A New Flare in Metal Music

Date: 12/29/06
Writer: NickBlaze


Now, was this a good year for metal? Of course! The real question is whether or not Japan’s lovely year of 2006 was a leap in metal. Truth be told, 2005 was the best year Japan’s metal scene had seen in a while. But that’s not to say 2006 doesn’t have its own flare. In fact, some of the best albums of the year were debut albums! While at the same time, some new albums by some old favorites. Unfortunately, Japan’s great death and thrash metal bands seemed to have taken a backseat to their other genres.

Taking a look at Japan’s illustrious power metal scene, it probably takes most of the fame this year. Out of all the bands, the two that stood out most were definitely Symphonia ? The First Movement and Galneryus ? Beyond the Edge of Despair. We all know of Galneryus, so this album was no surprise. It contained perhaps some of their best songs, but perhaps not their greatest album overall. Symphonia’s first release and thus debut album: The First Movement was absolutely amazing! Symphonic power/progressive metal with beautiful melodies and a great voice; defiantly would the purchase. But, these are just two of the releases. Masterpiece finally released their full version album of Colors of Conflict and it is spectacular in every way imaginable. Following their debut album Thousands of Winter Flames is their second album: Tempest. This is a great album as well but perhaps no better than their first. Galatea also released their new album Fate ~Tales of Fate II~, which was somewhat of a concept album featuring in epic story of son and mother, sung with great female vocals. A band titled after the leader, Saeko released their newest album Life which was no short of awesome. Last but not least, Moi Dix Mois has finally officially entered the metal scene with their power/gothic album Beyond the Gate. I’d also like to welcome Moi Dix Mois to the realm of metal. Certainly this year was made for power metal.

Japan’s black metal releases were also no short of amazing, but quite limited, regrettably. The release that deserves praise first is Endless Dismal Moan’s Lord of Nightmare. This band, a one or two member band, features some amazing atmosphere accompanied by hordes of talent. That is not to say that the other albums were not good; in fact, Manierisme’s self titled debut was one of the best raw black metal albums of late. Closely following the heels of their last album, Followbane released Dead Fantasia, which is a perfect blend of melo-death and black metal, creating fast, epic riffs and memorable songs.

But even as there are so few death metal releases this year, there are some gems. Specifically, Rest In Gore and Maggottholamia’s split. Rest In Gore is a great brutal death metal band whose few demos have been improved upon and new songs released for this split album. Up next would be Jig Ai’s self titled album. Granted, they play goregrind, but the album is still very good. I am to believe it’s their debut album as well. And although they aren’t necessarily death metal, the metalcore band Myproof’s album Reason For my Justice hit the shelves. I was quite surprised myself; it’s a very good metalcore album, and you know just how rare those are!

Heavy metal was practically shot dead this year. When you think of Japan, you think of their immensely talented thrash and heavy metal, but with so few releases this year... Anyway, Eizo Sakamoto, of Bow Wow fame, released his solo album Metal Handsome Man 4 Forever Young. It’s a great album, and you have to give the man credit. Handsome man metal? You know you want it! And even though they aren’t even metal, the all-female hardcore band Mind of Asian also created Chinnmoku No Kiri No Naka, which deserves a mention. Mono ? You Are There is one of the best ambient albums I’ve ever heard in Japan. It takes some neofolk elements and mixes them with their typical classical ambience to create a beautiful album that simply can’t be beat in terms of drone doom/ambient. I would like to say this is one of the best metal releases of the year, but with all the other albums to choose from, I cannot possible decide.

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