For the past decade, if you wanted to form a mosh pit at a Sigh show you had to bring your own music. Hangman’s Hymn changes everything. Calling it a return to form would be unfair but a nod to both their early days and the early days of black and thrash metal is definitely on display. First I must say that Sigh is not a band that repeats itself, and once again they are evolving. Where the last several releases were relaxation music, so you could unwind after a hard day, to horror themes, Hangman’s Hymn is fast moving, frantic, intense, edge of your seat music. Loud drums, harsh vocals (they’re back) maniacal laughter, thrash riffs, guitar driven melodies and German romantic era orchestral music all rolled into one cohesive, harsh, disjointed, epic masterpiece.

Sigh has, over the years, become a band that demanded many listens to really appreciate their music. I found myself more and more unwilling to put in the effort but I continued to get each new release nonetheless, knowing the brilliance would be there, and eventually I would appreciate it. After Gallows Gallery I had actually given up on the band, one of those talented bands playing a style I just didn’t appreciate. Luckily I got this promo in the mail. This marks the 13th release that I own, and the first to knock me over in the first two minutes. I liked it immediately; it does not need an incubation period.

Classic songs ”Estatic Transformation”, “Shingontachikawa”, “The Zombie Terror” and “Confession To Be Buried” had to be dropped from my Sigh top ten list to make room for “Inked in Blood”, “The Memories as a Sinner”, “ Salvation in Flame / Confutatis”, and “Introitus/Kyrie”.

If this disk is not in my top ten list at the end of the year come over and beat some sense into me.

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