The DevilsHorns

Sometimes, an album appears on your radar that is completely out-of-the-blue. Imperfection by Tokyo based ‘samurai doom’ band, Hebi Katana is one of those things. If you look at the number of horns on the left of the page (PC version, or at the top (mobile version) you will see that I was utterly floored by this album.

First things first. The reference to ‘samurai doom’ is a tad misleading. Yes, there are doom aspects to the album, but the deep fuzzy guitar riffs lend it more to a more stoner band. Imperfection being the bands 4^th album, the sound has been honed and perfected over the years and the 7 track, 35 minute album is an absolute tour-de-force.

It opens with the garage rock of ‘Bon Nou’, a fast paced fuzz and cymbal laden joy-fest that finishes before it begins. A great opening track. Reminiscent of Brant Bjork, the song is the purest of palate cleansers before the album inflicts itself upon you.

character sneaking about – think Dick Dastardly stalking Penelope Pitstop and you get the feeling. ‘Blood Spirit Rising’ has a galloping bass, invoking vibes of the mighty Kyuss. It then slows mid-way through before picking up in the most wonderful way – my notes say ‘Picks-up RIFF!! drums bass Perfect!’. ‘Yu Gen’ then provides a more elegant vibe, impressing within its own space and subtly driving home its sharpened spike into your cranium.

The vocals are superb throughout, especially when Laven and Nobu harmonise. ‘Doomed Echoes from Old Tree’ has vocal harmonising that reminds you of Alice in Chains. There is no better praise.

This is one of the best first listens I have had this year. I welcome the opportunity to delve deeper into the album, and the bands back-catalogue – I don’t investigate previous albums before the #onelistenreview. Imperfect is a misnomer – it is as far from imperfect as you can get.

I shall leave you with the closing sentence in my notes that sums Imperfect up.

‘So damn good’.

https://hebikatana.wordpress.com/

Facebook

Instagram

Bandcamp

Buy Don’t Spotify