The single most successful and influential rock band in Japanese history, X formed in 1982, adopting the name X Japan in 1992 to avoid confusion with the American punk band X. With their flamboyant glam rock look, they are largely credited with pioneering the visual kei movement, though in later years the band's image toned down considerably.
Their sound is best described as a mix of power metal (among their harder rock singles include "Easy Fight Rambling", "Standing Sex", and band anthem "X") combined with orchestrated, heartfelt ballads (such as singles "Crucify My Love" and "Endless Rain"), with many songs falling somewhere in between (such as "Silent Jealousy" and 「紅」["Kurenai" - translates to "crimson"]), and a clear influence from classical music as much as from rock. One of their most notable releases is "Art of Life", a 29-minute song of varying speeds released as the sole track of their fourth album, which bore the same name. The album "A Music Box for Fantasy" consists of music box versions of some of their most popular songs. Since the band's recent reformation, they have released one single, "I.V.", which topped iTunes charts on its release day and was the theme to Saw IV.
The band dissolved in 1997 when vocalist Toshi quit; however, they reunited in 2007 and are currently active today. Legendary lead guitarist Hideto "hide" Matsumoto died in May 1998 of an apparently accidental self hanging; although Sugizo of Luna Sea, also one of Japan's top rock bands, joined the band in 2009, he is not a replacement member - the band frequently uses unreleased previous recordings of hide's work in addition to several touring support guitarists, including Richard Fortus of Guns N' Roses and Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit and Black Light Burns.
Many members have worked on side projects, most notably drummer/pianist Yoshiki (who also composed and produced the vast majority of the band's works), who in addition to producing the soundtrack to Repo! The Genetic Opera, spending a short time in the pop group Globe, and recording a single with Queen drummer Roger Taylor, is also a member of supergroup S.K.I.N. alongside Gackt, Miyavi, and Sugizo. hide also released several solo projects from 1994 until his death, alongside the bands Zilch, and Spread Beaver, which had a more alternative rock sound.
Whereas most Japanese visual bands fall into the genres of hard rock and/or gothic, Psycho le Cému's music has a more upbeat, pop-rock sound. Most of their songs are extremely catchy and could be described as cheerful or very romanticized, occasionally incorporating electronic beats and traditional instruments.
The band formed in 1999 and in addition to their Japanese fanbase, has acquired a fairly large international following, even having two short tours in the United States. They are particularly well-known for their use of cosplay - their videos usually feature fantasy themes involving magic, science fiction, history, or mythology, in which each member typically takes on a certain character role.
In 2005, following lead singer Daishi's arrest for methamphetamine abuse, the band went on hiatus, returning briefly in 2006 with the release of album ~Epilogue ~ 語り継がれる物語 (Kataritsugareru Monogatari - translates to "handed down story"). In June of 2009, the band reunited a second time for their 10th Anniversary - Legend of Sword tour.
「浪漫飛行」("Roman Hikou", translates to "Romantic flight") - a cover of the 1990 hit by Kome Kome Club
"Prism"
「激愛メリーゴーランド」("Gekiai Merry-Go-Round", gekiai translates to "intense love")
"Love is Dead"
「夢風車」("Yume Kazaguruma", translates to "Dream pinwheel")
