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Shura Bayashi (修羅囃子; The Band Of Pandemonium) Album Discussion Thread Round #1

Album

Shura Bayashi (修羅囃子; The Band Of Pandemonium)

Release Date: January 22, 2003
Running Time: 71m:59s
Label: Tri-M
Album Cover: Shura Bayashi

CD Details (Japanese): 『修羅囃子』

Genre:

Heavy Metal
Hard Rock
Doom Metal
Stoner Rock

 

Performers
Shinji WajimaGuitar, Vocals
Ken-ichi SuzukiBass, Vocals
Goto MashiroDrums, Vocals

 

Listen

Streaming Services:

Other:

  • None

 

Track List

SongRomajiEnglishYoutubeSetlist.fm
東洋の魔女Touyou no MajoOriental Witch人間椅子　東洋の魔女12
鬼OniSpotify: 鬼12
愛の言葉を数えようAi no Kotoba wo Kazoe-youLet's Count the Words of Love人間椅子 ツアー「地獄の道化師」@新宿ReNYライブ生中継(2016/07/10): 14. 愛の言葉を数えよう28
月に彷徨うTsuki ni SamayouMisled by the MoonSpotify: 月に彷徨う4
野球野郎Yakyuu YarouBaseball DudeSpotify: 野球野郎13
最後の晩餐Saigo no BansanLast SupperSpotify: 最後の晩餐5
終わらない演奏会Owaranai Ensou-kaiEndless Concert人間椅子　終わらない演奏会5
王様の耳はロバの耳Ou-sama no Mimi Wa Roba no MimiThe King has Donkey EarsSpotify: 王様の耳はロバの耳4
恐山Osore-zanMount Osore1. 人間椅子　恐山   2.Spotify: 恐山6
蛇性の淫Jasei no InSnake-Like HornySpotify: 蛇性の淫3
相剋の家Soukoku no IeHouse Of Conflict人間椅子 「相剋の家」（「疾風怒濤～人間椅子ライブ!ライブ!!」より）[フル]51

 

Lyrics

See Lyrics post: Lyrics Translations - All Albums

 

Find in-depth information at the Ningen Isu Albums Blog

Other Links

Background

  • The album title does not refer to any one work or inspiration, see the Ningen Isu Albums Blog (linked above) for more information around the theme.

  • There are two links above for 恐山 (Osore-zan/Mount Osore). The Spotify link has the full song, but the first link is a video of Wajima alone, apparently at Osore-zan, singing a shorter version of the song.

  • This is the last album with Goto Mashiro playing the drums.

 

Reviews and Articles

"Despite 2003's Shurabayashi serving as Masuhiro Goto's final album with the band, it's a fitting departure for someone who had a hand in creating some of the hookiest, most grooving Japanese progressive rock and doom this fine planet has ever known. The album continues the heavy Sabbathian riffing, psychedelic tinged wandering and incredibly tight musicianship that 2001's Mishiranu Sekai brought in full force. Rather than sticking with a conventional approach (when has Ningen-Isu ever been one for convention), Shurabayashi weaves even more of the psychedelic leads, melodic wandering and full out classic rock styled rocking out into their furiously catchy Japanese doom. That's not to say the band completely abandoned anything heavy, because there still galloping rhythms and meaty Sabbath-tinged grooves, but it certainly more melodic and nuanced than before."

"Their native Japanese influences are also especially beautiful across the album. "Osorezan" is a beautiful acoustic and very Japanese track. Wajima's acoustic melodies bring the song forward with a wonderful sad, but pretty melody. After the first chorus, Suzuki comes in with backing vocals that you might hear in a Buddhist chant, or a traditional Japanese folk song, and it only helps add to the beautiful mystic of the song. This is definitely not a track you should sleep on just because there's no electric guitar. It's a standout for sure. The closing track "Soukoku No Ie" also begins with a very Japanese sounding harmonized chant by Suzuki and Wajima while Goto fills the void with an addicting drum pattern. This track does an excellent job at bouncing back and forth with small tempo changes for different sections. Midway through the track, one of the changes suddenly turns into a super melodic and catchy section where Wajima's vocals project and stick with you right before he delivers one of the better solos on the album."

"Oni - Daemon. Another heavy, doom metal style track describing, I presume, the character of the Japanese oni, a denizen of Jigoku (Hell) and torturer of the souls of sinners. In folktakes, oni have been known to emerge from the netherworld and attempt to trick humans or simply make off with them. There are some Voivod-sounding riffs in this track, something I have come to recognize in many Ningen Isu songs. Howling demons create a monstrous atmosphere in the chorus buildup with more doom metal chords. Drummer Goto goes for the double kick drum in chorus. It's a fierce and ominous track!"

"The first song in the album is "Oriental Witch". Beginning with a dark and heavy riff, Suzuki's powerful vocals. The base is already rolling. The chorus sings mysteriously. In the middle stage, the tempo increased and it became powerful and rhythmic, and then it became a little funky beat, then returned to the original riff. In the final stage, the tempo increased again and played a Tsugaru shamisen-style guitar solo."

"Another famous piece of this album, "Osoyama". It's an acoustic number, but if you listen to it, you'll understand Mr. Wajima's guitar sense."

 

Sources

Note: Some sources in Japanese; Google Translate used

 

Housekeeping

  • Your comments will help make each album thread better. To put it another way, the threads are meant to start conversations around each album in the hopes of increasing our knowledge of each album.

  • This information will come from a variety of sources, and could include misleading or incorrect information. Not surprising, given the reliance on a combination of other people's work and Google Translate. If you know something to be wrong, make a comment and appropriate action can be taken.

  • Generally defaulted to earlier versions for the video chosen for each song on the track list; there can be big differences between early and later performances. Explore.

  • Started: July 2020

Posted Jul 9, 2020, 2:45 AM UTC · edited

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