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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Loudness - Masters Of Loudness (Jap. Ed.) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Aug-17-2014 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........1996 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 15 cd2: 14 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.loudnessjp.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Loudness Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Masters Of Loudness (Jap. Ed.)Label : WEA Japan ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ COMPILATION ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In May of 1981, Munetaka Higuchi (ds) and Akira ║ │
│║ Takasaki (g) from LAZY decided to form their own ║ │
│║ band to pursuit their favorite music style. ║ │
│║ Minoru Niihara (Vo), a former member of ║ │
│║ EARTHSHAKER, became the original lead singer of ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS after auditions. Masayoshi Yamashita ║ │
│║ (b), an old friend with Takasaki, was also ║ │
│║ selected after a few auditions. ║ │
│║ ôLOUDNESSö started recording their first album ║ │
│║ from August 1981. ║ │
│║ The first album ôTHE BIRTHDAY EVEö was released ║ │
│║ in November, which left a vivid impression among ║ │
│║ Japanese hard rock musicians. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ TakasakiÆs arming recorded in the opening of ║ │
│║ ôTHE BIRTHDAY EVEö was the trigger to change the ║ │
│║ Japanese rock music style. In December, the ║ │
│║ debut concert was held in Asakusa International ║ │
│║ Theater. As oppose to peopleÆs opinion that hard ║ │
│║ rock reduced their presence in the Japanese ║ │
│║ music scene, 2,700 tickets were sold out, and ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS showed exclusive performance for them. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ After the debut, LOUDNESS released their second ║ │
│║ album ôDEVIL SOLDIERö in July 1982 and the third ║ │
│║ one ôTHE LAW OF DEVILÆS LANDö in January 1983. ║ │
│║ An American engineer Daniel McLendon was hired ║ │
│║ for those two albums because band members had a ║ │
│║ thought that Japanese engineer wouldnÆt be able ║ │
│║ to record great heavy metal sounds. By this ║ │
│║ time, the sound quality and technique of ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS had already become exclusive ones as a ║ │
│║ ôJapanese band.ö ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As a Japanese heavy metal band, LOUDNESS was the ║ │
│║ only one who embarked the first U.S. tour in ║ │
│║ July of 1983 followed by the tour in Europe. ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS continually attempted to break into the ║ │
│║ international music scene. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In September 1983, Julian Mendelsohn, the ║ │
│║ engineer who previously worked with YES, joined ║ │
│║ the team. The fourth album ôDISILLUSIONö was ║ │
│║ produced in UK with his input. It was the first ║ │
│║ time for LOUDNESS to complete recording ║ │
│║ overseas. ║ │
│║ In May of 1984, LOUDNESS signed a contract with ║ │
│║ Atlantic Records. It was a huge achievement in a ║ │
│║ history that a Japanese band that signed an ║ │
│║ international record deal. ║ │
│║ In August of that year, LOUDNESS welcomed one of ║ │
│║ the best producers Max Norman, known as a ║ │
│║ producer worked with Ozzy Ozbourne, and started ║ │
│║ recording their first worldwide album in Los ║ │
│║ Angeles. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In January of 1985, LOUDNESS released their ║ │
│║ first international album ôTHUNDER IN THE EAST,ö ║ │
│║ which peaked at No. 4 in Japanese chart. ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS went on a U.S. tour with this album in ║ │
│║ April. ║ │
│║ The album ranked 74th in the U.S. Billboard ║ │
│║ chart in May, which was a historical incident as ║ │
│║ a Japanese band, and they stayed in the chart ║ │
│║ for 19 weeks since March 2. ║ │
│║ From August of that year, LOUDNESS went on a ║ │
│║ U.S. tour with M÷tley Crⁿe. On August 14, ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS became the first Japanese band that ║ │
│║ performed on the stage of Madison Square Garden. ║ │
│║ Producer Max Norman joined the team once again, ║ │
│║ and started recording their second album from ║ │
│║ Atlantic Records. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In August of 1987, LOUDNESS released the album ║ │
│║ ôHURRICANE EYESö produced by a well-known ║ │
│║ producer Edwin Kramer. LOUDNESS used to write in ║ │
│║ English all the time after release of ôTHUNDER ║ │
