Album Review: Sable Hills – Odyssey (Arising Empire)

Japanese metalcore quintet Sable Hills will release their third album ‘Odyssey’ on 19th July via Arising Empire.

One run through of Odyssey and it’s easy to understand just why Sable Hills have risen to the top of the Japanese metal scene and how their influence is spreading further afield now. Offering up a dynamic style of metalcore that happily, has a lot of oomph, while being acutely anthemic and memorable. These days, it’s not easy to stand out within the metalcore world, but Sable Hills make it seem pretty simple.

All through an enjoyable blend of manic groove, emphatic melodies, blistering bursts of outrageous heaviness, singalong choruses, and so much more. It’s hard to believe they could have started the album off in any better way than the intro of The Eve and the following crashing and smashing title track. If you’re not too sure about Sable Hills’ heavy credentials, this song throws them in your face.

It’s not a one-off either as the mania is still at full force with the following Misfortune, Sable Hills letting their guitars absolutely scream here, and with the bold melody-laced carnage of Battle Cry. This is mighty metal music, but hopefully, you already know that and you’re smiling because I, and many others, are learning that now.

It would take some serious mental gymnastics to come up with a valid reason as to why this album doesn’t slay. Even if metalcore isn’t your jam, Sable Hills have taken an ‘old-school’ approach to their sound and keep the focus on the metal side of things, which makes their melodic moments so much more impactful, especially as those moments are still built around a heavy vibe. It’s simple really, if you like metal music, you’re going to enjoy the hell out of this.

Sable Hills keep the anthems coming too with A New Chapter, the aptly titled Anthem, Carry the Torch, No Turning Back, and Bad King. Each comes with vigorously hefty instrumentation and vocals that have so much power, regardless of style. There is no getting sick of this.

All good things must come to an end though, and Odyssey goes out with a bang. First, with a soft melodic tune that has a cultural tone, and then with the wild brilliance of Tokyo. The exclamation mark on a brazen showcase of talent that is this album. Sable Hills… what a bloody band.

Sable Hills – Odyssey Track Listing:

1. The Eve
2. Odyssey
3. Misfortune
4. Battle Cry
5. A New Chapter
6. Anthem
7. Carry The Torch
8. No Turning Back
9. Bad King
10. Forever
11. Tokyo

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