MetalSucks

Instead of continuing to debate back and forth about the new Metallica album, why not devote some time to metal that won’t suck donkey nuts and then lick up every last drop of the gravy like it’s an oasis in the desert?

Japan’s premiere black metal outfit, Sigh are having a big week; their Tribute to Venom is released today, and then their MetalSucks co-sponsored tour with Unexpect starts on Saturday. Brooklyn Vegan has an mp3 of their version of “Black Metal” for free download, which means, at the very least, you have no excuse not to check it out before you go back to pretending that “Cyanide” is a good song. Then skip after the jump for Sigh’s complete U.S. tour itinerary with Unexpect.

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Zimmers Hole have backed out of their MetalSucks co-sponsored U.S. tour with Sigh and Unexpect. I know because I read about it on Blabbermouth. I feel about as well informed as the Bush administration right now.

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Speaking of tours we’re co-sponsoring, Sigh hit the road in just a few weeks for a U.S. trek with Zimmer’s Hole and Unexpect. While you wait with baited breath for this kick-ass tour to begin, why not consider putting your high school marching band dork skills to some good use and help out one of the best black metal acts in the world today?

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So I’m a day late on this one, but when it comes to a band as cool as Sigh, better late than never.

Sigh have officially announced a September 2 release date for their aptly titled Venom tribute, A Tribute to Venom, via The End Records. A one-pressing-only limited edition will be available, with an LP with an etching as well as the CD. And, oh yeah, as if all of that wasn’t cool enough, Napalm Death’s Shane Embury and Brutal Truth’s Dan Lilker also make guest appearances on the album.

You know what? That cover art is fucking bad assed, man. What a perfect amalgamation of Sigh and Venom’s personalities. In fact, I wanna start a petition for that son of a bitch to be on a t-shirt, pronto. If the band managed to get that kind of sensibility into the music, too, this fucker is gonna slay.

Sigh are also gonna hit the road with Zimmer’s Hole (who are awesome) and Unexpect (who I don’t know but hear very good things about). Get tour dates after the jump.

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Holy crap, dude. Did you hear about this awesome new tour? It’s gonna be rad, dude. It’s Desaster with Throwdown, Airbourne, and Trivium are the headliners. It’s called the “Close Your Eyes” tour, ’cause if you close your eyes, you’ll think you’re at some awesome show with Venom, Pantera, AC/DC and Metallica. For reals, dude!

What’s that, dude? Oh, you don’t know Desaster? Yeah, they’re these totally smart black metal dudes. Like, while those chumps in Sigh were off recording a tribute to Venom, this band just made an album that sounds exactly like Venom – and they don’t have to pay any of the royalties! I know, dude, it’s totally sick, isn’t? Totes sicko.

Cool, dude. So I’ll see you at the show. And, hey, did I mention the best part? Each ticket comes with a free blindfold! WICKED!

(one and a half out of five horns)

-AR

Sigh’s Tribute to Venom, Sigh’s very cleverly titled tribute to, um, y’know, still doesn’t have an official release date – but it will apparently feature guest appearances by Napalm Death’s Shane Embury and Dan Lilker of Brutal Truth/Nuclear Assault fame. According to a statement released by Sigh front man Mirai Kawashima, Embury will play on the song “Witching Hour” while Lilker will appear on “Countess Bathory.”

Gee, I wish I’d known about this back when I interviewed Mirai about the album, for I most surely would have asked him about collaborating with these two super-cool dudes. Oh well. You should still read the interview, ’cause, y’know, I told you to.

ANYWAY, here’s some live footage of Sigh performing “Witching Hour” in Tokyo last year. Without Shane Embury. But still…

-AR

Since hearing last year’s Hangman’s Hymn (read my review here), Sigh have fast become one of MetalSucks’ favorite black metal acts. Now the band has recorded a tribute album to the legendary Venom – appropriately titled Sigh’s Tribute to Venom – that will be released on The End Records sometime in the late summer/early fall, just in time for the group’s U.S. tour with Zimmer’s Hole. So when I was offered the opportunity to be the very first music journalist to get to talk to vocalist/bassist/general mastermind Mirai Kawashima about the tribute album… well, naturally, I jumped at the chance.

This homage, Mirai tells us, is really an excuse to introduce the world to the band’s new saxophonist Mikannibal (pictured above, with Mirai), but for fans like me who want a new Sigh album so bad we can fuckin’ taste it, it will also tide us over until Sigh complete their new album of originals, Scenes from Hell/Tempore Belli/Vanitas.

After the jump, read Mirai’s thought’s on all things cover-related, plus a quick update on the new album, in this super duper exclusive interview.

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