| | Full Review | Ratings (690) |
Give your Rating |
| 5.0 classic | Iai EMERITUS | June 26th 06 |
It's always a daunting task to write about a song as monolithic as the mighty "Art Of Life", but at least one thing I can say is that it's never a daunting task to actually listen to it. Given its length (28 minutes and 56 seconds to be precise), that's a pretty major achievement, to say the least. Travelling through beautiful melodies, duelling Iron Maiden-esque guitars, string passages straight out of film scores, and one utterly mind-blowing avant-garde piano solo, not one second is boring or contrived. In one song, X-Japan encapsulate everything that made them so vital so perfectly that they make all their other songs feel like footnotes to this masterpiece.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | SatanicOffering | January 4th 11 |
Possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever heard... some things just need to be seen (well, in this case heard) to be believed... this is one of them.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | BoovTheAlmighty | December 7th 08 |
Now, I may not be Japanese, or understand Japanese, but I know a great song when I hear it. This album is a masterpiece and one of my favourite songs of all time. Yoshiki's piano is breathtaking, the speed metal guitar work is phenomenal, it's hard to find fault at all!
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | davezillaMP3 | May 25th 20 |
A masterpiece of a song/album that everyone needs to hear at least once in their lifetime, yes it is THAT good, regardless of genre preference.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Observer EMERITUS | May 24th 18 |
Read up on this song and the backstory involving its creation. Also read why it's supposed to
be so awesome and why it's considered Japan's "Stairway to Heaven". Also read the lyrics.
Then, I listened to it, while pretending like its lore meant nothing:
This sucks.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Jared Floryan | September 20th 14 |
X Japan did not create an album masquerading as just one track, akin to a gigantic wolf hiding its true nature by donning an elegant sheep costume. What was established is a malevolently gorgeous adventure that's never at all terrified to unleash a broad range of feelings; said journey sums this already graceful band in one of the most absolute nutshells. Art of Life truly astonished me for its consistency in becoming a more-than-audacious move, as a power ballad which unveils speed metal aggression, Toshi's immaculate vocal performance, and even spellbinding (if unorthodox) piano melodies. To summarize, if there is an album - or song, technically speaking - I'm willing to repeat no matter how strenuous the length, then it would rightfully be... the Art of Life.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.7 superb | praise jimmy EMERITUS | May 5th 14 |
You haven't heard this yet? What the fuck are you doing with your life? Go on. Download it.
NOW.
DO IT.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Spare | September 27th 10 |
lol this is so bad what are you talking about
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Xenorazr | April 30th 10 |
This one-track album challenges the listener to not remain interested and convinced that such a feat can work for an LP. What's quite impressive about this is that, since the album is only one song, it raises the concern of it dragging out but, as it carries out the entire album, there's also the possibility of it feeling too short when all is said and done. Fortunately, both are avoided almost completely. If there's any real fault to find, it's that a bit more of the whole band could have kept going a few minutes longer at the end. Though this can easily be associated with the fact that the music is just so good, which is even more impressive given the album isn't far off from the 20 year-old mark, yet sounds incredibly recent.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Monticello | May 24th 07 |
I struggle to find the right words when talking about this. Whenever I listen to this I always find myself in awe, not just at the length which by itself makes the song remarkable, but just at the way everything works so well together. There's almost too many layers to count on this song, and they're all played and timed to perfection by all the responsible musicians. The symphonic elements perfectly complement the metallic elements and there is a great balance between speedy passages and balladesque passages. Despite it's length, it's very hard to find any type of flaw in this song.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Hewitt | July 13th 06 |
Despite containing only one song, this is an amazing disc. It is, however, a very massive song, clocking in around 30 minutes in length. There is a lot of diversity in this one song. You can find harmonized guitar leads, classical sounding piano solos, tight drumming and rhythm, and so on. The feel and mood of this one song changes many times and makes this a very enjoyable listen despite its length. The only downside, as this is a Japanese band, the vocals sung in English are hard to decipher at times.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Hep Kat | June 21st 06 |
At first, I approached this with skeptiscm. That's not to say I wasn't curious (interesting bands have always intrigued me [go figure]), but still I remained a Doubting Thomas as to whether or not this album would live up to my expectations. In short, Art of Life shattered them. This is truly a groundbreaking song that compliments itself so well that I can hardly imagine anyone not becoming infatuated with it. Art of Life is very hard to put into words. It's just that epic. Do yourself a favor and check this out for some musical enlightenment.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Moneylishi | March 25th 23 |
Honestly if they got rid of that fucking piano solo this would be in the 3.0-3.5 territory.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Mitch | September 1st 21 |
Probably the most impressive piece of metal music ever recorded. Absolutely genius.
