Shiki

On their 2018 album Heir to Despair, avant-metal innovators Sigh incorporated traditional Japanese instruments into their uncategorizable sound, additionally delving into some of the most radical electronic collage experimentation of their multi-decade career. Beginning the fourth cycle of their acrostic album-titling scheme (all their major releases sequentially start with a letter of the bands name), Shiki continues what could be thought of as Sighs vision of folk-metal, with hand percussion, flutes, and shamisen present along with saxophones, synthesizers, and the more typically metal guitars and drums. Sighs work since the early 2010s has had far more in common with progressive metal than the bands black metal roots, but this feels like their bleakest, and at times rawest, material in a while. "Kuroi Kage" starts out closer to doom metal than the group is known for, yet it soon erupts into frenzied blastbeat convulsions. "Shikabane" is highlighted by a battle between several different types of drums, and "Satsui - Geshi No Ato" contains operatic vocals, a horror-synth breakdown, and a wild tape collage outro. Final instrumental track "Touji No Asa" is a surprising turn toward soothing, raga-like drone. Shiki doesnt quite reach the same level of surrealness as the bands 2001 opus Imaginary Sonicscape, but its still a magnificent work that spans a wide range of styles and emotions. With the exception of one or two misfires (which are still interesting, at the very least), Sighs entire discography is remarkable and well worth exploring, and Shiki is another powerful release from one of the worlds most unique bands. ~ Paul Simpson