On the Turntable: “Thunder in the East” by Loudness, Atco Records, 1984. Rating 5/10.
The U.S. debut by the Japanese metal quartet featuring the MTV hit “Crazy Nights” (“You are the hero tonight!”) fueled by the thrash riffing of guitarist/songwriter/founder Akira Takasaki and the nearly operatic vocals of singer/lyricist Minoru Niihara, produced by Max Norman of Ozzy fame.
The first side is mostly straightforward cock rock albeit with lyrics that are more Quiet Riot than Motley Crue, with the possible exception of “Heavy Chains”, a dark epic about a runaway girl.
The songs of the second side are a little more complex structurally. “Run for Your Life” features some cool time changes. But the album’s triumph is the closing ballad “Never Change Your Mind”, one of those quintessential album closers - the sort of song that inspired me, in junior high, to pay special attention to the last songs on albums.