Release Date: July 25th 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Imperfection - Tracklisting
1.Bon Nou
2.Dead Horse Requiem
3.Praise the Shadows
4.Echoes from Old Tree
5.Blood Spirit Rising
6.Yu gen
7.Yume wa Kareno
Members
Laven - Bass, Vocals
Nobu - Guitars, Vocals
T.T. Goblin - Drums
Review
Japanese Doom/Stoner/Heavy Metallers Hebi Katana new album Imperfection sees the band aiming for bigger and better things with their HEAVIEST and HUGE sounding record to date. With the power of Ripple Music fully behind Hebi Katana, the stage is set for the band to expand their musical horizons as Imperfection is a non-stop collection of grizzled Proto-Metal sounds that the band have superbly developed over the last five years or so.
Imperfection is their fourth full length album and “features lyrics inspired by Matsuo Basho and Tanizaki Junichiro's “wabi sabi” “beauty of imperfection” and “enso" based on the unique Japanese spiritual world.” The record has Hebi Katana’s classic style of Proto Metal energy which is delivered with a wild GONZO energy that pays perfect homage to bands such as Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Ramones and cult Japanese Heavy Metal heroes ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK.
There’s a sense of intense Stoner Rock/Metal BRAVADO on Imperfection with thrashy and seedy instrumental sounds capturing Hebi Katana at the top of their game. The vocals from Nobu and Laven feel more energetic with the no-nonsense attitude of Seventies Proto-Metal, Doom and Punk Rock vibes that’s matched against the OVER THE TOP Eighties Hard Rock attitude. It’s good to hear that Hebi Katana haven’t changed their stripped back Garage Rock based sound which allows the production side of Imperfection to have quite an iconic ROUGH and READY appeal which gives the record a more dangerous OUTLAW energy to it all.
The SAMURAI DOOM spirit of Hebi Katana’s runs amok with killer HIGH VOLTAGE grooves on tracks such as Dead Horse Requiem, Praise The Shadows, Echoes From The Old Tree and Yume wa Kareno being the most praiseworthy, thrilling and catchiest songs on the whole album. Hebi Katana do become quite “OCCULT” obsessed on this record which brings a sense of murky FUZZ ROCK heaviness with the outlandish lyrics doing a magnificent job of selling the whole creative vision that the band have for Imperfection.
Imperfection has a world building Psychedelic attitude which is perhaps down to the surreal Psychedelic vision that inspired the band that I mentioned earlier in the review. If you’re only here for the music then Hebi Katana will no doubt impress you with their fearless playing and vivid expression of pure HEAVY METAL and RAWK & ROLL excess that will no doubt establish the band as major players within the global HEAVY ROCK scene.
Hebi Katana are on the verge of great things and Imperfection is another outstanding record from one of the best kept secrets from the Japanese Underground Scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Imperfection is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.
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