Reviewer: Chris

Loudness is a band I’ve been familiar with for close to thirty-years. Not only do they have one of the best, most underrated guitarists in metal music today in Akira Takasaki, but the general direction change for the band in the last decade or so is astounding and pleasant. Where once a song like “Crazy Nights” might have left them on the crowded KISS-clone doorstep a recent track like “Death Machine” shatters every notion about the band from back when. While still leaps away from all-out thrash metal, King of Pain, the latest in a very long, impressive career is a clear example of straight-away heavy metal still being as relevant and important as it was in the early 80’s.

I won’t deny that Loudness has certainly altered or “tweaked” its sound from the consistent happy-go-lucky feel of twenty-years ago, which is not a negative by any means. Some of the older Loudness fans might find the switch to the modern feel of drop-tuned crunch a little shock to the system, but the old-school elements are still present, especially in “Death Machine,” which sounds like a Tim Owens-era Judas Priest track. From 2004’s Racing, which managed to combine both old and new sounds for the Loudness lineage, the older, more experience band emerges and displays its ability to create some seriously heavy metal that can’t be relegated to overpowering J-Pop as Pandemonium is likened to be by some of the more critical and astute fans.

What we have here on King of Pain is a pleasant mix of crushing chords that could just as easily strangle you as entertain you, providing an enticing listen for both older fans as well as newcomers. “Dragged Into Hell” is a brilliant track, providing some visages of the past glory and brief glimpses as to just how mature the band has become as musicians. Takasaki’s ringing clean-tone chords between violent verse riffs break so subtly and perfectly that I listened to it three times in a row because it’s so good. There are even elements of doom herein as well, especially in the following track “Straight Out of Your Soul”. The album seems to have a hundred different things going on in its track listing, most of which are highly laudable.

Every aspect of metal is touched on from ballad-like tracks (“Where Am I Going?”) to thrash metal (“Doctor from Hell”). I can’t say I’ve been a fan of everything Loudness has issued in its storied career, but for my ears King of Pain is a clean step up in a very lengthy existence. Sometimes change is good and positive, especially if the changers in question understand how to implement change accordingly.         

Release Date: May 19, 2010
Label: Tokuma Japan Communications

TRACK LISTING

1.  Requiem
2.  The King Of Pain
3.  Power Of Death
4.  Death Machine
5.  Doodlebug
6.  Rule The World
7.  Straight Out Of Your Soul
8.  Where Am I Going?
9.  Emma
10.  Naraka
11.  Doctor From Hell
12.  Hell Fire
13.  #666
14.  Never Comes

Total playing time: 60:53

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Loudness - King of Pain

June 9, 2010