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Loudness Loudness
a band from Japan   flag

Last Update: November 07, 2009

info

Loudness was formed by Akira Takasaki and Munetaka Higuchi, the duo leaving their previous band (Lazy, often described as a pop-rock band though apparently some of their material is quite accomplished) to explore a heavier style of music. The band followed in the footsteps of Bow Wow (the first Japanese metal band ever?) and proceeded to have a profound influence on practically every Japanese metal band of the 80's. They were at their heaviest and most distinctive in their early days, as their first three albums are bonafide classics. By the mid-eighties they had acheived quite a bit of worldwide acclaim and their style drifted towards a more Westernized metal, and with the arrival of American vocalist Mike Vescera the shift was even more noticeable. During the 90's the lineup and style continued to shift, but in 2001 the original lineup was back together, and they are still going strong, now one of the more prolific metal bands ever. Sadly, the original foursome is no longer together, as founding drummer Munetaka Higuchi passed away in November 2008 after an extended bout with liver cancer.

members
current lineup:
Minoru Niihara
   vocals
Akira Takasaki
   guitars
Masayoshi Yamashita
   bass
 former members:
Mike Vescera
   vocals (Killing Machine, Yngwie Malmsteen, Obsession)
Masaki Yamada
   vocals (EZO)
Taiji Sawada
   bass (X-Japan)
Naoto Shibata
   bass (Anthem)
Munetaka Higuchi
   drums
   RIP: November 30, 2008, liver cancer
Hiro Homma
   drums (Anthem, EZO)
discography
The Birthday Eve
1981 Columbia,/Roa

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Loudness
  2. Sexy Woman
  3. Open Your Eyes
  4. Street Woman
  5. To Be Demon
  6. I'm On Fire
  7. High Try
  8. Rock Shock (More And More)
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Devil Soldier
1982 Columbia,/Roa

album pic

• BNR Top Ten Album
     Track Listing:
  1. Lonely Player
  2. Angel Dust
  3. After Illusion
  4. Girl Hard Workin'
  5. Loving Maid
  6. Rock The Nation
  7. Devil Soldier
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Law Of Devils Land
1983 Columbia,/Roa

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Theme of Loudness (Part II)
  2. In the Mirror
  3. Show Me the Way
  4. I Wish You were Here
  5. Mr. Yes Man
  6. The Law of Devil's Land
  7. Black Wall
  8. Sleepless Night
  9. Speed
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Live Loud Alive
1983 Columbia,/Roa

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Opening Theme (Mars, the Bringer of War)
  2. In the Mirror
  3. Road Racer
  4. I Was the Sun
  5. Fly Away
  6. Black Wall
  7. Tusk of Jaguar/Drum Solo
  8. Mr. Yes Man
  9. Exploder - Heavenward
  10. Loudness
  11. Sleepless Night
  12. Speed
  13. Shinkiro
  14. Burning Love
  15. Ending Theme (Theme of Loudness)
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Disillusion
1984 Music For Nations

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Crazy Doctor
  2. Esper
  3. Butterfly
  4. Revelation
  5. Exploder
  6. Dream Fantasy
  7. Milky Way
  8. Satisfaction Guaranteed
  9. Ares' Lament
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Thunder In The East
1985 Atlantic

album pic
     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
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Lightning Strikes
1986 Atlantic

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Let it Go
  2. Dark Desire
  3. 1000 Eyes
  4. Face to Face
  5. Who Knows
  6. Ashes in the Sky
  7. Black Star Oblivion
  8. Street Life Dream
  9. Complication
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

8186 Live
1986 War

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Loudness
  2. Rock Shock
  3. Dark Desire
  4. Streetlife Dreams
  5. Crazy Doctor
  6. Geraldine
  7. Bass-Drum Solos
  8. Ashes in the Sky
  9. Let it Go
  10. 1000 Eyes
  11. Face to Face
  12. Ares' Lament
  13. In the Mirror
  14. Guitar Solo
  15. Crazy Night
  16. Speed
  17. Farewell
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Hurricane Eyes
1987 Atlantic

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. S.D.I.
  2. This Lonely Heart
  3. Rock 'N' Roll Gypsy
  4. In My Dreams
  5. Take Me Home
  6. Strike of the Sword
  7. Rock This Way
  8. In This World Beyond
  9. Hungry Heart
  10. So Lonely
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Jealousy
1988 War

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Jealousy
  2. Long Distance Love
  3. Good Things Going
  4. Die of Hunger
  5. Heavier than Hell
  6. Dreamer And Screamer
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Soldier Of Fortune
1989 Atlantic

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Soldier of Fortune
  2. You Shook Me
  3. Danger of Love
  4. Twenty-Five Days
  5. Red Light Shooter
  6. Running for Cover
  7. Lost Without Your Love
  8. Faces in the Fire
  9. Long After Midnight
  10. Demon Disease
Lineup:
  • Mike Vescera
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

On The Prowl
1991 Atlantic

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Down 'n' Dirty
  2. Playing Games
  3. Love Toys
  4. Never Again
  5. Deadly Player
  6. Take It or Leave It
  7. Girl
  8. Long Distance
  9. In the Mirror
  10. Sleepless Nights
  11. Find a Way
Lineup:
  • Mike Vescera
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Loud & Rare
1991 War

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. The Night Beast
  2. Risky Woman
  3. Silent Sword
  4. Long Distance Love (Super Mix)
  5. Mr. Yes Man (Live)
  6. Farewell
Lineup:

