The Crash Landing - Sigh - Scenes From Hell

[About2Crash]

Sigh - Scenes From Hell - 2010



Mirai Kawashima (川嶋未来) - Vocals, Keyboards
Shinichi Ishikawa (石川慎) - Guitar
Satoshi Fujinami (藤波聡) - Bass (2004-present)
Junichi Harashima (原島淳) - Drums
Dr. Mikannibal - Saxophone, Vocals

Sigh Metal

Most of the albums that we ever buy are good. With samples of almost every album ever made within a moment's reach in the vast valley on the internets it is unlikely that you will ever buy an album on a whim again. It used to be a cool album cover. Then it was reviews. Now, we can just listen to the damn thing ourselves oftentimes, in completely legal streams authorized by the band.

But every once in a while, you get lucky.

I picked up Dream Theater's "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" my freshman year in high school when a buddy showed me ten seconds of a guitar solo and said, "You have to hear this."

I picked Fear Factory's "Obsolete" out of a bargain bin for 3.99 at an EB Games.

Every once in a while an album changes the way you look at music.

I still remember listening to Strapping Young Lad's "City" in the hallways during Summer school that year.

When Tom Waits finally clicked.

When an album by a Japanese black metal band named Sigh called "Hangman's Hymn" got a high review on a site that I respected.

I heard a song. It was pretty good. I needed more metal. I listened to it a fair amount, as much as one listens to just another album that they just like.

Then it clicked. Instantly, I was hooked and it soon rose to the top of my most listened to list as well as my top favorites of all time.

So here I am, almost three years later and still gorging myself on everything that I can get my hands on by the band. A couple of live performances including the mighty Maryland Death Fest only further cemented my love in stone.

A new album by one of your favorite bands is a scary thing. Mainly because there is always the possibility that it could suck. Some bands are able to get away with releasing albums that are better than your average bands best, but still mediocre by their own standards (I'm talking to you, Dream Theater...). Are hopes this big possible much less even fair to expect from an artist?

Well, in the case of Sigh. You might as well here's another great addition to their collection.
I don't care enough to go into detail. It can easily be compared to Hangman's Hymn with these added notes.

- The production is noticeably different. Equally powerful, but with the new addition of the orchestral elements guitars have been given a tinnier and thinner sound. This also is highlighted by the fact that power chords are hard to find. Single string runs and riffs fill most of the songs.

- Dr. Mikannibal does not overtake the album. Her lower growls compliment Mirai and while yes there may be a bit much of them, they always sound good even when you wish that it would be Mirai, who takes the lead most of the time. Her saxophone only appears for one solo, and it is incredibly tasteful and is among the albums best moments.

- The bombasticness of Hangman's Hymn is not lost. Trumpets, violins, timpani drums all fill the vacuous wasteland that has been obliterated by the record. They will pump you up. I constantly want to run and jump off of a mountain when listening to the album .

- The songs are not as tight. Yes, and there is more air throughout the entire album. However, this is a very minimal defect and does not affect the music negatively in any way.

- The orchestra really sounds awesome. In fact, it is the best use of orchestral elements I've ever heard in a metal album. When Dimmu Borgir does it, it just sounds like the keyboards. Sigh have made an album with distinct orchestration and distinct players behind the instruments. Each instrument is a different character with a different voice.

I would have written more... but it's hard to fill a page with "I love it." When in reality, that's all that you need to say.

Songs that Slay: La Art'e De Mourir, The Soul Grave, Vanitas, Musica in Tempora Belli

[Amok]

I'm sort of looking forward to hearing it. Will try and find it on youtube.

[N00bs]

Not quite as good as Hangman's but decent for sure.

[About2Crash]

I don't think it's as good as hangmans, but I would still call it great. Just like I would call Gallows Gallery and Imaginary Sonicscapes great

[Wigg]

I don't like the band, but Mikannibal records like this:



I approve.

[About2Crash]

I'm actually very surprised, Wigg that you aren't a Sigh fan. Seems like it would be right up your asshole.

[N00bs]

Originally Posted by Wigg

I don't like the band, but Mikannibal records like this:



I approve.

It would be distracting for me but i wouldnt care. Nice. lol

[Wigg]

Originally Posted by About2Crash

I'm actually very surprised, Wigg that you aren't a Sigh fan. Seems like it would be right up your asshole.

I can't handle the happiness and whimsy of it. Also I prefer Diablo Swing Orchestra's sound but can't listen to much of them either.

For avant garde stuff, I much prefer stuff like Mirrorthrone and Arcturus. Different sound entirely under the same banner.

[N00bs]

Originally Posted by Wigg

I can't handle the happiness and whimsy of it. Also I prefer Diablo Swing Orchestra's sound but can't listen to much of them either.

For avant garde stuff, I much prefer stuff like Mirrorthrone and Arcturus. Different sound entirely under the same banner.

Mirrorthrone is definitely very underrated.

[herrieman]

Nope. Not Hangman's Hymn, not this one. Nice to read someone is enthusiastic about them, I am not.

[Amok]

From the youtube clips I've heard this far, I like this record waaay more than the last one.

[Erik]

Originally Posted by Wigg

I can't handle the happiness and whimsy of it. Also I prefer Diablo Swing Orchestra's sound but can't listen to much of them either.

The whimsy is what I liked about Sigh (Hangman Hymns era). I didn't like the song I heard from the new album with the guitars being almost void. Something has to take a backseat at some point as integration between orchestral and metal require some give and take. Bands like Sigh and Unexpect feel like Alice in Wonderland or Gypsy-esk. Its a good quality so long as it doesn't get too played out. Looking forward to new Unexpect more then this new Sigh album.

Oh and I hate attention whore chicks like Mikkanabal. I would still fuck the living sushi out of her but, I don't need her in the band at all nor do I want her.

[Sigurd]

I look forward to Unexpect going back to their sound on the Utopia album mixed with some of the craziness from the last release. Anyway, I'll take a listen to the new Sigh stuff, I don't have high hopes so it can't let me down haha.

As far as whimsy in music I have always preferred the dark playfulness of Finntroll on the Jaktens Tid album, but that's just me.