│║ IN THE EAST,ö but the Japanese version of ║ │
│║ ôHURRICANE EYESö was also released for their ║ │
│║ Japanese fans. In May of 1988, LOUDNESS also ║ │
│║ released a mini album ôJEALOUSYö for them. Now ║ │
│║ when LOUDNESS became an international band, they ║ │
│║ hadnÆt forgotten the importance of their ║ │
│║ Japanese fans. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ However, the front man Niihara left the band in ║ │
│║ December of 1988. The news shocked people all ║ │
│║ over the world. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In September of 1989, Takasaki noticed no one ║ │
│║ could sing better than Niihara after many ║ │
│║ auditions. LOUDNESS recruited Mike Vescera, a ║ │
│║ former member of Obsession, and released ║ │
│║ ôSOLDIER OF FORTUNEö in September of 1989. ║ │
│║ In February 1991, ôON THE PROWLö containing some ║ │
│║ self-covered songs was released, however, due to ║ │
│║ the cultural difference, Mike left the band ║ │
│║ after ôSLAP IN THE FACEö in October 1991. The ║ │
│║ second era of LOUDNESS has ended when Bassist ║ │
│║ Masayoshi Yamashita quitted the band in 1992. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It was announced that LOUDNESS recruited the ║ │
│║ former EZO vocalist Masaki Yamada. Taiji Sawada ║ │
│║ from X also became the bassist of LOUDNESS, and ║ │
│║ the music created by this lineup was heavier ║ │
│║ than the previous albums produced in the U.S., ║ │
│║ and it marked the beginning of a new phase in ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS. ║ │
│║ The album released in June 1992 ôLOUDNESSö was ║ │
│║ recorded second in Oricon ranking. Because Taiji ║ │
│║ Sawada became a member of LOUDNESS, the band was ║ │
│║ recognized more by younger generations who ║ │
│║ didnÆt know about LOUDNESS. ║ │
│║ The third phase of LOUDNESS toured through ║ │
│║ January 1993, however, because of many problems ║ │
│║ and conflicts within the band, Higuchi, as well ║ │
│║ as Sawada were announced to depart the band. ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS was again on the verge of falling ║ │
│║ apart. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In 1994, Takasaki convinced Yamada to stay in ║ │
│║ the band, and those two started the fourth phase ║ │
│║ of LOUDNESS. Former drummer of EZO Hirotsugu ║ │
│║ Homma was recruited, and the recording of ôHEAVY ║ │
│║ METAL HIPPIESö has begun. Takasaki recorded its ║ │
│║ bass lines. It was announced LOUDNESS recruited ║ │
│║ Naoto Shibata, former member of Anthem, from the ║ │
│║ concert in Club Citta. The lineup for the new ║ │
│║ phase LOUDNESS was completed. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In April 1995, LOUDNESS toured with this ║ │
│║ roaster. The live album ôLOUD æNÆ RAWö credited ║ │
│║ all the names of the fans who came to the show. ║ │
│║ The concert in Hong Kong was also successful. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In February 1997, LOUDNESS recorded the new ║ │
│║ album in San Francisco, and released ôGHETTO ║ │
│║ MACHINEö in July. Furthermore, the band ║ │
│║ performed in Hong Kong again for their Asian ║ │
│║ fans. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In August 1998, LOUDNESS released the album ║ │
│║ ôDRAGONö recorded again in San Francisco, and ║ │
│║ started a tour in Japan ôLOUDNESS CLUB GIG Æ98 ║ │
│║ DRAGONö from September. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In May 1999, ôRISING DRAGON EURO TOUR æ99ö has ║ │
│║ started and LOUDNESS went to England, ║ │
│║ Netherland, Belgium, and Germany. In Netherland, ║ │
│║ the band performed on the main stage of the ║ │
│║ largest heavy metal festival in Europe ôDYNAMO ║ │
│║ OPEN AIR Æ99.ö ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In July 1999, LOUDNESS released the album ║ │
│║ ôENGINE,ö which was the last album for the ║ │
│║ fourth phase. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In 2000, Takasaki started considering a reunion ║ │
│║ with the original line-up. The original members ║ │
│║ of LOUDNESS reunited in May of the same year, ║ │
│║ and they started pre-production at the same ║ │
│║ time. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In March 2001, the album ôSPIRITUAL CANOEö was ║ │
│║ released by them after 13-year break. With the ║ │
│║ album, the band went on a tour in Japan. The ║ │
│║ Japanese fans were overwhelmed, and the band ║ │
│║ decided to continue the live activities. In ║ │
│║ July, LOUDNESS hosted ôHARD ROCK SUMMIT IN ║ │
│║ FUJI-Qö and the legendary bands as well as ║ │
│║ upcoming ones performed on the stage. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In September 2001, LOUDNESS went on a club tour ║ │
