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I am about to review possibly the most beautiful heavy metal album ever produced in the Land of the Rising Sun, the legendary and much-acclaimed "Thunder In The East" by Loudness.
Band introduction: The band itself was formed right at the end of the 70s, although guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi were already together in Lazy. Later, bass player Masayoshi Yamashita and charismatic singer Minoru Niihara joined, and it is with this lineup that Loudness recorded 7 studio albums and 1 live album (three of these: "The Birthday Eve", "Devil Soldier", "Law Of Devils Land" were released only in Japan).
But let's talk about "Thunder In The East", the quartet's biggest commercial success, excellently produced by the legendary (for the '80s) Max Norman. It is a treasure trove of 10 pearls of Japanese heavy metal, highlighted by Akira's dazzling riffs and Minoru's powerful vocals. The album starts with perhaps the most famous Loudness song, "Crazy Nights" (for which a video clip was also made); the song's strength lies in the chorus ("Rock and roll crazy night You are the heroes tonight, Rock and roll crazy night You are the hero") that gives the song the status of a symbol of American nights for these 4 heavy metal samurai.
We continue with the very powerful "Like Hell", Akira Takasaki's opening riff is something imposing, and the accompanying solo is worthy of his "contemporary colleagues" Jake E Lee, Vivian Campbell, and Doug Aldrich. This makes the song flow beautifully, leaving us with thunder and infernal flames in our hearts. The intricate guitar arpeggio opening "Heavy Chains" is something unique, incomparable, and worthy of this heavy metal masterpiece; after the sweet arpeggio, it's Minoru Niihara who takes the reins of the song, and thanks to his proud and truly heavy metal singing, he turns this song into a killer track.
"Get Away" starts with a big riff from Akira and carries on at a brisk pace. I want to focus on the solo and describe this wonder: it opens with a burst of scales fired at full speed, then comes the surprise: Akira delights us with a neoclassical solo; a mix between the most inspired Malmsteen and the early Marty Friedman. "We Could Be Together" could easily have come out of the sessions for Bark at the Moon due to its wide-open and American riffing.
The following "Run For Your Life" is another gem of the album: a vaguely progressive rhythm opens this song, then Akira's arpeggios accompany an Akira in a state of grace, but after a few seconds, the magnificent chorus is ready to explode ("Run for your life Run from the fire Want to survive Run for your life") which leads us to Akira's usual, well-thought-out, and harmonious solo. With "Clockwork Toy" and "The Lines are Down" we are still dealing with sustained rhythms, winning choruses, and superb technique (this is the Loudness formula!!). The following "No Way Out", very hypnotic in its progression, could easily be a piece by Whitesnake, who would produce 1987 and Slip of the Tongue due to its staccato and very melodic riffs.
The final track, "Never Change your Mind" , is a ballad of the kind that no band produces anymore: dreamy arpeggios, powerful but sweet vocals, and so much feeling; once again, Akira delights us with acrobatics on his E.S.P., delivering a beautiful solo reminiscent of the more rock-oriented Brian May or Wolf Hoffman's "Metal Heart" (remember "Bound to Fail"??).
Here concludes one of the albums that has given me the most emotions and, in my opinion, the most beautiful Loudness album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Like Hell (03:45)
So many times, I've been lost
And blinded by the light
Caught up in a maze
Now I feel just like a wolf
Who forgot how to fight
And frozen by the haze
I was a hungry mean beast
I'll never be satisfied
Always looking for the next feast
Wailing for the next ride
* Like hell, I'm gonna do it like hell
Like hell, I'm gonna rock you like hell
Like hell, I'm comin' at you like hell
Like hell, I'm gonna shock you like hell
Just one more sip to ease my thirst
Another for the fire
That's all I need
The time has come to break the spell
Or give in to desire
There ain't no in between
No, I won't stay and take it
Get caught up, standing still
Looking for a day to shake it
Looking for the kill
[* Repeat]
No more hiding in the shadows
Runnin' from the light
No more cryin' when the wind blows
Howling at the night
03 Heavy Chains (04:19)
She wants to run, goin' on,
point of no return
No looking back, hope is gone,
just a slow burning
Lost without love, so she tries
to get all she can
Into the night, desperate eyes,
look for helping hands
Like a scream, the siren's call
Now it seems she's lost to all
Moving slow, and trapped in pain
Don't run with heavy chains
What's left is torn apart
Heavy chains on heavy heart
Her broken life
Her broken heart
Broken promises lost and found
Just a knife
Into her heart
Keeping her down
What's left is ripped apart
Heavy chains on heavy heart
Broken pieces of life
Broken pieces of heart
Broken pieces of promises lost and found
Heavy chains like a knife
Cutting into her heart
Keeping her down
Ohh, heavy chains!
04 Get Away (03:54)
Get away, I'm warning you
Get away, I'm telling you
Watch what you say
On the danger way
Get away, let's shake it
Get away, let's break it
Ain't safe to play
On the danger way
Without concrete, you'd be lost
Without hot wheels, you'd be lost
Without chain link, you'd be lost
Without cold steel, you'd be lost
* Don't look back, run for cover
Save yourself, save your lover
Overkill, undercover
Hit and run at midnight
Get away, stop losing
Get away, I'm cruising
Every day
On the danger way
Get away, go faster
Get away, disaster
Ricochet
On the danger way
Without shadows, you could die
Without leather, you could die
Without fighting, you could die
Without switchblades, you could die
[* Repeat]
Without concrete, you'd be lost
Without cold steel, you'd be lost
Without fighting, you could die
Without switchblades, you could die
[* Repeat]
06 Run for Your Life (03:58)
Taken in the frozen dawn
No way out still holding on
Empty hands, full of pain
Reaching for the rain
Let me go now
No where to run
Under the gun
* Run for your life
Run from the fire
Want to survive
Run for your life
Nothing but the night exists
Dark the cold wet mist
Trapped in time with no way out
Can't you hear me shout
Let me go now
Open the cell
I can't take this hell
[* Repeat]
[Solo]
[* Repeat]
Want to survive
run for your life
09 The Lines Are Down (04:49)
You cry, darkness listens
You hide, sudden sorrow
Black and blue
When fever builds inside you
Your body shivers hot and cold at night
Hold on tight
You know the power's out
You can't leave
Now that your heart is pounding, energy
Shattered, afraid to show it
Don't let the crazy madness pull you in
Fight to win
Looks like your life is crashing
You're on the razor's edge
It's hard to know
Don't let go
The night is blowing cold
You can't leave
Twisted by silence and the agony
* Lines are down everywhere
Something's under the stair
Lines are down
The razor's edge
Cry for me
You cry darkness listens
You hide, sudden sorrow fights at you
Break on through
Lights out, someone's watching
Lookin' for the images to cut and run
Load your gun
One shot, squeeze the trigger
Make them leave
Left in the night, the only enemy
[* Repeat]
10 Never Change Your Mind (04:12)
Got a new hair style I see
And you're dressed to kill
Bright coloured lipstick for me
But against my will
Please don't go changin'
You're gonna change your mind
Please never change your mind
I look at you, head to toe
But it don't seem right
All this fashion for show
Happened overnight
I've got your number
It's only changin' times
Please never change your mind
* Hear me when I'm sayin'
How my love grows
Given time and a chance, you'll see
Things are always cahngin'
That's how love goes
Don't go changin' a thing for me
[* Repeat]
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