Japanese supergroup, The Last Rockstars, has landed in the U.S. The band’s shining roster includes Yoshiki (X-Japan) on piano and drums, vocalist HYDE (L’arc-en-ciel), and expert guitarists Sugizo (X-Japan and Luna Sea) and Miyavi. Following an explosive live debut in Tokyo, the band trekked stateside.
One of the best things about reviewing music, in my opinion, is having a music-savvy senior editor that encourages me to review music that is not in my wheelhouse. I have realized that if I was left to my own devices, I would likely stay in my little Heavy Metal utopia, reviewing only what I picked. I received the promo email from my editor about doing a review of Japanese act HYDE. Full disclosure, the only musical act I was familiar with from Japan was Babymetal. So, when I got the promo of HYDE’s new album, Anti, (UMG), I felt a tiny twinge of trepidation. After all, what do I know about Japanese music? Absolutely nada. How was I going to do a fair an accurate review of this music was my query. As soon as the first track off of Anti, started playing, all my fears of doing an inadequate review dissipated. The music that came pouring into my earbuds was the kind of music that bridges all humanity. HYDE’s music possesses a universal sound that almost any person can enjoy or relate to. On a personal note, I broke out in goosebumps from about 5 seconds into listening to the album, an involuntary reaction my body reserves for only the best soul touching music.Continue reading
Cast your mind back thirty years to the late 80s where hard rock was in full swing. Def Leppard in the UK at the peak of their career after the release of their seminal release Hysteria and over in the states, Guns N Roses were selling out stadiums across the globe. However, in the western world, there’s one band from that era that go somewhat underlooked compared to their peers: X Japan. On April 21st, 1989 the band released Blue Blood (originally titled, X) (CBS/Sony), the album that led them to become one of Japan’s biggest bands.Continue reading
Celebrated composer and musician Yoshiki (X Japan)will compose music for the soundtrack to the next installment of the xXx movie franchise, xXx 4, contributing the films’ main theme song. xXx 4 is in pre-production with casting currently underway, and principal photography set to commence this year. In addition, The H Collective has invested in its first animated feature, Spycies, an action spy comedy produced by Chinese entertainment giant iQiyi. Yoshiki will be working on the theme song and music for the feature which has been animated in France by Lux Populi Production. Spycies will be released in theatres across China on August 8th, 2019.Continue reading
This fall X Japan was to play three sold-out nights in their homeland. Sadly, the third night was abruptly canceled due to the impending weather effects of Typhoon Trami. With concern for the safety of fans as their top priority, X Japan performed an unprecedented large-scale “closed-door concert” with complete stage effects and crew which was broadcast to an audience of over 1 million viewers. The No Audience concert is now being released and you can watch the teaser trailer, shared by Yoshiki on his YouTube channel right now and order it below!
Yoshiki (X Japan) will stream one of his sold-out his upcoming concert this week on November 15th live on YouTube. The sold-out Yoshiki Classical 2018 concert features special guests Sarah Brightman and HYDE. There is a show tomorrow on the 12th as well. Continue reading
As previously reported, Marilyn Manson was a guest on stage at X-Japan’s second-weekend headline appearance at Coachella 2018. Joining X-Japan frontman Yoshiki at the piano, the duo performed Manson’s legendary version of 1980s classic ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’, by Eurythmics. Watch it below! Continue reading
Legendary visual kei rock band X-Japan will make their Coachella debut tonight, headlining the Mojave stage at 11:10 PM. As one of the only hard rock acts of the weekend, the band is likely to make a strong impact on festival goers with their amazing show. The bands 10-year reunion concerts just wrapped April 10 and 11 at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo, warming up for the band’s debut performance at Coachella tonight, April 14. Richard Fortus of Guns N’ Roses, Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit, and Miya from MUCC joined the stage as special guests, adding more speculation about who might join X JAPAN on stage at their Coachella performances. Stream the performance tonight at the link below. Continue reading
Legendary band X Japan have released the soundtrack to their 2016 film We Are X, releasing on Blu-Ray and DVD this May from (Music For Nations/Sony). Continue reading
Confession time. Up until two days ago when my editor sent me this assignment I had never heard of Crossfaith. So yeah, for a band that has been kicking since 2006 and consistently on tour it took me until their fourth LP Xeno (Razor & Tie) to acknowledge their existence. I am the definition of timeliness.
Anyways, during my lunch break I browsed the web out of boredom and realized that Crossfaith’s sound has been described as renown for combining metalcore and electronic dance music. Naturally when reading that combination of genres the first thing that comes to mind is “I’ve died and gone to hell.” Immediate visions of laptopcore bands like The Browning and Blood on the Dance Floor flooded the brain. Fuck me.
But don’t knock it till you try it, or at least that’s what the girl as the grocery store seems to always tell me. Look at the bright side, Crossfaith is from Osaka, Japan and the land of the rising son has fostered plenty of eclectic and talented metal bands such as X-Japan, Dir en Grey, and Maximum the Hormone. Just press play.
You only get one chance to make a first impression and Crossfaith for the most part hits the mark. Instead of the Hot Topic goth dance party I was dreading the music on Xeno was actually listenable. Multifarious to a fault, but still listenable. Pretty good, actually. However if you are looking for some dance party action then check out ‘Wildfire’ (featuring Skindred’s Benji Webbe) and it’s unholy matrimony of EDM and Reggae. And I can say with no shame that I blasted it out loud in my car.
That being said the tunes here are more in line with Slipknot, mid-career Soilwork and even some Linkin Park for good measure. Frontman Kenta “Ken” Koie leans more on his singing voice on this effort and it helps elevate songs like ‘Raise Your Voice,’ ‘Devil’s Party’ and the excellent title track to radio rock anthem status. In addition to Koie’s strong performance, much attention should also be paid to drummer Tatsuya Amano’s frantic bursts of aggression and producer Josh Wilbur’s (Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God) masterful work behind the studio board.
The one moment on Xeno that lost me was power ballad ‘Tears Fall.’ It’s an excellent showcase for Koie’s pipes and it does feature a tuneful solo from guitarist Kazuki Takemura, but it’s way too sappy to fully take seriously. So much so that you could sell it for parts to Bullet for My Valentine. While that gamble doesn’t pay off, Crossfaith pick up the pace again with ‘Paint it Black’ and the drumming showcase that is ‘Vanguard.’ But before the album comes to a close these Osaka natives get a another chance to play with dynamics and texture on ‘Calm the Store’ a melodic track that is much more in line with the aforementioned Linkin Park or Dead Letter Circus.
I feel slightly less hesitant about the melding of electronics and metalcore. Slightly. You done good, Crossfaith.
8.0/10
HANSEL LOPEZ