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Rating: Sigh are one of the best Japanese metal bands ever. Starting with black metal (they were even signed by "Euronymous Deathlike Silence Production"), the group underwent a unique evolution, which led them to partly abandon the black metal atmospheres to become a true avant-metal band where '80s metal riffs blend with electronic bases and inserts, seventies-style keyboards (mellotron above all), and a dose of improvisation that never hurts; all of which supports the acidic scream of the singer and leader Mirai Kawashima.
The culmination of this artistic journey is "Imaginary Sonicscape," released in 2001.
The opener "Corpsecry-Angelfall" starts with a fast and direct riff on which the first mini-keyboard solo overlays. The track is probably the most straightforward of the album, even if it abruptly halts at the 5th minute to make way for a finale of only violins. The psychedelic journey truly begins with "Scarlet Dream," packed with heavy riffs but also synths and electronic drums, and 3 types of vocals: the scream, a computer-filtered voice, and a female choir in the chorus; notable is the electronic-oriental interlude.
Shocking: there are no words to describe "Nitzchean Conspiracy," a trip-hop song in the purest sense. It sounds like listening to dark Massive Attack behind the velvety notes of the sax and violins. Even more so with "A Sunset Song": over a pop-rock style bass and drum base, first a jazz keyboard solo is inserted, followed by a dance base with sampled trumpets, in addition to the ever-unexpected and violent guitar riffs. By now, we've understood that you can expect anything from this band. After the piano interlude "Improptu (Allegro Maestoso)" comes "Dreamsphere (Return to the Chaos)" where the oriental influence is more evident thanks to the background violins that appear here and there in the track.
Even after 34 years, the memory of Deep Purple must still be strong in Japan, as "Ecstatic Transformation" truly sounds like a Deep Purple track: the vaguely blues rhythm, the Blackmore-style solos, and those of Lord go hand in hand with the synths and electronics, and even a counterpoint of violins, for a few seconds, in the central part of the track. It is followed by the long (almost 11 minutes) "Slaughtergarden Suite," divided into 6 parts; it's difficult to describe all the sensations that this heavy, psychedelic, and symphonic track at the same time provokes in the listener. The only (fortunately) dip in the album is "Bring Back the Dead": not that it's bad, but, contrary to the other tracks, it doesn't stand out in any particular way. The closure is entrusted to "Requiem-Nostalgia," which begins with a symphonic theme that repeats several times throughout the song, whose very melodic chorus also features the flute, besides the fact of being sung in Japanese.
An album that will particularly appeal to more "open-minded" music listeners.
RATING = 7
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 A Sunset Song (06:49)
My eyes, cold as ice,
None shall ever overcome the horrible destiny,
Sympathized but paralyzed,
When identity is lost death may be the only way to ease me
Tear me apart till I die,
Tear me apart, sacrifice,
Tear me apart and hear my cry,
Tear me apart to kill my pride,
Something I'll have to lose,
In return to reach the truth,
Something I can't lose,
Even if my death is abused,
Something I'll have to lose,
In return to reach the truth,
Something I can't lose,
Even if I'll never be soothed,
I will never believe in those lies,
Nothing sacred, Nothing divine,
When pondering on the life fragile,
Helpless resistance I will resign,
Finite is my life, still searching for my shrine,
As long as I feel so scared,
The mask which I wear, My fear leading me nowhere,
Now my lie is a farce I cannot bear,
Tear me apart till I die,
Tear me apart, sacrifice,
Tear me apart and hear my cry,
Tear me apart to kill my pride,
I don't need the dreams to believe in,
As I know I'll never be relieved,
As I see the fantasy is a deceit,
As I know no one shares my grief
07 Ecstatic Transformation (05:35)
Dancing to the ancient rhythm midnight
Come with me and I
Start to create a new life
It requires another death
Seeking for a pleasure through pain
Secret pleasure I gain
Nothing sane, nothing insane
Life requires another death
You have to realize that a creation of life is a creation of death
Midnight ritual, so sensual
One-way trip to heavenly bliss
Midnight funeral, so bestial
One-way trip with my deadly kiss
Ecstatic transformation, Anti-mass annihilation
Sensual reincarnation
Life requires another death
Easy mass procreation, Imaginary expiration
Constructive incineration
It requires another death
[Chorus:]
I'm always ready to come to heaven or hell if you'd call so
I'm always ready to loose the beast that can't be my foe
[Guitar solo by Shinichi]
Enthusiastic, you'll be the beast
Beautiful, lustful, I'll be the beast
Now I'm ready to feast
Life requires another death
Hypnotized by lust you scream
No love needed in the rite supreme
Ecstasy in this sanctuary so heavenly
Don't be afraid to destroy
[Guitar solo by Shinichi]
[Hammond solo by Mirai]
08 Slaughtergarden Suite: I. At Dawn / II. The Dead Are Born / III. Destiny / IV. Slaughtergarden / V. Aftermath (10:57)
09 Bring Back the Dead (06:40)
Once beloved now lost forever
Wings of Angel torn by malignance
Why wasn't it me?
