[B] X Japan - エックス ジャパン

The time has come to talk about X Japan... a band that defined Visual... and named Visual Kei as it is used now. One of the few bands in the world that deserves to be called legendary (And IS called legendary in Japan)... bigger than Guns n' Roses, bigger than Metallica, bigger than any american band you can think of.

Ekkusu Japan (Which is it's real name), was founded on 1982 in Chiba, Japan by Toshi and Yoshiki. It's genres are Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Progressive Metal and Power Metal, all of them basing on ballads also. It should be noted that this band originates from Visual Rock and not from an american type of rock. The band was originally named only X, which had to be changed once the band achieved international success since there was a band named X in the United States already. While it was annoying that they had to change it, I think that it helped define them even more once it was changed to X Japan. The band has sold more than 25 million records and more than 2 million home videos.



History of Ekkusu Japan--

In 1982 Yoshiki and Toshi started playing together with the help of changing musicians. They played live in Tokyo, releasing a few original songs like their first single "I'll Kill You".

In 1987, after some success, Yoshiki founded a label company called Extasy Records. Once done with that, they released a second single.
Time later, a guitarist, Pata, played a song with them... soon later that year, Pata officially joined the band as their support guitarist.
Some time later, they played with a guitarist hide and a bassist Sawada Taiji that would later joing the band and complete the band.
In December of that year they released their first album titled "Vanishing Vision", and also appeared playing songs from than album in the movie Tokyo Pop.
In 1989, April 21 they released their second album "Blue Blood", which earned them a lot of fans for songs like Endless Rain and Kurenai, besides also making their first Home Video. Also in that year, they performed in the country's biggest in-door concert venue, the Tokyo Dome.

By 1992 the band reached international success and it was the time when X was renamed to X Japan. Soon later, Taiji left the group and Heath joined the band, to complete the band members we all love X Japan for.

In 1993 they released their next album... Art of Life. It contained the song Art of Life which is probably the most outstanding song they ever made, lasting 29 minutes, featuring a ground-breaking piano solo and like it's name... this song is considered "a work of art".

In 1996 they released their last album, Dahlia. It was their last album since their vocalist, Toshi had decided to leave the band. In September of 1997, the band officially broke up but performed live in the Tokyo Dome one last time in December 21. A year later, hide was found dead in his apartment.

In 2007, the band made a reunion, and composed a song "I.V." which would be the ending theme song of the movie Saw IV. Some unreleased guitar tracks of hide were used to compose the lead guitar part of the song. During this year, the band played live with guitarists that would cover the band temporarily, however, the show ended suddenly when Yoshiki collapsed after a while of playing.

A year later in 2008 the band adopted Sugizo as their new guitarist and featured a concert to commemorate the tenth anniversary of hide's death. X Japan along with other bands performed to show their respects and kindness to hide. When X Japan started playing Art of Life, a hologram of hide appeared, playing along with the other band members one last time.

In 2009 the band announced a world tour that would cover South Korea, United States, Germany, Finland, Brazil and many others. As of today, in 2010, the band is currently in that tour. Later in 2010 it was also announced that the band is planning on releasing a new album this summer.



Band members of Ekkusu Japan--


Deyama Toshimitsu, "Toshi". Born in 1965, October 10. He was one of the co-founders of the band along with Yoshiki, being best friends since kindergarden, he's the vocalist in the band. He sings with a high pitched tone and acute voice. He is obviously very good friends with the band members, singing with them and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them during concerts. After Toshi left the band in 1997, he devoted his music career to playing acoustic concerts to small audiences in Japan and other countries. He also made possible a new kind of genre people named his music: Eco Hard Rock.
In 2010 after joining Ekkusu Japan again, Toshi sued his record company "Home of Heart, Ltd." who had been stealing his money for over twelve years, bringing him to bankruptcy. He later also divorced from his wife Moritani Kaori who had being working for Home of Heart, Ltd. Weeks later he gave a final solo concert from his solo career. He is now completely focusing on Ekkusu Japan.


Sawada Taiji. Born in 1966, July 12. He played with the band as the bassist during their first three albums and in 1992 leaved the band to join groups like Loudness and Cloud Nine. During his time in the band he designed costumes for the band members and was responsible for creating Toshi's hairstle back when the band used to wear large hairstyles. Although known as a bassist, Taiji also played guitar sometimes. Somewhat like me.


Ishizuka Tomoaki, "Pata". Born in 1965, November 4, he is the rhythm and lead guitars player in the band. He took his nickname from a character in the manga "Patariro". Pata is very secretive and mysterious, rarely showing emotions and even more rarely telling things about his past. He joined in 1980 and stayed in the group until it separated, in which time he made a band with Heath named Dope Headz. When Ekkusu Japan reunited, he accepted to join the reunion.
While being generally the Rhythm guitarist, he is sometimes required to play along with hide, now with Sugizo, elaborate guitar solos in which he uses his great skills, using sweep picking, tapping, string skipping and trills. A force to be reckoned with.
Pata is noted to be the only band member who uses american instruments, as he mainly uses Les Pauls and Gibson guitars.


Morie Hiroshi, "Heath". Born in 1968, January 22. He replaced Taiji as the bassist of Ekkusu Japan, he was first featured in the album Art of Life. After the band separated, he began a solo carrer and made Dope Headz with Pata. After the group ceased activity, he returned to his solo carrer and joined the X Japan reunion. Heath is seen playing his bass, slashing downwards with his fingernail or pick instead of the common finger bassing. He also has certain experience with slap bass. He's very praised for his cool looking appearance and to some, cute.


