[Review] Hebi Katana – III

The Tokyo-based trio Hebi Katana delivers powerful doom with personal traits, incorporating marked Fuzz and Stoner elements. The new album “III” was released on December 13, 2023 via Unforgiven Blood Records and contains eight medium-length tracks. Right from the opener “Hallelujah Anyway,” the band offers a gritty sound, immediately showing off their characteristic traits. Distorted guitar and bass, powerful drumming and frontman Nobu‘s distinctive vocals, a trademark for the band. The following “The Debtor” also keeps the intensity high, a stoner/doom rush enriched by fuzz sounds and the band’s personal style. They are also adept at creating vocal melodies that stick in the head, energetic rhythm sections and well-crafted guitar work. The album’s shortest track “Depressed Blues” offers the sounds of the dirtiest Blues in a Doom key with dark atmospheres, a heavy bass-guitar interplay and a piercing vocal. The tempo changes and accelerations are interesting, as is the solo guitar insert in the final part. “No Sorrow” is another powerhouse that combines the band’s signature sounds with a Punk attitude. Massive guitar riffs and bass lines, solid and tight drumming, and the usual convincing vocal performance make the song energetic and engaging. Also interesting are the tempo changes that take the sound to another level. Excellent guitar work characterises “Pennsylvania Blood,” another impactful track that enhances the band’s songwriting and execution. Riffs and rhythm section are gritty and create a powerful and rich sound including the guitar solo inserts. “The Hole” alternates between accelerations and slower, deeper Doom-like passages. An intense track that alternates between classic Doom and more modern passages with an excellent guitar solo in the middle section. Another interweaving of genres and styles, “Darkest Priest,” incorporates elements of proto-Doom with forays into Punk. The vocals are piercing with engaging refrains, set to a monolithic, accelerated rhythm section and addictive guitar riffs. Another track that will be very interesting to hear live and that enhances the band’s original style. The album ends with the longest track in duration “Lost,” which exceeds five minutes. The first part is softer, with an excellent vocal performance, and then increases in intensity as the minutes pass, evolving the theme of the track. The band shows another facet of their sound, rooted in retro, but with a modern and distinctly personal touch. An excellent conclusion that leaves us wanting to listen to the album again. An album that hits the mark from the first notes, powerful, engaging and with a modern, personal style. The mixture of doom and stoner succeeds perfectly, offering eight varied tracks that always keep the intensity high throughout the tracklist. A recommended listen for all lovers of heavy sounds between Doom and modern Stoner. Hebi Katana manage to create their own Samurai Doom, confirming the good things heard in their previous works.

Tracklist

01. Hallelujah Anyway (04:21)
02. The Debtor (04:27)
03. Depressed Blues (03:41)
04. No Sorrow (04:13)
05. Pennsylvania Blood (04:08)
06. The Hole (04:49)
07. Darkest Priest (04:12)
08. Lost (05:57)

Lineup

Nobu / Guitras, Vocals
Laven / Bass, Vocals
Goblin / Drums, Keyboard

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