Reviewing Japan's Overlooked Rock Veterans Ningen Isu - Part 20: Ijigen no Houkou / A Roar from Another Dimension (2017)

Internationally Resonating Roars from Aomori Prefecture

Ijigen no Houkou that means A Roar from Another Dimension is the twentieth studio record in thirty years of existence from Japanese progressive metal, heavy metal and doom metal quintet Ningen Isu. While the band has never released a bad or even just an average album, the creative trio has recently been on a streak of excellent to perfect albums where the new output blends in perfectly.

The chemistry among the three band members seems to be getting better with every single output. Every single cymbal and hi-hat sound in the drum work sounds perfectly placed and oozes with groove, playfulness and rhythm. The dominant bass guitar has much swagger and provides infectious rhythms that should be used as auditive medicine for paraplegia. The guitar riffs are as diversified as one can imagine from soulful slow passages over engaging mid-tempo gallops to fast-paced outbursts that will tear your head off. All three band members are once again performing vocals and complement one another perfectly. Guitarist Wajima Shinji has a dramatic, epic and melodious tone that gives the songs a gripping psychedelic and progressive touch. Drummer Nakajima Nobu performs with energy, grit and swagger as he provides vocal vibes reminding of the early years of hard rock and heavy metal in the seventies. Bassist Suzuki Kenichi adds gloomy, low and raw vocals that add doom metal and even gothic metal soundscapes that should sit well with extreme metal fans. These numerous adventurous elements are kept together by a tight groove that also benefits from an organic and timeless production.

The band's twentieth output includes numerous highlights that are worth being pointed out. ''Mononoke Fever'' comes around with joyful harmonica sounds, tight rhythm section and an anthemic chorus as the melodic lead vocals by the guitarist are supported by energizing backing vocals. The high-pitched guitar solo comes as a massive surprise and transports this tight hard rock anthem into progressive metal territories. This song exemplifies that the band is still willing to experiment, innovate and surprise thirty years into its stunning career with this massive highlight.

''Uchuu no Symphony'' on the other side has a slower pace and is perfectly complemented by the bassist's haunting vocal efforts. The technically impressive guitar work and the haunting sound effects evoke a space rock sound that could come straight from the soundtrack of a Japanese science-fiction movie or television series of the sixties. Even a few playful krautrock references can be found throughout this firework of diversity.

''Akuma Kitousho'' offers yet another huge surprise as it opens with acoustic folk sounds that evolve into a thunderous doom metal epic. The mantra-like chants in the middle section paired with distorted space rock guitar sounds make for a most adventurous listening experience. The song concludes on a more chaotic note with a distorted guitar solo that can be considered the highlight of this excellent song.

''Akumu no Tenjouin'' is the drummer's shining moment as his passionate hard rock vocals ooze with energy and lead through a creative song that intertwines mysterious space rock sounds with classic hard rock riffs. The catchy chorus that invites to sing along keeps the adventurous song together through its five and a half highly entertaining minutes.

''Jigoku no Heavy Rider'' is a biker anthem that quickens up the pace and raises the noise as it offers three minutes somewhere on the thin line between punk rock spirit and heavy metal musicianship that at times flirts with speed metal and thrash metal stylistics. This song will tear your head off and won't take any prisoners.

Once again, Ningen Isu offers an album that perfectly combines the band's charismatic trademarks mentioned at the beginning of the review with experimental soundscapes pointed out in the descriptions of the specific songs. If it weren't for the first few slightly less urgent songs, this release would certainly deserve the highest possible rating. As it is now, the closing two thirds are absolutely flawless and might form the best succession of songs on any album by the Japanese veterans. As if the outstanding musicianship, songwriting and vocals on this album weren't enough, the colourful cover artwork references the floats, paintings and sculptures of historic figures from the band's home prefecture Aomori and its hometown Hirosaki. As you can read, Ningen Isu's Ijigen no Houkou truly is an authentic piece of Japanese culture that you should cherish, purchase and spread.

Final Rating: 99%