Origin: Japan  
Genres:
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Last update/review: September 1, 2022

Sigh

Once upon a time it seemed that every band coming out of Japan was little more than a Loudness soundalike. Not anymore, with bands such as Zeni Geva and Church Of Misery making their mark on the noisier end of the metal spectrum, and now there's this here band called Sigh, one of the oddest bands to emerge from anywhere in quite some time. Others have found it difficult to describe exactly what Sigh sounds like, and this is quite understandable. Though the core of their sound isn't hard to fathom (semi-black metal vocal rasps, and (a heavy, 80's-inspired affair with riffs that alternately might remind one of the more experimental side of Celtic Frost, at other times perhaps old Mercyful Fate (guitars, not vocals)), the trio constantly throws in oddball riffs, instruments, and interludes, from odd female backing singing to weird piano breaks, to hand clapping, jazz breaks, country (!) interludes, and a host of various where-did-that-come-from sounds that can often baffle the listener. Sometimes these only serve to distract, but more often they intrigue and draw the listener in, just to find out what might come next. Though the last three albums in particular are not dissimilar from each other in style, the ever-broadening outside influences make each song, and each album, unique in itself. This is truly a band for those who want and seek out the unexpected. Highly recommended.

Current Members

Dr. Mikannibal

vocals/sax

Mirai Kawashima

bass/vocals/keyboards (guest for The Meads Of Asphodel, ex-Necrophagia, ex-Post Mortem)

You Oshima

guitars (Kadenzza)

Satoshi Fujinami

bass

Junichi Harashima

drums

Former Members/Guests

Shinichi Ishikawa

guitars

Frederic Leclercq (guest)

guitars (ex-DragonForce, ex-Heavenly, Kreator, Loudblast, Menace, Sinsaenum)

Mike Heller (guest)

drums (ex-Fear Factory, Raven)



Discography



Scorn Defeat  
1993 Deathlike Silence
  1. A victory of dakini
  2. The knell
  3. At my funeral
  4. Gundali
  5. Ready for the final war
  6. Weakness within
  7. Taste defeat
  8. The seven gates of hell (bonus track)
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
1993 Readers' Album #63




Infidel Art  
1995 Cacophonous
  1. Izuna
  2. The Zombie Terror
  3. Desolation
  4. The Last Elegy
  5. Suicidogenic
  6. Beyond Centuries
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami



Ghastly Funeral Theatre  EP
1997 Cacophonous
  1. Intro: soushiki
  2. Shingontachikawa
  3. Doman seman
  4. Imiuta
  5. Shikigami
  6. Outro: higeki
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami



Hail Horror Hail  
1997 Cacophonous
  1. Hail Horror Hail
  2. 42 49
  3. 12 Souls
  4. Burial
  5. The Dead Sing
  6. Invitation to Die
  7. Pathetic
  8. Curse of Izanagi
  9. Seed of Eternity
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
1997 Readers' Album #58




Scenario IV: Dread Dreams  
1999 Cacophonous
  1. Diabolic Suicide
  2. Infernal Cries
  3. Black Curse
  4. Iconoclasm in the 4th Desert
  5. In the Mind of a Lunatic
  6. Severed Ways | Imprisoned
  7. Waltz: Dread Dreams
  8. Divine Graveyard
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami




Imaginary Sonicscape  
2001 Century Media
  1. Corpsecry - Angelfall
  2. Scarlet dream
  3. Nietzchean conspiracy
  4. A sunset song
  5. Impromptu [Allegro Maestoso]
  6. Dreamsphere (Return to the chaos)
  7. Ecstatic transformation
  8. Slaughtergarden suite
  9. Bring back the dead
  10. Requiem - nostalgia
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami




Gallows Gallery  
2005 Red Stream
  1. In A Drowse
  2. Confession To Be Buried
  3. Pale Monument
  4. Gavotte Grim
  5. Midnight Sun
  6. The Enlightenment day
  7. Silver Universe
  8. Messiahplan
  9. The Tranquilizer Song
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima



Hangman's Hymn  
2007 The End
  1. Introitus / Kyrie
  2. Inked in Blood
  3. Me-Devil
  4. Dies Irae / The Master Malice
  5. The Memories As A Sinner
  6. Death With Dishonor
  7. In Devil's Arms
  8. Overture / Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World's End
  9. Salvation In Flame / Confutatis
  10. Finale: Hangman's Hymn / In Paradisum / Das Ende
  11. Hangman's Preview (Japanese bonus track)
  12. Introitus (Demo) (Japanese bonus track)
  13. Inked in Blood (Demo) (Japanese bonus track)
  14. Me-Devil (Demo) (Japanese bonus track)
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima
2007 Readers' Album #80




A Tribute To Venom  
2008 The End
  1. Black Metal
  2. Schizo
  3. Die Hard
  4. Countess Bathory
  5. Teacher's Pet
  6. Witching Hour
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima



Scenes From Hell  
2010 The End
  1. Prelude to the Oracle
  2. L'art de Mourir
  3. The Soul Grave
  4. The Red Funeral
  5. The Summer Funeral
  6. Musica in Tempora Belli
  7. Vanitas
  8. Scenes from Hell
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima
2010 Readers' Album #76




The Curse Of Izanagi  EP
2010
  1. The Curse of Izanagi
  2. War
  3. Spiritual
  4. Countess Bathory
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima



In Somniphobia  
2012 Candlelight
  1. Purgatorium
  2. The Transfiguration Fear Lucid Nightmares
  3. Lucid Nightmare
  4. Somniphobia
  5. L'Excommunication A Minuit
  6. Amnesia
  7. Far Beneath The In-Between
  8. Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils
  9. Ending Theme: Continuum
  10. Fall To The Thrall
  11. Equale (a. Prelude, b. Fugato, c. Coda)
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima
2012 Readers' Album #74




Graveward  
2015 Candlelight
  1. Kaedit Nos Pestis
  2. Graveward
  3. The Tombfiller
  4. The Forlorn
  5. The Molesters of My Soul
  6. Out of the Grave
  7. The Trial by the Dead
  8. The Casketburner
  9. A Messenger from Tomorrow
  10. Dwellers in a Dream
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • You Oshima
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima



Heir To Despair  
2018 Candlelight
  1. Aletheia
  2. Homo Homini Lupus
  3. Hunters Not Horned
  4. In Memories Delusional
  5. Heresy (Part 1: Oblivium)
  6. Heresy (Part 2: Acosmism)
  7. Heresy (Part 3: Sub Species Aeternitatis)
  8. Hands of the String Puller
  9. Heir to Despair
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • You Oshima
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Junichi Harashima



Shiki  
2022 Peaceville
  1. Kuroi Inori
  2. Kuroi Kage
  3. Shoujahitsumetsu
  4. Shikabane
  5. Satsui - Geshi No Ato
  6. Fuyu Ga Kuru
  7. Shouku
  8. Kuroi Kagami
  9. Mayonaka No Kaii
  10. Touji No Asa
  • Dr. Mikannibal
  • Mirai Kawashima
  • Frederic Leclercq
  • Satoshi Fujinami
  • Mike Heller




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