Hayashi Yoshiki. Born 1965, November 20. One of the co-founders of the band in which he plays drums and piano (although he can also play guitar and bass), also writing most of their songs. He is considered by many the world's best drummer and without a doubt, the best drummer in Japan. His stamina, force and speed in drumming has given him this title. He was once involved in a car incident in which he was injured in his wrists, neck and back... however, even without healing fully, he still performed live and even played a 30 minute drum solo, further giving him prestige as the best drummer. Aside from Ekkusu Japan, he colaborated with other artists, like Queen's drummer Roger Taylor, Beatles' producer George Martin and various others. Since he's a producer, his label "Extasy Records" has contracts with bands like Luna Sea, Glay and Zi:Kill.
After the band disbanded, he continued as a record producer for bands like TRAX and Dir en grey. He also made the theme songs for the Expo 2005 and the movie Catacombs. He has since then produced other projects. When the band reunited, he helped with the song I.V. and has since then been playing with the reunited X Japan.
His X Japan custom drum set Tama Artstar II "Titan Body" consists of the following:
One 10"×10" tom-tom, one 11"×12" tom-tom, one 12"×13" tom-tom, one 13"×14" tom-tom, one 16"×16" floor tom-tom, one 16"×18" floor tom-tom, one 6½"×14" steel snare drum, two 16"×24" bass drums, one 20" ride cymbal, one 14" hi-hat, two 20" China cymbals and three 18" Crash cymbals.
The piano Yoshiki also performs on is a Kawai Crystal II Glad Grand Piano CR-40A. The piano has 88 keys at 7 1/4 octaves with 3 pedals. The piano also has an Aliquot system with fine ivory white keys and fine ebony black keys. The piano has a translucent acrylic resin use and a private chair attachment. The piano has a height of 99 centimeters, a frontage of 148.6 centimeters, a depth of 183.4 centimeters, and a weight of 424 kilograms.


Matsumoto Hideto, "hide". Born in 1964, December 13 and deceased in 1998, May 2. hide was one of the most popular japanese musicians ever known, playing the lead guitar in Ekkusu Japan and having a successful solo carrer aside from co-founding the band Zilch which was based in the United States.
Hideto was born in St Joseph's Hospital, Midorigaoka, Yokosuka. He entered kindergarden at age 4, also studied english for three years and then entered the Yokosuka Tokiwa Junior High School. He was first influenced by rock when he was 15, and then his grandmother gifted him a Gibson Les Paul deluxe. Since he always carried his guitar with him, they stopped laughing at his introverted self and started calling him "Gibson". Once he turned 16, he entered Zushi Kaisei Senior High School in Zushi, Kanagawa. When he was 17, he entered a band known as Saber Tiger in which he played some live shows. In 1983, April he started attending cosmetology and fashion school at the Hollywood Beauty Salon in present-day Roppongi Hills, from which he graduated with outstanding results in 1984. Later in the same year, he took a nationwide examination and successfully obtained a beautician license. In 1987 he left the now called Saver Tiger and joined Ekkusu Japan as their lead guitarist. Before Ekkusu Japan separated, the band dropped their visual kei appearance except Hideto, who kept his colorful costumes and his pink hair he was so known to have.
After Ekkusu Japan separated, he continued his solo career which he had started since the year 1993 until his death.
He had a younger brother named Hiroshi. As can be seen in the DVD His Invincible Deluge Evidence, Hiroshi was his chauffeur until his last days. He took hide's ashes with him to throw them in Santa Monica's Bay, along with a bottle of wine. He also said the last day before he died that he had a girlfriend.
Hideto died on 1998, May 2. After a night drinking, he was found dead, hanged with a towel tied to his neck and to his doorknob in his apartment in Tokyo.
Many people tried suiciding as a copycat suicide. Three of them died while around 270 others were hospitalized.
The authorities named his death a suicide, but his friends say it was an accident. This theory is somewhat supported since he left no suicide note. Taiji described that the band members used a technique which relieved pain from the back that involved to tie a towel to the body and use a doorknob or handle. He presumes that hide must have fallen asleep while he was intoxicated and that way he killed himself.
Some people say he was under great stress and a lot of problems which might have caused "his suicide". hide was involved in many good projects like projects to save the world and plant trees and also things like meeting a mentally weak girl named Maiko. The encounter was featured on news in the television. Another notable thing he did was giving a name to the new type of Visual they played: Visual Kei. A genre which is often used these days now. On 1999, May 1, a tribute album was released, titled Tribute Spirits, it features covers of hide songs by several bands and solo artists. A hide museum opened in Yokosuka on 2000, July 20. It remained open, past its original three year plan, for five years before closing its doors on 2005, September 25. Rest in Peace hide-sama.


Sugihara Yune, "Sugizo". Born Sugihara Yasuhiro in 1969, July 8. Sugizo plays the violin and guitar in the band. He says he was first brought to classical music when he was a child and it inspired him to start a solo career using his violin, guitar and bass. Sugizo often uses Fender guitars and he has played in a lot of festivals and events. He joined a band called Lunacy in which they weren't known publically until hide discovered them and signed to Extasy Records, changing their name to Luna Sea. In 2008 he played at one of Ekkusu Japan's concerts as a stand-in for hide and in 2009 became a full member to start touring with them. Sugizo once said that his daughter was the one that inspirated him to become interested in enviroment issues. She's named Sugihara Luna Artemis and is currently 14 years old.



