Release Date: February 25th 2022. Record Label: Unforgiven Blood Records. Format: CD/DD
Impermanence-無常 - Tracklisting
Dirty Moon Child
Pain Should I Take
Devastator
Unforgiven Blood
Agua De Vida
You Don't Lie
Running In My Vein
Take My Pills
Underneath The Sky
Members
Nobu - Vocals, Guitar
Yasuzo - Bass
Review
Self Proclaimed Tokyo Samurai Doom Rockers Hebi Katana return with their second full length album Impermanence-無常. The band released their acclaimed debut album back in Dec 2020 and it was a first rate classic Proto Doom/Hard Rock adventure with elements of Heavy Stoner Rock/Metal. The band go a different route for their new album by playing less Proto-Doom and more Classic Hard Rock and 70's based Heavy Metal all under the guise of Yukito Okazaki of Japanese Psych Stoner Rock legends Eternal Elysium who produces at his famous STUDIO ZEN.
The album has a "rough and ready" appeal compared to their debut album. Yeah, it's less heavy but still retains its Doom Rock and Stoner Rock charm and that's down great songs that Hebi Katana have recorded for this album. Add masterful production duties from Yukito and this is a much better and well rounded experience than their debut album which I'm a huge admirer of.
Hebi Katana draw influences from bands such as Black Sabbath, Budgie and even modern day Stoner Rock/Metal acts currently doing the rounds. Hebi Katana have a more mature songwriting style on this album as the lyrics are more engaging with the grooves being quite deliciously heavy.
This is a true classic Doom Rock/Hard Rock and Modern Day Stoner Rock album with Hebi Katana seamlessly flirting between the different genres they use and play on this album.
Standout songs include: Dirty Moon Child, Pain Should I Take, Devastator, Unforgiven Blood, You Don't Lie and Underneath The Sky. Basically the whole album is packed full of classic sounding songs that all have plenty of dynamic groove that veers into Boogie Rock and even twinges of Grungy goodness.
Where most of the famed Japanese Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands such as Church Of Misery and BORIS play a more extreme style of music it's good to hear a band form the Japanese Doom/Stoner Rock scene bring a classic style of Hard Rock/Doom/Stoner Rock to the underground masses and still sound so damn exciting and original.
Hebi Katana have delivered an outstanding album that not only builds upon the promise they showed with their debut album but allows them to potentially become more well known within the global underground Doom/Stoner Rock scene.
With the mighty Italian Powerhouse label Argonauta Records releasing this album on Limited Vinyl in June 2022 then the future is looking rather bright for Hebi Katana and long may that continue.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
You can buy the album on Unforgiven Blood Records from disk union
Links
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