X Japan Best - Song

If you ask the band themselves—or any long-time fan—the best song is "Art of Life."

But here is the catch: it is a single, 29-minute opus that occupies an entire album by itself. Released in 1993 after Hide famously goaded Yoshiki by saying, "If you're so great, write a symphony," Art of Life is a progressive metal symphony in four movements.

Why it wins:

Released: 1989 (Album: Blue Blood)

While Tears is grander, Endless Rain is the more perfect ballad. It became the band’s unofficial funeral hymn after the deaths of guitarist hide (1998) and bassist Taiji (2011). x japan best song

The Speed Metal Thrasher

On the flip side of the ballad coin is Kurenai (Crimson). If you want to understand why X Japan conquered the Japanese underground scene, listen to the opening riff. It starts deceptively slow with a clean guitar melody before exploding into a ferocious, high-tempo metal assault. If you ask the band themselves—or any long-time

The track showcases the band's technical prowess, particularly the twin-guitar harmonies of hide and Pata, and the relentless drumming of Yoshiki. The dual meaning of the lyrics—interpreted as both a love song and a reflection on death—adds a layer of depth to the sonic aggression.