Singles of Ekkusu Japan--


"I'll Kill You" - The first single of Ekkusu Japan, released in 1985, June. This single was later re-recorded in their first album. The band Anorexia Nervosa covered the song in 2004. The song includes both english and japanese lyrics, the drumming is also very fast and it's solo resembles the Silent Jealousy solo somewhat.


Orgasm - Released in 1986, April 1. This single was recorded along with the songs "X" and "Time Trip Loving". Both Orgasm and X would be re-recorded for the album "Blue Blood". The song is obviously sexual, especially represented in the lyrics, also at the start of the song, moans, pants and gasps can be heard and at the end of the song explosions can be heard, some saying it represents a climax.


Kurenai - Released in 1989, September 1. The song first appeared in their album Vanishing Vision and then was re-recorded and extended for Blue Blood. Currently my favorite song, Kurenai perfectly mixes ballad, speed metal and progressive metal. It also has a bashing drum solo.
Kurenai literally means Crimson (or Deep Red) and is one of the songs that are most commonly played in concerts. The song often pauses almost at the end to let the crowd sing the song. The single disc included a cover of the "20th Century Boy" song from T. Rex.


Endless Rain - Released in 1989, December 1 while the band was still named X. The first actual ballad the band released. The song included also a recording of the song "X" played live. The single peaked #3 at the oricon charts, staying at the chart for 4 months.
The song was covered by Aki Angela on one of her concerts and by Nakamura Ayumi in her album "Voice", released in 2008. It was also featured as the main song of the movie "Zipang".


Week End - Released in 1990, April 21. This fast paced rock song included two versions, the one released on the single and the one released on Blue Blood. They difference in which the single one has a different guitar solo and a piano bridge. The piano part would change depending on the concert. The other part of the single disc had a live recording of the song "Endless Rain".




Silent Jealousy - Released in 1991, September 11. The song's beat and rhythm is somewhat like Kurenai's. Starts slowly with an orchestra instrument (this time a piano) and then suddenly the drums and guitars come in. The song also has one of Ekkusu Japan's best solos out there. The single included an alternate version of "Sadistic Desire" written by hide. A cover of this song was played by the Australian band Lord. The Finnish band Sonata Arctica also covered the song in a live performance. The wrestler Chris Jericho also used this song as his entrance song when returning to Japan.


Standing Sex - Released in 1991, October 25. This song and "The Last Song" are the only singles that haven't appeared in any album, being only released as single discs. The single included and edited version of the song "Joker". The song has heavy drumming, and some chorus lyrics. The drums' bass really stands out in this song.







Say Anything - Realeased in 1991, December 1. This song was the last one to be released in 1991 and also the last one to feature Taiji in bass. The other side of the single had a recording of Silent Jealousy played live. The song was played by the band Globe as a remix. Deffinetly a delicate song that will move your feelings.






Tears - Released in 1993, November 10. It was the only song released in 1993. It was firt released as a single that Yoshiki wrote and composed then it was featured in the album "Dahlia". Later it appeared in the South Korean movie Windstruck. It was also covered by the South Korean band TRAX. The other side of the single featured a classical version of the song.




Rusty Nail - Released in 1994, June 10. It features a rhythmic piano riff which is complemented by a nice distorted guitar. It was first featured as a single and then included in the album "Dahlia". The Swedish band Dragonland covered this song in ther album "Starfall". The B side of the disc featured the karaoke version of the song.






Longing ~Togireta no Melody~ (left) and Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~ (up) - The first was released in 1995, September 1 and the second a month later. Both are considered part of the same song, and they feature a long beautiful piano ballad composed and played by Yoshiki. The first CD has the original song and a karaoke version of the song in it's B side. The second CD has the original song, a karaoke version of the song and a poem version of the song.


Dahlia - Released in 1996, February 26. After releasing as a single, it would be the main track of their last album, also one of the last songs Yoshiki would compose basing on speed metal and symphonic rock. The other side of the single included a song of "Tears" recorded in a live concert. The song's lyrics also sing the song's name as an acronym: "Destiny, Alive, Heaven, Love, Innocence, Always, Destroy, Aftermath, Hell, Life, Infinite".


Forever Love - It was released in 1996, July 8. It reached place #1 in the Oricon charts (along with other singles) and was entirely composed by Yoshiki. The song has been reissued a lot in different discs. Once after the band separated and again after the death of hide. The song has been used in many comercials by the Liberal Democratic Party. The Prime Minister of Japan on 2001 also expressed how he liked Ekkusu Japan and how this was his favorite song. Forever Love is also the intro theme of the animated movie "X". The song says how he will forever love the woman he always loved no matter the hardships. To accompany these great lyrics came a very good drumming with an awesome violin and a simple but yet well-fitted guitar solo.


Crucify My Love - Released on 1996, August 26. The song talks about just that. Getting punished for the love he has. The song is sang totally in english. The solo disc's other side includes a live version of the song "Week End". The song was reissued later in 2004 in their "Complete II" disc.






Scars - Released in 1996, November 18. It was reissued in 1998, July 22 after the death of hide. The song plays with heavy guitar and mixed with heavy drums. A distorted solo also makes the song better. All of the instruments perfectly mix in this song. The single was also released with a remixed version of the song "White Poem".









