Sigh’s – new album ‘I Saw the World’s End (Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV)’ out now + they have shared the new video for ‘Me-Devil’

“I Saw The World’s End” is the goal of Sigh’s symphonic direction,
which means we will never take this direction any more in the future.
There will be no way for us to top this in this style! I am 100%
satisfied with the way it turned out.” –  Mirai 

Marking 35 years of boundary-shattering existence, Japanese avant-garde metal pioneers Sigh returned with I Saw the World’s End (Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV) – a fully re-recorded, reimagined version of their 2007 cult opus. Released last Friday via Peaceville, the album arrives alongside a brand-new video for the blistering track “Me-Devil,” produced by Matt Vickerstaff.

This year Sigh celebrate 35 years of existence. With a career that has seen the release of 12 studio albums, countless worldwide shows, and a relentless dedication to pushing boundaries, they have firmly cemented their status as one of the most revered and influential cult acts in extreme metal. 

To celebrate, Sigh have revisited their 2007 opus, Hangman’s Hymn. A compositional powerhouse in its own right, Hangman’s Hymn was notably Sigh’s first concept album, blending fast 80s thrash metal influences from bands like Wehrmacht, Sarcofago, and Repulsion with classical music—particularly German symphonies. However, Hangman’s Hymn was often seen as not fully meeting the band’s own standards in terms of execution and production. As a result, frontman Mirai Kawashima has taken it upon himself to do justice to this at times overlooked masterpiece of intricate songwriting by re-recording it with the current Sigh sound and delivery, under the title I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV. 

I SAW THE WORLD’S END (HANGMAN’S HYMN MMXXV)

Introitus / Kyrie (MMXXV) [04:30] 

Inked in Blood (MMXXV) [03:13] 

Me-Devil (MMXXV) [03:19] 

Dies Irae (MMXXV) [00:40] 

The Master Malice (MMXXV) [04:46] 

The Memories as a Sinner (MMXXV) [03:30] 

Death with Dishonor (MMXXV) [03:08]

In Devil’s Arms (MMXXV) [04:32] 

Overture (MMXXV) [01:14] 

Rex Tremendae / I Saw the World’s End (MMXXV) [05:18] 

Salvation in Flame / Confutatis (MMXXV) [05:22] 

Finale: Hangman`s Hymn / In Paradisum / Das Ende (MMXXV) [04:47]

I Saw The World’s End (Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV) is out now on Peaceville on white and gold marble vinyl, black vinyl, CD and digitally. Order here.

Mirai himself explains the background to the project:

“Hangman’s Hymn”, which was released in 2007, is one of my best compositions of my whole career, but it does not necessarily mean that this is my favorite Sigh album. The excessively monotonous drumming must be the biggest issue. The guitars are sloppy. The production is far from the best. And my orchestrations and vocals could have been much better. So what if we re-record this with better musicians and today’s production? The idea was always in my head, and finally the time has come to make it happen. I do know that re-recording can be the double-edged sword. “Scorn Defeat” has some flaws. So does “Imaginary Sonicscape”. But I will never ever re-record those albums as I am sure that it would lose their magic. But “Hangman’s Hymn” is an exception. You can easily tell what I mean if you listen to this completely re-recorded version”.