Naishikyo-Sekai

Japanese prog metal influenced as much by the fusion-driven fretwork of Cynic, rhythmic intensity of Akira soundtrack composers Geinoh Yamashirogumi, and Sigh’s unfiltered genre agnosticism as they are by Dream Theater’s virtuoso timekeeping, Gonin-Ish’s unique sound synthesis truly channels the melted pile of yokai on the cover of their second album. Anoji Matsuoka’s demented cries from the other side grab a lot of the attention, but the other instruments tangle together into shockingly seductive bursts of cacophonous complexity before flattening out into unexpectedly gorgeous piano lines. A translation of J-horror into sound that assaults you with haunting images before the revenant emerges from the video tape.