I.V. - Released in 2008, January 23 as a downloadable-only single. It was the first song along with "Without You" that was released after "The Last Song". It's the main theme for the movie "Saw IV" which was released in 2007, October 26.
The band reunited only to make this song before deciding to rejoin forces in Ekkusu Japan again. This song was only available for download in iTunes but then it was available in other places. This song was the one that was released in most countries, covering all of America, most of Europe, all Oceania, parts of Africa and most of Asia. The song was featured in the game "Rock Band 2", noticibly being the first japanese song to be featured in a western rhythm game.
The band also made a promotional video for this song, announcing their reunion and their new single. Later in 2010 the band filmed a music video, featuring their new guitarist: Sugizo.


Art of Life - Released in 1993, August 28. This is it, the best of the best. This song was the only song featured in the "Art of Life" album for a reason. It lasts a total grand of 29 minutes. This heavily orchestrated song comprises several passages of varying speed and instrumentation, several harmonized guitar solos, and eight minutes performed solely on piano. When the song was released, it debuted at #1 in the Oricon charts and became the 28th best selling album of 1993 with over 513,000 discs sold in the first day. The song was rarely performed live, only being performed in 1992, July 30 at Nippon Budokan. It was also played in another concert in 1993, December 30 and 31. It was also performed at the band's reunion concert on 2008, March 28 at the Tokyo Dome, but was cut short when Yoshiki collapsed midway through the song. It was later played again completely two days later, where they used the hologram of hide to play along with them a last time.
The song is played differently by Ekkusu Japan and Aka-Keimei, especially since the members in our group are not good with piano and other orchestra instruments, this leaves me the task to play both pianos and the violin parts. The song is very emotionally delicate, representing a man with torn feelings and a voice that tells him to kill and kill himself. The song is divided into 9 parts:
Desert Rose (0:00 - 2:58)
The song opens with a delicate guitar fading in, with piano following soon after. The orchestra enters at 25 seconds, softly at first but gradually building in volume until Toshi's first vocals. The first lyrics speak of a Desert Rose that grows all alone. The singer can't tell what color it is as it only seems grey to him. The lyrics in this section talk about how the singer feels hopeless and seems to have lost his identity. He has reached a point of no return where he has "no place to go back to", and how if this isn't a dream and is actually reality, then he wants to die.
Faster Tempo (2:59 - 4:10)
With one drum beat Yoshiki's piano is now traded for drums. Two guitars enter immediately following that hit, playing the same solo to create harmony. At 3:34 the tempo is sped up with a third guitar coming in to play the heavier riff that drives this, and similar, sections of the song.
Voices (4:11 - 8:14)
Vocals and the orchestra re-enter as the band continues. The singer is now making a wall inside his heart so that his emotions do not get out. He tells how scared he is to look at the world, that he is trying to leave his past behind, how color seems to be leaving his world, and describes how he is slipping into insanity and cries out for death. This is followed by the first of three spoken lyrics that signify that the singer is hearing voices in his head. She says:
"Turning away from the wall, nothing I can see. The scream deep inside, reflecting another person in my heart. He calls me from within 'All existence you see before you must be wiped out: Dream, Reality, Memories, and Yourself."
Following this is another harmonized guitar solo. The singer speaks of how he is losing control over his actions from lust, even though they only want love. The voice answers this by telling him to:
"Stab the dolls filled with hate, wash yourself with their blood, drive into the raging current of time, swing your murderous weapon into the belly of the Earth, shout and start creating confusion, shed your blood for pleasure, and for what? For love? What am I supposed to do?"
Interlude (8:15 - 8:43)
With the conclusion of the second spoken word, there is an interlude where all guitar, drums, and most of the orchestra, with the exception of a several cellos, drop out. This represents the confused state of the singer.
Return (8:44 - 12:43)
A single chord ends the interlude, and a flurry of drums brings the song back into a powerful state. The singer believes that "now" is madness and that his heart is trapped in the hopes of the future and pain of the past. It is also here where we are told of the singer's broken heart, which has only been hinted at until this point. Here we also see that he doesn't truly wish to die, but "can't start to live", which leaves them tormented in the middle. This is followed by another harmonized guitar solo; however, this one differs from the others thus far as it is significantly longer and with very short notes and represents the back and forth going on inside the singer's mind.
Glimpse of Hope (12:44 - 13:38)
There is some resolution and we see signs of hope as the singer tells us how he wants to live his life outside the walls that he built around his heart and can hear both love and sadness outside of them. The tone of the band and orchestra has shifted as well into a more wishful section laid beneath Toshi's vocals. Upon completion of this verse, there is a slow guitar solo that flows into a violin solo that is very optimistic in nature.
Hope (13:39 - 15:06)
The tone of the violin shifts and there is another spoken word verse. It says:
"You can't draw a picture of yesterday, so you paint on your heart with your blood. You can't say "no". You're only turning the wheel of time with a rope around your neck. You build a wall of morality and take a breath from between the bricks. You make up imaginary enemies and are chased by them. You're trying to commit suicide, you're satisfied with your prologue; now, you're painting your first chapter black. You are putting the scraps of life together and trying to make an asylum for yourself. You are hitting a bell at the edge of the stage, and you are trying to kill me."
This verse seems to differ from the other two as it is telling the singer what he has been doing, as opposed to giving sinister ideas, and ends with how the voice knows that if the singer manages to bring his life back from it's depressed state, then it will die.
There is another explosive note and fast hits of drums, identical to earlier, during the closing lines of the verse that brings the song back around to another powerful tone. The fact that it happens during the spoken word could be meant to signify that the singer is overpowering the voice. He then says that he wants the meaning of his life and that he isn't sure if he is to try living or if he should still try to love. Toshi's voice then fades out with his last note along with the band and entire orchestra.
Piano Solo: Internal Conflict (15:07 - 24:18)
The next eight minutes are performed solely on piano. It starts out as a soft, simple riff that builds up and dies back down several times. A second piano is added, and there is a clash of notes as the first continues to play the same riff and the second has bursts of madness. This is to symbolize the internal battle of the singer. Eventually, the violin joins, and the chaos dwindles away to the soft riff, and that too fades out as the violin replace the piano completely.
Finale: Live On (24:19 - 29:00)
An explosive guitar dismisses the violin and brings the faster tempo and band back in. As the driving riff returns to push the song on, the singer talks of his new found life. How he is "breaking the wall inside his heart" to feel his emotions again, running out of the world inside his mind and escaping to freedom, that he has been keeping himself chained to the past and sacrificing the present for the sake of the future, and that he now wants to live. As the band drives the song on to the finish, the singer now can hear the breathing of the desert rose first mentioned at the beginning of the song. He learns that the "Art of Life" is the beauty in living and that the desert rose is really his heart and that it is now breathing love into his life, so he will live on...



