X Japan, Japanese Heavy Metal Band

X Japan, is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Toshimitsu “Toshi” Deyama and Yoshiki Hayashi. 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