Bump |
| 0.0 | sean | July 8th 19 |
real rating: 1/5
Bump |
| 0.0 | zetsumeisama | January 23rd 19 |
"I believe in the madness called Now, Time goes flowing, breaking my heart. Wanna live, can't let my heart kill myself, Still I haven't found what I'm looking for! Art of life, I try to stop myself, But my heart goes to destroy the truth. Tell me why? I want the meaning of my life, Do I try to live? Do I try to love?"- Toshimitsu Deyama. "Epic Masterpiece Of Music." Best X Japan album. Best X Japan song: Art of Life. Favorite Track: Art of Life.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | bobcarl2 | September 11th 18 |
No doubt the X Japan at their best; an absolute monster of a song at a staggering 29 minutes. Not many songs (if any) can stack up to the intricate songwriting and attention to detail present on Art of Life.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | lamppostlaunderer | August 14th 13 |
Go read the excellent review of this if you want a more in-depth analysis of this, because I'm going to leave it at this. This is, by some margin, what I consider to be the greatest song I've ever heard. Absolute brilliance.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | NagasakiBomber | December 7th 12 |
An album that is flawed by the annoying piano section in the middle that feels too disjointed for the rest of the release. Still a magnificent album that everyone should give a shot. One 25 minute song, a marathon that is rewarding to lsiten through even if you only listen to the metal sections.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | sithofheaven | February 22nd 11 |
Aptly named, 'Art of Life' covers the full scale of life's emotions in half an hour. Even better, it does it in 9 minutes with the piano solo.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | mcg182 | June 26th 10 |
To me, a power metal classic, and made me look at X Japan differently. I used too think they were the best band in the world. Now, I see that that sentence is an understatement, it just doesn't cut it. Highly recommended to anybody who has the time for one song.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | yukone | January 12th 09 |
Excellent review, i love the song live version of 1993, that was the first song i listened form x-japan.
Bump |
| 0.0 | zulop | November 3rd 08 |
Fucking breathtaking record that every fan of every metal genre should hear. I never imagined anything like this when I hit "play".
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| 5.0 classic | SergioBlaze | December 23rd 07 |
Never have 29 minutes of continuous music felt so well put together. You sometimes hear 10 minutes + songs where you feel it would be better to separate it in 2 or 3 small tracks. Not here. The piano solo is definitely the highlight of the album.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | DLEETD | March 20th 07 |
This is, by far, the greatest epic I've ever heard. Despite how progressive this band is, they've never lost their emotional side to technical wankery. Keyboard solo is probably one of the greatest solos I've ever heard, including those played on guitars. You just can't match it.
