ALBUM REVIEW: Odyssey – Sable Hills

The Japanese metalcore scene has always been packed full of incredible musicians and astonishing pieces of musical work, and SABLE HILLS are truly the perfect example of this. Set for release on 19th July, the band’s third album, Odyssey, finds the Tokyo-based quintet with not only a brilliantly refined sound, but also the ability to incorporate new, exciting elements, pushing the boundaries of the metalcore genre and further showcasing the band’s absolute potential.

With a nine-year career under their belts, Odyssey is very clearly a culmination of SABLE HILLS’ efforts; an album that’s both relentless and intricate at the same time. It opens with The Eve, which is an atmospheric introduction for what’s to come that blends seamlessly into the title track, which immediately jumps from the atmospheric vibes to showcase SABLE HILLS’ more intense side.

Odyssey features heavy riffs, thundering beats and dynamic shifts, embodying everything you’d expect from modern metalcore while still managing to combine it with more classical structures and melodies. This blend of both aggression and sophistication really demonstrates SABLE HILLS’ ability to work outside of the box in terms of sound, and it’s something that works in their favour throughout the album.

Leaning on this, other tracks such as Battle Cry and Misfortune are both perfect examples of SABLE HILLS’ overall ability to blend intensity with intricate melody. Battle Cry is a standout track, combining hard-hitting riffs with melodic interludes, while Misfortune offers an intensity that almost catches you off guard, keeping the energy high from track to track and effortlessly keeping the listener hooked.

While SABLE HILLS are so obviously good at delivering powerful and aggressive music, this doesn’t mean that their music is emotionless. For example, Forever is an interlude featuring traditional Japanese sounds, working as a moment of reflection between some of the more intense offerings on the album. This, paired with closing track Tokyo, perfectly showcases the band’s cultural roots, paying clever homage to their heritage and adding an extra layer of personality to the album.

With its highly melodic metalcore sound, Tokyo is the perfect ending to the album. It highlights the pure, raw intensity of Odyssey with a melodic element that contrasts but complements the distinctly Japanese sound of Forever, creating the ideal finishing touch that works to round things up neatly. The production quality of Odyssey is absolutely top-notch from start to finish. Every element in each track is both highlighted and intricate, while Takuya Mishima’s vocals are a non-stop force to be reckoned with. The playful combination of Mishima’s vocals and guitarist Wataru Yuasa‘s backing vocals adds an extra layer of complexity, creating moments of complete contrast in tracks such as A New Chapter and Anthem.

Overall, Odyssey greatly stands out in the generally crowded metalcore scene. SABLE HILLS’ ability to incorporate a selection of classical elements, traditional Japanese sounds, and relentless intensity truly helps set them miles apart from the rest. This has worked to let the band’s personality shine through in their sound, highlighting their emotional depth, and showcasing some seriously impressive creativity which has allowed them to create something special.

Since their formation, SABLE HILLS’ evolution has been nothing short of impressive. It’s evident that their participation in international festivals such as Wacken and Knotfest have only benefited their sound and helped them hone their craft and produce a high-quality and polished yet raw and authentic sound that couldn’t be duplicated by anyone else.

Rating: 8/10

Odyssey is set for release on July 19th via Arising Empire.

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