Sigh - Hangman's Hymn
TE084 - The End Records - June 12, 2007
By George Grant
The origins of Sigh trace back to the very beginnings of black metals second wave. However, listening to this Japanese bands latest releases one could hardly guess. Unlike their peers, Sigh was willing to push the boundaries of their music to uncharted territories. I firmly believe Imaginary Sonicscape to be the bands magnum opus. Yet, I was greatly disappointed with the bands last release Gallows Gallery. The most notable change was in Mirais vocals. He switched to a completely clean voice on the album and in general the songs didnt do much for me. Therefore, leading up the release of the bands newest album, Hangmans Hymn, I was apprehensive to say to least. For a band like Sigh its hard to fully predict what their next release will sound like, and more likely than not it will be completely different than you imagined.
Right from the gate Mirai and company set the stage for what will be a very relentless album. The bombastic horns which state an ever repeating theme on the album introduce the thrashing madness that is Hangmans Hymn. Fans will rejoice in hearing Mirais maniacal scream welcomed back to the fold. These vocals sit perfectly in the thrash influenced album. The band also keeps this ferocious pace throughout the entire album, and considering it clocks in at roughly 45 minutes it makes the album a very easy listen from beginning to end. Accompanying the thrashing madness are bombastic orchestral arrangements. Fans of the bands previous releases know that Sigh is no stranger when it comes to composing for the orchestra. This becomes apparent with multiple listens. The strings and horns used on the album mix perfectly with the fast paced music. Its this dichotomy and interplay between these two functions that give Hangmans Hymn its appeal and freshness.
Without a doubt the real standout on this album is the guitar work by Shinichi Ishikawa. His guitar riffs which litter the album possess the strong aggression of 80s thrash and the melodic sensibilities that Sigh has always had. For instance, the galloping rhythm on In Devils Arms harkens back to style of the bands previous album Gallows Gallery, but used in a much more effective way. Also, Ishikawas lead work is stunning. Every solo on the album does exactly what a solo should. It heightens the moment, and retains the mood expressed through the song.
Of course the quirky moments are still present on this album. While its certainly not the same degree of experimentation as say Imaginary Sonicscape, Mirai still pushes the envelope. This comes in the form of the reoccurring tormented laughs and subtle synthesizer effects that add to the atmosphere of the album. However, given the music at hand most of these experiments dont improve the album. They almost seem to take away from what the band has worked to build up. Also, the choirs used on the album are hit and miss. Sometimes they are used to perfection, while in others like the closing Hangmans Hymn/In Paradisum/Das Ende they dont fit well with the music. In any case do not let these small grievances dissuade you from checking out this release. Yet again Sigh has proven to be on top of their game and released an album that should be popping up on numerous Best of 2007 lists.
Official Sigh Website
Official The End Records Website
TE084 - The End Records - June 12, 2007
By George Grant
The origins of Sigh trace back to the very beginnings of black metals second wave. However, listening to this Japanese bands latest releases one could hardly guess. Unlike their peers, Sigh was willing to push the boundaries of their music to uncharted territories. I firmly believe Imaginary Sonicscape to be the bands magnum opus. Yet, I was greatly disappointed with the bands last release Gallows Gallery. The most notable change was in Mirais vocals. He switched to a completely clean voice on the album and in general the songs didnt do much for me. Therefore, leading up the release of the bands newest album, Hangmans Hymn, I was apprehensive to say to least. For a band like Sigh its hard to fully predict what their next release will sound like, and more likely than not it will be completely different than you imagined.
Right from the gate Mirai and company set the stage for what will be a very relentless album. The bombastic horns which state an ever repeating theme on the album introduce the thrashing madness that is Hangmans Hymn. Fans will rejoice in hearing Mirais maniacal scream welcomed back to the fold. These vocals sit perfectly in the thrash influenced album. The band also keeps this ferocious pace throughout the entire album, and considering it clocks in at roughly 45 minutes it makes the album a very easy listen from beginning to end. Accompanying the thrashing madness are bombastic orchestral arrangements. Fans of the bands previous releases know that Sigh is no stranger when it comes to composing for the orchestra. This becomes apparent with multiple listens. The strings and horns used on the album mix perfectly with the fast paced music. Its this dichotomy and interplay between these two functions that give Hangmans Hymn its appeal and freshness.
Without a doubt the real standout on this album is the guitar work by Shinichi Ishikawa. His guitar riffs which litter the album possess the strong aggression of 80s thrash and the melodic sensibilities that Sigh has always had. For instance, the galloping rhythm on In Devils Arms harkens back to style of the bands previous album Gallows Gallery, but used in a much more effective way. Also, Ishikawas lead work is stunning. Every solo on the album does exactly what a solo should. It heightens the moment, and retains the mood expressed through the song.
Of course the quirky moments are still present on this album. While its certainly not the same degree of experimentation as say Imaginary Sonicscape, Mirai still pushes the envelope. This comes in the form of the reoccurring tormented laughs and subtle synthesizer effects that add to the atmosphere of the album. However, given the music at hand most of these experiments dont improve the album. They almost seem to take away from what the band has worked to build up. Also, the choirs used on the album are hit and miss. Sometimes they are used to perfection, while in others like the closing Hangmans Hymn/In Paradisum/Das Ende they dont fit well with the music. In any case do not let these small grievances dissuade you from checking out this release. Yet again Sigh has proven to be on top of their game and released an album that should be popping up on numerous Best of 2007 lists.
Official Sigh Website
Official The End Records Website
