I just spilled my beer all over my black metal t-shirt because I’m so shocked that LOUDNESS is still kicking it after all these years. I mean, who needs a social life when you can spend your days listening to Japanese metal from the 80s? Anyway, the band’s singer Minoru Niihara and guitarist Akira Takasaki confirmed that they’re working on a new album, because apparently, the world was just missing that.
The news came out during an interview with South East Wreck Metal at the Tuska festival in Helsinki, Finland, where Niihara mentioned that Takasaki has already written 30 songs and they’ll probably pick 10 of them to release as an album. Because, you know, quality control is overrated. The album will supposedly be out by the end of the year, just in time for you to add it to your holiday shopping list.
The History of LOUDNESS: Because You Clearly Need a Refresher
LOUDNESS was founded in 1981, and they’ve been making music for so long that they’ve had time to change their lineup more often than I change my socks. The current lineup includes three original members – Niihara, Takasaki, and bassist Masayoshi Yamashita – along with drummer Masayuki Suzuki, who joined the band in 2009. Because, you know, the drummer is always the first to go.
The band’s first international release, “Thunder In The East”, came out in 1985 and was a moderate success, peaking at number 4 in Japan and number 74 on the US Billboard chart. Wow, I bet the guys at Atlantic Records were just thrilled to have a band that could almost crack the top 70. They were also the first Japanese band to play at Madison Square Garden, which is impressive, I guess, if you’re into that sort of thing.
After Niihara left the band in 1988, they brought in American singer Mike Vescera, because what’s more metal than a Japanese band with an American singer? They also had a brief stint with former EZO singer Masaki Yamada, because why not? In 2001, Takasaki reunited the original lineup, because nostalgia is a powerful thing.
The New Album: What to Expect ( Spoiler: More of the Same)
So, what can we expect from the new album? More Japanese metal, probably with some songs sung in Japanese, because that’s what LOUDNESS does. The album will likely be a celebration of the band’s rich musical history, which is just a nice way of saying it’ll be more of the same old thing. But hey, if you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll probably love it.
I mean, who needs innovation or creativity when you can just release the same album over and over again? It’s not like the world is missing anything new or interesting in the metal scene. But hey, at least LOUDNESS is consistent, right? 🤷♂️
In conclusion, LOUDNESS is making a new album, and the world is somehow still spinning. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’re probably excited. If you’re not, well, there’s always the new Beer Garden festival to look forward to. Cheers to that, I guess 🍺.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
