Metal has always had a global presence with many tending to focus on what European or American acts can offer, but, as many of us are well aware of, there’s so much to be had across the other continents and other regions of the world that show us just how far the boundaries of metal can become. Due to different upbringings, cultures, traditions, and mindsets that find their way into any band’s work whether it be intentional or not, there’s still so much to offer for metal for bands seeking their own voice in the madness and fans looking for something that scratches a different kind of itch. Having only dished out a single EP before now, Japan’s 葬火 (Okuribi) shows us what they and Japanese metal can deliver in tremendous capacity.

Does belonging from a different country mean that your material is going to be wildly apart from others in ways of approach, style, and flair to a dramatic degree? Of course not. Yet, much like how horror movies are oftentimes reflections upon society and the underlying issues of the society at large, metal has the tendencies to pull from its surroundings and influences to make for a different brand of intensity when compared to something else in the same vein from the other side of the world. With their first full-length album, Okuribi clearly understood what they were going for: a ferocious mix of black metal that gels with hardcore in more than a few instances to make for a performance that’s dynamic, evocative, and undoubtedly right from the soul. Throughout the whole of “徒花” (“Adabana”), we are given a dazzling display of all that Okuribi is already quite capable of putting forth. With a sprawling arsenal that includes a wild range of vocal talent and a powerful usage of the piano, the many layers of this work come together for something that’s amorphous at times and very pointed and purposeful in whatever message it strives to get across through the clear passion that permeates every one of these eight tracks that are just nigh on addicting to become lost within. Surely, Okuribi pulled from much of the tradition that’s interwoven in much of Japanese culture to bring “Adabana” to life, but never once do they allow that to hold them back.

Within their first album, we see a band that’s wholly capable of a lot with tons of capacity to bring it all about in a surprising level of tenacity, power, vision, and talent that makes the effort something that’s deserving of far more than merely being notable just because it came out of Japan. Rather, Okuribi is already throwing punches that can go toe-to-toe with much of the splendor that’s to be found in the more well-known reaches of the underground. Everything about “Adabana” gives me the gut feeling that this is a name that we simply must keep a sharp eye on lest we miss the rise of an act that will demand our respect in future works.

LISTEN to “徒花” (“Adabana”) on Bandcamp here.

葬火 (Okuribi) does not have any sort of social media presence that I could find, so follow the band on Bandcamp here in order to stay up to date on the band’s releases.