Introducing Ronin, which is the first full-length album from German outfit Shizzura. It’s hard to nail down exactly what genre to put this album into. There are influences of Nu-metal, Japanese metal, progressive metal, and even heavy alternatives. The lyrics change from English to Japanese throughout the album, sometimes even in the same song.
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The album is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, always keeping me guessing. I suspect that’s exactly how Shizzura likes it, they’re not confined to any one sound and can experiment and grow as they see fit. The album Ronin was released in late 2021 on Wormholedeath Records.
Ronin is the band’s first release since 2013 when they released two EP’s (Vermillion and Onyx). That’s a long time between drinks, but they’ve certainly made up for the lost time. Not only is this an excellent offering, it’s also quite long with 14 songs and a total playtime of more than 1 hour. There are continued themes of Japanese influences throughout the album, none more evident than the opening track simply titled Intro. This is a gentle acoustic track that sets the scene for the remainder of the album. It’s an intentionally Japanese sound, but I did note middle eastern influences. You’ll have to give it a listen to understand what I mean.
The standout track for me is The Hell in My Eyes which has a distinct Nu-metal sound. It’s fat, sludgy, and grungy. The detuned guitars that kick in at about the 1-minute mark work so well with the vocals that it gives the song a visceral quality. I challenge you to listen to this song and not think of Korn! Whether intentionally inspired or not, it’s a familiar sound. I loved the switching in and out of Japanese and English lyrics throughout the song to continue with the theme of the album.
I also really enjoyed Conquering the Nisshin Maru. This is absolute headbang material with blast beats aplenty. Shizzura also takes their vocal capabilities to another level here with an almost Black Metal sound. The breakdown from the 3-minute mark is sure to have the crowd bouncing around – it’s just a fun song to get moving too.
Caustic is another excellent track that demonstrates the progressive capabilities of Shizzura. The song starts off heavy before heading into a consistent chugging pace. The clean vocals stand out well contrasted against death growls. From 2 minutes 30, the song builds to an incredible pace, again another song that will get the crowd exploding.
Shizzura has released a solid first album, experimenting with a variety of sounds. The album has real depth and demonstrates high-quality musicianship.
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It’s interesting, fun, and will be excellent in front of a live audience. If they can follow up with another album of its equal in the next year or so, they could be headed for big things.
Tracklist:
- Intro
- Nishibi
- Conquering The Nisshin Maru
- The Hell In My Eyes
- Caustic
- Dead God City
- Witness Your Sins
- Boku No Kurai Mirai
- My Villain
- The Declaration
- Underneath
- Venom
- Your Blinded Eyes Can’t See Us
- Secrets
Shizzura: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Wormholedeath Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Phil Bergersen
