Review Summary: Sigh actually recreates the magic almost 20 years later...
Consider me a skeptic, but re-recordings of classic albums tend to rub me the wrong way. I get that the bands make the art and sometimes they’re not happy with said art. On the other hand, fans have a knack of latching on to these albums and become angry when bands decide to try to recreate the magic of the original. That’s how I felt when Sigh decided to re-record
Hangman’s Hymn, my personal favorite album of theirs.
Personally, I thought it was an awful idea. I honestly didn’t feel like the craziness and off the wall nature of the original needed a redo. Mirai Kawashima, the creator of Sigh, apparently thought differently. And you know what, who are we to tell him what he should/shouldn’t do? He obviously knew best because
I Saw the World's End – Hangman's Hymn MMXXV is probably one of the best re-recordings in recent metal memory.
The original was one of the goofiest and most fun metal albums of the 2000s. That being said, the mix was a tad wonky, but also a part of its charm to me. The riffs were a bit buried in the mix with the emphasis being on the bombastic keys and synth work. It felt like you were in some type of weird Japanese house of mirrors with no hope of escaping. It had a certain charm to it because of the unique atmosphere.
Luckily,
I Saw the World's End keeps that exact same charm, but this time the mix lets the riffs breathe a lot more. They come through much clearer and makes you realize just how many unbelievably sick and thrashy riffs that this album really has. Like I said, the original was very synth heavy, and so is this, but the riffage coming through the circus of keys will punch you in the mouth to the point where your head is spinning. The blizzard of trems is thrashtastic. At times you’ll feel like you’re listening to a Kreator album. That is until Mirai’s off kilter, clown-esque screams/wails and house of mirrors sounding keys enter the equation.
I never thought that Mirai and company could recreate the magic of the original, and to an extent I still prefer the muddy and over the top nature of said original, but this re-recording couldn’t have come out any better. They didn’t ruin the original's legacy. They didn’t butcher the mix job. Mirai made sure that it was done right and boy did it make a difference. The balance between the riffs and synths is perfectly done.
I Saw the World's End is a worthy re-recording and isn’t a blight on the original. This is STILL an amazing symphonic black metal album that borders on thrash metal. Now that the riffs are so clear, you can bang your head until it falls off your shoulders AND get down to the lopsided, circus-esque synths. Sigh is still going strong over 35 years into their existence. What a time for metalheads to be alive.
