Once upon a time, when Coventry was an industrial powerhouse, the canal which dissects the City was an important artery in transporting its wares around the country. After the region’s decline, the coal bunkers which fuelled its dominance fell into disuse and laid dormant until their repurposing as a music venue. With its exposed brickwork, windowless walls and arched ceiling, The Tin Arts Centre has the feel of an old catacomb, a crypt in a decrepit church, and it makes the perfect frame for tonight’s performance by the darkest of idols, Himari Tsukishiro with her solo project Isiliel.
Isiliel – Tin Arts, Coventry, 24.07.2023
It was sad news when NECRONOMIDOL entered their indefinite hiatus, but the announcement of Himari Tsukishiro’s solo project Isiliel sugared the pill somewhat, and with her debut album Gekkou Souseiki picking up new fans all the time, the future is looking assured. As people enter the venue, the stage is bathed in blue light while Isiliel’s backdrop, rich in symbolism, hangs ominously and the two combine to make the stage appear as a Pagan altar that is ready for a sacrificial rite. And when Himari appears, attired all in black, she does indeed look like a high priestess who is about to perform a sacred ritual in a witch’s coven. As the haunting introduction to Lilith echoes around the venue, a strange calm descends which is soon shattered as both the song and Himari burst into life. With a sparkle in her eye and a spring in her step, Himari becomes a blur of energy and performs intricate dance moves that really bring these songs to life. For those unfamiliar with the Japanese tongue (in which these songs are sung), Himari’s dance moves act as a kind of sign language and give a good indication to the lyrical content. They say that actions speak louder than words, and if that’s true then Himari’s movements are deafening.
As an old school metalhead raised and weaned on bands such as Venom and Celtic Frost, a great deal of emphasis was placed on authenticity and things such as backing tracks were a definite no-no. Therefore, cute Japanese women dancing choreographed moves to a pre-recorded musical accompaniment was the complete antithesis to the music that soundtracked my youth. Yet, NECRONOMIDOL smashed my preconceived notions to smithereens with their unbridled energy, and Himari takes that ethos one step further. As a solo performer she must work the stage even harder, and with her impossibly long hair trailing behind her Rapunzel-like, she throws everything into her performance, and subsequently there are no questions regarding her “authenticity”, and such is the effort required to perform this show that Himari has to take regular breaks to revitalise herself with water. The energy that Himari displays is highly contagious, and the audience require little goading to punch the air and sing in unison. Himari makes plenty of eye contact with the crowd, and this makes for a shared experience, almost hypnotising us with her dark art.
What made black metal, probably the most European of musical genres, strike a chord with the Japanese consciousness shall remain a mystery. However, Himari has taken things beyond and there’s definitely an “East meets West” vibe going on with Isiliel. Yet, Japanese lyrics melded to black metal are just one of the juxtapositions that make the project so intriguing as her angelic, ethereal vocals float atop harsh and brittle sounds, and dance moves are provided to undanceable music. Isiliel has the kind of show that’s never forgotten, but I can’t wait for a repeat performance.
Set List:
1. Lilith
2. Koumyou Kishi
3. Geshoku Senka
4. Jodo Dokushou
5. Kikoku Enbu
6. Seiha Souggou
7. Enea Futou
8. Seian Kengen
9. Keisei Densetsu
10. Sange Ittai
11. Genesis
12. Seizon Senryaku
Photography: Peter Dennis