Extra songs of Ekkusu Japan--

20th Century Boy
Alive
Amethyst
Art of Life (Live)
Art of Life (Radio Edit)
Art of Life (Stephane K Remix)
Blue Blood
Blue Blood (Instrumental)
Blue Blood (Music Box)
Break the Darkness
Celebration
Celebration (Instrumental)
Crucify My Love (The Last Live)
Crucify My Love (Mr. Bishi Remix)
Curtain Call (Say Anything) (The Last Live)
Dahlia (The Last Live)
Dahlia (Umek_Recycled_ Remix)
Dear Loser
Demo Tape
Desperate Angel
Desperate Angel (Instrumental)
Desperate Angel (Live)
Drain
Drain (The Last Live)
Drum Break (The Last Live)
Easy Fight Rambling
Endless Dream
Endless Rain (On Guitar)
Endless Rain (On Piano)
Endless Rain (DJ Tokunaga Remix)
Endless Rain (Instrumental)
Endless Rain (Music Box)
Endless Rain (Night of Creation)
Endless Rain (The Last Live)
Epilogue (Music Box)
Epilogue (Tears) (The Last Live)
Eternal Melody
Forever Love (1996.12.31)
Forever Love (Acoustic) (Night of Creation)
Forever Love (Acoustic Version)
Forever Love (Instrumental)
Forever Love (Night of Madness)
Forever Love (On Guitar)
Forever Love (On Piano)
Forever Love (Original Karaoke)
Forever Love (The Last Live)
Forever Love (Violin Version)
Heath Solo (1996.12.31)
Hide Solo
Hide Solo (1996.12.31)
Hide's Solo (Miscast-Doubt) (Night of Creation)
I.V. -hide Memorial-
I.V (A Capella) (Night of Creation)
I.V. (A Capella) (Night of Destruction)
I.V. (A Capella) (Night of Madness)
I.V. (Night of Creation)
I.V. (Night of Destruction)
I.V. (Night of Madness)
Jade (Live)
Joker
Kurenai (English)
Kurenai (Instrumental)
Kurenai (Taka & Moz Mix Edit)
Longing (Jk Theory Remix)
Longing ~Togireta Melody~ (Original Karaoke)
Miscast
Phantom of Guilt
Prologue (~ World Anthem)
Rose of Pain
Rusty Nail (Oliver Ho Remix)
Sadistic Desire
Scars (Nuw Idols)
Silent Jealousy (Instrumental)
Silent Jealousy (Phil Reynolds Remix)
Stab Me in the Back
Standing Sex (Wm Ptamigan Remix)
Tears (Classical Version)
Tears (Valentino Kanzyanzi Remix)
The Last Song
Unfinished
Unfinished (Special Version)
Vanishing Love
Voiceless Screaming
White Poem I
Without You
X













So that's my biography of this legendary band, girls and guys. As a side note, I would like to tell everyone that although "Sadistic Desire" is not a single, it's a very good song worth listening to. I hope you all liked this post and respect hide and everyone in this awesome supergroup as the one and only true representative for heavy japanese music.







Until next time~

[G] Medieval II: Total War - メディーバル2:トータルウォー

A game that is not known by some and by others praised by it's awesome level of detail and strategic difficulty. Medieval 2 is a game developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega in 2006, November 11, 12, 14 and 15.

The Total War series is known for making epic games. Their first very game, Shogun: Total War, based on the Medieval Japan, was praised very highly for introducing a new kind of strategic game and in my opinion, that game deserves a remake.The next game however, Medieval: Total War didn't achieve the expected ratings since it didn't include barely any new material or any graphical enchance, just a new scenerio, Europe. Their next game, Rome: Total War was very popular and again, received very high ratings and it's probably the game that made people fans of Total War. The next game Medieval 2: Total War was a remake of the original Medieval: Total War, it was graphically upgraded and added many things; it added more units, videos for each thing that happened (ex. an assassination), also added Mongol and Timurid invasion, the Black Death, gunpowder and more playable factions. The next game that came up was Empire: Total War that based itself in the Era of Lights in which the gunpowder ruled the world and it added India to the playable factions. The last game published is Napoleon: Total War that I suppose is self explainatory.

