X-Japan
Blue Blood

THE REVIEW

One of the Land of the Rising Sun groups that achieved the greatest success outside of Japan (particularly in Europe) deserved to be duly remembered. Therefore, I am about to review a masterpiece from their discography and from metal in general, which perhaps didn’t achieve the success this piece of history deserved: maybe because they sang in Japanese and were hard to understand, or perhaps because of their extravagant look, a symbol of the glam metal of which they were great exponents.

But nonetheless, our X Japan gave birth to an (beyond any prejudice) astonishing album: rich with numerous solos from hide, Pata, and Taiji, frantic rhythms guaranteed by a Yoshiki in great shape, and the immense voice of Toshi. All encompassed in 12 tracks to listen and re-listen to in complete silence...
The first track, "Prologue," is an introduction to the album and the second track: in these two minutes and a little more, hide and Pata create a solemn atmosphere with their guitars to introduce "Blue Blood," which starts immediately strong: Yoshiki's drumming is violent and fast, Toshi's voice is compelling with highlighted guitars with quick and piercing chords.
When the last distorted note of hide's guitar plays, a few seconds of calm notes ensue with hide's usual guitar introducing "Week End," then the drums start
and a song less metal than the others, almost hard rock. "Easy Flight Rumbling" is very similar to the previous one, but with mild '80s hues. The fifth track "X" is one of the most famous from the group (it's a song they dedicate to their fans): Toshi's voice reaches the peak of its beauty, the instrumental closing is spine-chilling, and hide and Pata's solos are simply splendid.

After reaching the peak of exhilaration, spirits calm down, and the splendid ballad "Endless Rain" with its arpeggios and violins makes us scream, cry, and be moved during hide's central solo. The seventh track (the only one in the group's discography with a title in Japanese) "Kurenai" is probably the best on the album. A concert highlight, it starts with Toshi's sorrowful words lamenting a lost love; but then the anger comes in when Yoshiki hits the cymbals four times and violent riffs start, deep screams and then the chorus, majestic and piercing as usual...
"X-Calmation" is an eclectic and strange song, with various rhythm changes, instrumental, in which Taiji's bass plays a fundamental role; this piece seems to introduce the next one, "Orgasm"
which, being the fastest song in the "X" repertoire, highlights the enormous skills of Yoshiki on drums and hide on guitar.

The tenth track, "Celebration" is perhaps the most easy-listening, but no less for that, with Pata's splendid interludes that enrich a catchy song. But it's towards the end that the quintet gives their best: the beautiful "Rose Of Pain" starts with a piece of Bach's "Fugue in G Minor" on organ, then gives way to a powerful and melodic power metal
and sinks into melancholy during the subsequent guitar interludes, anguished and heartrending, decorated for the occasion with Yoshiki's piano notes.
After approximately 12 minutes of the previous piece, comes the twelfth and final track "Un-Finished," a melancholic slow piece, ideal for concluding this great album, worthy of remaining forever in the history of Japanese metal and beyond.

A final thought for hide, as you will remember, who died in 1997: from the "Art Of Life" comments, I have noticed that some people don't care much... I do, so peace to his soul and thank you for giving the whole world this spectacular work.