Loudness
Devil Soldier

"The second album is always the hardest...eeeee" said Caparezza. Yet, listening to the one by Loudness, it doesn't seem that way at all. Because "Devil Soldier" plays very smoothly and naturally in my stereo. An album that was created with the aim of confirming all the good things (a lot) that were said in their debut, but it's so brazen that it seems to have the statement "we don’t have to prove anything to anyone" printed on the cover. And instead, it shows that this is a wasted band since both this work and the previous one were released only in Japan. Dammit, they release mountains of trash and this highly valid album not? What a disappointment! But perhaps it's good that this has once again been a niche work; it has kept these young Japanese away from the American megaproduction made with a cookie-cutter and from crushing advertising campaigns, it has left them pure.

Like their heavy metal, the same as the splendid debut. Even though we must highlight several changes. The production is extraordinary, if they asked me how my ideal classic heavy album would sound, I would have no doubts: produced à la "Devil Soldier". The drummer has made huge strides, he was already good but in this album, he appears very solid and imaginative, as well as technically gifted. The bass is very Steve Harris-like, almost a tribute to the God of the four strings, I couldn't ask for better for this explosive album.

It starts at full throttle, with a solid drum break and it seems like a track from the early Iron Maiden, naturally with a Loudness twist, with the voice this time not sounding so strained, I can't figure out whether it has also improved or I have just gotten used to it. Growth is the key word for "Devil Soldier", in the debut there wouldn't have been room for tracks like "Angel Dust", with its melodic chorus; or the guitar riffs (which owe a lot to the AC/DC of the "Let There Be Rock" period) in "Hard Workin'", accompanied by a not at all predictable drum. Nor did the rawness of "Birthday Eve" hold the ballad "After Illusion", a tad prolix, but truly epic and evocative, based on a chorus to sing (or howl, as the Loudness singer does) at least once in a lifetime and enhanced by a chilling guitar solo by Akira. I call him just by his first name, now Mr. Takasaki I know well, he's a friend, he's continuously gifting me emotions through his guitar and I can only praise and thank him. He too has improved since the debut, his performance in the concluding title track is tear-jerking, at the levels of Rhoads in "Mr. Crowley".

On the cover, the crystal egg (the fetus?) that has accompanied us since "Birthday Eve" has hatched... With these parents, the creature will grow up wonderfully.