Sigh & The Infernal Sea at Oslo Hackney, 2024

Sigh’s gig in London was nothing short of amazing, delivering a unique blend of black metal and avant-garde experimentation that left the audience pretty satisfied. But before Sigh took the stage, the night was opened by the UK?s black metal band, The Infernal Sea, who set the tone perfectly for what was to come.

The Infernal Sea made an immediate impact with their strong stage presence, in religiously inspired clothing and masks that added to their vibe. The inverted cross and logo on the mic stand were bold symbols of their black metal roots, and their performance was equally powerful. They delivered a set that was both dark and intense, warming up the crowd!

When Sigh finally took the stage, they built on that intensity and took it to another level. The band members were all on point, but it was Dr. Mikannibal who truly stole the spotlight. Her energy was insane as she engaged with the crowd, even going as far as to drop (fake) blood on her face, adding to the theatrical atmosphere. The climax of her performance came when she fearlessly jumped into the crowd during the final song, jumping onto the shoulders of your fellow reviewer and photographer.

While the absence of fire effects might have seemed like a limitation, Sigh turned it into an opportunity to get creative with lights and flowing fabrics. This only added to the visual spectacle, complemented by Japanese script panels on either side of the stage and the traditional costumes we’ve come to expect from them. The result was a performance that was both visually and musically intense, seamlessly blending the extremes of black metal with avant-garde and experimental elements.

A particularly cool moment was when the band brought their two children on stage. The kids joined in on one song, staying in character throughout and enjoying themselves. It was a touching addition that added a familial touch to the otherwise dark and heavy set.

Despite being a band with a 30-year career, Sigh showed no signs of slowing down. They balanced their setlist with a mix of older tracks and some from their latest album, Shiki, giving long-time fans and newcomers something to enjoy.