Credited with being one of the first Japanese black metal acts, Sigh have always had a certain distinctiveness about their music; their debut album was one of the first times keyboards were used in the black metal genre. Over the years, Sigh has blended progressive, avant-garde and experimental elements into their sound to create a unique brand of metal. Their debut on The End Records sees Sigh simultaneously returning to a heavier sound while also pushing their experimental limits.
From the album’s frenzied opening trumpet blasts, Sigh announce that Hangman’s Hymn is going to be a chaotic and unpredictable piece of music. The album’s sound might best be described as a fusion of skull-crushing metal with twisted carnival music, complete with bouts of maniacal laughter. At the core, furious guitar riffing and drumming propel each song forward, most songs set at nearly the same breakneck pace (although the album adds an increasing amount of slower and softer material as the album nears the end). Soaring orchestral arrangements create powerful choruses, while choirs chanting in Latin and mournful organs give a creepy sense of dreariness. Frontman Mirai Kawasima predominantly screams his vocals, suiting the chaotic nature of the music, although his screams feel slightly overused compared to 2005’s clean-vocal dominated Gallows Gallery.
Some would accuse Hangman’s Hymn of overusing sheer speed and brutality, but such an approach is required to create the frantic atmosphere of the album. Nevertheless, the faster parts do tend to get somewhat repetitive. The only other real issue with the album is that Mirai Kawasima’s voice may take some getting used to, especially his occasional higher pitched “falsetto” screams.
Hangman’s Hymn is definitely not an album for the casual listener, but fans of brutal avant-garde metal will certainly not be left disappointed. If there's anything you'll take away from this album, it will surely be that you’ve never heard anything quite like it, and probably never will.
| Reviewer: Josh Coppola Added: June 15th 2007 |
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