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[Metallus Maximus]

Metallus Maximus � Maximus Archivus � Classic Album Of The Day Archive (Moderator: Hellboy)
Classic Album of the Day 10/8/08: Loudness - Thunder In The East

[Venom]

In 1985 Loudness released Thunder In The East On Atlantic Records, which was the first album I picked up by the band.  From the very beginning of the first song Crazy Nights I was hooked.  Akira Takasaki had kind of an Eddie Van Halen sound to his guitar playing which I think helped to make this band somewhat popular in America. I might be wrong, but I think this was the first non-imported album released in the USA. I know I had a very hard time tracking down their previous releases and had to get imported albums over the years.  Favorite songs would have to be: Like Hell, Crazy Nights, Get Away, We Could Be Together, Run For Your Life and Clockwork Toy just to name a few. So has anyone else heard this album and if so what are your thoughts?

Track Listing:

   1. Crazy Nights
   2. Like Hell
   3. Heavy Chains
   4. Get Away
   5. We Could Be Together
   6. Run for Your Life
   7. Clockwork Toy
   8. No Way Out
   9. The Lines are Down
  10. Never Change Your Mind

[Release]

I had it for a while.  I was never much into the hair bands and this one was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff I was into at the time.  Akira is an excellent guitarist but it wasn't enough to pull me in.

Wok and woll cwazy niiiights!

Any clue what that M Z K chant in the middle was all about?  Is that right?  It was 3 letters that didn't seem to mean anything.

[Metal_King]

I love this album.  I love all that early Loudness stuff.

Disillusion and Law Of The Devil's Land are awesome too. 

[Venom]

I had it for a while.  I was never much into the hair bands and this one was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff I was into at the time.  Akira is an excellent guitarist but it wasn't enough to pull me in.

Wok and woll cwazy niiiights!

Any clue what that M Z K chant in the middle was all about?  Is that right?  It was 3 letters that didn't seem to mean anything.

THis is not hairbandish at all...Now some of their later stuff might be, but not this album.... 
No frigging clue what the chant it supposed to be....I always thought it was 8 N 8 for some reason...not sure why

[Release]

I had it for a while.  I was never much into the hair bands and this one was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff I was into at the time.  Akira is an excellent guitarist but it wasn't enough to pull me in.

Wok and woll cwazy niiiights!

Any clue what that M Z K chant in the middle was all about?  Is that right?  It was 3 letters that didn't seem to mean anything.

THis is not hairbandish at all...Now some of their later stuff might be, but not this album.... 
No frigging clue what the chant it supposed to be....I always thought it was 8 N 8 for some reason...not sure why

I said it was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff at the time. 

[Metal_King]

I said it was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff at the time. 

Yeah, I can understand Release calling them a hairband.  But, to my ears personally, I would lump Loudness into the traditional metal category.

Now, once Minoru left and that American singer Mike Vescera or somthing likethat came in, they got ALOT more commercial for my tastes.

I would love to hear some of their new material since I heard the old-school lineup is back.  But, I will not be holding my breath.

[Venom]

I said it was a lot closer to that style than the heavier stuff at the time. 

Yeah, I can understand Release calling them a hairband.  But, to my ears personally, I would lump Loudness into the traditional metal category.

Now, once Minoru left and that American singer Mike Vescera or somthing likethat came in, they got ALOT more commercial for my tastes.

I would love to hear some of their new material since I heard the old-school lineup is back.  But, I will not be holding my breath.

I think they started going down the commercial path with Lightning Strikes even more with Hurricane Eyes but for damn sure with Soldier of Fortune and On The Prowl when Mike Vescera took over vocals.

[moshdrum69]

Loved this album way back when,,,,,and I still enjoy it on the very rare occassions I dig out my vinyl,,,,,

And the chant is "M. Z. A." and I have no idea if it was ever meant to mean something,,,,,

[Venom]

Loved this album way back when,,,,,and I still enjoy it on the very rare occassions I dig out my vinyl,,,,,

And the chant is "M. Z. A." and I have no idea if it was ever meant to mean something,,,,,

Kind of a Weird chant if you ask me....

[Klschmann]

Never heard this one either.

I'm going to soon be banned from these threads as I belive I'm batting about .002 

[Metal_King]

Never heard this one either.

I'm going to soon be banned from these threads as I belive I'm batting about .002 

Way to go Mendoza. 

[Klschmann]

Never heard this one either.

I'm going to soon be banned from these threads as I belive I'm batting about .002 

Way to go Mendoza. 

 

[Venom]

Never heard this one either.

I'm going to soon be banned from these threads as I belive I'm batting about .002 

You call yourself a metal head???  j/k

[Hellboy]

Great Pick!
That was Loudness real first attempt at breaking into the international metal scene. Akira Takasaki is a very gifted guitarist and the quality of his playing is just so fluid and inspired. The monster riff for Crazy Night and the overall catchiness of all the songs from Thunder In The East reminds me a lot of Wolf Hoffmann's work with Accept. I love the vintage "Marshall sound" of the guitar throughout the album. The vocals can be a bit annoying for the casual listener, but it gives Londness their own identity, and I grew to enjoy them more and more over the years. As great as Thunder In The East is, previous album Disillusion gets my vote as their best work.

For people not familiar with recent releases, Loudness is a much heavier band these days, their new release Metal Mad is actually very good. They even re-recorded their classics for a greatest hits compilation called Rock Shocks with their new heavier approach. I saw them in concert a couple years ago and they were smokin' hot live!   

[Venom]

Great Pick!
That was Loudness real first attempt at breaking into the international metal scene. Akira Takasaki is a very gifted guitarist and the quality of his playing is just so fluid and inspired. The monster riff for Crazy Night and the overall catchiness of all the songs from Thunder In The East reminds me a lot of Wolf Hoffmann's work with Accept. I love the vintage "Marshall sound" of the guitar throughout the album. The vocals can be a bit annoying for the casual listener, but it gives Londness their own identity, and I grew to enjoy them more and more over the years. As great as Thunder In The East is, previous album Disillusion gets my vote as their best work.

For people not familiar with recent releases, Loudness is a much heavier band these days, their new release Metal Mad is actually very good. They even re-recorded their classics for a greatest hits compilation called Rock Shocks with their new heavier approach. I saw them in concert a couple years ago and they were smokin' hot live!   

WOAH! when did Metal Mad come out??? I didn;t realize they had a release since Racing...