Living in a shadow of death
I wish it was a dream
I won't believe in salvation, (I) shouldn't be saved
I wait for my condemnation in the cold flame
Repeated suicide in imagination, Watch the coward pray
Unexpected destination, a miserable slave
Die with a hope of live in despair
Death you're dying, Life you're losing
Spiritual suicide, Life I denied
Light the night divides, Pride I denied
Now I set a fire to cremate
The treasure that will never be the same
I won't wait for the fate, lost in this shade
Past will never change, too late to be saved
Life light as a feather, so is mine
Why wasn't it me when angel smiles
So I'll live on the lies when my conscience dies
How could I stand the slaughter in this paradise?
Bring Back the Dead, in this sorrow
Bring Back the Dead, regret will grow
Bring Back the Dead
As their voices get higher and the leading light glitters
Bring Back the Dead, Now I see
Bring Back the Dead, What it means
Bring Back the Dead
Until the moment my existence perishes in eternity
Eternal regret I own't forget
What I want (is a) punishment, for the dead
Why wasn't it me
Living in a shadow of death
I wish it was a dream
I am the one who is guilty but I can't see
Nothing is the same as it used to be, silence is my plea
Helpless slave to destiny, I'll never be free
Shattered is my humanity, Eternally
Die with a hope or live in despair
Death you're dying, Life you're losing
Spiritual suicide, Life I denied
Light the night divides, Pride I denied
I have no future, for which I would live
I live in the dreadful past to forgive
My sin, spawned by inner feelings I have killed
I cry out of the loneliness to be filled
What I want is a punishment, demon inside of me
Now I see no way to embrace this reality
Now I see no reason for me to be
Suicidal words are chanted repeatedly
Bring Back the Dead, succumb to fate
Bring Back the Dead, that's what I hate
Bring Back the Dead
No matter what they say I'm the only one to blame
Bring Back the Dead, I'll watch them pray
Bring Back the Dead, We'll meet in the end
Bring Back the Dead
That is the only hope that can ease my eternal pain
Bring Back the Dead, to succumb to fate
Bring Back the Dead, that's what I hate
Bring Back the Dead
Now you're gone but I want to know what should be done
Bring Back the Dead, I'll watch them pray
Bring Back the Dead, What'd they say?
Bring Back the Dead
Though I know it's nothing more than death as a human...
10 Requiem - Nostalgia (07:58)
Scream, I'm trying to scream, But will they hear my shriek?
Dream, or is it a dream? Resistance that is so weak
Visions turning red, confusion inside of my head
Now I see the light in the flame that is my burning pride
Drowning in the middle of the miserable dream
Nostalgia tears my flesh
Love was taught, Taught by death
Hate was sought, sought by life
Drowning in the middle of the miserable dream
But dream is fading away
Love was taught, Taught by death
Hate was sought, sought by life
Dying, am I dying? Will I be buried with my past?
Crying, I hear them crying, when my heart is beating so fast
Fears grown in my sight
The place where I'd hide
Now I see the light in the flame that is my burning pride
Drowning in the middle of the miserable dream
Nostalgia tears my flesh
Love was taught, Taught by death
Hate was sought, sought by life
Drowning in the middle of the miserable dream
But dream is fading away
Love was taught, Taught by death
Hate was sought, sought by life
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