Reviewing Japan's Heavy Folk Metal Legends Onmyo-Za - Part 3: Koujin Rasetsu / Radian God Rasetsu (2002)

Timeless Progressive Power Metal Bravado

Japanese metal quintet Onmyo-za has changed and improved with every single record in its early career. After a raw, imaginative and chaotic debut followed a classic doom and heavy metal output which was then followed by this progressive power metal release called Koujin Rasetsu which translates roughly to Radian God Rasetsu.

Things start off on a very promising note with quasi title track ''Rasetsu'' that convinces with a strong atmospheric instrumental opening that sets a cinematic and epic tone before the song is domineered by strong melodic guitar play and enchanting, powerful and variable female vocals. This is easily the band's greatest album opener to date.

The band never lets its guard down and comes along with numerous other highlights. ''Kirameki'' translates to ''Radiance'' and this title is very appropriate. Despite its numerous changes in melody, pace and rhythm, this creative power metal song is kept together by an irresistible chorus you won't be forgetting anytime soon. The melodic guitar play and the harmonious female lead vocals complement each other perfectly and make for an outstanding single candidate that should also be revived for live shows.

''Ushioni Matsuri'' translates to ''Whorshipping of Ushi-oni'' and continues the band's lyrical topics about ancient Asian mythology and religion. This progressive firework of creativity clocks in at seven and a half minutes but feels much shorter due to its fluid transitions and imaginative ideas. This hidden gem opens up more and more with every spin and offers much replay value because there are so many creative songwriting elements to discover.

Another highly interesting element are the two laid-back folk ballads ''Kumikyoku 'Kurotsuka' - Adachigahara'' and ''Kumikyoku 'Kurotsuka' - Kikokushuushuu'' that form a suite in two parts that clocks in at ten minutes. The harmonious acoustic guitar play, smooth percussive elements and soothing female vocals will send shivers down your spine and would do the soundtrack of any historic drama justice. This might as well be seen as the Japanese answer to Blind Guardian's ''The Bard's Song - In the Forest'' and ''The Bard's Song - The Hobbit''. These songs here might not exactly be heavy metal anthems but timeless folk rock ballads that leave a lasting impression.

The band has however kept another surprise for the very end of the album to end it on a more light-hearted note with energetic alternative rock closer ''Orabinahai'' that appropriately translates to ''Shout'' and convinces with multiple vocalists singing their hearts out who are backed up by energetic backing vocals. The gripping guitar riffs, bumbleebee bass guitar sounds and playful drum patterns recall hard rock sounds of the seventies and should work efficiently in concert.

At the end of the day, Onmyo-za's third studio album Koujin Rasetsu is another massive step forward in the early career of the quirky Japanese quintet. This album is a creative shift towards progressive power metal varying from short anthemic rockers over soothing folk ballads to cinematic epics that include more ideas in themselves than genre colleagues include on entire albums. The third time is the charm since Onmyo-za definitely cements its place as one of Japan's most creative contemporary metal bands with this excellent output that has stood the test of time with bravado.

Final Rating: 94%