POP CAPSULES : JAPAN AMBASSADORS OF HEAVY METAL

In one of rock’s more peculiar traditions, marginal heavy-metal bands from England or America would often travel to Japan and somehow end up deified there. In what might be considered atonement for creating this “zero to hero” effect, Japan has spawned Loudness, a melodious metal outfit that turned in a strong, perky performance Saturday at the Hollywood Palladium. Loudness doesn’t break much hard-rock ground, but spurred by Akira Takasaki’s deft guitar work, the quartet did cover familiar terrain with freshness and engaging vigor.

Second-billed Warrior demonstrated considerably more interest in variety--both lyrical and musical--than most of its head-banging brethren. Unfortunately, the L.A.-based quintet achieved this variety in part with excessive tempo shifts and unwise pacing tactics--like trotting out drum and bass solos before the set was 15 minutes old. But once Warrior sharpens its overall presentation, the group may become yet another L.A.-bred heavy-metal hotshot.

The opening set by Malice was long on visceral power, and short on just about everything else. The Loudness-Warrior bill moves to San Diego’s California Theatre on Friday.