Japanese avant-garde metal pioneers Sigh have announced their new studio album, Goh-ka, the band’s follow-up to 2022’s Shiki. The record sees the veteran group continuing to blend black metal with progressive rock, psychedelia, horror-inspired atmospheres, and traditional Japanese influences.
Frontman Mirai Kawashima describes Goh-ka as one of the band’s most personal releases, noting that it stands alongside Shiki both musically and lyrically.
He explains: “If you were to place the main ingredients of Celtic Frost, Voivod, Black Sabbath, horror movies and Japan into a cauldron and stir it, you will get Goh-ka.”
The album title carries three separate meanings in Japanese, referring to infernal fire, the apocalyptic fire that consumes the world, and karma. Its central theme is inspired by Kuso-zu, a series of Buddhist paintings depicting the stages of human decomposition after death as a meditation on mortality, impermanence, and detachment from physical beauty. The album’s cover art and booklet also feature Kuso-zu imagery.
Alongside Kawashima, Goh-ka features Dr Mikannibal and guitarist Nozomu Wakai, with Frédéric Leclercq (Kreator) handling bass duties and Mike Heller on drums. Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt also appears as a special guest, contributing a guitar solo to the track “Unputenpu.”
The album was recorded across multiple studios before being mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studios in Germany. Stream the new album trailer below.
Goh-ka track listing:
“Kuso-shi 1, 2, and 3” – 09:11
“Jigoku-Zoshi 1: Unkamusho” – 03:55
“Anzenshokon” – 06:24
“Kuso-shi 4, 5, and 6” – 07:21
“Shoso” – 00:56
“Unputenpu” – 05:41
“Jinmenjushin” – 06:14
“Jigoku-Zoshi 2: Tokatsujigoku” – 03:06
“Kushukankyo” – 01:47
“Kuso-shi 7” – 01:56
“Kuso-shi 8 and 9 / Mettaijakujo” – 11:23
Fans who pre-order Goh-ka through the Peaceville Store or the band’s official store will receive the free 10-track Legacy of Horrors Sigh sampler.
Sigh will support the album with a series of festival appearances and headline dates across Europe and North America.
Sigh tour dates (get tickets):
Europe (Old-School Set)
07/09 – Torgau, Germany – In Flammen Open Air (Scorn Defeat Set)
07/10 – Fredericia, Denmark – Metal Magic (Special Old School Set)
07/11 – London, UK – Downstairs at the Dome (Special Old School Set)
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United States
07/26 – Fire In The Mountains
07/28 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
07/29 – Portland, OR – Star Theater
07/30 – Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial
07/31 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
08/01 – Los Angeles, CA – 1720
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Europe
09/03 – Aleksandrow Lodzki, Poland – Summer Dying Loud
09/04 – Krakow, Poland – Zaścianek
09/05 – Ostrava, Czech Republic – Metal III
09/07 – Munich, Germany – Hansa 39 @ Feierwerk
09/08 – Leipzig, Germany – Moritzbastei
09/09 – Berlin, Germany – Badehaus
09/10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Beta @ Amager Bio
09/11 – Hamburg, Germany – Betty
09/12 – Oberhausen, Germany – Death & Damnation Fest
09/13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Neushoorn
09/14 – Utrecht, Netherlands – DB’s
09/15 – Paris, France – Backstage By The Mill
Photo by Poko
