Loudness (album)

Loudness is the tenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1992 only in Japan, after the band had terminated the recording contracts with US labels. Original bass player Masayoshi Yamashita was replaced with Taiji Sawada and the American vocalist Mike Vescera with former Ezo singer Masaki Yamada.

Loudness
Cover art by Tadanori Yokoo
Studio album by Loudness
Released	June 10, 1992
Studio	Music Inn Yamanakako Studio, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, Japan, Studio 900, New York City, United States, Warner Music Japan Studios, Tokyo, Japan
Genre	Heavy metal, speed metal
Length	46:57
Label	Warner Music Japan
Producer	Akira Takasaki, Jody Gray (vocal production)
Loudness chronology
On the Prowl (1991) Loudness (1992) Once and for All (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

"Black Widow"
Single by Loudness
from the album Loudness
A-side	"Black Widow"
B-side	"Racing the Wind"
Released	May 25, 1992
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	8:55
Label	Warner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)	Jody Gray, Akira Takasaki, Masaki Yamada
Loudness singles chronology
"Sleepless Nights" (1991) "Black Widow" (1992) "Slaughter House" (1992)

"Slaughter House"
Single by Loudness
from the album Loudness
A-side	"Slaughter House"
B-side	"House of 1000 Pleasures (live version)" "S.D.I. (live version)"
Released	August 25, 1992
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	16:27
Label	Warner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)	Jody Gray, Akira Takasaki, Masaki Yamada
Loudness singles chronology
"Black Widow" (1991) "Slaughter House" (1992) "Electric Kisses" (1994)

The sound of this album is much more aggressive and the rhythms much faster than the preceding offerings from the band. This fact has been interpreted as a reaction by composer and producer Takasaki to the many compromises he had to accept by US managers and producers to remain in the record market in the United States.[1] Also, the music has a much more traditional heavy metal feel to it overall, whereas their previous output from the late 80's had a very glam-oriented melodic sound to it.

The cover art is designed by artist Tadanori Yokoo. The limited edition of the album came with a special booklet and CD case, guitar picks, band name logo sticker and a T-shirt signed by the band. The album reached No. 2 in Japan on the Oricon Charts, making it Loudness' highest-charting and best-selling album in Japan.[2] A live album, recorded in 1992, Once and for All,[3] and a live Laserdisc and VHS, Welcome to the Slaughter House, also recorded in 1992 at Nakano Sun Plaza, were also released.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Masaki Yamada and Jody Gray; all music is composed by Akira Takasaki except "Everyone Lies" by Masayoshi Yamashita.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pray for the Dead"	4:15
2.	"Slaughter House"	3:53
3.	"Waking the Dead"	3:55
4.	"Black Widow"	4:50
5.	"Racing the Wind"	4:04
6.	"Love Kills"	5:14
7.	"Hell Bites (From the Edge of Insanity)"	5:54
8.	"Everyone Lies"	4:43
9.	"Twisted"	5:20
10.	"Firestorm"	4:49

Personnel

Loudness

• Masaki Yamada - lead and backing vocals
• Akira Takasaki - guitars, producer
• Taiji Sawada - bass
• Munetaka Higuchi - drums

Additional musicians

• Jody Gray - demon rapper on "Twisted", vocal producer
• Neil Coty, Phil Goodbody - backing vocals

Production

• Eric Westfall, Mark Corbin, Julio Pena, Makoto Furukawa - engineers
• Eiji Ohta, Richard Scott, Takahiro Sakai - assistant engineers
• Scott Mabuchi - mixing
• Makoto Takahashi - mixing assistant
• Tony Dawsey - mastering at Masterdisk, New York

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1992	Oricon Albums Chart[2]	2

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Loudness Loudness review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
2. ＬＯＵＤＮＥＳＳのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
3. "Loudness - Once and For All". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2012-01-15.