LOUDNESS

The first Japanese heavy metal band to sign with a major label in the United States, Loudness found success at home and abroad during the 1980s, then continued to release well-received albums in the band's homeland for three decades thereafter. The band was formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981, by guitarist Akira Takasaki, drummer Munetaka Higuchi, singer Minoru Niihara, and bassist Masayoshi Yamashita. 1981's The Birthday Eve, 1982's Devil Soldier, and 1983's The Law of Devil's Land were all performed entirely in Japanese, and Loudness had already built a sizable audience in Japan by the time 1984's Disillusion expanded the band's following into Europe and America. The group then partnered with Atco Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records, for 1985's Thunder in the East, an all-English release that charted at Number 74 in the US and produced the hit "Crazy Nights." Thunder in the East was produced by frequent Ozzy Osbourne collaborator Max Norman, who also partnered with Loudness for 1986's Lightning Strikes and 1989's Soldier of Fortune, the latter of which marked the band's first release with its new American vocalist, Mike Vescera. Although Vescera was soon replaced by Masaki Yamada, Loudness' commercial success increased during the 1990s, with the band peaking at Number 7 on the Japanese charts with 1991's On the Prowl and Number 2 with 1992's self-titled Loudness. Years later, the group kicked off a new decade with 2001's Pandemonium, which doubled as the first record since 1988 to feature Loudness' original lineup. Although roster changes continued to plague the band through the 2000s and 2010s, Loudness remained one of Japan's most successful metal acts, cracking the Top 40 with albums like 2010's King of Pain, 2011's Eve to Dawn, 2014's The Sun Will Rise Again, and 2018's Rise to Glory.