At the end of this month, metal/rock fans will finally get the chance to own Jade, the first English-speaking single from Japan's greatest musical export X Japan, when the track gets a world-wide digital release on June 28. The masterful single, which RockStar Weekly had the chance to preview this week, is a colourful combination of metal, fusion and voice. The song, which has been around since the band's 2009 Tokyo Dome shows, was performed when the band visited North America for the first time in October 2010 and accepted with open arms at the sold-out show RockStar Weekly was at in Vancouver. It's also the first new release since 2008's IV. With most lyrics sung in English, Jade is a hauntingly romantic tale of embracing the beautiful sadness of death, and showcases X Japan's eclectic mix of rock, goth and classical music. By far a better and more intelligent song than most metal/rock bands are cranking out these days, Jade packs the best of X Japan's amazing history into one powerful track. It's also hard not to comment on Toshi's vocals, which ring loud and clear throughout. Meanwhile, Yoshiki's drums are comparable to Lars Ulrich and Tommy Lee, while Heath's bass and the dual guitars of Pata and Sugizo (who also jams on the violin) round things out. The breakdown about half way through showcases the music, with powerful guitars, drums and then branches into a slick acoustic guitar ballad for a minute - eventually returning to blistering metal.
It's easy to see why Japan has taken to this band so well, because the band is what Japan itself is all about - class, style and dignity. X Japan is a class act with precision instrumentation and a master vocalist, not to mention Yoshiki's compassion and fundraising for the Japanese people when the Tsunami and earthquakes hit.
Written and produced by Yoshiki and mixed by Andy Wallace, "Jade" was recorded in both Japan and at Yoshiki's Los Angeles studio, the same studio where Metallica recorded its classic Black album before Yoshiki bought it and turned it into a private facility.
The release of "Jade" coincides with X Japan's June 28 sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and the kick-off of their world tour that includes stops in Europe and South America. Click here for the full itinerary.
X Japan is one of the most successful rock bands in Japanese history, having sold more than 30-million albums, singles and videos, and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times with its classic "Queen meets Guns 'N Roses meets 'The Matrix'" sound. The popularity of the band in Japan has made them a cultural phenomenon in music, fashion and business.
X Japan made its North American debut at the 2010 Lollapalooza festival, and sold out their New York City debut at the famed Roseland Ballroom as part of the band's first American tour last fall.
The band is currently finishing the recording of the full length album that will accompany Jade later this year.
Listen to a sample of Jade here.
Lyrics:
Walk through the light to find the shadow,
Til’ your gods stall you from the edge,
Sunk in the thought, the feel, the distance,
Was it your secret?
Stop holding your fear, let memory live and die alone.
No need to be there, let your desire scream,
Til' you feel alive.
‘Cause you are beautiful,
Your scars are beautiful,
Like the jade.
You’ll still shine, when you sink into the sea,
When the bleeding scarlet jealousy, carves the way you believe.
Brink of the light, the wings of the night,
Look into the eyes of fallen angels,
Sink like a stone into the dark,
Where no light can touch.
Will god break my fall?
I feel the mystery, tries to take me along,
To the end of the world, where I still believe,
The colour is from your eyes.
‘Cause you were beautiful,
Your blood was beautiful, yesterday,
I still hide at the seam of memories,
Oh, I still hold my rosary, beneath the pain of life.
Where the tears, when the bloody face of love, they take away the stain,
Know that the stars of the sky,
Glow in the ocean,
The art of life,
Makes me wanna die in the colour of heaven.
Oh, another day has gone,
Another friend has gone into the flame,
It’s burning now, jibun de kirisaita mune no kizuato sae birei ni naru made.
Oh, 'cause you are beautiful,
Your scars are beautiful, like the jade,
You’ll still shine, when you sink into the sea,
When the bleeding scarlet jealously carves the way you believe,
Now and forever, you’ll be loved,
Let your destiny lead your heart
My Jade
Credits: rockstarweekly
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