LP - Black Vinyl. The 2022 studio album from the Japanese legends - an opus of dark & eclectic blackened heavy metal, shrouded in traditional eastern influences.
Cult Japanese black metal legends Sigh formed in 1989/90, featuring mainman Mirai Kawashima, Satoshi Fujinami & Kazuki Ozeki. Following initial demos, Shinichi Ishikawa was brought in & Sigh set about recording the masterpiece debut 'Scorn Defeat' for Euronymous' Deathlike Silence Productions, going on to become one of the country's greatest & most revered metal exports. With a journey through the strange & the psychedelic, incorporating a whole eclectic mix of genre styles & experimentation throughout their career, Sigh has remained a vital creative force in the avantgarde field whilst maintaining their old school roots.
'Shiki' marks the latest chapter in the Sigh legacy & includes some of the band's heaviest & darkest material for some years; a fine hybrid of at times primitive black metal akin to early influences such as Celtic Frost amid more epic melodic heavy metal riffing & solos. The album also utilises a whole host of instruments to give further texture & dynamics to the compositions & eerie atmosphere, incorporating traditional oriental instruments such as the Shakuhachi & Shinobue flutes.
The word "Shiki" itself has various meanings in Japanese such as four seasons, time to die, conducting an orchestra, ceremony, motivation, colour. The two primary themes for the album are "four seasons" & "time to die".
The concept & artwork is based around a traditional Japanese poem & on 'Shiki', Mirai explores how at this stage of life he himself is going through Autumn, with Winter coming soon & so empathises with the contrasting sentimental feelings from watching cherry blossoms (a symbol of spring) in full bloom.
Joining Mirai & Dr Mikannibal for this release are Frederic Leclercq of Kreator, plus US drummer extraordinaire, Mike Heller of Fear Factory, along with an appearance by long-time member Satoshi Fujinami on bass. 'Shiki' was recorded across multiple studios & mixed & mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD studios in Germany.
Tracklist:
A1. 黒い祈り (Kuroi Inori)
A2. 黒い影 (Kuroi Kage)
A3. 生者必滅 (Shoujahitsumetsu)
A4. 屍 (Shikabane)
A5. 殺意~夏至のあと (Satsui - Geshi No Ato)
B1. 冬が来る (Fuyu Ga Kuru)
B2. 生苦 (Shouku)
B3. 黒い鏡 (Kuroi Kagami)
B4. 真夜中の怪異 (Mayonaka No Kaii)
B5. 冬至の朝 (Touji No Asa)