雲雀 -Hibari-
One-man post-black metal project from Kyoto blending atmospheric tremolo, blackgaze shimmer, and lyrics in English and Esperanto.
About
é²é -Hibari- is the solo project of Ryotapon, a musician from Kyoto who also plays in 5PM Promise and Arbus. Launched with a self-titled EP in November 2018, the project operates in the space between blackgaze, atmospheric black metal, and DSBM â cold, melancholic, and gloomy, but shot through with melodic passages that recall Opeth's acoustic work and Solstafir's sweeping dynamics. The vocals are raw and harrowing, set against surprisingly smooth instrumental arrangements. The debut EP featured four tracks with lyrics in English and Esperanto â an unusual choice that reinforces the project's internationalist, boundary-blurring ethos. Subsequent releases include the split Kanata; from pathetique and fade with SAWAGI (May 2021), standalone tracks Don't Go (August 2021) and Neniam RenkontiÄu (October 2021), and the eight-track album Nausicaa AlkroÄiÄas al Forvelkanta Amo (November 2025). Ryotapon describes the project as coming from 'drowned Kyoto Japan' â a poetic framing that suits the waterlogged, atmospheric weight of the music. é²é -Hibari- is a quiet force in Japan's sprawling one-man black metal underground, building a catalog that rewards patience and repeated listens. Note: Despite the user's Tokyo listing, all available sources place this project in Kyoto.