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Rating: 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.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 BLUE BLOOD (05:03)
MY FACE IS COVERED WITH BLOOD
THERE'S NOTHING BUT PAIN
oitsumerareta keraku ni
I CAN'T TELL WHERE I'M GOING TO
I'M RUNNING, ALL CONFUSED
shinimono-gurui de
THEN I SEE YOU STANDING THERE
CAN DO NOTHING BUT RUN AWAY
oikakete kuru genkaku ni
LOOK OUT! I'M RAVING MAD
YOU CAN'T STOP MY MADNESS
kirikizanda yume wa kyouki ni nagareru
(I'LL SLICE MY FACE COVERED WITH BLUE BLOOD)
(GIVE ME SOME MORE PAIN)
(GIVE ME THE THROES OF DEATH)
namida ni tokeru aoi chi o yokubou ni kaete
umarekawatta sugata o yosoutte mite mo
kodoku ni obieru kokoro wa ima mo
sugisatta yume o motome-samayou
higeki ni odoru kanashimi o maboroshi ni kaete
sameta sugata no butai o enjite mite mo
hitomi ni afureru kyozou wa ima mo
nugisuteta ai o azayaka ni utsusu
(GIVE ME SOME MORE PAIN)
(GIVE ME THE THROES OF DEATH)
wasurerarenai kanashimi o maboroshi ni kaete
umarekawatta sugata o yosotte mite mo
aoi namida wa higeki ni odoru kodoku no
kokoro o ima demo nurashi-tsuzukeru
(English version)
------------------------------------
My face is covered with blood.
There's nothing but pain,
passing closest to pleasure.
I can't tell where I'm going to.
I'm running all confused.
Death himself is coming.
Then I see you standing there,
can do nothing but run away.
Following you in my dream.
Look out! I'm raving mad.
You can't stop my sadness.
The first dream is beginning to flow.
(I'll slice my face, covered with blue blood.)
(Give me some more pain.)
(Give me throws of death.)
Tears melt in blue blood.
A blurry, reincarnated form of desire.
Now a frightened lonely heart
seeks to wander with the passing of dreams.
Dance to the sad tragedy as a phantom.
On the awakening form of the stage.
My eyes overflow again
To disappear, throw away love's gleaming replica.
(Give me some more pain.)
(Give me throws of death.)
Tears melt in blue blood.
A blurry, reincarnated form of desire.
Blue tears dance to the tragedy of solitude.
As my heart continues to be soaked.
03 WEEK END (06:03)
I HEAR A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
hageshiku semaru
ushinai-kaketa ishiki no naka de
omae ga sasayaku
oitsumerareta kokoro tokasu
nibi iro no shouzou
kirikizamareta kioku wo utsushidasu
sakimidareta HATEFUL BLACK HEART
kokoro ni semaru
togisumasareta TRANSIENT FEELING
hitonami no naka
HISTERIC ni zawameku kaze ni
tomaranai namida wo
mune ni dakishime kodoku wo irodoru
* I'VE NOTHING TO LOSE
(LOVE ME TILL THE END)
EXCEPT YOUR HEART [x2]
tekubi wo nagareru chi wo omae no karada ni
karamitsukeru to isshun no uchi ni yomigaeru
kioku ni shikai wo
tozasare warainagara nigeteyuku omae no sugata wo
mitsumeru kizutsuita ore ga tatteru
WEEK END
# WEEK END, WEEK END
WEEK END, I'M AT MY WIT'S END
WEEK END
[* repeat]
NO WAY OUT
I HEAR A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
hageshiku semaru
ushinaikaketa ishiki no naka de
omae ga sasayaku
tsumetai yubisaki nobashi
kizuguchi ni kuchizuke
Akaku somatta kyouki wo dakishimeru
kagami wo mitsumenagara furueru karada ni
nagarehajimeta sukitooru chi wo aojiroi omae
no kokoroni
karamase genkaku ni kieteyuku saigo no namida wo
hiroi atsumete chi no umi ni madoromu
WEEK END WEEK END
WEEK END, I STILL LOVE YOU
WEEK END, BUT I CANNOT CARRY ON
tekubi wo nagareru chi wo omae no karada ni
karamitsukeru to isshun no uchi ni yomigaeru
kioku ni shikai wo
