Samurai Hannya by Various Artists

The new Samurai Music series of 12"s - Samurai Hannya - are based on the mythical masks of a Noh drama (a form of traditional Japanese theatre). Hannya masks capture the stages of transformation of a female character as she undergoes a metamorphosis into a demon / ogre. This transformation is caused by deep sadness and anger, fuelled by intense jealousy. The mask embodies the resentment and fierce obsession of this character. Its horrible look gives us an impression that it is not just a grotesque monster, but that it also expresses the deep sadness of human beings. A cautionary tale of the power of negative emotions portrayed aptly in this infamous play. Hannya masks are also very popular with tattooists around the world along with many other characters and symbols from the fascinating Japanese mythology.

The 12”s for the Samurai Hannya series are named after these 3 stages / masks and feature all new tracks from the Samurai family of artists created specifically for this project. The series introduces a new Russian artist Roho, plus the first two collaborations from label head Presha (with Homemade Weapons & Ancestral Voices) alongside label regulars Homemade Weapons, The Untouchables, Torn, Artilect, Last Life, Antagonist, and for the first time on Samurai, Weaponry artists Torana.

The Samurai Hannya artwork was illustrated and designed by Defame - https://www.defameart.com/

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