Asia has long been a continent with an aspiring metal scene that sadly doesn’t get enough attention from the rest of the metalheads of the world. It has given us many great acts in recent years of all sorts of styles from thrash to folk to death, and the excellence only continues to increase in taste. Lately, I’ve simply been waiting to see what else they could whip up in greatness, and in Sleepwalker I’ve found the answer (even though the band is international with only one member hailing from Japan, just go with it). Their sophomore album is a bit of a departure from their debut, but it’s so much more flavorful and dynamic.

I like black metal. I adore music that’s soaking in loads of psychedelia. Yet, the two brought together has never quite been a thing that I can find myself loving. It is an extremely hard thing that isn’t easy to nail down as you can’t get it without a fuck ton of experimentation half the time where we’re given crazy acts that push black metal to its very limits like Arkheth does. Despite all of that, Sleepwalker manages to make the black metal center stage while allowing the psychedelia to flow in and out of the main focus like the tide to where everything is shifting within the six tracks of “一期一会” to make this sophomore effort truly tasty. This is a very macabre sort of psychedelia where you can’t really tell what the fuck is going on but all you know is that it’s dark, foreboding, terrifying, and dreadfully satisfying with Sleepwalker’s approach to this effort. “一期一会” expands across the territories of drone, noise rock, and tribal ritualism with a central theme of psych-black metal which brings this record into existence from a realm all its own. Quite literally, there is no other record like this in existence, I’m sure of it. Sleepwalker has poured forth a mind-bending experience that never quite has a central theme, concept, or stage that you can get a concrete vision of whatever the fuck is supposed to be happening. The whole of “一期一会” is unique with each turn being different, there’s no sure structure or concrete form to it all, and Sleepwalker constantly impresses from making the listener guess as to what’s coming next while still being bewildered by what they just heard and then always delivering with impeccable musicianship powered by overwheling quality.

“For this time only, never again” is the english translation of “一期一会” that’s also a Japanese idiom, and I firmly believe that even if Sleepwalker doesn’t go down the same stylistic path as this record that they’ll still deliver an expansive experience that refuses to give up. This whole record is a true delight to experience as Sleepwalker shows their real talent after their debut had caused a few rumbles, but there’s no doubt that “一期一会” will bring this band a cult following that they rightfully deserve.

“一期一会” releases on May 25th via Sentient Ruin Laboratories!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “一期一会” on Bandcamp here.