tozasare warainagara nigeteyuku omae no sugata wo
mitsumeru kizutsuita ore ga tatteru
WEEK END
# repeat [x6]
WEEK END
06 ENDLESS RAIN (06:36)
I’m walking in the rain
行くあてもなく 膜い刻邋Δ椁
jみつく 訾辘韦钉铯幛
肪Aけて 彷徨う いつまでも
Until I can forget your love
眠りは麻a
途方にくれた 心を静かに溶かす
舞い上がる 郅蛴护椁护
ふるえる身体を のN薇につつむ
I keep my love for you to myself
Endless rain，fall on my heart 心の
Let me forget all of the hate，all of the sadness
Day of joy，days of sadness slowly pass me by
As I try to hold you，you are vanishing before me
You’re just an illusion
When I’m awaken，my tears have dried
in the sand of sleep
I’m a rose blooming in the desert
It’s a dream，I’m in love with you
まどろみ抱きしめて
I awake from my dream
I can’t find my way without you
The dream is over
声にならない 言~をRり返しても
高すぎる灰色の壁は
^ぎ去った日の思いを簸诵搐
Until I can forget your love
Endless rain，let me stay evermore in your heart
Let my heart take in your tears, take in your memories
Endless rain
10 CELEBRATION (04:52)
(SO TIRED)
norari kurari no CHEAP TIME
I'M NEVER SATISFIED
gozen sanji no TV SHOW
sagesumu kuchibiru kara wa SEX APPEAL
(BITCH)
mikakedaoshi no HYPER LADY
I'M NEVER SATISFIED
tatta gofun no CELEBRATION
kinyou no asa made nya kieusero!
mayonakasugi no CINDERELLA yo...
GLASS no kutsu wa mou iranai
ELITE kidori no PINOCCHIO no hana wa
orete hia ni naru
tokeishikake no DNA
MANEQUIN domo no BABBLE wa 9 to 5
imaimashiku moekuruu taiyou wo
hikizuri orose
machiwabiteta toki wa semaru
mittsu kazoeru madenya keri tsukero!
(1 2 3 YOU GOT IT!!)
NEW YORK kara ore no heya made
kuroi CURTAIN de oitsukuse VELVET NIGHT
HEY! CELEBRATION!
RING A BELL!! SWING YOUR HEART! SING A SONG!
HEY! CELEBRATION!
THROW AWAY! SAIL AWAY SHOUT IT OUT! SHOW IT OUT!
COME ON! CELEBRATION!
murasaki no SMOKE AND ILLUSION
STAND UP! REVOLUTION
LIMOUSINE ni hi wo tsukero
when the clock struck at midnight
the coach turned into a pumpkin and
the dress became a rug!
and only a glass slipper was left behind
suddenly Cinderella crushed it and
she kicked her fuckin' onld stepmother out
and, she started for the real celebration
that would start very soon
SUPANKOORU no tsuki ga warau machi
FINAL no koe wa todokanai
HEY! CELEBRATION!
RING A BELL!! SWING YOUR HEART! SING A SONG!
HEY! CELEBRATION!
THROW AWAY! SAIL AWAY SHOUT IT OUT! SHOW IT OUT!
COME ON! CELEBRATION!
aoi chi no WINE wo
CHEERS! CONGRATULATIONS!
sekaijuu ni LET IT FALL
12 UNFINISHED (04:29)
Oh? I'm looking at you,
can't control myself
nothing but pain for me.
Wipe your tears, from your eyes.
Just leave and forget me.
No need to be hurt anymore.
Go away from me now,
I don't know, what is love?
No need to be hurt anymore.
You said 'I miss you so much.'
Every night,
thinking of you, and facing loneliness.
But when you feel sadness,
never can I stay with you.
I'm not the one you need.
Close your eyes and forget me.
There's nothing I can do anymore.
I've lost my way...
I've been walking in the night of tears.
There, I found someone was holding you.
As the night was all falling down.
With my love also vanished my vision of you...
My heart is cold now.
Wipe your tears, from your eyes.
Just leave, and forget me.
No need to be hurt, anymore.
You said 'I need you always'
Everyday,
thinking of you, and living in loneliness.
But when you feel sadness, never can I stay with you.
Go away from me now.
I don't know, what is love?
No need to be hurt, anymore.
Can't find my way...
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By ColinGreenwood
Everything is perfect, EVERYTHING.
If I could, I would have this piece played at my wedding.
