V/A if it's loud, we're proud TEST128317
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Artist = V/A
Title = if it's loud, we're proud
Label = MAUSOLEUM
Catalog# = TEST128317
Barcode = none
Release = BELGIUM
Year =
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
killer, ostrogoth, crossfire
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The Mausoleum Manifesto: Various Artists – ‘If It’s Loud, We’re Proud’ (TEST 128317)
Today’s entry highlights a definitive artifact from the Belgian heavy metal scene. We are looking at the 1983 12-inch EP compilation If It’s Loud, We’re Proud, released on the legendary Mausoleum Records with the catalog number TEST 128317.
The Title That Became a Slogan
This release is significant not just for the music, but for its title. “If It’s Loud, We’re Proud” became the enduring slogan for Mausoleum Records, a label that documented the explosion of European steel in the 1980s. This sampler serves as a showcase for the label’s “Holy Trinity”—the three most important bands on their roster at the time: Killer, Ostrogoth, and Crossfire.
The Tracks
Side A features Killer, the power trio often dubbed the “Belgian Motörhead.” They deliver Walls Of Hell, a medley combining their hits Ready For Hell and Wall Of Sound, followed by the gritty Blood On The Chains. Their sound is rough, fast, and bass-heavy.
Side B opens with arguably the most famous anthem in Belgian metal history: Ecstasy And Danger by Ostrogoth. This track alone makes the record essential, featuring classic twin-guitar harmonies and high-pitched vocals that define the euro-metal sound. The EP closes with Sound Of War by Crossfire, another high-velocity track that showcases the speed metal influence pervading the scene.
Collector’s Details
This 12-inch record features the catalog prefix “TEST,” which Mausoleum typically used for their EP releases. A notable quirk for collectors is a misprint on the center labels: while the labels state “45 T.” (45 RPM), the record is actually mastered to play at 33 ⅓ RPM.
The runout grooves bear the signature “FOON,” indicating it was cut at Foon Mastering Center in Belgium, a stamp of authenticity for domestic Belgian pressings. The cover art, designed by Blueprint, features the classic Mausoleum aesthetic that fans adore. This record is a perfect, concentrated dose of the 1983 Belgian underground.