Album Rating: 4.0

Ah really? X knows no wrong so im sure the wait will be worth it anyway

Their discog is close to flawless

Album Rating: 4.5

I also hate how they only play the same old boring tracks every concert now. I dont want to listen to Born To Be Free or Jade for the 100000th time, I wanna hear some of the classic X stuff the seemingly refuse to play, like Sadistic Desire or Blue Blood. Toshl did a concert recently where he performed almost the entirety of Vanishing Vision with a band of v-kei indie artists, and it was better than every X show in the last 10 years, and something tells me Toshl was having a better time on stage as well. The 'new' album is going to be bad, I really think hide brought something to the band and sorta balanced out Yoshiki's cheesy tendencies with his more industrial songwriting, but now that he's gone Yoshiki's coming in full force with the cheese

Album Rating: 4.0

You can argue that about so many big rock artists unfortunately in terms of setlist. I don't think another X Japan album would be bad, but it wouldn't be up the standards of their previous material. Song like I.V., Jade, and Beneath the Skin slap but Scarlet Love Song is underwhelming and Born to the Free can fuck off.

Album Rating: 4.5

That's true, most artists fall into performing their most popular 'legacy' tracks in their setlists with new material. I just feel X has performed the exact same show every single time for the past 10 years lol. My suspicion is its because of Yoshiki's health and he doesn't want to perform as many of the faster songs of their early years during setlists, but thats just my head cannon now

Album Rating: 4.5

More than likely, what with his health conditions regarding his neck/back/wrists and all; the smart play would be to release the new album before Yoshiki goes the way of Phil Collins and can’t play anything anymore.

Album Rating: 4.0

hahah in a Perfect world Yoshki would be a Phil Collins

Album Rating: 4.5

The lyrics on Tears, though pretty cheesy and at times constructed of broken English, are really beautiful. I was listening to it today and I'd never really listened to the spoken word part at the end, which is Yoshiki's message to his father who committed suicide

Album Rating: 4.0

Real conflicted on this one. The title track and Rusty Nail rule, and Tears is a great ballad, but the overabundance of said ballads on this brings it down a bit for me. Still, this has some of their most emotional stuff, it definitely has that "final album" vibe.

For folks who are more knowledgeable about this band than I am, anything else I should go for after all their studio albums? I hear the live version of Art of Life is absolutely essential, was thinking of taking a look at it. It seems like a fitting next stop after this.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah, Art of Life Live and The Last Live are both excellent choices after the studio album chronology. The Last Live in particular is fantastic

Album Rating: 4.0

Live version of Art of Life is essential yes.



After that, watch The Last Live (as in sit your ass down and watch it, not just listen to it). Absolutely essential VK/J-Rock viewing, but man it's also tough to watch knowing all the shit that happened before and after it.

Album Rating: 4.5

Id say their blue blood live show 'BLUE BLOOD TOUR 爆発寸前 GIG' would be the best place to start if you'd like to see the best lineup of the band in their earlier years, great performances and more metal focused than ballady like their later shows. Also check all of X Japan Returns

Album Rating: 4.0

Just watched that show, it's awesome.

Album Rating: 4.5

RIP Heath, dude was a killer bassist.

https://youtu.be/9TEQwYNkL78

Album Rating: 4.5

Damn, huge RIP. He was there for some of the band's best records :/

Album Rating: 4.0

That's a bummer. Didn't their other longtime bassist also pass away some time ago?

But yeah, huge RIP. Him being on Art of Life alone is enough to be considered legendary.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yea, i believe Taiji passed in like 2011? He had a one off performance with them after the 2007 reunion, but never rejoined the band. His original departure is still a heated subject amongst fans, they never really told us why he was kicked out, tho most think it was just a dispute between he an Yoshiki which seems likely

Album Rating: 4.5

Taiji's death was really tragic too. He had to be taken off of life support, due to brain damage caused by a failed suicide attempt... such a sad way to go

Album Rating: 4.0

Between this, Sakurai, Issay, and Ken all passing this is an horrific year for Japanese rock music.

Album Rating: 4.0

Just watched The Last Live again...



There is nothing like that show.

Album Rating: 4.5

Should’ve added the subtitle of “From Elation to Devastation” to The Last Live