Following the release of ‘SHIKI’, their new studio album, on Peaceville, the cult Japanese black metal legends Sigh have released a new video for the track “Shoujahitsumetsu”
Sigh mainman Mirai Kawashima explains the meaning behind the track“’Shoujahitsumetsu’ is a word in Buddhism and stands for “Anything that is alive has to die in the end”. I tried to express my fear of death through the album, and this song should be the case in point. This is the most furious track on the album filled with my feat that will never fade away.”
Video credits:
Director: Hiroki Furutani, Nozomu Wakai / Camera: Hiroki Furutani / Audio mixed by Lasse Lammert
Sigh’s recently released opus, ‘Shiki’, is dark & eclectic blackened heavy metal, shrouded in traditional eastern influences, and marks the latest chapter in the Sigh legacy, which includes some of the band’s heaviest and darkest material for some years; has been wowed fans new and old and received critical acclaim from the worldwide media – a selection of comments from reviews here:
WeAreThePit.com “Sigh are one of the most fascinating acts in metal today”
PopMatters – “another Sigh banger”
Decibel – “Shiki produces another marvel of unbound cohesion, an uninhibited freedom fighter of sound and fury that always sticks the unexpected landing”
Metal Hammer –’Shiki is gleefully defined more by imperial, crunching riffs, dazzling twin-axe melodies and Mirai’s tasteful cosmic synth runs’
Blabbermouth – ‘Masters at work’
JaMe – Rarely has a man grappling with his own mortality sounded so good.
Progressive Music Planet – This is Sigh at its most epic … Awesome.
Sonic Perspectives – “Immediately transfixing, arresting and breathtakingly diverse”
Musipedia of Metal – “it is fucking brilliant”
Legacy (DE) – „Sigh are still one of the most original and most competent bands from the far east, ignoring genre-limitations and nevertheless creating catchy worldclass music…”
Metal Hammer (DE) “SHIKI is a wonderful multi instrumentally kaleidoscope …”
Sonic Seducer (DE)“An exciting ride through crazy soundscapes, that are atmospheric and complex at the same time, that seem obscure and bizarre, featuring a necessary dose of madness”
Metal.de –“Every track offers a well portioned excess of craftsmanship and songwriting-talent, not to mention the technical skills of the musicians.”
Loud Magazine (Aus) – “Shiki is as unpredictable as it is brutal, as melodic as it is dissonant, atmospheric and occasionally unsettling”
Actainfernalis.com – “it is a masterpiece”
URN – “Legendary Japanese band Sigh delivers another fantastic album with Shiki. A must have !”
Rock Hard (IT) “A fantastic album with a lot of creativity and versatility”
Rockerilla (IT) “a fascinating, colourful, scintillating album.”
Joining Mirai and Dr Mikannibal on Shiki were Frédéric Leclercq of Kreator, plus US drummer extraordinaire, Mike Heller of Fear Factory and Raven, along with an appearance by longtime member Satoshi Fujinami on bass. ‘Shiki’ was recorded across multiple studios, and mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD studios in Germany. The album utilises a whole host of instruments to give further texture and dynamics to the compositions and eerie atmosphere, incorporating traditional oriental instruments such as the Shakuhachi & Sinobue flutes.
Sigh, featuring Mirai Kawashima, Satoshi Fujinami & Kazuki Ozeki formed in 1989/90 and following their initial demos, Shinichi Ishikawa was brought in, and Sigh set about recording the masterpiece debut ‘Scorn Defeat’ for Euronymous’ Deathlike Silence Productions, going on to become one of the country’s greatest and most revered metal exports.
SHIKI TRACKLISING
1. Kuroi Inori [00:16]
2. Kuroi Kage [07:55]
3. Shoujahitsumetsu [03:52]
4. Shikabane [05:28]
5. Satsui – Geshi No Ato [07:07] WATCH VIDEO (https://youtu.be/ikER7txirXQ)
6. Fuyu Ga Kuru [06:28]
7. Shouku [05:30]
8. Kuroi Kagami [01:10]
9. Mayonaka No Kaii [05:24]WATCH VIDEO(https://youtu.be/CKeSng_DDhg)
10. Touji No Asa [02:53
‘Shiki’ is available on CD / black vinyl LP / ltd ed green vinyl LP and digital. ORDER HERE(https://sighpeaceville.lnk.to/Shiki)
Follow Sigh: https://www.instagram.com/sighofficialjapan/
