Japan Underground Digest No. 44

This coming weekend sacrifices must be made for the 23rd Blood Rite at Earthdom! Prepare yourself for the Doomhammer!

I like playing shows, I like going to shows, and I like booking shows. They’re all totally different experiences, all totally worthwhile. Used to be a lot harder, or at least riskier to book, which I’ve always thought was one reason why there weren’t many bookers in the scene to begin with, and is even relevant now because that state of affairs persisted for so long that your average person still thinks starting to book show’’ll possibly result in a financial kick to the teeth.

I mean, it can, but it doesn’t have to. That’s one reason I love working with Earthdom - over the last decade or so we’ve hosted countless concerts there and have developed a great relationship with them such that it’s more or less a no brainer to do it once again.

Which is what we have this weekend! The 23rd iteration of Kaala’s ongoing Blood rite series is a real sledgehammer, full of Melodic Death Metal, Death Doom, Epic Doom, and my own band’s take on Black Metal stylings.

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The Bands

• Mammon’s Throne (Epic Doom, Australia)

• Worship Pain (Black Metal, Tokyo)

• Heteropsy (Deathdoom, Tokyo)

• Another Dimension (Melodeath, Tokyo)

I was super stoked to hear from Mammon’s Throne’s management a few months back about this tour back in August, they’ve been a real pleasure to work with, who not only understand the underpinnings of Japan’s underground but booking in general. Always great to work with bookers who know what’s up, can’t thank them enough.

But enough about their management, onto the band! Mammon’s Throne must have one of the most polished Epic Doom sounds I’ve heard in a while. Goosebumps and raised fists stuff for sure. Solid fuckin’ riffs, heavy bass lines, pummeling drums, and some very regal vocals indeed. Can’t wait to hear them live!

Worship Pain (my band)’s been moving real nicely this year, with 4 new songs in the bag, one of which we’ll be debuting at this gig. Starts out real eerie, Friday the 13th-y, whips around into some down-and-out stomper-dom, and finishes up smoothly in USBM territory.

Heteropsy’s bringing new sounds into the world of Japanese Deathdoom, and a shocking live show to go along with it. I personally think that despite the genre’s knack for threateningly slow, plodding riffs, it could benefit from a bit more animated performances, and Heteropsy definitely agrees. Meet the new Living Dead.

I think the only thing I need to say about Another Dimension is that Intestine Baalism teamed up with Terror Squad. ‘Nuff said.

This lineup rips.

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The Venue: Earthdom

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We’ve featured Earthdom here once before (could’ve been a lot more but I like variety), and it’s as good as ever. One of Japan’s best underground venues, and a stark contrast to the neon saccharine-ness of Okubo.

But Wait, There’s More!

That’s a hella good lineup and if you’re reading this and relatively able to attend I expect to see you there.

And if you do go, you’ll also want to read below to figure out all the hidden tricks we have up our sleeves for guaranteeing this will be a most excellent night indeed.

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