Medieval 2: Total War is turned based. You play the game first on a Campaign Map, in which you build your cities or castles, your units, your commercial strategies and more. In there you use florins as your currency and you use them to make pretty much everything. Build your barracks and stables, make your infantry and cavalry units, take them with a General to an enemy land, find an enemy army or castle/city and attack. Once you or the enemy attacks, you need to choose wether to continue to the battle, let the AI decide the winner or withdraw from the battle (Marking the list of losses for life). If you choose to continue to the battle... You advance to the Battle Map.
The Battle Map is what defines the Total War series. You battle your enemy or enemies yourself or with allies. A battle can contain up to 12,000 units or more (Unlike other games like Age of Empires in which you can't have more than 200 units). You must use strategy very carefully and think fast, using your archers to cover your attacking infantry while your cavalry units flank the enemy and the artillery attacks from above. The battle animations are epic and the music even more. You win a battle by either destroying every enemy or making the enemy army rout. Routing is easier once you kill the enemy general or generals. When you attack castles, however, you must first build siege equipment when besieging and once you're done you must either destroy all the units defending the castle or take the town center. When you're defending one, you must rout or kill all the enemy units.


The game features 12 different playable factions and 5 unplayable factions to make a total of 17 factions. The playable factions include:

England, one of the main factions. They start in Britain with a piece of land in the main Europe land. They have strong infantry and specially archers, however, their cavalry units aren't as powerful as others. Their most poweful unit are the Longbowmen which are archers that are more powerful than others and have a longer reach.

France, the second main faction. They start just where France is currently. They have the most powerful cavalry in west Europe and in the late period of the game they have powerful infantry, they however have weak infantry at the start of the game. Their most powerful unit are Gendarmes which are cavalry units with a high shock-hit power.

The Holy Roman Empire, the third main faction. They start in middle Europe and north Italy. They have all strong powerful cavalry, infantry and archer units, but they don't have as powerful units as England and France on the late part of the game. Their powerful unit are the Gothic Knights which are cavalry units that although they have a lower shock attack than Gendarmes, they are better when attacking at close range.

Spain, the last of the main factions. They start in the middle of the Iberic Peninsula. They have very strong naval units, light infantry and cavalry units but at the start of the game their archers and heavy infantry are weak. Their most powerful unit are the Conquistadores which can attack both mounted and dismounted; they are called like that for a reason, and they're only available once Spain has powerful enough ships to discover America.

Venice, an unlockable faction and my favorite faction. They start in north Italy and have an island south of Greece. They boast are very strong militia, strong infantry and late techonology... their cavalry however is somewhat poor. Their most powerful units are the Ventian Heavy Infantry, powerful infantry very effective against armored targets... which by the time the VHI are unlocked, everyone must have.

Sicily, an unlockable faction. They start in south Italy. The Sicilian units vary a lot, ranging from nord units to italian and muslim units, they're all powerful but their late cavalry is weak. Their unique units are the Norman Knights. Probably the most popular of Europe Knights, the Norman Knights are poweful at hand-to-hand combat and are feared by other Italy factions.

Milan, an unlockable faction. The start in northern Italy. They have strong italian militia and good late technology however their cavalry is poor offensively. Their unique unit are the Famiglia Ducale which are shock cavalry units, poor when fighting at close range.

Scotland starts in the northern part of the British Isles and they have very strong spike and sword infantry but they lack a lot in cavalry. Their powerful units are the Highland Nobles. They are infantry units that attack with two-handed swords and are very good shock infantry.

The Byzantine Empire are located between Turkey and Venice. These once proud romans have very powerful cavalry units, infantry and capable archers. Their badside is that in the late period, they barely have any gunpowder units. Their unique units, the Varangian Guards are very powerful infantry units, letting the world known of their roman blood. They are both good as hand-to-hand combatants and shock infantry.

Russia starts in the middle of European Russia, west of Moscow in Novgorod. They have good missile and shock cavalry units but their early infantry and archers are somewhat weak. Their most skillful units are the Cossack Cavalry. Cavalry units that shoot arrows with their bows. They are very effective skirmisher units that stalk the enemy shooting arrows at them and running away as they try to reach them.

The Moors start south of the Iberic Peninsula and in part of it, almost assuring a war with Spain and Portugal. These descendants of Numids have strong light cavalry and infantry units but they lack good late units like most European armies. Being apart from their Muslim allies, the Moors must try different tactics to survive. Their most powerful units are the Cammel Gunners. Soldiers riding on a cammel with a gun. Stalking the enemy, shooting at them as they run. As they ride a cammel, they are good at fighting in the desert and also good at fighting against horse cavalry units.

The Turks start in modern day Turkey, fielding a powerful set of cavalry units and heavy infantry, at the start of the game their units are weak, however... and they don't have as much armour as their egiptian counterparts. Their best troops, the Janissary Heavy Infantry, are units that attack with a long alabard that has an axe and a pike at the end of the spear. They are good as shock infantry and are very good at attacking enemy castles.

Egypt, starting at modern day Egypt... they have very powerful cavalry units but their heavy infantry is lacking and even more in the late period. Their most unique units are the Mamluks. Heavy cavalry than can easily destroy other cavalry units. They are very common in the late Egypt so watch out for them if you're in war against Egypt.

Denmark starts at the north part of middle Europe. It has very good units all-round but they somewhat lack in good heavy cavalry. Their most powerful units are the Norse Axemen. Like many of their Denmark brothers, these units prefer to wield axes instead of typical european spears. They are very good harrassing the enemy with their axes, and easily killing speared and armored units.

Portugal, an unlockable faction that starts at the west side of the Iberian Peninsula and north of it. It is sometimes considered the most weak of the factions. It is a relatively new faction after all. They have excellent light cavalry and infantry units and also naval units, they however like professional units like other factions. Their most powerful unit are the Jinetes, light cavalry units that skirmish the enemy, throwing spears at them while they run off. They are best used along with other heavy units.

