MAXIMUM METAL

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Loudness - Biosphere - reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1. Hellrider
2. Biosphere
3. Savior
4. My Precious
5. Wind From Tibet
6. System Crush
7. The Night Is Still Young
8. Shame On You
9. Break My Mind
10. So Beautiful
11. For You
Well it looks like Japan’s finest metal band has returned again. I saved up my normal $30 Japanese import price and picked this up one week after the release date. You gotta pay for the goods folks, and this one isn’t coming out domestically.

The original lineup is in place here once again, consisting of Akira Takasaki, Masayoshi Yamashita, Minoru Niihara, and Munetaka Higuchi (Don’t ask me how in the hell to say their names right). Biosphere combines alot of different metal stylings, and may not catch the average metal listener. You have influences ranging from classic metal ala Maiden and Priest, mixed with the early sounds of "Thunder In The East" era Loudness swamped in the heaviness of "Burn My Eyes" style Machine Head.

The band proves that they are still interested in changing their sound to a degree, adding a modern flavor to the sound at times. You’ll find heavy doses of Sabbath downtuning, Nu-Metal, and even a little bit of Zeppelin thrown in to add a pyschadelic touch. The album starts out with a ripping opener, Hellrider, that brings to mind a stylish Judas Priest type Painkiller.

Niihara shows after 20+ years in the business he can still wail with the best of ‘em. Wind From Tibet and System Crush could have been taken right off of early albums like "Lightning Stikes" or "Hurricane Eyes". Twin guitar melody and soaring leads boost both tracks to the top of the album’s playlist. The title track has a 70s hard rock vibe leading into a crushing chorus highlighted by Higuchi’s bombastic drumming. My Precious has heavy bass line rumbling courtesy of Yamashita, reminding me of the Red Hot Chili Peppers at times.

They still show the hard rocking sound of Japan on The Night Is Still Young and Savior. This is one of my favorite albums of 2002 and Loundess continues to be my favorite band from Japan, topping Anthem, EZO, and Earthshaker in overall quality. If you liked all of the albums that Niihara has sang for this band (Yamada turned them into a blues band), you’ll love this one. Basically another "Thunder In The East" with modern overtones. The best $30 I’ve ever spent. --EC 1.21.03

Maximum Metal Rating Legend - Full Details

5	Excellent - Buy it and say a prayer to the metal gods that you were tuned on to this masterpiece. A classic.
4-4.5	Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a clunker or a lacking somewhere to keep it from perfection. You won't feel bad about dropping some bones on these.
3.5	Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler. This is the OK range where you'd search for the record on sale or used.
3	Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio. Could show skills but be dull overall. Redeeming qualities for indy bands are effort and passion. Majors that don't try or suck outright end up here.
2-2.5	Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors. There is much better metal out there.
1-1.5	Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0	Terrible or an otherwise waste of your life and time.
Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun. The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself. Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

All reviews for this band:

CD	TITLE	BAND	DOR	REVIEWER	DATE
	2.0.1.2	Loudness	2012	EC	1/11/2013

	Biosphere	Loudness	2002	EC	1/21/2003

	Eve To Dawn	Loudness	2011	EC	1/30/2012

	Rock Shocks	Loudness	2006	EC	3/15/2006

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