Reviewing Japan's overlooked rock veterans Ningen Isu - Tenth part: Mishiranu Sekai / Unknown World (2001)

Faster, heavier and tighter than ever before

Ningen-Isu's tenth studio album in only eleven years is entitled Mishiranu Sekai which roughly translates to Unknown World. This album turns out to be the trio's fastest, heaviest and tightest up to that point. The chemistry between the three members that had been playing together for five years in a row and seven years in total had reached its peak. The generous thirteen songs with a running time of seventy-three minutes offer a vibrant mixture of doom metal, gothic metal and heavy metal with occasional folk rock and psychedelic rock influences.

The record starts on a high note with ''Shinigami No Kyouen'' that translates to ''Feast of the Death God'' which is a mean gothic metal anthem with doom metal guitar riffs but occasional faster heavy metal passages. The sound is direct, dirty and dynamic with distorted guitar riffs, heavy drum patterns and thunderous bass guitar sounds. The raw but melodic vocals blend in perfectly and add to the song's menacing atmosphere. This is easily one of the greatest album openers in the band's vast discography.

Another instant highlight is ''Shinryakusha (Invader)'' that recalls dystopian progressive metal bands such as Voivod with its distorted guitar sounds, dynamic guitar riffs and vibrant rhythm section that invites to bang your head. The mysterious vocal effects in the chorus and bridge are the cherry atop the cake and recall space rock sounds of the late sixties and early seventies in the key of Hawkwind.

''Hitokui Sensha'' which translates to ''Man-Eating Tank'' starts with one of the fiercest riffs in the band's repertoire that flirts with thrash metal territory. The song soon shifts to familiar doom and heavy metal territories that only enhance the song's nightmarish vibes. The psychedelic bridge with otherworldly guitar sounds and distorted vocals offers a brief break but the rhythm section remains dynamic throughout the entire track.

The psychedelic opening riff of ''Amai Kotoba, Warui Nakama'' that translates to ''Sweet Words, Bad Company'' tears your head off and sounds short and sweet since the verses quickly shift to slow but rhythmic territories. The changes in pace, mood and genre make this song an undeniable album highlight throughout its six entertaining minutes. Progressive metal has rarely sounded as coherent as in this song.

Ningen-Isu also manage to keep things short and sweet such as in ''Kanoke Rock'' or ''Coffin Rock'' with its aggressive vocals, down-tuned guitar riffs and pitiless rhythm section. The track even includes a short drum solo to keep things energetic. This song should even please extreme metal fans but it doesn't deny the band's doom and heavy metal soundscapes either. This song is the perfect example for expanding and experimenting its soundscapes without reinventing oneself. This track is another hidden gem on an outstanding record that deserves attention and recognition. 

In the end, Ningen-Isu's Mishiranu Sekai is one of the band's fastest, heaviest and tightest records ever that should please to any fan of heavy rock and heavy metal. The guitar work on this album is particularly outstanding. This album might also be the finest hour of drummer Goto Masuhiro who is a real powerhouse behind the kit. The raw production underlines the record's gloomy tone perfectly. Put your headphones on, crank up the volume and close your eyes to discover an unknown world.

Final rating: 95%