A new album from LOUDNESS!

RoseOfPain · **Reply #30 on:** March 06, 2008, 10:16:01 PM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

Yesterday I was at a Japanese bookstore which also carries CDs, especially new releases. So I decided to see if they had Metal Mad and asked an employee who was about my age (and she was Japanese by the way, you'll see later why I mention this):

Me: "Excuse me, do you have the new Loudness album?"
Her: "What's the name of the band?"
"Loudness."
"Loudness...? I've never heard of them before... let me look in the computer... when did it come out?"
"A couple days ago."
"OK... I don't think we have that... it's not Metal Mad, is it?"
"Yeah, Metal Mad."
"Um... no... I guess we don't have it."

And yet they had shelves full of trendy new visual bands and I felt like saying, "YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS CRAP BUT YOU'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF LOUDNESS???"

Of course I didn't 'cause, you know, I'm a gentleman.

But what the hell? She's my age, she's Japanese and she sells Japanese CDs, and she's never even HEARD of them? What is the world coming to, huh? Made me sad. :?

thats right, they should atleast know their rules

Hollywood · **Reply #31 on:** April 11, 2008, 10:05:12 PM

I've bought Metal Mad now. It FUCKING ROCKS!!

Other than the title track I especially like Spellbound #9, Call of the Reaper, and Can't Find My Way (now that's my kind of ballad... :twisted:).

I'm so behind on modern Loudness that I really don't know how this compares to their other post-reunion stuff. In fact if anyone has heard Metal Mad by now AND their other post-reunion albums-- if I like this album, would I like the others?

Really really like this! I think I need even more Loudness in my life. (Doesn't everyone?)

Arucard · **Reply #32 on:** April 13, 2008, 01:25:59 AM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

I'm so behind on modern Loudness that I really don't know how this compares to their other post-reunion stuff. In fact if anyone has heard Metal Mad by now AND their other post-reunion albums-- if I like this album, would I like the others?

I listened to "Metal Mad" too... It's a nice album, but I think it's still worse than "Breaking The Taboo" from 2006... My ranking of the reunion albums would be something like:

- "Breaking The Taboo"
- "Metal Mad"
- "Spiritual Canoe"
- the other ones...

Maverick · **Reply #33 on:** April 13, 2008, 09:25:01 AM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

Yesterday I was at a Japanese bookstore which also carries CDs, especially new releases. So I decided to see if they had Metal Mad and asked an employee who was about my age (and she was Japanese by the way, you'll see later why I mention this):

Me: "Excuse me, do you have the new Loudness album?"
Her: "What's the name of the band?"
"Loudness."
"Loudness...? I've never heard of them before... let me look in the computer... when did it come out?"
"A couple days ago."
"OK... I don't think we have that... it's not Metal Mad, is it?"
"Yeah, Metal Mad."
"Um... no... I guess we don't have it."

And yet they had shelves full of trendy new visual bands and I felt like saying, "YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS CRAP BUT YOU'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF LOUDNESS???"

Of course I didn't 'cause, you know, I'm a gentleman.

But what the hell? She's my age, she's Japanese and she sells Japanese CDs, and she's never even HEARD of them? What is the world coming to, huh? Made me sad. :?

I know alot of Japanese and alot of people who have much to do with Japan, who never heared before of X. Guess that's similar to KISS here - I told people who also listen to METAL that I like KISS - there are some who never heared about it.... guess I'm not surprised in that.

Hollywood · **Reply #34 on:** April 14, 2008, 05:31:20 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

I listened to "Metal Mad" too... It's a nice album, but I think it's still worse than "Breaking The Taboo" from 2006... My ranking of the reunion albums would be something like:

- "Breaking The Taboo"
- "Metal Mad"
- "Spiritual Canoe"
- the other ones...

Cool, I'll try to get Breaking the Taboo and Spiritual Canoe sometime when I can. Thanks!

Is it just me, or is Spiritual Canoe one of the most bizarre album names ever? That title has been a total "WTF" for me ever since the first time I heard the name, hahaha.

@Maverick, metal guys who've never even heard of KISS? Weird. Is KISS not very well-known in Germany? Everyone knows them over here, but KISS is from the US anyway...

