Year: 2022
Total Time: 36:17
Label: Jems Label
During the last two to three years, mainly on the other side of the Atlantic, there has been an explosion of Raw Black Metal in the underground scene, which started with LAMP OF MURMUR and continues with the appearance of new bands which constantly renew this particular sound. One of these bands is SAIDAN, which consists of two members, Saidan and Shadosai. Although the band is relatively new (formed in 2020), it has built a respected name in the underground scene in a short period of time, with each new release literally disappearing within minutes. Their discography consists of one demo, two splits and two full-length albums, with the second being released this year and titled “Onryō II Her Spirit Eternal”.
Even though I was already familiar with their discography, nothing has prepared me for what I experienced and am experiencing with every listen of their new album. SAIDAN worship Japanese mythology and more specifically Japanese horror, something that is reflected in the beautiful cover artwork and lyrics of “Onryō II Her Spirit Eternal”, giving a seductive and mysterious tone to their whole project. Musically their base is Raw Black Metal, but not in the way that we have it in our mind, as in the album we can listen to influences from Thrash Metal, Post-Black, Punk, Rock even Japanese Pop with its main characteristic being that it achieves and touches emotionally the listener with its melodicism and its unique atmosphere. A characteristic example is the opening song, “Kissed by Lunar’s Silvery Gleam”, which while it moves in the classic paths of the Raw Black Metal sound, its melody is so penetrating that it ‘pierces’ your soul, while “Queen of the Haunted Dell” that follows manages to travel the listener from Black Metal to Punk until the breakdown which reminds of SLAYER’s “Angel Of Death” and then returns to Punk forms. “Yuki Onna” and “I Am The Witch”, prove how much the Americans have matured since their previous release, shocking us with their compositional ability.
In the 37 minutes that “Onryō II Her Spirit Eternal” lasts, SAIDAN present us their unique personal musical identity and at the same time the best release of their career so far. A great album of melodic Raw Black Metal with a lot of emotion, which I would dare to say that it could be described as quite “catchy” as it has all those ingredients that make you push the repeat on your hi-fi again and again. Music that, through its ferocity, takes you from pain, sorrow and blackness to pleasure and watering. It is something that very few bands can offer and SAIDAN with “Onryō II Her Spirit Eternal” are one of the dominant bands in the so-called USBM, offering us one of the best releases of this year.
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: SAIDAN – Facebook Page
