Album Review: Sigh – I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV (Peaceville)

This year, Japanese black metal legends Sigh celebrate 35 years of existence. With a career that has seen the release of 12 studio albums, countless worldwide shows, and a relentless dedication to pushing musical boundaries, they have firmly cemented their status as one of the most revered and influential cult acts in extreme metal.

To celebrate, Sigh have decided to revisit their 2007 opus, Hangman’s Hymn. A compositional powerhouse in its own right, Hangman’s Hymn was notably Sigh’s first concept album, blending fast 80s thrash metal influences from bands like Wehrmacht, Sarcofago, and Repulsion with classical music—particularly German symphonies. However, Hangman’s Hymn was often seen as not fully meeting the band’s own standards in of execution and production. As a result, frontman Mirai Kawashima has taken it upon himself to do justice to this at times overlooked masterpiece of intricate songwriting by re-recording it with the current Sigh sound and delivery, under the title I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV. Set for release on Peaceville on 13th June.

Photo Credit: Itsutaka Takusagawa

Doing the impossible, turning an already iconic album into something even better, Sigh’s decision to re-record this beloved record has proven to be a genius move. Not only because its unique style and structure has been made richer and bolder thanks to modern technology, but because a whole new set of listeners are going to experience this album’s brilliance for the first time, and it is brilliant.

It’s also mental, and with that comes some truly challenging music that still sounds as boundary pushing today as it did back in 2007. None of its grandeur has been lost, none of its rawness is missing, and none of its electrifying weirdness is lacking, it really is an incredible example of what can be done when a band is as dedicated to updating their music as Sigh clearly were here.

I’m preaching to the choir though, right? How about you, the person who has never heard this album before. What’s in it for you?

Progressive and experimental extreme metal crossed with sumptuous orchestral elements. Which, on the face of it, probably isn’t that inspiring as there are numerous bands who do this. Except, no-one puts it together in the way that Sigh does, no-one writes in such a compelling way as Sigh does, and no-one pushes the boundaries of metal like Sigh does. Every single track, intermissions included, feels so powerful and every single track, intermissions included, delivers something unique. Especially as modern Sigh are on incredible form and brought all of that to this re-recording.

Manic madness from the moment Introitus / Kyrie arrives to open the album in spectacular style, and it only gets better from there. Tracks like Inked in Blood, where impressive orchestral arrangements run headfirst into frantic heavy metal. Tracks like the progressively toned The Master Malice, which proves to be one of the album’s most dynamic sounding thanks to the fiery vocals and roaring brass instruments. Or even tracks that showcase fantastical intensity (Death with Dishonor), riffy infectiousness (In Devils Arms), and gothic magnificence crossed with chaotic experimental savagery (Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World’s End). Every track offers up fresh, exciting, and powerful delights.

Sigh. Untouchable in their field and now making their own music more relevant. It really doesn’t get better than this.

Sigh – I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV Track Listing:

1. Introitus / Kyrie (MMXXV)
2. Inked in Blood (MMXXV)
3. Me-Devil (MMXXV)
4. Dies Irae (MMXXV)
5. The Master Malice (MMXXV)
6. The Memories as a Sinner (MMXXV)
7. Death with Dishonor (MMXXV)
8. In Devil’s Arms (MMXXV)
9. Overture (MMXXV)
10. Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World’s End (MMXXV)
11. Salvation in Flame / Confutatis (MMXXV)
12. Finale: Hangman’s Hymn / In Paradisum / Das Ende (MMXXV)




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Sigh - I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV (Peaceville)
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