Loudness
Country of origin:Japan
Location:Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Status:Active
Formed in:1981
Genre:Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes:Rocking, Freedom
Current label:Katana Music
Years active:1981-present
apanese name: ラウドネス
Loudness was formed in 1981 by Akira Takasaki, Munetaka Higuchi, and Hiroyuki Tanaka who were transitioning from rock band Lazy to trying their hand at a heavy metal band, unhappy with the musical direction of Lazy. Shortly after formation, however, Tanaka quit the band to pursue a career in anime soundtracks with the band Neverland. In turn, Takasaki recruited childhood friend Masayoshi Yamashita as the new bassist and shortly after hired frontman Minoru Niihara formerly of Earthshaker through an audition.
In 1985 following the band's first North American and European tours Twisted Sister's co-manager Joe Gerber helped Loudness ink a deal with Atco Records. This was the first time in history that a Japanese heavy metal band had signed with an American label, or toured the US, and under Atco, the band released their American debut Thunder in the East which was met with good sales and commercial success reaching #74 on the Billboard 200 and remained there for 23 weeks, also a first for a Japanese metal band. After two more albums and two more Billboard appearances, producer Max Norman suggested that the band hire an English-speaking vocalist which would end up being Michael Vescera. Vescera would serve as vocalist for the next two Loudness albums before leaving in 1991 to join Yngwie Malmsteen.
Following a steady decline in popularity through the Vescera era, Loudness returned to Japan where Masayoshi Yamashita also left the band. He was replaced by Taiji Sawada of X Japan fame. But by 1993 Sawada quit to form Dirty Trashroad followed by founding member Munetaka Higuchi who joined Niihara's new band Sly leaving Takasaki as the only original member left. Later that year Loudness introduced replacement members Masaki Yamada and Hirotsugu Homma of Ezo on vocals and drums, and finally Naoto Shibata, bandleader of Anthem on bass essentially turning Loudness into a supergroup. This lineup would release three albums before Yamada indicated his desire to leave the band in 2000.
Before leaving, Yamada suggested that Loudness hold a reunion tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary and by 2001 Higuchi, Niihara, and Yamashita had all returned to the lineup where they would remain for the next 7 years until the death of Munetaka Higuchi which was mourned greatly throughout Japan.
In 2009, the band indicated that they wouldn't be disbanding despite the passing of Higuchi and hired Masayuki Suzuki to fill the void left due to Higuchi's passing. Loudness remains active to date.
Compilation appearances
- "Esper" on Hell Comes to Your House (Music For Nations, 1984)
- "Crazy Nights" on Welcome to the Metal Zone (Music For Nations, 1985)
- "In the Mirror (live from Tokyo)" on Time to Rock (WEA, 1987)
- "Exultation" on Dynamit Vol. 48 (Rock Hard, 2005)
- "1000 Eyes" on Hard and Heavy (Warner Music Group, 2017)
- "Like Hell" on Headbangers Heaven Hits (Warner Music Group, 2017)
- "I'm Still Alive" on Le Sampler RockHard 183 (Rock Hard, 2018)
================================
Studio Albums
1981 - The Birhtday Eve
1982 - Devil Soldier
