Japanese metal band that even Japanese don't know
taka(Japanese | Tokyo, Japan | 05/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hard rock or metal rock music is famous in Japan like German or U.S.A. But I think that Japanese h&m bands have a little different taste for the world, that is, their sounds are not always just roudy sounds, by including Japanese unique melodies into the sounds, Japanese metal or heavy rock genre have beautiful melodies. If some foreigners may know about them, a legendary band of X (X-Japan) certified the factors in fact.
But in Japanese music scene, such genre rock has not gotten enough music citizenships. Still, the most famous music genre has been pop-rock in Japan. In the mean, X-Japan may be only metal-band who got the victory in Japan music scene (as I know, the metal band that got single-chart no1 in Japan will be X only).
By the way, the age when the genre of metal rock was born was about early 80', such opinions are said often. And there is certain birthplace that the genre was born, too. That is Oosaka, Kansai region. Maybe foreigners will not know about the place, even if know Tokyo, metropolitan Japan. If I compare them with U.S.A, that may be Boston for N.Y, that is, Osaka have unique and mysterious atmosphere.
The Earth-shakers who I introduce just now is not a major band than X-Japan, so there are not many Japanese who know about them. But between the core and hot fans who have deep knowledge about J-rock, this band is being appreciated as the great band that have splendid playing techniques and beautiful melodies. I think so. In the mean of the band that have great techniques but is not known for Japanese, Earth-shakers may be the same as Show-ya, girls-metal band that Japan should be proud of.
Anyway, if you are interested in Japanese hard or metal rock fans, you will have the value that listen to Earth-shaker sounds.
Thank you for reading poor English.
"
Excellent Japanese Rock
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 05/10/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"You can't help but love a band that dedicates their debut album to the great Y&T and even names themselves after one of the band's albums. In their own unique way, Japanese band Earthshaker follows in Y&T's footsteps, creating their sound at a time when the very idea of heavy metal music was still being developed. Unlike their more metal-minded countrymen in Anthem, Earthshaker has a slightly bluesy, more melodic hard rock sound that owed more to the American West Coast rock style than the NWOBHM.
1983's self-titled album is the first offering from Earthshaker. It's a blistering set of hard rock songs (plus the ballad "I Feel All Sadness") that features some killer guitar work. The vocals are a bit uneven, thanks in part to lyrics that alternate between English and Japanese. The production quality isn't great either. Still, if you're looking for classic Japanese hard rock, Earthshaker is definitely well worth checking out.
Fans of Loudness and Anthem will definitely enjoy Earthshaker, as should fans of Y&T, Axe and other classic hard rock bands.
NOTE: The 1999 Japanese import version of Earthshaker features digitally remastered sound. It doesn't completely eliminate the flaws in the original production, but it definitely helps. If you're going to the trouble of tracking this import down, you might as well go for the best sounding version."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1