With “Reikoku” I did something I do not usually do that is reviewing two albums in a role from the same band. Indeed, it is interesting to do that because it makes it possible to follow the band’s evolution and to stress the differences, if there is any, from album to album. I find it compelling to have the means to be able to compare albums side by side.
“Reikoku” is the new release from Black Metal outfit Kokeshi, I know the band labels itself as Post-Metal and so on, but I prefer to use the term Black Metal because this album uses more Black Metal elements the previous “Doukei.” I found it heavier as well with less incidental clean parts and more black noise. The guitars here are thickier and more present than they were sometimes going near modern outfits. Besides that, there is a bigger use of male gutural vocals and more intense yells as “Reikoku” makes few use of the female voice.
By quirk of circumstance, album opener “Taikai“ is very similar to its “Doukei‘s” pear, however, following “Kaiba Ni Shizumu” shows no resemblance to its pear. I’d say “Kaiba Ni Shizumu” goes to another musical direction than Kokeshi got in the previous album. It’s heavier, but not as disturbing. Here vocals bounce from male to female and the yells folow the same direction. In fact, in “Reikoku” prevail some effects that have not seen before as some inspired on children’s music. As a fact, instrumentals are neater here as “Mukui No Inori” and there are not so many clean moments. “Reikoku” is pretty dirtier. The hodgepodge of Extreme Metal elements plus non-metal elements is stronger here. “Warabeuta,” for instance, has a strong taste of the cores with a very prominent bass with some groove. In fact, it is far from Black Metal features.
Longer than its previous album, “Reikoku” is more complex, but not as disturbing. Kokeshi lost that disturbing aura that made it sound as a madhouse. I guess the album lost a little of the identity the band imposed back then with “Doukei.” Of course, that does not mean “Reikoku” is not interesting. It is. Very. My guess is that the band is trying new elements to add to its performance.
Kokeshi “Reikoku” will be released on June 06th via Moment of Collapse Records.
Track Listing:
- Taikai (胎海)
- Kaiba Ni Shizumu (海馬に沈む)
- Ito (系)
- Mukui No Inori (報いの祈り)
- Warabeuta (わらべうた)
- <Recollect> (recollect)
- Nehan Kesson Syoujo Dokkyou (涅槃欠損少女読経)
- Into My Darkness -Syoku- (feat. Deepa) (Into My Darkness -蝕- feat. Deepa)
- The Sun Shines Upon All Alike (彼は誰の慈雨の中で)
Watch “Taikai” official music 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!