Once again, Japan’s biggest rock band has graced the digital pages of Phoenix New Times. At the behest of the Music department I wrote a short piece today announcing the June 28 release of “Jade,” the first single from X Japan’s upcoming and as-of-yet unnamed album. For the full details and extra bits read it for yourself on New Times.

I mentioned in the New Times piece that hearing the final mix of “Jade” puts an end to any lingering doubts that a reunited X Japan in 2011 could live up to the pre-break up X Japan of 1997. Realistically speaking, X has been doing this rock star thing for just about 30 years. It’d be perfectly natural for signs of their age catching up with them to be present on the new single. There are none.

Another thing I didn’t mention was X Japan’s new guitarist, Sugizo. X Japan’s original lead guitarist, Hide Matsumoto, died in 1998. X Japan initially used recordings of Hide’s parts when the band decided to reunite. To record new material, the band settled on Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo.

Admittedly, there aren’t much in the way of epic guitar solos in “Jade.” The one that does make it in is surprisingly short. That said, at no point in listening to “Jade” have I missed Hide nearly as much a I thought I would. “Jade” still sounds like X Japan; a bit different maybe, but still the Visual Kei superstars so many fans around the world have come to love.