Label: earMUSIC
Release date: 17.05.2019
Length: 99.18 min (2CD)
Genre: Heavy Metal / Hard Rock
Rating: 8.5 / 10
A few more words on the new live document from the mighty Loudness, one of the most recognized hard rock and heavy metal acts from the Land of the Rising Sun. Loudness, active since 1981, diligently touched down on the old continent of Europe again in 2016 and 2018 for a run of summer festival shows, including both years at Metaldays in Tolmin. Last September they played four consecutive shows in Tokyo and decided to put together a new live document from the recorded material. For the album »Rise to Glory«, the band signed with the European label earMUSIC, so it finally became one of the many, many albums in the group’s rich discography to be properly available on the European market too. This live document is released through the same label and is likewise available to Europeans. And it matters a lot, because it works as a kind of “compilation”: there’s plenty of material on it from older-era Loudness albums, which are hard to get hold of (normally) for the rest of the world, Japan aside.
So on 22.09.2018 Loudness played a set that recreated their 1985 North American tour shows (the first CD), while the second CD, from the set played on 23.09.2018, focuses mostly on material from the third and fourth albums. That is, »The Law Of Devil’s Land« and »Disillusion«. The actual setlists were in fact quite a bit longer. The same goes for the shows on 21.09.2018 and 24.09.2018, from which the footage used for the DVD was taken.
Since the Japanese are known perfectionists, they put together a different setlist for each of the four consecutive nights. Every night under the banner of the event called »Metal Weekend« looked like a mini festival, with Loudness always closing as the headliner. Among others, Riot V and Anthem appeared as guests at the festival.
Since »Live In Tokyo« carries the subtitle »Loudness World Tour 2018 Rise To Glory«, Loudness also played songs from their current studio album »Rise To Glory«. For the home crowd, the setlist was of course sweetened with special guests who popped up on stage during the shows, plus a few extra covers (especially on the last night).
So why are both CDs and the DVD so “plucked” that it hurts your heart? You’d have to ask whoever bankrolled the thing. The label.
Otherwise, the sound and performance are just as they should be. Minoru Niihara still has an incredibly wide range and has no trouble carrying his vocal power from the mids up to the extremely high registers. The instrumentalists remain explosive. Rust hasn’t touched them, and of course everybody will ask: what about Akira Takasaki? The guy is still top-notch. Insane in every way, and his soloing alone, all the embellishments, all the details and finesse he decorates the songs with, are a thing unto themselves. A guarantee of how appealing this release is. Like I said, it’s a shame he didn’t deliver more material. It would have been only fair to have all four shows covered from start to finish, but sadly this isn’t the seventies anymore. The vibe is right, then, thrilling and gripping, but it would definitely have been far more captivating without all the cutting between recordings.
If you’re a fan of this legendary band, don’t hesitate, because you need to get this one. The guys aren’t to blame that the result the label put out comes with a few reservations, meaning the haul of captured octane voltage from the live shows could have been bigger, but still. »Live In Tokyo« has enough of the essential elements that we can call it a very good live document, because it gives us a look at a band that, after so many years, is still hot on stage, hugely committed, dedicated and focused. And that’s the point. They enjoy their playing and their stage execution.
author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
CD 1
01. The Lines Are Down
02. Crazy Nights
03. Like Hell
04. Heavy Chains
05. Get Away
06. We Could Be Together
07. Loudness
08. In The Mirror
09. Crazy Doctor
CD 2
01. In The Mirror
02. The Law Of Devil’s Land
03. Black Wall
04. Sleepless Night
05. Speed
06. Crazy Doctor
07. Milky Way
08. Ares’ Lament
09. Dream Fantasy
10. Esper
DVD
01. Soul On Fire
02. I’m Still Alive
03. Like Hell
04. Heavy Chains
05. The Sun Will Rise Again
06. Go For Broke
07. Ares’ Lament / Until I See The Light
08. Kama Sutra (Instrumental)
09. Crazy Doctor
10. In The Mirror
11. S.D.I.
12. Loudness (with Masayuki Suzuki)
13. Crazy Nights (with RIOT V)
Lineup:
Minoru Niihara – vocals
Akira Takasaki – guitar
Masayoshi Yamashita – bass guitar
Masayuki Suzuki – drums
