Japan
Last update/review:
June 13, 2025
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.
Recent album: I Saw The World's End - Hangman's Hymn MMXXV ,
released on June 13, 2025.
Discography
Studio
Live
Scorn Defeat
1993
Deathlike Silence
A victory of dakini
The knell
At my funeral
Gundali
Ready for the final war
Weakness within
Taste defeat
The seven gates of hell (bonus track)
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
1993 Readers' Album
#63
Infidel Art
1995
Cacophonous
Izuna
The Zombie Terror
Desolation
The Last Elegy
Suicidogenic
Beyond Centuries
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Ghastly Funeral Theatre
EP
1997
Cacophonous
Intro: soushiki
Shingontachikawa
Doman seman
Imiuta
Shikigami
Outro: higeki
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Hail Horror Hail
1997
Cacophonous
Hail Horror Hail
42 49
12 Souls
Burial
The Dead Sing
Invitation to Die
Pathetic
Curse of Izanagi
Seed of Eternity
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
1997 Readers' Album
#58
Scenario IV: Dread Dreams
1999
Cacophonous
Diabolic Suicide
Infernal Cries
Black Curse
Iconoclasm in the 4th Desert
In the Mind of a Lunatic
Severed Ways | Imprisoned
Waltz: Dread Dreams
Divine Graveyard
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Imaginary Sonicscape
2001
Century Media
Corpsecry - Angelfall
Scarlet dream
Nietzchean conspiracy
A sunset song
Impromptu [Allegro Maestoso]
Dreamsphere (Return to the chaos)
Ecstatic transformation
Slaughtergarden suite
Bring back the dead
Requiem - nostalgia
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Gallows Gallery
2005
Red Stream
In A Drowse
Confession To Be Buried
Pale Monument
Gavotte Grim
Midnight Sun
The Enlightenment day
Silver Universe
Messiahplan
The Tranquilizer Song
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
Hangman's Hymn
2007
The End
Introitus / Kyrie
Inked in Blood
Me-Devil
Dies Irae / The Master Malice
The Memories As A Sinner
Death With Dishonor
In Devil's Arms
Overture / Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World's End
Salvation In Flame / Confutatis
Finale: Hangman's Hymn / In Paradisum / Das Ende
Hangman's Preview (Japanese bonus track)
Introitus (Demo) (Japanese bonus track)
Inked in Blood (Demo) (Japanese bonus track)
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
Black Metal
Schizo
Die Hard
Countess Bathory
Teacher's Pet
Witching Hour
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
Scenes From Hell
2010
The End
Prelude to the Oracle
L'art de Mourir
The Soul Grave
The Red Funeral
The Summer Funeral
Musica in Tempora Belli
Vanitas
Scenes from Hell
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
2010 Readers' Album
#76
The Curse Of Izanagi
EP
2010
The Curse of Izanagi
War
Spiritual
Countess Bathory
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
In Somniphobia
2012
Candlelight
Purgatorium
The Transfiguration Fear Lucid Nightmares
Lucid Nightmare
Somniphobia
L'Excommunication A Minuit
Amnesia
Far Beneath The In-Between
Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils
Ending Theme: Continuum
Fall To The Thrall
Equale (a. Prelude, b. Fugato, c. Coda)
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Shinichi Ishikawa
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
2012 Readers' Album
#74
Graveward
2015
Candlelight
Kaedit Nos Pestis
Graveward
The Tombfiller
The Forlorn
The Molesters of My Soul
Out of the Grave
The Trial by the Dead
The Casketburner
A Messenger from Tomorrow
Dwellers in a Dream
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
You Oshima
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
Heir To Despair
2018
Candlelight
Aletheia
Homo Homini Lupus
Hunters Not Horned
In Memories Delusional
Heresy (Part 1: Oblivium)
Heresy (Part 2: Acosmism)
Heresy (Part 3: Sub Species Aeternitatis)
Hands of the String Puller
Heir to Despair
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
You Oshima
Satoshi Fujinami
Junichi Harashima
Shiki
2022
Peaceville
Kuroi Inori
Kuroi Kage
Shoujahitsumetsu
Shikabane
Satsui - Geshi No Ato
Fuyu Ga Kuru
Shouku
Kuroi Kagami
Mayonaka No Kaii
Touji No Asa
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Frederic Leclercq
Satoshi Fujinami
Mike Heller
Live: The Eastern Forces Of Evil 2022
LIVE
2023
. Touji no Asa
A Victory of Dakini
Purgatorium
The Transfiguration Fear
Kuroi Kage
Shingontachikawa
Mayonaka no Kaii
Shoujahitsumetsu
The Soul Grave
Introitus
Inked in Blood
Me-Devil
Satsui
Evil Dead (Death cover)
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Nozomu Wakai
Takeo Shimoda
I Saw The World's End - Hangman's Hymn MMXXV
2025
Peaceville
Introitus / Kyrie
Inked in Blood
Me-Devil
Dies Irae
The Master Malice
The Memories as a Sinner
Death with Dishonor
In Devil`s Arms
Overture
Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World`s End
Salvation in Flame / Confutatis
Finale: Hangman`s Hymn / In Paradisum / Das Ende
Dr. Mikannibal
Mirai Kawashima
Nozomu Wakai
Mike Heller