Shuddersome Soundscape #6: Dueling Curses

 In previous weeks, some of the songs that I've given you appeared in various horror and Halloween movies. This week, however, the song of the hour not only featured in a film, but was actually written for it. From the spirit world, just beyond the veil, I bring you "Noroi No Sha Na Na Na" (translated: "The Curse of Sha Na Na Na") by Seikima-II.



Seikima-II, created in 1982, is a rather unique Japanese heavy metal band that inspired and influenced the Visual Kei genre and subculture. In addition, they also served as an early example of black metal. Both facts become apparent when one looks upon their kabuki-style face paint and elaborate attire as well as their demonic back story.

The lore goes that Seikima-II is a group of Akuma, a race of demons, sent from a hyper-evolved dimension named Makai. Their mission is simple: to take over the world through their music. 

The story behind the song is equally as bizarre. Seikima-II released "Noroi No Sha Na Na Na" in 2016 (making this their most recent single) as the theme song to the film Sadako vs Kayako, in which two girls, ridden with curses, decide to free themselves by having their respective onryo (vengeful ghosts) duke it out to the death. The true stars of this adventure are the titular ghosts, the villains of the Ringu and Ju-on franchises (for my American readers, you may be more familiar with the stateside remakes: The Ring and The Grudge). 

What began as an April Fools joke on the website of Ju-on: The Final soon gained traction and transformed into a legitimate monster mash of a film. Rather than merely spreading the word about the upcoming film, the advertising campaign was, in fact, an actual campaign. In the months leading up to the release, Sadako and Kayako appeared in press conferences, individual Instagram and Twitter accounts, and even baseball games as they sought votes as to which yurei really should win the battle. Seikima-II got in on the action as frontman His Excellency Demon Kakka declared a summit of the demon world and the spirit world to appease the feud between the foes. Said battle was to occur on June 15, the single's release date, which brings this story right back to the beginning.

Above, you can watch Seikima-II music video, featuring Sadako, Kayako, and her son Toshio in high-spirited choreography. 

Also, here is an interview Demon Kakka, who explains more in depth about his band's mythology. 

And for those curious, Sadako won the campaign.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shuddersome Soundscape #4: A Psychedelic Omen

Image
After an undead intermission, this week, we return to our spooky spell casters with a tune from the genesis of psychedelia. For our Spooky Season, I give you Donovan's "Season of the Witch" (1966). This song, released on the album Sunshine Superman , features a steady guitar riff alongside foreboding and paranoid lyrics, a groovy omen of oncoming devastation. Could this foretold disaster be the work of the supernatural? Well, in the context of the song's creation, the lurking danger is something a little more earthly. "There was a feeling...that all was not perfect in the Garden of Eden," Donovan spoke in Mojo magazine about this Season when the song was born. He called "Witch" prophetic, referring to the marijuana bust soon to occur within the countercultural community. Not long after, these busts seized Donovan as well. "Season of the Witch" has appeared on the soundtracks of numerous Halloween-appropriate films, including Season of th...
Read more

Shuddersome Soundscape #1

Image
Greetings! After such a long hiatus, it certainly is great to be back! I present to you a new series called the Shuddersome Soundscape, a playlist of ghastly melodies for your Halloween season. Each week, I'll give you a different, Halloween-appropriate song from various subcultures. I'll try to post these every week in the "Spooky Season," from September 2nd to November 17th. "Why November 17th?" you may wonder. a few years ago, my sister and I established that day as the official end to the Halloween season (not counting the fact that Halloween can be every day if you want it to be). Only after then do we freely start singing Christmas tunes and watching Yultide-themed movies and episodes. I'm not entirely certain why we chose that specific date, although it may possibly be because I threw it into a song I wrote a while back regarding the too sudden end of Halloween. Since then, the date seems to have stuck. Nevertheless, it just feels like an appropri...
Read more

Show and Tell: Native American Metal

Over the years, numerous Native Americans have embraced the metal genre as a source of self-expression, a reflection of heritage, a release of tension, and an amplified voice calling for change or recognition. Some have been there since the beginning, helping to shape the high-energy genre we know today, while others take part in creating new subgenres that display their soul in unique ways.  Although the metal subculture encapsulates an incredibly diverse array of backgrounds with fans from all walks of life, it's clear that the face of metal, especially to outsiders, is, unfortunately, noticeably white. But under the surface, an unmistakable Native American presence flourishes, waiting for the world to recognize its vitality.  In honour of Native American Heritage Month, I've decided to gather together a few articles to share with you, hoping to give you a little look into the Native American metal community. A little Show and Tell, if you will (as I recover my wits from the...
Read more