Loudness

Origin: Osaka, Japan
Genre(s): heavy metal
Years active: 1981–present
Label(s): Atlantic, Wounded Bird Records
Associated acts:Crush 40, Ezo, X Japan, Galneryus, Yngwie Malmsteen

Members:

Minoru Niihara
Akira Takasaki
Masayoshi Yamashita
Former members
Munetaka Higuchi (deceased)
Mike Vescera
Hirotsugu Homma
Naoto Shibata
Masaki Yamada
Taiji Sawada

Loudness (ラウドネス, Raudonesu?) is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in 1981[1] by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi.[2] They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed in the United States, releasing seven albums (3 in America) by the end of 1987 and reaching the Billboard top 100.

Studio albums

* The Birthday Eve (1981)
* Devil Soldier (1982)
* The Law of Devil's Land (1983)
* Disillusion (1984)
* Disillusion (1984) - English version
* Thunder in the East (November 9, 1985) #74 (US)
* Odin (1985) - EP
* Shadows of War (1986)
* Lightning Strikes (1986) - U.S. Remix of Shadows of War #64 (US)
* Hurricane Eyes (1987) #190 (US)
* Hurricane Eyes (1987) - Japanese Version
* Jealousy (1988) - EP
* Soldier of Fortune (1989)
* On the Prowl (1991)
* Loudness (1992)
* Heavy Metal Hippies (1994)
* Ghetto Machine (1997)
* Dragon (1998)
* Engine (1999)
* Spiritual Canoe (2001)
* The Pandemonium (2001)
* Biosphere (2002)
* Terror (2004)
* Racing (2004)
* The Battleship Musashi (2005) - EP
* Breaking the Taboo (2006)
* Metal Mad (2008)
* The Everlasting (2009)

Live albums

* Live-Loud-Alive: Loudness in Tokyo (1983)
* 8186 Live (1986)
* Eurobounds (1986)
* Once And For All (1993)
* Loud 'n Raw (1995)
* Loudness Live 2002 (2002)
* The Soldier's Just Came Back (2002)

Compilations

* Never Stay Here, Never Forget You (1986)
* Early Singles (1989)
* A Lesson In Loudness (1989)
* Loudest (1991)
* Loudest Ballads (1991)
* Loud n' Rare (1991)
* Best Songs (1995)
* Masters of Loudness (1996)
* Very Best of Loudness (1997)
* Best of Loudness 8688: Atlantic Years (2001)
* Re-Masterpieces (2002)
* RockShocks (2004)
* The Best of Reunion (2005)
* Loudness Complete Box (2007)

Singles

* "Burning Love" (1982)
* "Geraldine" (1983)
* "Road Racer" (1983)
* "Road Racer" (1983) - English version
* "Crazy Nights" (1985)
* "Gotta Fight" (1985)
* "Let It Go" (1986)
* "Let It Go" (1986) - English version
* "Risky Woman" (1986)
* "Long Distance Love" (1989)
* "Dreamer & Screamer" (1989)
* "You Shook Me" (1989)
* "Slap In The Face" (1991)
* "Black Widow" (1992)
* "Crazy Samurai" (2004)
* "The Battleship Musashi" (2005)
* "Shadows Of War (Ashes in The Sky)"

Related works

* Messiah's Blessing (1982) - Misako Honjou
* 13th (1983) - Misako Honjou
* Metal Vibes (2002)
* #128 (2006)
* Ashes To Glory (2006)
* Drum Collection Vol. 001 (2006)

Videography

VHS

* Loudness Live: Loudness presents Loud'n Fest Vol.1 at Club Citta' (2002) - Official bootleg

DVD

* Loudness Live Terror 2004 (2004)
* Rock-Shocking The Nation (2005)
* Loudness Live In Seoul (2005) - Official bootleg, series 2
* Loudness In America '06 (2006)
* Thanks 25th Anniversary: Loudness Live at International Forum (2006)