Review: Hebi Katana ‘Imperfection’
Since joining the roster of writers for The Sleeping Shaman, I’ve had my musical mind opened to a wide range of new and exciting genres, mainly by The Shaman himself, by means of a WhatsApp saying, ‘do you fancy seeing and reviewing this gig?’. Usually, I’ve never heard of the bands playing, so off I go to do my research and listen to them.
One new genre has been due to the emergence of a raft of wonderful bands from the land of the rising sun. I was fortunate enough to see both Minima Deutsch and Hibushibirelast year when they toured, and now it’s the turn of Hebi Katana to get those musical juices flowing with their fourth album Imperfection, and first release for the ever-fantastic Ripple Music.
Hebi Katana are Laven (bass/vocals), Nobu (guitars/vocals) and T.T. Goblin (drums), who are in their own words, ‘purveyors of a one-of-a-kind fusion of wabi-sabi (Japanese traditional acceptance of transience and imperfection) and heavy doom sounds’. It is abundantly clear from the off that the trio are superb at what they do, as the gentle, serene opening bars to Bon Nou make way for a juicy bass line that leads into a cacophony of gorgeous sounds and one hell of a song.
That heavy rock essence is pouring out of each note, and when it’s mixed with a bit of psychedelia as well, it sets pulses racing. Dead Horse Requiem follows with an opening that keeps playing repeatedly in my mind. It is killer from the off and gets you moving before they slow it down to let the vocals take over. That doom element is deeply embedded within their music, and they love a perfectly placed guitar lick to shift the emphasis around.
This album is a thing of beauty…
Praise The Shadows has a rough around the edges edge feel to it, whilst still seeming perfectly crafted. The chorus is catchy as hell to go alongside the swinging groove, and you will soon find yourself getting lost within their world. Another bass intro beckons on Doomed Echoes From Old Tree, and it’s here that you see why Ripple Music have added them to their line-up. The song is very different, more unique in its approach, with stop-start pieces collected to make one huge, yet more refined piece of music.
I am really impressed by the level of musicianship on this album as they like to mix things up, explore new avenues and put a few surprises into their overall sound. It’s refreshing to listen to and Blood Spirit Rising is perhaps my favourite song. It’s pure doom rock that has everything I adore all wrapped up in one glorious moment. The drums flow, the bass is high in the mix, the guitar tone is sumptuous, the vocals aren’t forced yet they turn it all on its head with a moment of bluesy calm and tranquillity, before a change of tempos to finish with a flourish.
Following that was always going to be tricky but Yu gen brings you back down to earth with a soothing and relaxing sound letting Nobu’s stripped-down vocals take the lead. You can sense something bubbling below the surface and about midway through, their heavier sound erupts to take the song to a new level. The chilled-out notes return to lead them towards the end, showcasing the nuanced side of their talents before the inevitable rousing finish.
The final track of this incredible album, Yume wa Kareno has a blissful beginning, focused around ‘enso’ which is Japanese spirituality. These three clearly revel in riff-heavy driven rock songs but they’ll leave you mesmerised throughout with an abundance of tempo and guitar changes that are thought provoking and immensely enjoyable. This album is a thing of beauty and will be right up there in many people’s album of the year list.
Label: Ripple Music
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Matthew Williams
