Released 40 years ago
Lightning Strikes (Loudness album)
Loudness · 1986
39 min · 9 tracks · heavy metal
A blistering fusion of heavy riffs and intricate melodies, showcasing the technical prowess of Japan's leading metal band.
Top tracks — play these first
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Let It Go — As the lead single, this track combines infectious hooks with powerful instrumentation, perfectly encapsulating Loudness's signature sound and appeal to Western audiences.
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Dark Desire — This song showcases a darker lyrical theme paired with complex guitar work, illustrating the band's ability to blend melody with heaviness.
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1000 Eyes — '1000 Eyes' highlights the band's technical skill, featuring intricate solos and dynamic shifts that represent their progressive metal influences effectively.
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Ashes in the Sky — With its expansive arrangement and emotive lyrics, this track exemplifies Loudness's capacity for creating atmospheric soundscapes within a heavy metal context.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong compositions and technical skill, though it follows familiar heavy metal structures.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Let It Go', featuring rapid guitar solos and driving rhythms that set a fast pace for the first half.
- Each song typically features multiple tempo changes, often shifting from aggressive riffs to melodic interludes within the same track.
- The final three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, creating a contrast that allows for more introspective moments before concluding.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo headbangers
- dynamic vocal performances
- melodic riffs for sing-alongs
- energizing tracks for workouts
Maybe skip if you
- prefer soft, mellow sounds
- seek experimental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Loudness's international presence after their earlier success.
- Career context
- Released in 1986, Lightning Strikes is Loudness's fifth studio album and marks a significant point in their international career following their breakthrough with 1985's Thunder in the East. At this stage, they were solidifying their presence in the North American market, aiming to expand their reach beyond Japan.
- Stylistic neighbors
- X Japan· Galneryus· Concerto Moon
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Let It Go 4:14
- 2 Dark Desire 4:20
- 3 1000 Eyes 4:36
- 4 Face to Face 3:50
- 5 Who Knows 4:04
- 6 Ashes in the Sky 6:03
- 7 Black Star Oblivion 3:55
- 8 Street Life Dream 4:30
- 9 Complication 4:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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