If Dragon Ash hadn't gone on to transform into the genre-devouring group they are today, then this first EP of melodic hardcore would be just a blip on the Japanese rock scene. Better than the Beastie Boys' first punk efforts, though, this eight song mini-album is short, sweet, and to the point, with hints of the experimentation they soon would pick up and run with. Bassist Baba Ikuzo brings the funk via Red Hot Chili Peppers on such numbers as "Siva" and the excellent "Realism," the band's first venture into metal-rap. There's even a direct quote of the guitar solo from the Beatles' "Nowhere Man," a sign of things to come "Fake X Life." An EP of amazing energy and raw power. ~ Ted Mills, All Music Guide
