The untitled X Japan album is an unreleased studio album by Japanese heavy metal band X Japan. Initially planned to be half new songs and half re-recordings of old songs, this was abandoned at some point in its 10 years of production in favor of all new material. Several different release dates were announced in that time, but the album remains unpublished despite drummer and bandleader Yoshiki confirming its completion in September 2018. However, several songs reported to be on it have been made commercially available digitally. If released, it will be X Japan's first album of new material in over 27 years, their first since reuniting in 2007, and their first to feature newest member Sugizo.
Background and recording
X Japan disbanded after December 31, 1997 as vocalist and co-founder Toshi decided to leave the band, stating that the glamorous, success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally, as opposed to a simpler life and career. However, about twelve years later he would confirm what was long-reported in the media; that he was "brainwashed" by a group via violence and abuse and conned out of money, which eventually lead to bankruptcy. About four months after X disbanded, guitarist hide died of what was ruled a suicide on May 2, 1998. Prior to his death, he and the band's drummer and co-founder Yoshiki had talked about restarting X Japan with a new vocalist in the year 2000.
The surviving members of X Japan, Yoshiki, guitarist Pata and bassist Heath, reunited with Toshi and made their first public appearance on October 22, 2007, on the rooftop of the shopping center Aqua City in Odaiba, Tokyo, to film a music video for a new song, "I.V.". Written to be the theme of the American horror movie Saw IV, the song utilizes previously unreleased guitar tracks by hide. Talks of a new album began in 2008, although this was initially reported to be a compilation album of old material with two new songs, "I.V." and "Without You".
After the band started recording material, Yoshiki said he felt like the 10 years apart was necessary, "When you keep going on and on, you take everything for granted. We learned the very hard way how lucky it was for us to be playing music together." After he provided live support at concerts for about a year, it was announced that Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo had officially joined X Japan on May 1, 2009. In 2010, Natalie reported that recording of an album composed of old and new songs was being done at a rapid pace. They wrote that starting in March, work was being done 24-hours a day at multiple studios with multiple engineers in order to finish by June for a summer 2010 release. It was also reported that newest member Sugizo had written some songs for the new album. Yoshiki said that he asked Sugizo to play some "dramatic" guitar solos and commented that the guitarist was "almost co-producing" because he likes to be in the studio.
Reportedly, the album was largely recorded at Yoshiki's personal studio in Los Angeles and mixed by engineer Chris Lord-Alge. Prior to 2012, this was Extasy Recording Studios, but Yoshiki sold the studio that year. His current studio is the former Larrabee East. In addition to the drummer having made several trips to Japan to record with the rest of the band there, some of the album was also recorded live over the Internet between L.A. and Japan.
During a Q&A session on Reddit's r/IAmA in March 2016, Yoshiki said that members of the Japanese metal band Dir en Grey would be singing the chorus on some of the album. American musician Marilyn Manson also appears on one of the songs. Yoshiki also explained on Reddit that due to Pata being hospitalized that year, other members of X including himself were trying to record his guitar parts.
Themes
X Japan's new album was originally announced to be half new songs and half old songs newly recorded in English. In 2010, old songs said to have been re-recorded in English for the album included "Kurenai", "Art of Life", "Tears" and "Rusty Nail". However, this was eventually abandoned at some point in favor of entirely new material as Yoshiki said it did not feel right. Because it is the band's first record targeting a worldwide audience, "99% of the songs are in English." Yoshiki has questioned the reasons for making a full album in the era of streaming, but decided to make one with X Japan and "put an end" to the "era of the album". He also expressed hope that the album would contribute in bringing rock music back into the mainstream.