, except "Ace in the Hole" with music by Hirotsugu Homma and lyrics by Kayla Ritt.-Track listing:...
(1999) #48 (JPN) - Spiritual CanoeSpiritual CanoeSpiritual Canoe is the fifteenth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan. It also marked the first time since 1988's Jealousy that the original and classic line-up recorded together.....
(2001) #20 (JPN) - Pandemonium (2001) #27 (JPN)
- Biosphere (2002) #45 (JPN)
- TerrorTerror HakuriTerror is the eighteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2004 only in Japan. All songs are credited to Loudness.-Track listing:#"Pharoah" - 7:08#"Cyber Soul" - 5:34#"Life After Death" - 5:01...
(2004) #88 (JPN) - RacingRacing (Loudness album)Racing is the nineteenth studio album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2004 in Japan. On April 6, 2005, the band released the English version of the album, the first entirely sung in English since 1991...
(2004) #60 (JPN) - Breaking the TabooBreaking The TabooBreaking the Taboo is the twentieth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2006 only in Japan.-Track listing:#"Breaking the Taboo" - 4:28#"Brutal Torture" - 4:54#"Sick World" - 4:52#"Don't Spam Me" - 3:56#"Damnation" - 5:19...
(2006) #129 (JPN) - Metal MadMetal MadMetal Mad is the twenty-first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2008 only in Japan. It would be the last album before Munetaka Higuchi's death in November 2008.-Track listing:#"Fire of Spirit" - 2:58...
(2008) #51 (JPN) - The EverlastingThe Everlasting (Loudness album)The Everlasting is the twenty-second studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2009 only in Japan, after the death of original drummer Munetaka Higuchi, whose pre-recorded drum tracks were used on this album. It was also 15th and last album recorded by the original line up...
(2009) #42 (JPN) - King of PainKing of Pain (Loudness album)King of Pain is the twenty-third studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2010 only in Japan. It also marks the full-length debut of drummer Masayuki Suzuki....
(2010) #21 (JPN) - Eve to Dawn (2011)
EPs
- OdinOdin (Loudness EP)Odin is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1985 only in Japan in two versions, with and without the instrumental tracks. All the tracks were used for the soundtrack of the Japanese anime movie Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight.-Track listing:...
(1985) - JealousyJealousy (Loudness EP)Jealousy is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in May 1988 only in Japan, a market that the band felt to have neglected in favour of American audiences. It would also mark the final recording with the classic line-up, until Spiritual Canoe in 2001. In fact singer Minoru Niihara would...
(1988) - Slap in the Face (1991)
Live albums
- Live-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in Tokyo is the first live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and released in 1983. The instrumental track "Tusk of Jaguar" appears on Akira Takasaki's first solo album with the same name...
(1983) - 8186 Live8186 Live8186 Live is the second live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and released in Japan only in 1987 simutaniously in 3 formats; double vinyl LP with a 7" EP, double CD and double cassette tape.-Track listing:-Band members:...
(1986) - Once and for AllOnce and for AllOnce and for All is the third live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1993 and is the only live album with the formation that recorded the album Loudness in 1992...
(1993) - Loud 'n' RawLoud 'n' RawLoud 'n' Raw is the fourth live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1995 only in Japan. "Speed King" is a cover of the Deep Purple's song from the album Deep Purple in Rock.-Track listing:#"Desperation Desecration" - 7:12...
(1995) - EuroboundsEuroboundsEurobounds is the second home video released by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released on BETA, VHS, Laserdisc and VHD formats in 1984. This release documented the first European tour of the band, with footage from concerts in England, Holland, Belgium and West Germany. Columbia...
(2000) - The Soldier's Just Came BackThe Soldier's Just Came BackThe Soldier's Just Came Back is the fifth live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan and recorded during the successful Spiritual Canoe tour with the original line-up...
(2001) - Loudness Live 2002Loudness Live 2002Loudness Live 2002 is the seventh live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded in 2002 and released in 2003 as a double multimedia CD.-Track listing:CD 1#"Biosphere" – 3:59#"Hellrider" – 5:33#"Loudness" – 5:50#"Sexy Woman" – 5:36...
