Japanese Heavy Metal Musical Groups - X Japan, Loudness, Sound Horizon, High and Mighty Color, Versailles, Sabbat, Malice Mizer, Show YA, Boris (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 67. Chapters: X Japan, Loudness, Sound Horizon, High and Mighty Color, Versailles, Sabbat, Malice Mizer, Show Ya, Boris, Seikima-II, Girugamesh, Galneryus, Sex Machineguns, Maximum the Hormone, Onmyo-Za, Anthem, Mucc, The Mad Capsule Markets, Saber Tiger, Kinniku Sh jo Tai, Aion, Corrupted, Moi dix Mois, GISM, Animetal, Head Phones President, Tokyo Yankees, Flower Travellin' Band, Siam Shade, Sadie, Lazy, Bellzlleb, Sigh, Area51, Crystal Lake, Vow Wow, Edge of Spirit, Exist Trace, Matenrou Opera, SEX -virgin killer-, Gore Beyond Necropsy, Taia, Metalucifer, Dio - Distraught Overlord, Coldrain, Ezo, Infected Malignity, Earthshaker, Concerto Moon, Doom, Outrage, 44 Magnum, -Oz-, Bathtub Shitter, Double Dealer, Grief of War, Gonin-ish, Make-Up, Terra Rosa, Aphasia. Excerpt: X Japan Ekkusu Japan) is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X (), the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound, at all times retaining an emphasis on ballads. Their sound is extremely raw, sometimes countered by the incorporation of classical style piano passages and vocal melodies. They have percussion parts and often use harmonized guitar riffs and solos. Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the visual kei movement. They were known in their early years for their excessively large hairstyles resembling fountains, but toned these down in later years. A 2007 press release stated that the band has sold "more than 20 million combined albums and singles," while a 2010 press release stated that they have sold "more than 30-million albums, singles, ...