│║ with a Canadian thrash metal band Annihiltor. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In November 2001, the band released the album to ║ │
│║ celebrate their 20th anniversary and toured ║ │
│║ after. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In March 2002, LOUDNESS held ôLOUDNESS PRESENT ║ │
│║ LOUDÆN FEST VOL.1ö in CLUB CITTA. Then the band ║ │
│║ released an album ôBIOSPHERE.ö ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ On September 13, 2003, ôLOUD FEST 2003ö was held ║ │
│║ in CLUB CITTA with a lineup including WRENCH, ║ │
│║ COCOBAT and BRAHMAN. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In 2004, the fourth album after reunion ôTERRORö ║ │
│║ was released, and the band performed with KORN, ║ │
│║ EVANESCENCE and BACKYARD BABIES at the biggest ║ │
│║ winter music festival ôSONIC MANIA04.ö ║ │
│║ After that, LOUDNESS released their first single ║ │
│║ CD in the bandÆs history ôCRAZY SUMURAI,ö and ║ │
│║ reissued the album ôROCK SHOCKö as a part of ║ │
│║ 25th anniversary celebration. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ On July 22, 2005, the band performed in one of ║ │
│║ the biggest music festivals in Europe ║ │
│║ ôEARTHSHAKER FEST 2005ö held in Germany. The ║ │
│║ stunning performance was overwhelming to 30,000 ║ │
│║ audiences, and the band showed their worldwide ║ │
│║ popularity. Then, LOUDNESS got many offers from ║ │
│║ the U.S. and Europe, and the booking for the ║ │
│║ world tour has started. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In August, a Japanese kickboxer and heavyweight ║ │
│║ kawrateka MusashiÆs entrance theme ôThe ║ │
│║ Battleship MUSASHIö was made by LOUDNESS. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In February of 2006, ôLOUDNESS LIVESHOCKS world ║ │
│║ circuit 2006 chapter1ö tour has started from the ║ │
│║ show in SHIBUYA-AX, and LOUDNESS went on a U.S. ║ │
│║ tour in March. ║ │
│║ The Live DVD ôLOUDNESS IN AMERICA06ö that ║ │
│║ documented the U.S. Tour was released in August ║ │
│║ of that year. In November 25th Anniversary Live ║ │
│║ ôThanks 25th Anniversary LOUDNESS LIVESHOCKS ║ │
│║ 2006ö was held at Tokyo International Forum. ║ │
│║ Then in December, their new album ôBREAKING THE ║ │
│║ TABOOö was released. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In February 2007, LOUDNESS had shows in Tokyo, ║ │
│║ Nagoya, and Osaka as a part of LIVESHOCKS 2007 ║ │
│║ WORLD CIRCUIT CHAPTER2 CLUB QUATTRO Tour. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In February of 2008, the new album ôMETAL MADö ║ │
│║ was released. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ On April 14, 2008, it was announced that Drummer ║ │
│║ Munetaka Higuchi was diagnosed with live cancer ║ │
│║ and he would take a break from LOUDNESS. ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS played with Drummer Kozo Suganuma ║ │
│║ filling in for Higuchi during METAL MAD CLUB ║ │
│║ QUATTRO TOUR started in April. ║ │
│║ After half a year of the illness, Higuchi passed ║ │
│║ away at 10:44 a.m. on November 30, 2008. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ LOUDNESS kept aiming at their dream to become an ║ │
│║ international heavy metal band, which was ║ │
│║ HiguchiÆs dream also. ║ │
│║ In 2011, it was 30th anniversary of the band, ║ │
│║ and yet they are aiming at a worldwide act, and ║ │
│║ keep rocking. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ - CD1 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Angel Dust [04:46] │
│ 02 - Dream Fantasy [04:35] │
│ 03 - Speed (Live) [07:59] │
│ 04 - Let It Go [04:14] │
│ 05 - Shadows Of War [06:03] │
│ 06 - S.D.I. [04:17] │
│ 07 - Slap In The Face (Edit Version) [04:54] │
│ 08 - You Shook Me [04:43] │
│ 09 - Demon Disease [04:35] │
│ 10 - Down┤ N┤ Dirty [04:37] │
│ 11 - In The Mirror [03:34] │
│ 12 - Sleepless Night [04:26] │
│ 13 - Never Again (Live) [05:31] │
│ 14 - Crazy Doctor (Live) [05:56] │
│ 15 - Loudness (Live) [08:02] │
│ - [ ] │
│ - CD2 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Pray For The Dead [04:15] │
│ 02 - Slaughter House [03:54] │
│ 03 - Black Widow [04:50] │
│ 04 - Hell Bites (From The Edge Of Insanity) [05:56] │
│ 05 - Firestorm [04:32] │
│ 06 - Waking The Dead (Live) [04:04] │
│ 07 - Crazy Night (Live) [05:59] │
│ 08 - Freedom [07:05] │
│ 09 - Eyes Of A Child [06:34] │
│ 10 - Paralyzed [05:16] │
│ 11 - Howling Rain [07:00] │
│ 12 - Desperation, Desecration (Live) [07:13] │
│ 13 - S.D.I. (Live) [05:13] │
│ 14 - Master Of The Highway [04:48] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [154:5] min │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
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