X JAPAN's last studio album certainly kicks off with a bang with this one! And yet "Dahlia" is vaguely more modern of composition, more industrial and almost 'grungy', in comparison to the likes of classically-styled "Silent Jealousy" or the infamous "Kurenai". Still, Yoshiki's talent is blinding in that he never allows himself or his bandmates to fall into anything even remotely similar to the over-used power chords, unnecessarily distorted guitar fuzz, or repetitive stanzas that have made the offerings of the modern American music industry so boring and uninspired. (And, yes, I mean EMO as well as GRUNGE!)
Anyway. "Dahlia" is hard-hitting, but even so it's not quite the X JAPAN speed metal that we've all become so familiar with--it's more experimental. I particularly enjoy the guitars at the conclusion, and Pata's fingerwork that he churns out there. But who else notices that Yoshiki spells out the name 'Dahlia' nearly twice during his spiritual voice-over? This is such a sad, beautiful song, with so much longing--how could I NOT name my beloved dog after it? :)
X JAPAN's last studio album certainly kicks off with a bang with this one! And yet "Dahlia" is vaguely more modern of composition, more industrial and almost 'grungy', in comparison to the likes of classically-styled "Silent Jealousy" or the infamous "Kurenai". Still, Yoshiki's talent is blinding in that he never allows himself or his bandmates to fall into anything even remotely similar to the over-used power chords, unnecessarily distorted guitar fuzz, or repetitive stanzas that have made the offerings of the modern American music industry so boring and uninspired. (And, yes, I mean EMO as well as GRUNGE!)
Anyway. "Dahlia" is hard-hitting, but even so it's not quite the X JAPAN speed metal that we've all become so familiar with--it's more experimental. I particularly enjoy the guitars at the conclusion, and Pata's fingerwork that he churns out there. But who else notices that Yoshiki spells out the name 'Dahlia' nearly twice during his spiritual voice-over? This is such a sad, beautiful song, with so much longing--how could I NOT name my beloved dog after it? :)