It is my first time with Black Metal sang in Japanese. I should have seen it come because, well, it is no surprise to have bands singing in their native language as one of Black Metal’s flags is nationalism, and, by that, it is natural to write lyrics in the national language. I guess is that Japanese language gives the lyrics a little bit more sense of despair, or, it makes the songs more disturbing. Maybe this more disturbing feeling comes from Kokeshi‘s music as tracks as “Takaishinsoukairo” makes the fan thinks he/she is in a kind of madhouse. What I can really say is that the music in here is really disturbing.
The initial moments of album opener “propaganda” triggered that buttom in my memory as it addresses of Marilyn Mason’s cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” By the way, one of the best covers in music history even though I do not like Marilyn Mason. One thing is true, Kokeshi really know how to work with clean guitars. The band really knows how to alternate punchy guitars with clean ones to cool down or to create a more disturbing moment. Here, with “Doukei” it is far to say the cleanest moments are the most disturbing ones. The from-the-very-depths-of-hell yell of “kairai” just proves my point. The unadvised fan who is listening to the song might get the goosebumps. While to other genres the clean guitars are the relaxing moments, for Kokeshi they are the twisted ones. There is no calm before the storm in here. It also stands out the contrast the band uses from calm moments to sudden outbursts as in “Doukdei.” It is also a thing the band uses very well. Giving this second thoughts, I guess the way the band does this to build up its songs is one of its signatures. To some extent, “Doukdei” works as a chronicle of the day in a madhouse where the band is telling the ups and downs of life there or somewhere else. The maddening constant yells vocalist Nana gives reinforces this feeling.
If I were to sum up “Doukei” in only one word, I would use the term disturbing. Kokeshi did their best to pass the fan this feeling of something terrifying, but not unearthly terrifying; I would earthly terrifying because life here in this sad and lonely and pathetici little planet is what terrifies all of us. “Doukei” turns out to be its perfect chronicle.
Kokeshi “Doukei” will be re-released on June 06th via Moment of Collapse Records.
Track Listing:
1. propaganda
2. Takaishinsoukairo
3. Youkainohutini
4. kairai
5. The mantra doesn’t reach
6. Doukdei
Watch “Takaishinsoukairo” live video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!