I must say I prefer their more straightforward, later songs. Those are very catchy and energetic, such as "Hold the Sword" and "Strike!". Pretty excellent band at times😁🤘
sounds pretty good! I haven't checked this band out in a while but this track is pretty cool kinda reminds me of Xanthochroid but with a Japanese edge to it. For anyone reading this I highly recommend checking out Persefone- shin-Ken album if you like Japanese inspired metal music
Great review, I wanted to suggest you this a long time ago when you checked out some other very long song, but I might have refrained from doing so... glad there are some more nichedwellers here 😂 I'm glad you enjoyed it! Want more long journeys? Maybe some Mirrorthrone like the Fecal Rebellion or No One By My Side Or something softer Theocracy's Mirror of Souls
Whispered, purveyors of "True Finnish Samurai Metal"™, is a melodic death metal band which has eastern influences in it's songwriting, instrumentation, lyrics, and all around concept. This song comes off of they're first album "Thousand Swords," and is the only album in which they have a keyboardist as a member of the band. As I said in the request, they're typical trade is melodic death metal, but what I neglected to mention was the heavy symphonic element of the band. They lean on the eastern side to add subtle layers and tie the music to bushido and samurai themed lyrics, while the western helps to fill out the soundscape a bit more, sometimes to an epic effect. One of the guitarists personally records the shamisen, the slower, bend-ier string instrument. I think everything else is added in post. They have some more songs like this: "Dead Cold Inside", "Tsukiakari", and "The Blood-red Shores of Enoshima", to name a few. The latter actually depicts a folk tale of a 5-headed dragon attacking a small island in Japan, but I digress. A lot of their music is closer to the verse of this song, with a good example being their song "Strike!". It's a band I discovered a few years ago, and I really enjoyed the 3 albums they've put out so far. Whispered is in the post-production phase of their newest album (have been for a while, actually), and I can't wait for it to finally come out, whenever that is.
Finding out this is from their debut album changes my impression a bit. I still think it's a little rough around the edges but that's to be expected from a group's first attempt at something. The fact that so many elements came together on such a large scale for a first time is impressive though!
@@CriticalReactions I've suggested this band a few times and I always recommend Strike! or Sakura Omen for first listens. Both those songs entirely encapsulate what this band is capable of and the easiest to get into. This definitely isn't their best "epic", but definitely the most Japanese/Samurai. The first album is a bit rough, yes. They got way better production on their next 2 albums and a 4th is in the works currently, with a supposed 15+ minute monster on it too.
Hoooly crap, blast from the past! Haven't heard thier name since I spent way too much time on metal forums. We used to endearingly call them Children of Budokan
Really nice track. I'm a sucker for classic, melodic metal with galloping rhythms and melodic guitar leads--not surprising given my favorite band is Iron Maiden. I think I had a similar bemused reaction when the vocals came in. Given the music I was expecting clean vocals, or if they were going to go melodeath then more traditional growls, but these vocals were something... different. It took me some time to adjust, but I don't really hate them, and the music around them is so prominent that even if I did hate them I don't think they'd detract much. I especially appreciate how they took their time to build it up without getting too meandering or losing a sense of movement and development. Thinking back the track goes through a lot of diverse sections, and it's a testament to their skill that it all sounds so coherent I wasn't really aware of how diverse it was until it was over and I was thinking about it. Obviously the "traditional Japanese music" elements are a stark change from the melodeath stuff, but even with that I think they did a great job of how they alternated between them, moving in and out of each. Pretty much my only complaints is that the rhythm guitar tone is pretty bad, and the drumming was pretty generic (it's the one element here that just kinda locks in during the verses and doesn't significantly change it up). The instrument you're thinking of is called a koto, though I probably couldn't tell the difference between that and a shamisen... I only know the names of the instruments because I've consumed my fair share of Japanese media.
This band has a little bit same kind of style to write songs as Night Wish and Wintersun has. It's story telling instead of using hit formula. I have to say that mastering and mixing has changed a lot between different albums (I like newer stuff) so it's different person doing that stuff for sure. It must be. Vocals on this track are pretty loud and so are those lead guitars. It's funny how he allmost sounds like Dave Mustaine at some parts in this song. I must confess this band is and allways will be one of my all time favorites. They just so make so epic and fresh Blackened Death Metal / Folk Metal Music. This specifig song is just not one of their best ones but it's still good. I would recommend songs like: Jikininki, Sakura Omen, Strike and Lady of the Wind.
Great band.. it is unique vocal sound. But on this album a bit too high in the mix. And his vocals got way better in newer albums. Instrumentaly perfect japanese folk melodic death metal
I was absolutely loving this… until those vocals. The whole intro was gorgeous, instrumentally it stays interesting after that but… I can’t get past the vocals unfortunately.
I'm slowly warming up to all of this harshness but I totally get you. There's been a lot of stuff I've heard in the last two years with awesome music and then a vocal style that doesn't work for me.
I totally get you. First time I heard these guys it felt like I had to relearn to like harsh vocals all over! But the music was to awesome and it quickly became my favourite album for some time 😀 now I love the rawness and their approach on this album, they went for complete freedom and almost mad expression
I must say I prefer their more straightforward, later songs. Those are very catchy and energetic, such as "Hold the Sword" and "Strike!". Pretty excellent band at times😁🤘
IVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR SOMEONE TO REACT TO THIS BEAUTIFULL SONG.
I really think you should check out Sakura Omen from their latest album. It'll show you how far they've come.
That song is epic as hell, but Jikininki is equally good!
I'm glad I found this. Love this band and love this song. Thanks Brian.
