LOUDNESS thunder in the east AF-7337

The Storm Arrives: Loudness’ Breakthrough ‘Thunder in the East’ (AF-7337)

Today we highlight a monumental album not just for the band Loudness, but for the entire history of Japanese heavy metal’s global reach. This is the original Japanese pressing of their legendary album “Thunder in the East,” released in 1985 on the Nippon Columbia (Affix) label with the catalog number AF-7337.

While released internationally on Atco Records with huge success (often considered their international debut), this Japanese version represents the album’s origin. “Thunder in the East” was Loudness’ fifth studio album but their first specifically aimed at the worldwide market, featuring lyrics entirely in English. It broke into the Billboard charts in the US, a groundbreaking achievement for a Japanese band at the time, establishing them as a major force internationally.

The album is a masterpiece of 80s heavy metal. It features Minoru Niihara’s powerful English vocals, Masayoshi Yamashita’s driving bass, Munetaka Higuchi’s thunderous drums, and the absolutely scorching, world-class guitar pyrotechnics of Akira Takasaki. It contains some of their most iconic anthems, including the internationally recognized hit “Crazy Nights” (a re-recording of “Crazy Doctor” with English lyrics), the speed metal fury of “Like Hell,” and the powerful “Heavy Chains.”

“Thunder in the East” (AF-7337) cemented Loudness’ place on the world stage and remains a high-water mark for Japanese heavy metal. It’s an essential album showcasing incredible musicianship and powerful songwriting that crossed language barriers.