Doomed Confessionary: 7405926, yama, Kiske & Talow (Burden Of Despair)
Burden Of Despair is a four-piece death/doom metal/hardcore band from Osaka, Japan. Founded in 2004, Burden Of Despair consists of 7405926 on guitar, yama on bass, Talow on drums and Kiske on vocals.
Three years have passed since their previous release, »Desecration – Sacred Blasphemy« EP, which broke the long silence of over 15 years. The roar and impact that exceeded the high expectations of extreme music lovers has been further polished in live houses, and is finally released in the form of a full album.
Burden Of Despair’s latest album, entitled »Confutatis«, dropped on April 9th, 2025. Based on the influence of slow and heavy US death metal, the sound is dynamic with a heightened physicality that is reminiscent of hardcore. The sweet and violent catharsis led by the excellent riff work and rich rhythm development is unmatched.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Bio by the label, Memento-Mori is the best: Burden Of Despair was formed by guitarist 7405926 (ex-Cryptic Revelation, Dyingrace) in Osaka, back in 2004.
The band released two demos over the next couple of years, but remained dormant for a long time, until it re-surfaced with a brand new lineup in 2021 and released the »Desecration« EP in early 2022.
Fast forward to early 2025, and the band released their opera prima, »Confutatis«, an album that showcases a band that writhes like a gargantuan leviathan with a riff-driven amalgamation of massive death/doom metal and mid-paced brutality, garnished with a superb sense of grooviness and a hardcore edge that borrow heavily from both old school death metal and Upstate NYHC.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
7405926: Make the heaviest, slowest, yet danceable song in the world and reproduce it with the band.
yama: The band’s unique sense of time and groove.
Kiske: The presentation of a full sound with gospel-like shimmer and overtones in the shouts.
What can you be most proud of so far?
7405926: To make the best album and great live show with the best members.
yama: Being asked to be in this band.
Kiske: Creating the sound with these members.
What was your biggest regret?
7405926: The timing to release the album.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
7405926: “Electric Funeral vol.2”, full performance of the 1st album in June 2025.
Talow: “Far East Death Cult 2022 vol.1”. We play the song »Insane« like the legendary hardcore video »Stronger Than Before«. A spectacle I wish I could have seen, but never thought I would.
(*In 1998, Dyingrace played the song »Insane« feat. Taku from Second To None)
yama: “Far East Death Cult 2022 vol.1” because I was able to perform and be seen with people I admire and respect.
Kiske: Everything was great, but I was especially happy to play on Thy Art Is Murder Japan Tour in 2025 with my local friends (Deviloof, Uragirimono Shizai).
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Talow: That the pure ones are harder to appreciate and the more impure ones sell better.
yama: That no matter how good I thought the music was, it would not be appreciated if the listener denominator was small.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
7405926: Death metal, doom metal.
yama: Acid jazz, music that makes you groove.
Kiske: Pelican, Ambrose Akinmusire, Nala Sinefro, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and always Incognito and Black Sabbath.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
7405926: Just keep doing it.
yama: Visualize the sound you want in your head. If you don’t have a clear image of the sound, you won’t be able to make.
What are your guilty pleasures?
7405926: Watching baseball games on TV while drinking beer.
Talow: Gambling in any gap in time.
yama: Petting my cat on my lap.
Kiske: Watching BDSM shows and pole dancing performed by friends.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Osaka?
Talow: In Osaka, there is the underground music culture that has not changed for about 30 years, and while the number of players is decreasing but the axis of the scene is solid, young people in their 20s to mid 30s are trying to expand the axis of the scene by creating their own community as Crew.
Kiske: Local culture and music are closely connected, and rather than being enjoyed as a special and extraordinary event, live music exists as an option in daily life. The distance between artists and audience is unique, and the stage and floor are not a one-way, but rather interact with each other.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
August 8 at Socore Factory, Osaka
September 14 at HOKAGE, Osaka
September 27 at BushBash, Tokyo
October 25 at HOKAGE, Osaka
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Release the 2nd album in 2026.
How can people best support your band?
Purchase and listen to the album, and see our shows.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Stay Doomed.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well