S.H.I.
Masterminded by legendary vocalist and performance artist Katsunori "Cherry" Nishida of Japanese hardcore and heavy metal cults Zouo and Danse Macabre, and co-conspired with other long running members of the Japanese experimental punk and metal underground coming from bands like Nashi, Outo, Mobs, The Rude Boys, Gewalt and Rise from the Dead (among others), S.H.I. construct a majestic syncretism of violence and experimentation by fusing hardcore punk, heavy metal, noise rock, industrial and psychedelia into an unseen demolition of reality. The project emerged long after the dissolution of Zouo, around 2010, debuting with 2013's self-titled 7" and the 2014 followup "Lucifer Rising" 7", both released by Crust War in Japan. The two releases were then conjoined into the band’s debut album, "死", or "Death", initially released in 2015 as a full-length compilation, first appearing on CD format in Japan through Black Lodge Records, then on tape in Australia in 2016 via NGM Records. During these years the band ransacked Japan with incendiary live shows that became infamous throughout the country for their chaotic and unpredictable blend of heavy metal, punk and electronics and their multi-member ensemble presence onstage summoning absolute chaos. "死" was then followed up by "4 死 Death", the second, game-changing full-length usurpation, released on vinyl and digitally via Relapse Records in 2021. This release expanded and cemented the band’s visionary and weaponized formula and consecrated them as one of the most pummeling and mind-expanding acts in Japan since the demise of Zeni Geva. Through its morbid ritualism and daring experimentalism, S.H.I. represents the transfiguration and perfect continuation of Nishida's enigmatic and uncompromising vision into the future, carrying Zouo's and Danse Macabre's bludgeoning and caustic torch into the experimental unknown as a violent and bleak means of transcendence. The band’s music stands stark, enigmatic and imposing as a dark and death-scarred psychedelic trip into Japan's iconic and most deviant underground fringes of hardcore punk, metal, noise, and industrial, perfectly following in the steps of many legendary Japanese experimental violent acts like Zeni Geva, Crow, and G.I.S.M. as well as in those of iconic international acts like Killing Joke, Coil, Neurosis, Voivod, Amebix, SWANS, Galopping Coroners and Discharge, who in the early 80's and 90’s had laid the groundwork for visionary crossroads of aggression and experimentation through the hybridization of punk, metal, psychedelia and industrial to devastating, history-changing effects.