01. Razorblade Temptation
02. Rapture (I’ll Wait For You)
03. Immersed By Eternity’s Blade
04. Kara No Bara
05. Womb Of Hatred
06. Stained Glass Sin - Fang Driller
07. Her Lips Pressed Against A Coffin Nail
08. Ethereal Blood
09. Beat To Death
10. Mortuary

Yes, Japanese horror black metal is a thing, and it truly works.

Saidan is a black metal band consisting of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Splatterpvnk and drummer Hundosai. The duo formed in Nashville, Tennessee, US, in 2020, and have an interesting style that blends raw melodic black metal with D-beat punk, gothic, J-rock, and various other influences. Their albums follow a continuous conceptual theme strongly influenced by Japanese Visual Kei, with lyrics mainly centred on Japanese psychological horror, ghosts (onryō), anti-fascism, and mental illness. Their Japanese horror-based themes and unique musical approach were first forged on their 2021 debut album Jigoku: Spiraling Chasms of The Blackest Hell. They've since gone on to make a name for themselves within the underground US black metal scene by releasing a further 3 albums, including latest offering Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist.

This fourth album continues the band's conceptual theme from previous releases based on Japanese horror, this time including vampiric cult mythology. The album is centred on depression, emotional vulnerability, and deep isolation, telling a narrative featuring on the fictional student Junko who, living far from home, seeks community and solace. However, her vulnerable state also makes her easy prey for a sinister vampiric cult who call themselves Ethereal Blood. This also serves as a metaphor and personal analogy for those dealing with loneliness and severe depression.

Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist is the most vibrant, catchy, and dynamically ambitious release in the band's discography so far, and that's really saying something. The band is known for its blending of genres, but here they've managed to take it to the next level by incorporating elements of blackgaze, D-beat crust punk, pop-punk, gothic synth, and J-rock inspired by 90s Japanese Visual Kei. Splatterpvnk is the main songwriter, handling dual-guitar harmonies, solos, bass, synth/keyboard arrangements, and lead vocals, and is also responsible for mixing and mastering the record. This time he's paired once again with Hundosai, who handles all percussion on each of the tracks.

The instrumentation is far from the typical minimalistic traditional black metal approach, instead being lush with infectious, sometimes heavy metal-inspired melodies, catchy party-like rhythms, and hooky gothic-tinged synths that help capture the Japanese horror effect in wild vivid fashion. It's disturbingly dark but also light, energetic, and upbeat at the same time, making it surprisingly accessible despite featuring regular blast beats, blackened tremolos, and unhinged raspy vocals with sinister lyrical content. The production is a huge step up as well, being crisp and somewhat sophisticated yet still managing to maintain a raw, lo-fi, and organic edge. It's layered in walls of distorted noise, but amazingly you can still hear the elements that emerge through it clearly.

This is a theatrical approach unlike any other in the US metal scene right now, one with themes that will resonate with those out there who've either suffered from mental illness or emotional/physical trauma at some point growing up. However, that's not to say it won't resonate with others with different backgrounds and identities. It's dark and sinister yet easy listening and catchy enough to grab anyone's attention, including myself, whose not associated with emo culture or Japanese visual Kei, but I'm totally on board with the music and narrative concept behind it.

What's interesting is I found myself not being able to get into the band's previous material. I've always admired their bold ambition and creativity, and the fact that they've always brought some good and unique ideas to the table, but their overall style just never quite clicked with me, until now. This album feels more of a balanced and accomplished effort; it's a style that even a black metal enthusiast such as myself can welcome, as it not only brings joyous melodies and a light-hearted humour to the genre but still retains its dark, sinister, and ferocious edge. The genre blending is extreme, and might be too much for listeners who prefer their metal simplified and traditional, but through impeccable musicianship and a theme rarely associated with extreme metal, I think they've managed to craft something both brilliantly bold and hugely enjoyable here.

Performance:	7
Songwriting:	7
Originality:	9
Production:	8