Untitled X Japan album
Several different release dates were announced in that time, but the album remains unpublished despite drummer and bandleader Yoshiki confirming its completion in September 2018.
[2] 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.
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.
[5] 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.".
[6] Written to be the theme of the American horror movie Saw IV, the song utilizes previously unreleased guitar tracks by hide.
"[10] 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.
[13] 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.
[11] Reportedly, the album was largely recorded at Yoshiki's personal studio in Los Angeles and mixed by engineer Chris Lord-Alge.
[14] 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.
[18] 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.
[13][19] In 2010, old songs said to have been re-recorded in English for the album included "Kurenai", "Art of Life", "Tears" and "Rusty Nail".
[Laughs] I always have a problem explaining music..."[25] Additionally, Yoshiki stated that some of the songs "may be too experimental" for fans, adding that he consciously ignored comments on social media; "don't get me wrong, their opinions are extremely important, but to create art sometimes you have to be selfish in your own way.
[34] The song was originally composed by Yoshiki for his solo career, but he then began to think it would fit X Japan's style well and wanted to add an aggressive element to the "beautiful" melody.
[12][36] In January 2011, X Japan announced they had signed a 3-year agreement with EMI in November 2010 to handle the release of the single "Jade" and the new album scheduled for late summer 2011.
[40] In March 2017 interviews, Yoshiki stated that all the songs were "pretty much ready" with just mixing and mastering left to do,[8] and "I think it will come out [this year].
"[41] When interviewed by Consequence of Sound in May 2018, Yoshiki said of the album, "Recording's done pretty much, we just have to mix it" and that it would be released in either late summer or early fall 2018.
The website JRock News reported that reactions from fans to this statement were mixed, with some joking, "It will take another ten years.
"[44] Yoshiki uploaded a photograph of a CD with "X Japan Master Album Sequences 2.24.15", the band's logo, and a track list printed on to it to his social media accounts on February 25, 2015 with the caption "#ComingSoon!
",[9] "Without You",[9] "Scarlet Love Song",[27] "Jade",[11] "Born to Be Free",[15] "Kiss the Sky",[31] "La Venus",[30] and "Rockstar"[32] have all been announced or reported to be included on the album at various times.