Loudness
1992 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Pray for the Dead
  2. Slaughter House
  3. Walking the Dead
  4. Black Widow
  5. Racing the Wind
  6. Love Kills
  7. Hell Bites (from the edge of Insanity)
  8. Everyone Lies
  9. Twisted
  10. Firestorm
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Taiji Sawada
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Once And For All - Live
1992 WEA

album pic
     Track Listing:
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Taiji Sawada
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Heavy Metal Hippies
1994 War

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Howling Rain
  2. Freedom
  3. 222 - instrumental
  4. Eyes of a Child
  5. Electric Kisses
  6. House of Freaks
  7. Paralyzed
  8. Desperation Desecration
  9. Light in the Distance
  10. Broken Jesus
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Hiro Homma

Ghetto Machine
1997 Rooms

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Ghetto Machine
  2. Slave
  3. Evil Ecstacy
  4. San Fransisco
  5. Love and Hate
  6. Creatures
  7. Katmandu Fly
  8. Hypnotized
  9. Dead Man Walking
  10. Jasmine Sky
  11. Wonder Man
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Naoto Shibata
  • Hiro Homma

Dragon
1998 Rooms

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. 9 Miles High
  2. Dogshit
  3. Wicked Witches
  4. Crazy Go Go
  5. Voodoo Voices
  6. ??
  7. Babylon
  8. Crawl
  9. Forbidden Love
  10. Mirror Ball
  11. Taj Mahal
  12. Night Creepers
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Naoto Shibata
  • Hiro Homma

Engine
1999 Rooms

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Soul Tone
  2. Bug Killa
  3. Black Biohazard
  4. Twist of Chain
  5. Bad Date (Nothing I Can Do)
  6. Apocalypse
  7. Ace in the Hole
  8. Sweet Dreams
  9. Asylum
  10. Burnin' Eye Balls
  11. Junk His Head
  12. 2008 Candra Getten
  13. Coming Home
Lineup:
  • Masaki Yamada
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Naoto Shibata
  • Hiro Homma

Spiritual Canoe
2001 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. The Winds of Victory
  2. The Hate That Fills My Lonely Cells
  3. The End of Earth
  4. Stay Wild
  5. The Seven Deadly Sins
  6. Picture Your Life
  7. How Many More Time
  8. Touch My Heart
  9. Climaxxx
  10. A Stroke of Lightning
  11. Never Forget You
  12. Spiritual Canoe
  13. The Power of Love
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Pandemonium
2001 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Ya Stepped on a Mine
  2. Bloody Doom
  3. The Pandemonium
  4. Vision
  5. What's the Truth?
  6. Suicide Doll
  7. Chaos
  8. The Candidate
  9. Real Man
  10. Inflame
  11. Snake Venom
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Biosphere
2002 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Hellrider
  2. Biosphere
  3. Savior
  4. My Precious
  5. Wind From Tibet
  6. System Crush
  7. The Night Is Still Young
  8. Shame On You
  9. Break My Mind
  10. So Beautiful
  11. For You
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Terror
2004 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Pharaoh
  2. Cyber Soul
  3. Life After Death
  4. Let's Free Our Souls
  5. Detonator (Fire and Thunder)
  6. Cross
  7. About to Kill
  8. Double-Water
  9. The City Of Vampire
  10. Seventh Heaven
  11. Terror
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Live Terror 2004   
2004 

album pic

Rockshocks
2004 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Loudness
  2. Crazy Doctor
  3. In the Mirror
  4. Crazy Night
  5. Esper
  6. Like Hell
  7. Lonely Player
  8. Street Woman
  9. Angel Dust
  10. Rock Shock
  11. The Lines Are Down
  12. Milky Way
  13. Mr. Yesman
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Racing
2005 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Racing
  2. Exultation
  3. Lunatic
  4. Believe it or Not
  5. Power Generation
  6. Speed Maniac
  7. Live for the Moment
  8. Crazy Samurai (Album Version)
  9. Telomerase
  10. Tomorrow is not Promised
  11. Misleading Man
  12. R.I.P. (Album Version)
  13. Don't Know Nothing
  14. Unknown Civilians
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Loudness Live DVD: Rock-Shocking The Nation   
2005 

album pic

Loudness Live - Limited Edit At Germany   
2005 

album pic

Breaking The Taboo
2006 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Breaking The Taboo
  2. Brutal Torture
  3. Sick World
  4. Don't Spam Me
  5. Damnation
  6. The Love Of My Life
  7. A Moment Of Revelation
  8. Dynamite
  9. Risk Taker
  10. I Wish
  11. Diving Into Darkness
  12. Without You
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

Metal Mad
2008 

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Fire Of Spirit
  2. Metal Mad
  3. High Flyer
  4. Spellbound #9
  5. Crimson Paradox
  6. Black And White
  7. Whatsoever
  8. Call Of The Reaper
  9. Can't Find My Way
  10. Gravity
  11. Transformation
Lineup:
  • Minoru Niihara
  • Akira Takasaki
  • Masayoshi Yamashita
  • Munetaka Higuchi

The Everlasting
2009 Tokuma

album pic
     Track Listing:
  1. Hit The Rails
  2. Flame Of Rock
  3. I Wonder
  4. The Everlasting
  5. Life Goes On
  6. Let It Rock
  7. Crystal Moon
  8. Change
  9. Rock Into The Night
  10. I'm In Pain
  11. Thunder Burn
  12. Desperate Religion
Lineup:

Munetaka Higuchi - Forever Our Hero   
2009 

album pic