Cult Japanese black metal legends Sigh formed in 1989/90, featuring mainman Mirai Kawashima, Satoshi
Fujinami & Kazuki Ozeki. Following initial demos, Shinichi Ishikawa was brought in, and Sigh set about
recording the masterpiece debut 'Scorn Defeat' for Euronymous' Deathlike Silence Productions, going on to
become one of the country's greatest and most revered metal exports. With a journey through the strange
and the psychedelic, incorporating a whole eclectic mix of genre styles & experimentation throughout their
career, Sigh has remained a vital creative force in the avantgarde field whilst maintaining their old school
roots.
'Shiki' marks the latest chapter in the Sigh legacy, and includes some of the band's heaviest and darkest
material for some years; a fine hybrid of at times primitive black metal akin to early influences such as Celtic
Frost amid more epic melodic heavy metal riffing and solos. The album also utilises a whole host of
instruments to give further texture and dynamics to the compositions and eerie atmosphere, incorporating
traditional oriental instruments such as the Shakuhachi & Sinobue flutes.
The word "Shiki" itself has various meanings in Japanese such as four seasons, time to die, conducting an
orchestra, ceremony, motivation, colour. The two primary themes for the album are "four seasons" and "time
to die".
The concept and artwork is based around a traditional Japanese poem, and on 'Shiki' Mirai explores how at
this stage of life he himself is going through Autumn, with Winter coming soon, and so empathises with the
contrasting sentimental feelings from watching cherry blossoms (a symbol of spring) in full bloom.
