LOUDNESS “Lightning Strikes” /LP/

The fourteenth full-length album by legendary Japanese Heavy Metal band.
It seemed that it wasn't really Loudness with only Akira left from the original band. Sure, Loudness no longer sound like they did on popular releases like "Thunder In The East" and "Soldier Of Fortune", but then again, those albums sounded like any number of 1980's Heavy Metal bands. The 90's releases from Loudness are quite unique and sound like no other band. Songs like "9 Miles High" are quite good. This particular song is a mixture of classic Thrash Metal layered with some 70's wah-wah guitar from Akira. "Wicked Witches" on the other had has a slow, Doomy, almost Stoner Rock/Metal sound. "Crazy Go-Go" sounds a bit like Loudness cover classic Kiss, although it is an original song. The track six, "Kaisou", is an odd Jimi Hendrix influenced instrumental that acts as an intro for "Babylon". "Taj Mahal" is a Middle Eastern sounding song that seems a bit out of place on this CD. "Mirror Ball" adds a bit of Funk to an otherwise heavy track. "Nighcreepers" is a fairly heavy song that finishes out the disc quite nicely. 
Very interesting brand of Heavy Metal with some slight Alternative touches. Inventive, highly original guitar work and not very annoying vocals. Much better than 80's hairy stuff from the same band! There is a ton of experimentation, but there is still plenty of meat to chew on!!
CD features fold-out cover-booklet and separate booklet with lyrics in Japanese. This is one of those Loudness albums that is only available as an Japanese import.
Rooms Records, Inc., Japan, 1998 (BMCR-7027). Made in Japan. First press. Used: like new.


Tracklist:
1. 9 Miles High 3:45 
2. Dogshit 4:45 
3. Wicked Witches 4:25 
4. Crazy Go-Go 4:17 
5. Voodoo Voices 4:24 
6. Instrumental 1:56
7. Babylon 4:54 
8. Crawl 5:17 
9. Forbidden Love 4:38 
10. Mirror Ball 5:08 
11. Taj Mahal 5:30 I
12. Nightcreepers 5:21
Total playing time: 54:20


Samples:  http://www.allmusic.com

Re-release of the twenty-fifth full-length studio album by the legendary Japanese Heavy Metal band.
More than 30 years in, these Japanese Metal veterans are still finding new ways to deliver on their name. Their new 11-track outing goes beyond the KISS-meets-Accept vibe of Pop-Metal faves like “Crazy Nights” and “Heavy Chains” from 1985’s "Thunder In The East".
Injecting furious bursts of Thrash and Power Metal, the quartet thrives off founding guitarist Akira Takasaki’s worship at the altar of Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, even if this isn’t his most precise, clean playing ever.
This album is the second without their original and beloved drummer, Munetaka Higuchi, that died of cancer almost three years ago.
Akira Takasaki, the mastermind behind the zealous Loudness and its achievements, has been tagging additional influences that were shaped into the band's sound and music. The guitars reminded a bit of past glories but also maintained the present raw modern touch. Judging by the list of eleven songs, Takasaki hasn't lost his amazing lead guitar skills. His solos have always taken to classic Rock, Hard Rock and shredding Heavy Metal blisters. 
When the entire lineup was playing Loudness came up with good songs filled with 80s Metal takeovers. "Come Alive Again" is something that can be recognized as a classic. "Survivor" and "The Power Of The Truth" were good examples of how Loudness made good use of modern Metal while mixing it with older Metal roots. Still, on hard-charging cuts like “Keep You Burning”, Loudness conveys an unrestrained attitude of fierce self-determination remarkable for a band in its third decade.
Tokuma Japan Communications/FrostByte Media Inc. (FRB-CD-0030). Made in Canada.


Tracklist:
1. A Light In The Dark 1:46
2. The Power Of Truth 5:28
3. Come Alive Again 4:27
4. Survivor 5:45
5. Keep You Burning 5:17
6. Gonna Do It My Way 4:13
7. Hang Tough 5:55
8. 喜怒哀楽 6:24
9. Comes The Dawn 7:07
10. Pandora 4:19
11. Crazy! Crazy! Crazy! 3:24
Total playing time: 54:05