Customer Reviews

Lightning Strikes

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Loudness was always one of the most underrated of metal bands in the 80s, and LIGHTNING STRIKES was yet another in a string of great albums they released during the decade.

Listen to the power metal intensity at the beginning of "Complication," the lush grooves of "Street Life Dream," or Minoru's fierce raging in "Ashes in the Sky." Another reviewer noted here that Loudness was pretty standard 80s metal- that is WRONG. No other band I know of at the time was playing power metal with this kind of precision, this kind of sophistication. These guys were flat-out great musicians, and this extended beyond guitarist Akira Takasaki. The rhythm section really was the foundation of this group. And Minoru was a tremendous singer, a fact that would have been more readily evident had his english been flawless.

LIGHTNING STRIKES is not quite on par with the legendary releases, DISILLUSION and THUNDER IN THE EAST, but it's also not far behind. 9 songs, not too long, and all very tight, professional and--most importantly--powerful.

Check it out and discover a band that was more progressive than many gave them credit for, and was certainly not just another face on the 80s metal scene.

I finally picked this one up. I purchased Thunder In The East as a new release on cassette a LONG LONG time ago. Keep in mind, these were the days BI, (before the internet) and I was also quite young and didn't know anything about Loudness at the time. In the days where MTV actually played videos, I happened to catch the Crazy Nights video one late night on headbangers ball, and went out the next day and got Thunder In The East, which to this day remains my all time favorite album PERIOD. Anyways, fast forward a couple of years and I happen to catch the video for This Lonely Heart and ran out and picked up Hurricane Eyes and also loved it. Little did I know that Lightning Strikes had come out in the middle of those two, and it wasn't until a number of years later that I figured this out.

Fast forward to last week, when I got Lightning Strikes, finally. The first song was very surprising, I thought it was very 80's, very much "pop" metal. I was kind of disapointed. But then came the second song, and then the third, and thankfully, all the "pop-ness" of the first song was contained in the first song. During the first song, I was like, how can this be? It was a big change from thunder in the east, and it was also a lot different than anything on hurricane eyes. Don't get me wrong, the first song is good, it just wasn't a good loudness song.But the rest make up for it. I wish I would have bought this years ago.

So bottom line, if you like Thunder in the East, you'll like Lightning Strikes, or if you like Hurrican Eyes, you'll like lightning strikes. And if you don't have Thunder in the East, BUY IT TODAY. It's by far the best Loudness CD ever.

Keep On Rockin.

I was a fan of classic metal, but I didn't know what a Japanese band would sound like. I kept hearing that the music was good, but the vocals were not so hot. I finally bought this album, and the vocals are fine, and understandable. This is one of the best 80's heavy metal groups I've ever heard. Musically, they pretty much blow away all the west coast L.A bands. The guitar is the best, and most original shredding since Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. The rest of the band smokes as well. If you like classic heavy metal, you will love this group. It just goes to show that good metal is universal.

The first album I heard by Loudness was Thunder in the East. It is one of my all-time favorite 1980s metal albums. I did not think I needed to check out any other Loudness record since none could come close to Thunder; at least, that is what I thought. Well, I was wrong. Their next release in 1986 Lightning Strikes demonstrates how lightning can strike twice for a band. I was reluctant at first but, after listening to this album many times, I proclaim Lightning better than Thunder. Every track is amazing and it includes my all-time favorite Loudness track (just topping my previous favorite "No Way Out").

"Let It Go" is an awesome opener. It is an upbeat rocker with addictive hooks. Very accessible. The next track, however, is my all-time favorite Loudness song: "Dark Desire." I can't praise it enough. The guitar riffs are addictive and the pounding drums are incredible! It just makes you want to rock out! I find myself hitting the "repeat track" button on this one (well, actually, I move the needle or push the rewind button). My future metal compilation tapes will always include this track! "1000 Eyes" continues the trend of incredible tracks. It has a powerful opening riff with excellent guitar at the verses up to the chorus. Niihara's vocals at the chorus seem a bit strained, but they do not detract from the song. The song just rocks! "Face to Face" is a fast and blazing track. "Who Knows" is highlighted by Akira Takasaki's guitarwork as is usually the case for Loudness. His playing here is not so much heavy and rocking as it is a virtuoso's style much like Eddie Van Halen.