1983 - The Law Of Devil's Land
1984 - Disillusion
1985 - Thunder In The East
1986 - Lightning Strikes
1986 - Shadows Of War
1987 - Hurricane Eyes
1988 - Jealousy
1989 - Soldier Of Fortune
1991 - On The Prowl [WEA, 9031-73694-2, Germany]
1992 - Loudness [Warner, WPCL-657, Japan]
1994 - Heavy Metal Hippies [WEA, WPC6-8078, Japan]
1997 - Ghetto Machine
1998 - Dragon
1999 - Engine
2001 - Pandemonium [Nippon, COCP-31683, Japan]
2001 - Spiritual Canoe [Nippon, COCP-31280, Japan]
2002 - Biosphere [Tokuma, TKCA-72403, Japan]
2004 - Terror Hakuri [Tokuma, TKCA-72627, Japan]
2004 - Racing
2006 - Breaking The Taboo [Tokuma, TKCA-73137, Japan]
2008 - Metal Mad [Tokuma, TKCA-73302, Japan]
2009 - The Everlasting [Tokuma, TKCA-73431, Japan]
2010 - King Of Pain [Tokuma, TKCA-73524, Japan]
2011 - Eve To Dawn [Tokuma, TKCA-73695, Japan]
2012 - 2.0.1.2 [Tokuma, TKCA-73810, 2CD, Japan]
2014 - The Sun Will Rise Again
2016 - Samsara Flight
Live Albums
1983 - Live - Loud - Alive [2009, Columbia, COCP-35518~9, 2CD, Japan]
1984 - Eurobounds [2000, Nippon, COCP-31219, Japan]
1986 - 8186 Live [1991, Warner, WPCL-252, 2CD, Japan]
1986 - 8186 Live [2005, Wounded Bird Rec., WOU-251, 2CD, USA]
1994 - Once And For All [Warner, WPC6-8037, Japan]
1995 - Loud 'N' Raw [Warner, WPCV-10173, Japan]
2001 - The Soldier's Just Came Back [Columbia, COCP-31421, Japan]
2003 - Loudness Live 2002 [Tokuma, TKCA-72403, 2CD, Japan]
2009 - Live Loudest At The Budokan '91 [Warner, WPCL-10750, Japan]
Singles & EPs
1988 - Long Distance Love [Warner-Pioneer, 10SW-40, Japan]
1989 - A Lesson In Loudness [ATCO, PR 2916-2, USA]
1989 - Dreamer And Screamer [Warner-Pioneer, 09P3-6105, Japan]
1989 - You Shook Me [Warner-Pioneer, 09P3 - 6166, Japan]
1991 - Down 'N' Dirty [Warner-Pioneer, WPDL - 4203, Japan]
1991 - In The Mirror [ATCO, PRCD 3834-2, USA]
1991 - In The Mirror [Warner-Pioneer, WPDL-4227, Japan]
1991 - Slap In The Face [Warner, WPCL-551, Japan]
1991 - Sleepless Nights [ATCO, PRCD 4119-2, USA]
1992 - Black Widow [Warner, WPDL-4293, Japan]
1992 - Firestorm [Warner, LCS - 2021, Japan]
1992 - Slaughter House [Warner, WPDL-4308, Japan]
1994 - Electric Kisses [Warner, WPD6-9021, Japan]
2004 - Crazy Samurai [Tokuma, TKCA-72684, Japan]
2005 - Jealousy & Slap In The Face [Wounded Bird Rec., WOU 257, USA]
2005 - The Battleship Musashi [Tokuma, TKCA-72891, Japan]
2010 - The Eternal Soldiers [Lantis Rec., LASM-4772, Japan]
Compilation
1986 - Never Stay Here, Never Forget You [Nippon, 33CA - 1252, Japan]
1989 - Early Singles [2009, Columbia, COCP-35534, Japan]
1991 - Loud 'N' Rare [Warner-Pioneer, WPCL-248, Japan]
1991 - Loudest [Warner, WPCL-556~7, 2CD, Japan]
1991 - Loudest Ballad Collection [Warner, WPCL-564, Japan]
1995 - Best Songs Collection [Nippon, COCA 12651-2, 2CD, Japan]
1996 - Masters Of Loudness [Warner, WPC6-8220~8221, 2CD, Japan]
2004 - Rockshocks [Tokuma, TKCA-72768, Japan]
2005 - The Best Of Reunion [Tokuma, MLCD-0069, 2CD, South Korea]
2005 - The Best Of Reunion [Tokuma, TKCA-72903, Japan]
2012 - Columbia Years [Columbia, COCP-37168, Japan]
2012 - Tokuma Years [Tokuma, TKCA-73727, Japan]
2012 - Warner Years [Warner, WPCL-11017, Japan]
新补了几张:
Loudness - 2019 - We Could Be Together (FLAC)
Loudness - 2020 - Soldier Of Fortune (30Th Anniversary, Audio Version) (FLAC)
Loudness - Live in Tokyo 2019 FLAC
================================
关于我们