I think they listen to Children of Bodom.
sounds pretty good! I haven't checked this band out in a while but this track is pretty cool kinda reminds me of Xanthochroid but with a Japanese edge to it. For anyone reading this I highly recommend checking out Persefone- shin-Ken album if you like Japanese inspired metal music
Great review, I wanted to suggest you this a long time ago when you checked out some other very long song, but I might have refrained from doing so... glad there are some more nichedwellers here 😂 I'm glad you enjoyed it! Want more long journeys? Maybe some Mirrorthrone like the Fecal Rebellion or No One By My Side
Or something softer Theocracy's Mirror of Souls
Whispered, purveyors of "True Finnish Samurai Metal"™, is a melodic death metal band which has eastern influences in it's songwriting, instrumentation, lyrics, and all around concept. This song comes off of they're first album "Thousand Swords," and is the only album in which they have a keyboardist as a member of the band.
As I said in the request, they're typical trade is melodic death metal, but what I neglected to mention was the heavy symphonic element of the band. They lean on the eastern side to add subtle layers and tie the music to bushido and samurai themed lyrics, while the western helps to fill out the soundscape a bit more, sometimes to an epic effect. One of the guitarists personally records the shamisen, the slower, bend-ier string instrument. I think everything else is added in post.
They have some more songs like this: "Dead Cold Inside", "Tsukiakari", and "The Blood-red Shores of Enoshima", to name a few. The latter actually depicts a folk tale of a 5-headed dragon attacking a small island in Japan, but I digress. A lot of their music is closer to the verse of this song, with a good example being their song "Strike!".
It's a band I discovered a few years ago, and I really enjoyed the 3 albums they've put out so far. Whispered is in the post-production phase of their newest album (have been for a while, actually), and I can't wait for it to finally come out, whenever that is.
Finding out this is from their debut album changes my impression a bit. I still think it's a little rough around the edges but that's to be expected from a group's first attempt at something. The fact that so many elements came together on such a large scale for a first time is impressive though!
@@CriticalReactions I've suggested this band a few times and I always recommend Strike! or Sakura Omen for first listens. Both those songs entirely encapsulate what this band is capable of and the easiest to get into. This definitely isn't their best "epic", but definitely the most Japanese/Samurai. The first album is a bit rough, yes. They got way better production on their next 2 albums and a 4th is in the works currently, with a supposed 15+ minute monster on it too.
Hoooly crap, blast from the past! Haven't heard thier name since I spent way too much time on metal forums.
We used to endearingly call them Children of Budokan
Haha, yeah I can definetely hear the influence. Lots of other stuff too though, all the super epic parts remind me of Bal-Sagoth
Thank you so much for doing this song!
Really nice track. I'm a sucker for classic, melodic metal with galloping rhythms and melodic guitar leads--not surprising given my favorite band is Iron Maiden. I think I had a similar bemused reaction when the vocals came in. Given the music I was expecting clean vocals, or if they were going to go melodeath then more traditional growls, but these vocals were something... different. It took me some time to adjust, but I don't really hate them, and the music around them is so prominent that even if I did hate them I don't think they'd detract much. I especially appreciate how they took their time to build it up without getting too meandering or losing a sense of movement and development. Thinking back the track goes through a lot of diverse sections, and it's a testament to their skill that it all sounds so coherent I wasn't really aware of how diverse it was until it was over and I was thinking about it. Obviously the "traditional Japanese music" elements are a stark change from the melodeath stuff, but even with that I think they did a great job of how they alternated between them, moving in and out of each. Pretty much my only complaints is that the rhythm guitar tone is pretty bad, and the drumming was pretty generic (it's the one element here that just kinda locks in during the verses and doesn't significantly change it up).
The instrument you're thinking of is called a koto, though I probably couldn't tell the difference between that and a shamisen... I only know the names of the instruments because I've consumed my fair share of Japanese media.
Yup, the Koto. And I'll attempt to commit that to memory right now and still fail to recall it the next time I hear it 😅
Love this band! Thousand Swords is another fantastic song
This band has a little bit same kind of style to write songs as Night Wish and Wintersun has. It's story telling instead of using hit formula. I have to say that mastering and mixing has changed a lot between different albums (I like newer stuff) so it's different person doing that stuff for sure. It must be. Vocals on this track are pretty loud and so are those lead guitars. It's funny how he allmost sounds like Dave Mustaine at some parts in this song. I must confess this band is and allways will be one of my all time favorites. They just so make so epic and fresh Blackened Death Metal / Folk Metal Music. This specifig song is just not one of their best ones but it's still good. I would recommend songs like: Jikininki, Sakura Omen, Strike and Lady of the Wind.
Great band.. it is unique vocal sound. But on this album a bit too high in the mix. And his vocals got way better in newer albums. Instrumentaly perfect japanese folk melodic death metal
I too wish he didn't sound as much like a Tasmanian devil in this one :D
Idk why, but I love their earlier vocals
Amazing band
It ain't no Naked City but it is decent 🤔
I was absolutely loving this… until those vocals. The whole intro was gorgeous, instrumentally it stays interesting after that but… I can’t get past the vocals unfortunately.
The spoken word bits are awesome as well - if it were just those I’d probably add this to the library for when I’m feeling something epic.
I'm slowly warming up to all of this harshness but I totally get you. There's been a lot of stuff I've heard in the last two years with awesome music and then a vocal style that doesn't work for me.
I totally get you. First time I heard these guys it felt like I had to relearn to like harsh vocals all over! But the music was to awesome and it quickly became my favourite album for some time 😀 now I love the rawness and their approach on this album, they went for complete freedom and almost mad expression
Each album has an epic, and I have to say, Upon My Honor is way better than this one. More succinct, no keyboard nonsense.