Matthias · **Reply #35 on:** April 14, 2008, 06:41:06 PM

There might be people that don't know about KISS, but believe me KISS is also big in germany, so most Rock/Metal-Fans (or people in general) have heard of this band.

Arucard · **Reply #36 on:** April 14, 2008, 11:49:27 PM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

Quote from: "Arucard"
I listened to "Metal Mad" too... It's a nice album, but I think it's still worse than "Breaking The Taboo" from 2006... My ranking of the reunion albums would be something like:

- "Breaking The Taboo"
- "Metal Mad"
- "Spiritual Canoe"
- the other ones...

Cool, I'll try to get Breaking the Taboo and Spiritual Canoe sometime when I can. Thanks!

Is it just me, or is Spiritual Canoe one of the most bizarre album names ever? That title has been a total "WTF" for me ever since the first time I heard the name, hahaha.

If you can, try getting the album "Rockshocks" first... It was released in 2004 (I think...) and it's only new versions of old Loudness classics, like "Crazy Doctor", "In The Mirror", "Crazy Nights", etc... It's fucking great!

Hollywood · **Reply #37 on:** April 14, 2008, 11:52:42 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

If you can, try getting the album "Rockshocks" first... It was released in 2004 (I think...) and it's only new versions of old Loudness classics, like "Crazy Doctor", "In The Mirror", "Crazy Nights", etc... It's fucking great!

Nice! That DOES sound fucking great. Shit, I have no idea how I got so behind on the newer Loudness over the years-- well, better late than never I guess.

Thanks dude!

Arucard · **Reply #38 on:** April 15, 2008, 12:00:04 AM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

Quote from: "Arucard"
If you can, try getting the album "Rockshocks" first... It was released in 2004 (I think...) and it's only new versions of old Loudness classics, like "Crazy Doctor", "In The Mirror", "Crazy Nights", etc... It's fucking great!

Nice! That DOES sound fucking great. Shit, I have no idea how I got so behind on the newer Loudness over the years-- well, better late than never I guess. Thanks dude!

A while ago I was really obsessed with Loudness, so I started going after all of their material, that's how I know so much about them I guess...

And hey, it's great to point good music to other people, so no need to thanks...

Hollywood · **Reply #39 on:** April 15, 2008, 12:33:58 AM

Hmm... metal?

No, seriously, they've done so many different kinds of metal that it's hard to pin them down to just one or two subgenres.

Their original stuff (early '80s) was very... '80s Japanese metal. Pretty heavy for the time I guess, but it wouldn't be considered heavy by today's standards.

Then people got annoyed because in the mid-80s, they started heading toward what people said was a more "US-commercial", "radio-friendly" metal sound. It did sound different from their previous stuff but to be honest I think they had some great songs during this period too. They also changed vocalists and had an American (I think Mike was American, wasn't he?) singer for a couple albums.

Then in 1992 there was a HUGE overhaul of the band, both in terms of members and musical style. (This was when Taiji briefly joined them.) The 1992 self-titled album was way heavier and grittier than their previous stuff. It was also pretty damn cool.

And Arucard will have to help you with the next "eras" of Loudness since I pretty much missed them so far. :?

But Metal Mad (the latest album, released two months ago) is heavier yet than their 1992 stuff, anyway.

Sirimono · **Reply #40 on:** May 02, 2008, 10:51:52 AM

Just thought i'd share with you an ad i had found a year ago in a metal catalogue / magazine

Hollywood · **Reply #41 on:** May 02, 2008, 05:50:31 PM

They advertise Loudness in German metal magazines? Cool! Thanks for sharing that.

Sirimono · **Reply #42 on:** May 02, 2008, 06:17:15 PM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

They advertise Loudness in German metal magazines? Cool! Thanks for sharing that.

yeah I was pretty amazed myself. They started cd reviews of gackt, L'arc, Hyde and Dir en grey... which kinda disappointed me, since the mag is actually about hard rock/ metal etc.
but when i saw this ad i just had to save and scan it

It's not only a magazine. It's a catalogue, but full of reviews.

Arucard · **Reply #43 on:** May 03, 2008, 01:11:38 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Why the fuck are they advertising "Racing"? That's their worst album evah! :evil: