Saidan – “Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memories Wrist” Review

Release Date: June 19, 2026
Label: Avantgarde Music
Country: United States (Tennessee)
Genre: Visual Kei/Lo-Fi Melodic Black Metal

Saidan is a very important band to me. Way back in 2022 when “Onryo II: Her Spirit Eternal” released, I was blown away by their blend of Lo-Fi melodic black metal mixed with goth and punk influences. Shortly after hearing it, I was a guest on MSRCast podcast, where I met Christian for the first time. On that podcast, he and I bonded over our mutual love for this band that we’d both independently discovered. That led to us becoming great friends, and eventually to the creation of the Harsh Vocals website and podcast.

Shortly after creating the podcast back in 2024, I received an email out of the blue from Splatterpvnk, the mastermind behind Saidan, asking if I’d be interested in reviewing their next album “Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity”. Needless to say, I was shocked he’d reached out to our fledgling website, and thrilled to hear the album early and review it. I was even more excited when Splatterpvnk agreed to do an interview episode for the podcast. To date, it’s one of our most successful episodes, and I’m very grateful that many of our listeners discovered the band from that show. (If you’ve never heard it, it’s still up on all podcast platforms!)

Since that interview episode, we’ve kept in touch, and continued to support the band as much as possible. I’ve seen them live four times now, and I think Christian is at six, with more upcoming later this year. Go see them on tour this summer!

Of course, when Saidan announced “Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memories Wrist”, I was incredibly excited about it. I’ve waited until the day before release to post my review in hopes it will have the maximum impact, because holy shit – this is Saidan’s best album to date, and easily one of the strongest albums to come out so far in 2026!

“Fangdriller” is another concept album and serves as a prequel to the band’s previous release “Visual Kill”. The story follows a student named Junko whose isolation makes her a target for a cult known as Ethereal Blood. Unbeknownst to Junko, her anguished seclusion has made her their perfect victim.

The album kicks off with the track Razorblade Temptation – an aural assault of triumphant guitar leads, blistering fast drumming, and a vibe that matches the opening to a vampire-themed anime. It’s aggressive and catchy, and alternates between vicious black metal moments and calmer guitar-centric melodies. It’s a song that gets your blood pumping and immediately puts you in the mood for the rest of this incredible album.

Next up, we have Rapture (I’ll Wait for you) which is a weirdly energetic, yet subdued track. It has some wildly impressive guitarwork, and while at times it feels like Hundosai’s drums are trying to come through the speakers and beat you, it also has more peaceful moments where the song breathes.

Immersed by Eternity’s Blade is one of my favorite songs on the album. Splatterpvnk has absolutely leveled up as a guitarist over the past few years and he enters into true “Guitar God” territory here. The solo is so impressive that it gave me chills probably the first thirty times I heard it. It’s vibrant and masterful throughout.

Kara No Bara was the first single released from this album and it translates to Empty Rose. It’s the first song on the album that really highlights the gothic style of songwriting that permeates so many of Saidan’s songs. While still being aggressive, isolationist black metal, the keyboards and layered melodies definitely make this feel more like a gothic rock song than a straightforward black metal one.

Next up is Womb of Hatred, a melodic song full of weeping guitar tones that seem to convey both anger and longing at the same time. Splatterpvnk delivers some incredible screams in this one, and Hundosai’s savagely fast drums never let the momentum drop for even a second.

Stained Glass Sin // Fang Driller is the longest song on the album, as well as the titular track. It begins with a slower, haunting melody of blended guitars and keyboards before adding drums and speed, leading to an inevitable explosion of headbang-able riffs and aggression. The song fluctuates between softer elements and pure fury, with the midway point establishing just how dark and aggressive the song can get. The leads are absolutely incredible in the second half of this track. Not only have both band members improved as musicians over the past few years, this track firmly plants its fangs in your neck and makes it clear they’ve greatly improved as songwriters as well.

Her Lips Pressed Against a Coffin Nail – This song starts out feeling epic and triumphant, while also maintaining the aggression that has been prevalent throughout. It’s a very bright sounding track, that again, really manages to capture the Japanese vibe that the band strives for.

Ethereal Blood is the third single from the album and lyrically one of the most important in the context of the story. It’s a song that takes you on a journey, and feels like you’re living the story as you hear it.

Beat To Death – This is one of my favorite tracks in Saidan’s entire discography. It is groovy, riff-filled, and aptly named. It feels like they’re trying to beat the listener to death through their headphones. I can’t wait to see them play it live.

Mortuary – Saidan always close out their albums with a slower, acoustic style song with clean vocals. As much as I typically dislike cleans, I love Splatterpvnk’s voice, and he conveys so much sadness and emotion in these shorter songs. They’re all favorites of mine.

Overall, this album is one of the strongest releases of 2026. I’ve heard nearly two thousand albums so far this year, and Fangdriller is in my top 5. I can’t endorse this album enough – it’s simply incredible.