EARTHSHAKER fugitive K28P-432

Let’s explore a truly definitive album from Japanese hard rock icons Earthshaker: their second studio LP, “Fugitive” (フュージティヴ). Released in 1984 on the Nexus label (King Records) with the catalog number K28P-432, this 12-inch vinyl is often cited as their quintessential early work. This specific copy includes the original obi strip.

“Fugitive” marked a major step for the band. It was their first album recorded overseas, tracked at The Automatt in San Francisco, and produced by Masa Itoh with engineering by Ken Kessie. This production gives the album a distinct sound: a loud, somewhat dark, and heavy mix that provides a powerful foundation for the band’s signature melodic strengths.

This 8-track album is packed with classics and is often recommended as the perfect starting point for new listeners. It features the breakout hit and early signature song, “More,” alongside beloved tracks like the opener “Kioku No Naka” (記憶の中), the ballad “Love Destiny,” and the fan-favorite “22:00” (22時).

This is the album where the “Shaker style” was perfected: a masterful blend of hard rock power, highly emotive, “crying” guitar melodies from Shinichiro “Shara” Ishihara, and the powerful, clear vocals of Masafumi “Marcy” Nishida. K28P-432 captures the band at an early “radiant” peak, solidifying their status alongside Loudness and 44 Magnum as leaders of the 80s Japanese hard rock scene. The release came with an insert, and initial pressings also included a bonus poster.