Poland, south of Russia and east of the HRE. They have strong cavalry units, both light and heavy but their infantry is mediocre, both of them, light and heavy. Their most powerful units are the Hussars. They are cavalry units with a long spear and a large shield. One of the best cavalry units, it's very good at defending castles and attacking on the field.

Hungary, just north-west of the Byzantine Empire and south of Russia in modern day Hungary. It has a large quantity of powerful heavy knights and skilled horse archers. Their infantry isn't as powerful as others though. Their best unit are the Battlefield Assassins, infantry units that can hide anywhere and that way easily flank the enemy from behind. They have a large strategic capacity and they're quite powerful which makes them be feared by Hungary's enemies.


The game is historically good, featuring attacks from the Mongols, which come from Asia to conquer Europe and later the Timurids that attack even more heavily than the Mongols... this time attacking with gunpowder. The game also features the Black Death. A plague that attacked most of Europe, many thinking that it was a punishment from God. It also shows many other things like the earthquake in Aleppo and many other things that happened during the time the game lasts.

The game featured an expansion pack that added four new campaigns.
The Britannia Campaign which is based on the battles raged in the British Isles and adds permanent castles and unique hero units. You can play as Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England or Norway in this campaign. It's unique units include Deisi Javelinmen, Saethwyr, Noble Pikemen, Armoured Swordsmen and Gotland Footmen respectively.

The Teutonic Campaign, based on the battles that the Teutonic Knights fought against Lithuania to turn the "pagans" to the Catholic religion. You can play as the Teutonic Order, Lithuania, Denmark, Novgorod, Poland and the Holy Roman Empire. Their unique units include: Ritterbrüder, Dievas' Guard, Norse Axemen, Cossack Cavalry, Hussars and Gothic Knights respectively.

The Crusades Campaign. It is obviously based on the eight crusades that the Christians launched against the Muslim lands, adding permanent forts and hero units like the Britannia Campaign. The playable factions are the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Principality of Antioch, Byzantine Empire, Egypt and the Turks. Unique units include the Marshall of the Templars, Marshall of the Hospitallers, Greek Firethrower, Khassaki and Iqta'dar respectively.

The Americas Campaign which is based on the conquest of Spain, England and France on America, and how the natives defended against them. Playable factions are New Spain, the Aztec Empire, Mayans, Apachean Tribes, Chichimec Tribes, Tlaxcalans and Tarascans. The unique units of these factions are: Conquistadores, Jaguar Warriors, Hornet Throwers, Koitsenko, Guachichil Warriors, Priests of Quetzalcoatl and Priests of Quetzalcoatl respectively.

The game is said to be one of the best strategic games ever made. Revolutioning the turn-based strategic games. If you ever plan on getting this awesome game, do get the Gold version which includes the expansion pack. All of the Total War games are good (Medieval 2: Total War now representing Medieval: Total War) so consider giving them a try too.

Rin out.

[G] Company of Heroes - カンパニー・オブ・ヒーローズ

My first gaming blog post. Overrated or not, popular game haters, I'm sorry but this is an awesome game.

It was released by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ in 2006 in September 12 and 29. It is a real-time strategy game that can be played both in single player and multiplayer.

This game is differenced from others by the fact that you generate resources in a slightly different way. It uses three resources: Manpower, Munitions and Fuel. The first resource is generated mostly from your Command HQ, which is your first and most important building. You can generate slightly more manpower by capturing strategic points with a Circle icon. Manpower is needed in pretty much everything except unit upgrades.
The second resource, Munitions, is generated from strategic points with a Munition icon. It generates slower than manpower and it serves for upgrading units and requesting artillery attacks. The artillery attacks however mostly consume a large quantity of munitions.
The final resource is Fuel, generated from strategic points with the Fuel icon. It often generates even slower than munitions and it's used almost exclusively for constructing buildings and making tanks and cars.
There is another minor "resource" which are Command Points. They are used on the Command Tree which gives you special abilities like artillery attacks, capabilities and unique units.

The population cap is important too. It is one of the factors that difference this game from others. It somewhat prevents users from making unlimited tanks and crushing everything they go through.

The game has two factions initially. In the Allies side are the Americans and in the Axis side are the Wehrmacht. Once you install the "Opposing Fronts" expansion pack, two more armies are added. Britain who joins the Allies side and the Panzer Elite who joins the Axis side.
Each have their unique set of buildings and units.

The Americans have various defense and base buildings. Including barracks, defense MG42's, mines and such. It's units include Engineers, Commandos, Sherman tanks (Including the basic one and the "Crocodile" one), M10's and others. It's Command Tree includes a tank company, an infantry company and an airborne company. The first gives Calliopes and Pershings, the second Commandos and the third Airborne Soldiers.

Britain has various defense buildings but only three base "Buildings". I wouldn't consider them buildings since they're trucks that can move and that way change to a different place when things get rough. Their units include Cromwell tanks like the UVRE and Crocodile ones, Stuart tanks, Bren carriers, Captains, Lieutenants and such.
It's Command Tree includes the Royal Artillery in which you can ask for Priest Self-Propelled Guns. The Royal Commandos in which you can ask for planes that make Commandos and Tetrach tanks. The Royal Engineers in which you can summon the powerful Cromwell tanks.

