A quick glance at Seikima-II’s makeup might make you think they were Japan’s answer to KISS, and it’s frankly shocking that they didn’t have to answer to Gene Simmon’s lawyers. Of course, the God of Thunder stole the look from kabuki, a distinctly Japanese form of theater, so really they were just taking it back. These visual kei progenitors were knights in a different Satan’s service. Taking cues from that legendary NWOBHM act (and others like, of course, Iron Maiden), they added their own brand of theatricality to the proceedings, with vocalist – and sole constant member – “Demon” Kogure bringing a melodramatic flair to his singing that predated power metal. Their debut whips by in a brisk half hour. It’s broken down into two halves: three distinct songs (of which “Rock in the Kingdom” delivers the most rock in the kingdom) and a side-long suite, which finds them fighting through a stormy night, composing a dead symphony, and killing longtime Godzilla nemesis King Ghidrah. The battle leaves Tokyo a smoldering ruin in its wake.