Mixtapes · ミックステープ

The catalog

Each volume is sequenced — listen in order, not a dump of “best Japanese metal.”

Humans pick the cuts; streams stay on the artists’ catalogs. Browse the list, or narrow by how you want to spend the listen.

Catalog · カタログ

深淵 · Shin’en Vol. 01 — 自業自得 · Jigō Jitoku

Theatrical JP heavy/power metal as a solemn night procession — from outer gates to final verdict.

Immersion · ≈ 59 min

深淵 · Shin’en Vol. 05 — 夜鋼 · Yakō

Theatrical JP heavy gait as a single climate. Headphones or a chair. Contrast is a scene change, not a new room.

Immersion · ≈ 61 min

地下 · Chika Vol. 01 — Tape Hiss and Train Lines

Underground and adjacent Japanese rock as a wet platform night — tape hiss and fluorescent light.

Place · ≈ 59 min

深淵 · Shin’en Vol. 02 — Low Frequencies at the Temple Gate

When the PA is more rumble than words — temple-gate low end.

Immersion · ≈ 59 min

風土 · Fūdo Vol. 01 — Farfisa at the Hotel Desk

When the room starts to swing — hotel-desk Farfisa and GS weather.

Immersion · ≈ 56 min

風土 · Fūdo Vol. 02 — 雨女 · Ame-onna

Japanese guitar weather — a 通り雨, not a storm.

Immersion · ≈ 48 min

風土 · Fūdo Vol. 03 — 碁盤 · Goban

Odd meters with a pop melody on top — a sung grid, not another shower.

Immersion · ≈ 49 min

風土 · Fūdo Vol. 04 — 雷鳴 · Raimei

When the thunder is dry — Loudness-class weather, not a shower.

Immersion · ≈ 49 min

風土 · Fūdo Vol. 05 — 終演 · Shūen

When the encore is over — LOVEBITES-class weather, not 80s thunder.

Immersion · ≈ 49 min

深淵 · Shin’en Vol. 03 — Across the Sanzu

When the river is the room — Jigoku at walking pace.

Place · ≈ 58 min

深淵 · Shin’en Vol. 04 — 雪女 · Yuki-onna

Yōkai-theatrical folk metal as Hearn’s Musashi night — blizzard in, smoke-hole out.

Immersion · ≈ 54 min

衢祭 · Chimata Fest 2018

A show that could have happened in 2018 — four bands, one door, still streamable as a set.

B1F · 4 bands · 2018 · ≈ 70 min

衢祭 · Chimata Fest 2020

Ghost 対バン: Mary’s Blood × 人間椅子 — booked for 弘前 Mag-Net, 28 Mar 2020; reconstructed setlists for a night COVID cancelled.

Time machine · 2 bands · 2020 · ≈ 160 min

衢祭 · Chimata Fest 2012

A show that could have happened in 2012 — four bands, one basement door, still streamable as a set.

B1F · 4 bands · 2012 · ≈ 46 min

人間椅子 · Primer

A 人間椅子 (Ningen Isu) primer — ten studio cuts, four eras, listen in order to hear why the sound moved.

Primer · ≈ 63 min

SHOW-YA · Primer

A SHOW-YA primer — twelve studio cuts, four eras, listen in order to hear why the sound moved.

Primer · ≈ 55 min