Wehrmacht is similar to the Americans, having various defense and base buildings. Their defense buildings are more or less the same type as the Americans' but the base buildings operate differently. They requisiton different types of units like grenadiers, the powerful Nebbelwerfers, Panzer tanks, snipers and more.
Their Command Tree has the following: The Defensive Doctrine which lets you make Flak 88 cannons which are deadly against vehicles and even buildings. The Blitzkrieg Doctrine lets you deploy Stormtroopers, StuH and Tiger I.
The Terror Doctrine which lets you launch devasting V1 rockets on the enemy and deploy the massive King Tiger.

The Panzer Elite is unique, for example, unlike the other factions which give you an infantry unit at the start of the game, the Kampfgruppe Lehr gives you a vehicle that captures territory really fast. It has only four base building with no defense buildings and only two type of infantry units. It's units include Panzergrenadiers, Kettenkrads, Bergetigers, Panzer tanks and more.
The Command Tree includes the following: Scorched Earth Tactics, which can deploy Hummel Mobile Artillery Platforms. Luftwaffe Tactics which lets you requisition Wirbelwind Flakpanzers, Henschel HS 129 and Fallschirmjägers. Finally the Tank Destroyer Tactics which lets you send Hetzer Tank Destroyers and the powerful Jagdpanther into the field, you also get the ability to use Teller mines.

The game has a large Story mode which might be either easy or hard deppending on your experience on the game.

It's graphics are very awesome. Back on the day they were one of the best graphics a game could have and even today they still surprise people.

Overall the game is considered the best strategy game to date by some and one of the best ones by others. Remember, if you ever want to play a strategy game you'll remember for your life... play Company of Heroes.

Rin out.

[B] Aka-Keimei - アカ・ケイメイ

Okay~ For my first entry... I will talk about our band: Aka-Keimei.

Aka Keimei means Bloody Dawn. We put that name to it based on a gaming team we had, which was called Bloody Dawn... we just translated it to japanese: アカ ケイメイ.
It's a cover band, which means it plays songs of various artists.

It was founded on 2009/08/24 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan by Rinkaru, Eiburu, Maiko and Mara after discovering the various talents of the band members and deciding to put them to use. They often play on Kacho High School and Don Quijote Dome in Kyoto, Japan

As for the members...
I am the bassist, pianist, violinist, wind instruments and keyboards; Megami Rin (Shikari Rinkaru). I play usual basic bass but most of the time I'm pulling the strings and playing something called slap bass. Basically, I press a string on a fret with my left hand and pull whichever string my finger is pressing... depending on the sound I want to make, I pull the string with different strengths. I usually use my index and the thumb to pull it or them, however, when I'm playing fast, I only use my index finger, using my thumb as support and when I'm playing even faster (usually on bass solos), I use my thumb, index and pinky finger. All three of them pull a string each. It's quite hard at first, so it requires a lot of practice. I also play other instruments like piano and violin. I'm quite good at them but I mostly play them on ballads or just songs you would deem a "work of art".

My brother is the vocalist and back-up guitar: Asaiki Buru (Shikari Eiburu). To put it simply... he has different styles of singing and also different tones. He can go from a high acute tone to a really grave tone. It's really notable when he sings Makishimamu Za Horumon songs... he sings what two vocalists in that band sing. Imagine that. He also has a lot of skill singing, not just tone. He lowers his voice, moves it opera-like and screams... not just any scream, but a metal scream, both scary-like and freaky-like. He's also the back-up guitarist, supporting Sasaki in various songs... mainly from bands like Ekkusu Japan and Metallica. He has almost the same skill as her, covering her while she moves around the stage and also playing along with her in her solos. It should also be noted that although left handed, he holds his guitar like a right handed.

My best friend is the guitarist: Tenrai Maiko (Sasaki Maiko). She can pretty much play anything you would ask. Any type of music, from classic to metal, from country to punk. She has many styles but there's something she really is good at; solos. It could amaze you the difficulty of the solos she plays. She's also one of the centers of entertainment, though mostly shy on songs and rarely sings, on some songs like "Fukurou", she dances and sings with a big smile. No need to say she's cute and that itself is a fact that draws attention to her. She often plays without looking at her guitar but a lot of people (me included), can't deny that she has a great skill for her age. She also has a cute voice.

Eiburu's girlfriend is the drummer and back-up vocals: Hisatsu Mara (Kono Mara). Whilst Sasaki and I are also back-up vocalists, she deserves especial mention since she sings most of the back-up vocals and is the one that gives more energy off to the public when singing. Her drumming... how to describe it? Amazing. She has a great rhythm but most of all, speed. If she wasn't a dependent drummer, she could very well be one of the world's best drummers. She's ambidextrous which means she is both right and left handed. And she also has one great piece of stamina. Running around, singing and drumming like Hayashi Yoshiki doesn't stop her from giving off a great vibe. Here is a quote referring to her that all of the band uses: "She makes us proud".

The genres of Aka Keimei vary greatly, mostly focusing on metal but also playing it's sub-genres, punk, classic, balads, rock, post-grunge, electronic pop and many more. Being a cover band, it plays songs from many countries and in different languages. It's bands include Ekkusu Japan, Rammstein, Metallica, Panda, Make the Girl Dance and many others.
Sometimes the band gets kind of special, like when playing songs from Amano Tsukiko; Eiburu goes out of the stage and the girls do the singing and playing. Their ballads often include Eiburu and Kono singing to each other.


Songs of Aka-Keimei--

Kari - Hunting - Cazando
Yuki - Snow - Nieve
Kuso - Fuck - Joder



That's basically all there's to know about the band. Looking at it from a neutral point of view, it's a great band though they're not a professional band.

Hope everyone liked my first blog post. Until next time.