The second half of the album begins with another stellar track. "Ashes in the Sky" opens with beautiful guitar and vocals then explodes into a powerful song with thundering drums. It is a slower track but with a lot of depth and is also catchy. It offers a superb guitar solo. "Black Star Oblivion" is a furious track with pounding drums and flying guitars. The guitar riff right before the chorus is what I remember the most as well as its killer guitar solo. "Street Life Dream" is an excellent, straight-forward rocker. "Complication" is a nice ending track with pleasant vocals but not losing its rocking edge.

I had thought Thunder was Loudness' zenith but Lightning Strikes shows that there was still a little ways to go before they reached their peak; well, the peak of Loudness with English lyrics anyway. I have not heard the earlier material the band put out in Japan with Japanese lyrics, but I have heard it is incredible. Unfortunately, lightning did not strike again the next year with the disappointing Hurricane Eyes (unlike the Thunder and Lightning, the Hurricane was a true disaster) and, after Niihara was fired from the band, I lost interest.

This is probably my all time favorite cd. I remember draggin a friend all around Tampa Florida to find this cd to no avail..alas! the internet was born. EVERY track on here is a masterpiece and the production is second to none..the vocals and guitar are awesome and full of melody!

This is one of the BETTER less known 80's hardrock cds , PRODUCED by MAX NORMAN . This cd is great , Melodic & catchy , GREAT guitar work & riffs by AKIRA TAKASAKI !!! --- Songs that are best are : DARK DESIRE ,...LET IT GO...ASHES IN THE SKY.... A great cd to revisit !!! --- OTHER MELODIC HARDROCK / METAL BANDS I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CAN FIND HERE ON AMAZON.COM ---- ( Stratovarius , Masterplan , Icon , Magnitude 9 , Kamelot , TNT , Yngwie Malmsteen )

Buy Lightning Strikes, if not for Akira Takasaki's unbelievable runs throughout the disc, for one song...Street Life Dream. In unrecognized rock history, it has to be up at the top. Every time I hear this song, I find myself reaching, uncontrollably, for the volume knob...where is that Spinal Tap "11" when you need it?!!! Street Life Dream, from the unacclaimed major rock band Loudness, is one of the most important songs to never have attention paid it. Only Prince outweighs Loudness in the category of putting out inconsistent music. But, buy and listen to Street Life Dream...and turn it up as loud as you can.

I like this one and my other loudness cds. Its popish and on par with the american counterparts of the day but loudness had a little more technique and though my tastes have evolved into progressivly heavier bands I still like this as much as when i bought it back then.I would recommend it highly.

Loudness, a Japanese band, has put together some of the most sold, well-written 80s metal I have ever heard. Akira Takasaki is an EXCELLENT guitar player. "Face To Face" and "Ashes In The Sky" are among my favorites. Don't worry - these guys sing in English.

When I first heard the new Loudness single "Crazy Nights" in 1985 that introduced the band to mainstream America, I thought it was a joke. Ok here is some Japanese band that is mimicing all the American hair metal bands in one big cliche. A year later this album came out and I got it and I was completely blown away. This wasn't just some Japanese copy band. They were the real deal. Blistering licks, awesome riffs, catchy rhthyms; I was HOOKED! Forget the vocals and just listen to the voice as another instrument in the mix. It works! Defintely one of the best metal bands not only of the '80's, but ever. I saw them play live around '87 or so and they were awesome. They had fantastic sound, crunching guitars, and it was one of the best shows I ever saw. I wish I could've seen them again. Ah, the good old daze! ;-P