Immortal vampires celebrating eternal youth - A review of Ningen-Isu's Shin Seinen

Ningen-Isu's twenty-first record Shin Seinen could be translated as New Youth and it couldn't be chosen more appropriately. Even though the mixture of gloomy doom metal, thunderous heavy metal, creative progressive rock elements, atmospheric psychedelic rock sequences and lyrics inspired by Japanese history, literature and mythology sounds old-fashioned on paper and hasn't changed much throughout the three decades the band has been around now, the way the trio performs its music is still dynamic, fresh and timeless. Thanks to a small but faithful group of long-time international fans, the group's music has now also gotten some well-deserved attention outside its home country. The band is going to play three European concerts as a headliner next spring and the group's most recent compilation also includes English liner notes and translations.

Shin Seinen is an appropriate album to discover the band as it features all the group's charismatic trademarks. Opener ''Preface to the New Youth'' is very dynamic, fluid and groovy and kicks the album off on a strong note.

''Mirror Hell'' is on the more atmospheric side with haunting sound effects and hypnotizing vocals by the guitarist that make this song a perfect candidate for a horror movie soundtrack. 

The pounding ''Deity'' honours the band's gloomy doom metal roots with expressive vocals by the bassist. The crazy guitar solo and the dynamic rhythm section also recall progressive and psychedelic rock bands of the seventies.

''The Son of Hell'' starts with a really cool bass solo and evolves towards a dynamic hard rock tune that makes for a perfect soundtrack to drive your motorcycle in the summer.

''Mount Appenine in the Moon'' is this record's most experimental track with reduced musicianship, melodically variable vocals, longing melodies and some sound effects in the percussive department. This song could have been a ballad on a Black Sabbath record from the early seventies. Ningen-Isu should try out such calmer tunes more often because each time the trio goes for this style, it reaches for perfection. 

Most bands would chose one of the shorter songs as lead single but Ningen-Isu went with album closer ''Heartless Scat'' that clocks in as longest tune on the album with a length of eight and a half minutes. The song convinces with an epic atmosphere, heavy riffs and numerous great ideas in the songwriting department. There is no doubt that this is one of this album's shining highlights that has the potential to stand the test of time. Other veteran bands can only dream of writing such an excellent tune so late in their careers.

Ningen-Isu might not reinvent itself on Shin Seinen or explore new territories but it's another extremely solid entry into the band's high-quality discography. The album might be missing a truly outstanding highlight but especially the consistent yet diversified opening tunes as well as the more epic and experimental closing third offer entertainment of the greatest kind. Despite a few fillers in the middle section, Ningen-Isu's Shin Seinen is a timeless record that should please to anyone who loves doom, heavy and progressive rock and metal music.

Final rating: 87%