Japanese prog, black mentalists Sigh are not the most prolific touring band and their shows are few and far between. I was lucky enough to catch them way back around 1995 at the long demolished Sir George Robey in Finsbury Park (if it had not been demolished it would have fallen down by now) and will never forget that show. Since then I think I have only caught them twice at Damnation Festival 2008 (their first UK show in 13 years) and just at the end of last year when the current formation played a stonker of a set at London’s Scala with Anaal Nathrakh. They seem to like and have opportunities to come to the UK despite the sporadicity of appearances and you are probably aware they are returning here to play not one but two sets at Damnation including a 30th anniversary show of their Scorn Defeat album.

Before we get too carried away though this is live but not quite as we know it and was a streamed show with no audience during thee plague era we all had to endure. Recorded in Japan this apparently came out a lot better than expected and so is getting a double CD and DVD release. I just have the music side of things to base review on myself and have to admit with no crowd noise and just occasional introductions from frontman Mirai it does lack atmosphere and sounds a bit sterile at times. That said from the orchestral intro to doom-laden early number ‘A Victory of Dakini’ and through to tracks from latest album Shiki there is nothing to fault with either set-list or the playing of those involved. With Mirai accompanied by the same players as in London recently Nozomu Wakai on guitar, and Takeo Shimoda on drums along with the added addition of Dr. Mikannibal on vocals/saxophone, it all sounds tight and well-rehearsed even if meeting up was not an easy achievement at the time.

Vocals move from Tengu sounding snarls to clean and operatic croons. There’s a retro keyboard sound and when they band move onto the faster numbers such as ‘Purgatorium’ the classic guitar shred thrashes things out with panache. Progressive flourishes are never far away and the sax makes its presence felt among the lunatic fringes of songs such as ‘The Transfiguration Fear’ whilst that plodding beat on Shiki track ‘Kuroi Kage’ sounds like a diplodocus on the forage for food. Fans of the band are likely to find plenty of highlights within the tracks on display whether it be the mad dervish and unhinged frenzy of ‘The Soul Grave’ or the sassy swagger of ‘Me Devil.’ Naturally just before they bid farewell to those in charge of the sound and visual elements we get an enthusiastic cover of Death classic ‘Evil Dead.’ Apparently the DVD element has the addition of three promo videos too.

We don’t generally dip into live albums, they serve a purpose but the only way to really experience a live band is live and this is live but not exactly live (capiche) so has its limitations. That aside play it in the comfort of your own home and the drink prices are a hell of a lot cheaper and you won’t have someone over 6 foot blocking your view.

(7.5/10 Pete Woods)

https://www.facebook.com/sighjapan

https://peaceville.bandcamp.com/album/live-the-eastern-forces-of-evil-2022