Throwback Thursday: "Vanishing Vision", by X Japan

Disclaimer

I have elected to leave out the cover art for this particular record because it is borderline too inappropriate for mainstream audiences. I could possibly get away with it, but I'm choosing to err on the side of caution. I am not in the mood to deal with any social media drama for it. If you want to see it for yourself, it isn't too hard to find.

Without further ado...

In 1988, the world was pretty chocked full of some amazing heavy metal from bands and players from all over. However, an unknown at the time speed/power metal band from Japan by the name of X Japan decided it was time for them to throw their hat into the ring with their debut album Vanishing Vision. The album was released independently, but quickly sold thousands and gained them a noticeable following which would act as a jumping board to bigger and better things despite not being an English singing band.

Vanishing Vision is an album that jumps back and forth between speed metal and ballads, though there are also songs that are a blend of the two. For those who are familiar with some of X Japan's more well known work, you can definitely hear the foundation being laid for those songs on this record. In fact, there is even an early version of their hit "Kurenai" that most people who do know the band probably will not have heard.

"I'll Kill You" despite sounding like an incredibly brutal song is more about struggling as a married couple and what goes along with that. Regardless, there is some pretty solid melodic guitar work from hide and Pata and barbarian-like shouted backing vocals. However, Toshi really brings it together with his voice that soars to the heavens with Yoshiki going ape on the drums and Taiji thundering away on bass to keep that driving rhythm going from start to finish.

For those of you who know X Japan at all, their signature song "Kurenai" actually has an older version than the one that appeared on Blue Blood. The song originally appeared on Vanishing Vision, but in English. It definitely brings this speed metal ballad masterpiece a different vibe for sure. Regardless, it is still incredibly emotion driven and blends soft piano and strings with a full plugged in ripping and running band incredibly well.

Vanishing Vision is definitely not the first record I would recommend someone check out from X Japan, but it definitely has quite a few solid tracks on it that stand out. If you are open minded enough to check out something from a non-English speaking band then I think you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by what you find here. It shows that you don't have to be American or European to rock.

Vanishing Vision, by X Japan receives 3 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Dear Loser
2. Vanishing Love
3. Phantom of Guilt
4. Sadistic Desire
5. Give Me the Pleasure
6. I'll Kill You
7. Alive
8. Kurenai
9. Unfinished

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/VANISHING-VISION-EXC-001-X-Japan/dp/B000064IF1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524196105&sr=8-1&keywords=X+Japan+Vanishing+Vision&dpID=41GOHdDviZL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch