J-Metal Reviews: Sabbrabells "Sabbrabells"

By Badman

Check your clocks. It’s about that time again. What time..? It’s motherf**king weekly J-Metal review time! The band I pulled from the vault is another legendary 80s band hailing from the heart of Japan...Tokyo! They hit the Kensai scene with the book of the occult in one hand, and the power of supersonic steel in the other. Their enthralling presence easily made them a mainstay like no other. Just like their prominent Kensai contemporaries, they are influential, heavy-hitting pioneers. Who are these boys? They are the devilish Sabbrabells! So strap your happy asses into your seats because we are going pedal to Metal (pun intended)! Onward we ride forth to Sabbrabells’s debut album: "Sabbrabells"!

Sabbrabells’ debut self titled full-length album is composed of seven songs and has a run time of thirty-nine minutes. Yes some of these songs run well past five minutes, but there is a catch; That catch is the band’s unique sound. The best way I could describe Sabbrabells is a classic metal band that spices up their sound with dashes of bluesy Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, and Progressive Rock every so often. I have to admit that this record is one the most interesting and surprising listens I have gotten to in a long while due the diversity of sounds. The tracks on this record are all absolute standouts which warrants the choice of ONLY having seven songs for a full-length. My favorite tunes are "DEVIL'S RONDO", "束縛 (Sokubaku)", and "BLACK HILL". "DEVIL'S RONDO" is a catchy high-charged bluesy track that captures the essence of the great Deep Purple. "BLACK HILL" is a straightforward chugging Metal tune that doesn’t let up but still has it's surprises. Then there is "束縛 (Sokubaku)". This track is arguably the best song to be placed in the album. It’s a power ballad but don’t it fool you. The song is a CHUNKY seven and a half minutes full of twists and turns. "束縛 (Sokubaku)" captures Sabbrabells’ ability to capture a progressive mixture of Metal, Hard Rock, and even a bit of Psychedelic Rock all at once. It’s one HELL of a listen; a spectacular one at that. Although the song is sonically rough around the edges, it shows the extraordinary potential of the band’s unique song writing.

So what’s the verdict? It’s quite obvious. Sabbrabells debut album is a BANGER. For those who are looking for a unique metal experience, you will not be disappointed. Their incorporation of progressive sounds and melody definitely set them apart from other J-Metal acts of that era. This is why they are permanently included in the upper echelon of Japan’s pioneering metal bands.

Standouts:
束縛 (Sokubaku)
DEVIL'S RONDO
BLACK HILL
HELL'S RIDER
破壊 (Hakai)
WOLF MAN
鏡張りの部屋 (Kagamibari no Heya)

The entire album can be listened to (probably not the most authorized of sources) via the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZRCcxR_TPA