X-Japan
Art of Life

What??!?! I searched for a review of X-Japan and there isn't even one?!?!? How can anyone forget one of the most majestic metal bands that ever existed in the world and in Japan?!? I'll fix this... Starting with their CD-single: "Art of Life".

Boys/Girls let me shout out: the true masterpiece. This CD is very old, and it features only one song, with the considerable length of 34.08 minutes, namely "Art of Life". It starts immediately with a small intro with only the piano, which then gives way to the voice, majestic. Everything begins magically, an enchanting atmosphere. Then, silence. The 4 hits on the cymbals suddenly, and it's finally the turn of the drums and the 6 strings, which break the initial flow with an entrance in "Metallica" style but with an "X-Japan" style, meaning entirely their own. The rhythm that emerges is simply magnificent, everything is perfect: the good use of the drums and guitar makes these 5 minutes of the song a milestone. Then a confused off-stage female voice breaks in, and the much-anticipated first guitar solo starts, with the drums skillfully doing their job. Then again voice and music, wonderful music. And here once more, the art of the guitar is felt again, a solo as beautiful as few. Repeated chorus and then everything stops. The off-stage voice returns, this time clearer, accompanied by sweet violins. Here, a sweet Piano sound lasting 6 minutes or more spreads through the air. We reach the end of this long and thrilling song: verse and chorus repeated but with a change of rhythm.

Sorry for the "sporty" comment, but for just one song and moreover so long, I couldn't do anything else. The genre of X-Japan is a mix of early Dream Theater, Malmsteen, Metallica, Helloween. But I repeat, with this Art of Life, they haven't tried to imitate anyone, rather, they have tried to be themselves, and they've done it. For metal lovers in general, it's an album that must not be missing from the shelf. Well done, X-Japan.