(2003) - Live Loudest at the Budokan '91Live Loudest at the Budokan '91Live Loudest at the Budokan '91 is the eight live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released at the end of 2009 as a package of a CD and a DVD, with recordings and footage from a concert held in Tokyo Budokan during the 1991 tour to promote the On the Prowl album, with Mike Vescera on...
(2009)
Compilations
- Never Stay Here, Never Forget You (1986)
- Early Singles (1989)
- A Lesson In Loudness (1989)
- Loudest (1991)
- Loudest Ballads (1991)
- Loud 'N' Rare (1991)
- Best Songs (1995)
- Masters of Loudness (1996)
- Very Best of Loudness (1997)
- Best of Loudness 8688: Atlantic Years (2001)
- Re-Masterpieces (2002)
- RockShocksRockShocksRockshocks is an album of self-covers by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, released in Japan in 2004, contains tracks taken from the first five studio album of the band from the '80s, played again with a more modern sound and different musical arrangements than the originals...
(2004) - The Best of Reunion (2005)
- Loudness Complete Box (2007)
Singles
- "Burning LoveThe Birthday EveThe Birthday Eve is the first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1981 only in Japan. The 24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition CD includes two additional tracks not on the original release, coming from the first single of the band...
" (1982) - "Geraldine" (1983)
- "Road Racer" (1983)
- "Road Racer" (1983) - English version
- "Milky Way" (1984)
- "Gotta Fight" (1985)
- "Crazy Nights" (1985)
- "Let It Go" (1986)
- "Let It Go" (1986) - English version
- "Risky Woman" (1986)
- "So Lonely" (1987)
- "Long Distance Love" (1987)
- "Dreamer & Screamer" (1989)
- "You Shook Me" (1989)
- "Down 'n' Dirty" (1989)
- "In the Mirror" (1991)
- "Black Widow" (1992)
- "Slaughter House" (1992)
- "Electric Kisses" (1994)
- "Crazy Samurai" (2004)
- "The Battleship Musashi" (2005)
- "Shadows Of War (Ashes in The Sky)"
- "The Eternal Soldiers" (2010)
Related works
- Messiah's Blessing (1982) - Misako Honjou
- 13th (1983) - Misako Honjou
- Metal Vibes (2002)
- #128 (2006)
- Ashes To Glory (2006)
- Drum Collection Vol. 001 (2006)
Video (Beta/VHS/Laserdisc/VHD
- Live-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in Tokyo is the first live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and released in 1983. The instrumental track "Tusk of Jaguar" appears on Akira Takasaki's first solo album with the same name...
(1983) - EuroboundsEuroboundsEurobounds is the second home video released by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released on BETA, VHS, Laserdisc and VHD formats in 1984. This release documented the first European tour of the band, with footage from concerts in England, Holland, Belgium and West Germany. Columbia...
(1984) - Live in Tokyo - Lightning Strikes (1986)
- Video Loudest (1991)
- Black Widow - Once and for All (1992)
- Welcome to the Slaughterhouse (1992)
- The Soldier's Just Came Back - Live BestThe Soldier's Just Came BackThe Soldier's Just Came Back is the fifth live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan and recorded during the successful Spiritual Canoe tour with the original line-up...
(2001) - Loudness Live: Loudness Presents Loud'n Fest Vol.1 at Club Citta (2002) - Official bootleg, series 1
DVD
- 20th Anniversary Pandemonium Tour: Live @ NHK Hall 2001.11.25 (2002)
- Live Biosphere (2003)
- Loudness Live Terror 2004 (2004)
- Rock-Shocking the Nation (2005)
- Loudness Live in Germany - limited edition (2005)
- Loudness Live in Seoul (2005) - Official bootleg, series 2
- Loudness in America '06 (2006)
- Thanks 25th Anniversary: Loudness Live at International Forum (2006)
- Liveshocks 2008 (2008) - Official bootleg, series 3
- The Legend of Loudness - Live Complete BestThe Legend of Loudness - Live Complete BestThe Legend of Loudness - live Complete is Japan Limited live compilation 4 disc DVD release by Loudness, which includes the best live footage recorded from the band's debut up through now...
(2008) - Munetaka Higuchi Forever Our Hero (2009)
- Classic Loudness Live 2009 Japan Tour the Birthday Eve - Thunder In The East (2010)