It is a sin this can't be bought anywhere in North America.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | Divinis | October 28th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Davey | October 8th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Sarah | July 29th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | joitp | March 13th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | DJD1ed | March 5th 23 |
| 2.5 average | KuyJuk | January 12th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | MvdW | October 25th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | yinei007 | September 14th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | walfernu | November 12th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | November 10th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Harff7 | September 16th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | KOZAKY | July 4th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Lassie | March 17th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Zaleb | July 24th 20 |
| 2.0 poor | Ryus | July 8th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Masha2k | January 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Spag | January 17th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Kechos | October 18th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Jadmin | October 18th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Uzumaki | September 5th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Saros | May 8th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Link | May 3rd 19 |
| 3.5 great | Roidv | April 11th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Blurbs | March 11th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | "Tab" | December 4th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | 2ool | October 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kirderf | October 4th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Vakian | July 11th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | elch21 | March 23rd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | March 5th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Davil667 | February 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alastor | January 2nd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Fabio | November 30th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Spado | October 31st 17 |
| 2.0 poor | Rambles | September 11th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Elynna | September 2nd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Chongy | August 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Ceg | June 25th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | AKI | April 17th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Tib | March 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Xavier | March 19th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Yotimi | February 16th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Thiagao | February 12th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Jedaum | February 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | El Olam | January 4th 17 |
| 3.0 good | helti | November 29th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | fanta | October 11th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | niaL | October 7th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Henry | September 5th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | kzy | May 29th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | CWBrown | February 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Prognoz | February 7th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Pegana | November 18th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Rice303 | September 18th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | RobotE | August 15th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | jybt | June 16th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | mdrive | May 27th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Laymi | March 2nd 15 |
| 5.0 classic | KyleW | January 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lours | January 13th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Dizchu | October 26th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Hybza | September 8th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kris/KJ | June 17th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | ngk44 | April 18th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Tonzx | April 3rd 14 |
| 5.0 classic | kaca | April 3rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | SMK | March 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Tale | February 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kralle | February 17th 14 |
| 3.0 good | adr | February 12th 14 |
| 3.0 good | FWX | February 2nd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | msm008 | January 31st 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Ddv94 | January 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | orby | January 19th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Eremita | December 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Sithese | October 31st 13 |
| 2.5 average | smudo | October 23rd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | WheDie | October 19th 13 |
| 3.0 good | llll | September 3rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | k4yser | August 18th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | gegiu | July 15th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | arf | March 17th 13 |
| 3.0 good | JIIKX | March 14th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Zamora | March 3rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | gumi | January 23rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Stonik | January 21st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Zeg | December 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | setton | December 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | facupm | December 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | manosg EMERITUS | November 28th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | nemuru | November 15th 12 |
| 2.5 average | JJwins | November 3rd 12 |
| 2.5 average | Mendigo | October 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Titan50 | October 11th 12 |
| 2.5 average | Lynx1 | October 8th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Drpibb | September 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | cuki92 | August 14th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Gard3n | July 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | renkls | July 8th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Tulten | May 10th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Mike08 | February 23rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | KILL | February 9th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | joyless | February 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ignored | December 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Kaozz16 | December 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Sig | September 27th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Hocmat | September 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zeneren | August 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Corvus | April 20th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | nkbr | April 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Aether | March 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Envy3 | March 21st 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Dummit | February 24th 11 |
| 3.5 great | itchy | February 15th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | sidjmt | January 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | bjorkil | January 9th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | IRAI | December 12th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | dario92 | November 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | easolet | October 14th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Ayon | September 20th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | taroo | September 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Baphomet | September 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | PieRye | September 15th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Valle | June 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | lakku | May 17th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Piglet | March 13th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | rheey90 | February 19th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | JKR | February 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Merkin | November 18th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | blabony | September 1st 09 |
| 4.5 superb | 1zero | August 20th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Poet | June 20th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mikesn EMERITUS | June 16th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Bleak | March 25th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Eki | January 26th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | RedSky | December 5th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Zen1th | November 7th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | kurenai | August 28th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Cris32 | July 27th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Helens | July 27th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | sat23 | July 27th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Sempel | July 25th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Umb | July 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Quark | May 3rd 08 |
| 5.0 classic | tkX | April 27th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arcaeus | April 20th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | RJayZ | February 23rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | soul27 | February 9th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | EcoRed | January 24th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | zuzek | January 18th 08 |
| 2.5 average | tuff | October 30th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | yeahboi | October 13th 07 |
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