Originality in metal is something that is hard to achieve, but it is the thing that I long for most in a band usually. Originality in thrash and black metal is even harder to find I think, but here’s this Japanese band that claims to be pushing the boundaries of the genre since their inception in 1990. Sigh now release Hangman’s Hymn, a record where they combine black/thrash metal with German symphonies, as in classical music. Bound to be interesting I’d say.

I can say that I like this path the band has chosen, but I must add that I can’t listen too often to it, it becomes quite annoying to me to be honest. But the way they’ve combined classical symphonies with black/thrash sounds actually very natural. The music now doesn’t extract the bombastic elements from sheer brutality, but more from the symphonic elements. Now don’t go thinking that this is a new Within Temptation, because that comparison is miles away from reality. This still blasts, thrashes and destroys, only in a symphonic way.

 

And because they are a Japanese band that originated in 1990 already, how else can it be than that Sigh has a great story to tell. The band was already signed to the label of Mayhem’s guitarist Euronymous, but this guy was of course tragically murdered by fellow bandmember/Satanist Varg Vikernes, oh praise true Norwegian morons. This must have sucked ass. But the band obviously survived quite strong, having released quite some albums since them, always pushing boundaries and experimenting with musical styles most metalheads wouldn’t think of that easily. For instance Sigh likes to fool around with black metal, 80ies thrash heavy metal, classical music, jazz, 60s/70s rock, Indian traditional music and so on. Keep this up guys!

 

Well in the end I have to say that I won’t be easily tempted to play this stuff again, but I can say that Sigh is a must to check out for any open minded thrash/black metal fan. So this is not for the true Norwegian corpse-painted retards, but for people with real knowledge of music and an unquenchable thirst for something new.