Sigh - Goh-ka (2026)

Every time that I think we have Sigh figured out, they go and unleash a crazy and wacky release like “Goh-ka”. For over 55-minutes the band unleashes their madness in very quirky and unique ways, ranging from traditional Japanese passages to all-out-Metal harshness. In the 11 tracks presented in this release, the band weaves back and forth between ‘normal’ music and complete insanity with dramatic tempo and mood swings, and yet creates a very cohesive and a very Sigh-esque atmosphere. Definitely not for Metal purists, this release showcases how all kinds of disparate and different ideas create a very cohesive and expansive listening experience.

Opening with the folky “Kuso-shi 1, 2, and 3”, we get that nice contrast between traditional instruments, distorted guitars and the monstrous drumming of Mike Heller. We also have Frédéric Leclercq handling the bass guitar, adding extra depth to pieces like “Jigoku-Zoshi 1: Unkamusho”, and “Anzenshokon” to name a few. The band’s inventiveness is always present, shifting the mood from dreamy atmospheric passages to chaotic crescendos of heaviness and vocal madness.

The best track in this release has to be the funky “Unputenpu”, which features guest Mikael Åkerfeldt on lead guitar, creating an interesting stylistic difference from the band’s own axe master, Nozomu Wakai. The band’s very lively style is always present in this release, keeping things hectic and weird at the same time, the best example of this is the crafty “Jinmenjushin” and is very playful vocal arrangements, which at times feature Mirai Kawashima and Dr. Mikannibal’s children.

While there are tons of interesting arrangements, fun use of traditional instruments, and tons of playful vocal arrangements, the band’s core and harsh sound always comes through, particularly on songs like “Jigoku-Zoshi 2: Tokatsujigoku”, but it is innovative and ‘weird’ tracks like “Kuso-shi 8 and 9 / Mettaijakujo” that have gotten the band the notoriety they have (and deserve). “Goh-ka” continues to push the envelope for Sigh, and we love it for being so rich and unconventional that it takes more than a few casual spins to fully unravel and enjoy.

Rating: 95/100