Japan’s metal scene has had a slow growth over the past couple of decades, but within the last few years it really has taken a step up to the global stage with bands such as BABY METAL, BAND-MAID and CROSSFAITH. The release of “Odyssey” by SABLE HILLS threatens to provide metal lovers from across the globe another taste of what it means to hear metal from this part of the world. It is no surprise that this band have been gaining more and more global attention given the quality of what they are producing. In addition to winning the 2022 Metal Battle Grand Prix (being the first Japanese band to do so), this attention has also resulted in being put on recognisable lineups at festivals such as Knotfest, Wacken Open Air. This hasn’t gone un-noticed as the band’s fanbase has grown exponentially, and this latest release is only going to further blow the minds of current and future fans. With a new label and a new member, these guys are surely on the right path to stardom and could possibly reignite the love of metalcore that was felt during the late 00’s and the early 10’s.  

Upon listening to the album, it becomes clear why the band has earned the title “Tokyo Riff Lord”. Much of the album is comprised of highly technical sections that only the most proficient of players can dream of performing. Comparisons can be made to the mighty PARKWAY DRIVE with many songs having a head bobbing groove to them that will encourage sheer movement from listeners and we hear this straight away from the album from the album title track “Odyssey”, a song that has it all in terms of guitar playing; beautiful harmonies, technical riffing and an ending riff that pushes the band into the realms of deathcore. There is variety within these tracks too and you can hear this with the song “Battle Cry” Ft. Kenta Koie of CROSSFAITH. Listeners can hear essence of AFTER THE BURIAL as well as the familiar sound of SABLE HILLS’ take on metalcore. However, it is the end of this song that we hear a slight change in the tone of the album. That change in tone comes in the form a slightly blues-metal style riffing that is unheard within the tracks so far and has a likeness to DOWN. What is also apparent on this album is the stylistic influence of VEIL OF MAYA, a band known for their technical proficiency and outrageously heavy breakdowns, and no song on the album portrays this influence more than “Carry the Torch”. What follows here is “No Turning Back” featuring UNEARTH, a song that has everything you would expect from a metalcore song, lovely vocal harmonies accompanied by aggressively hardcore screams, a heavy breakdown and ferocious drumming; a short and sweet track to savour in the moment. Ending the album is “Tokyo”, a somewhat softer, but no less amazing track that eases the listener out of the album after being brutally assaulted for nearly over 30 minutes.  

“Odyssey” has a such a high energy that seems to be never ending and that means live audiences will be pushed to the very limit and exert everything they have. There is so much quality within this album, that many listeners will look back on this as the start of a new era for metalcore and the prediction is that SABLE HILLS will rise to the very top of the metal food chain.