Japanese avant‑gothic metal band Sigh has released its first single from the forthcoming studio album Goh‑ka, titled "Unputenpu." The track is available for streaming on Amazon Music Unlimited and other major platforms and is accompanied by an animated music video.

"Unputenpu" marks the first collaboration between Sigh’s founder Mirai Kawashima and Swedish progressive‑metal guitarist and vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. Kawashima explained that the song incorporates a rhythm he calls "shuffle," a pattern common in Japanese metal, and that Åkerfeldt’s guitar lead adds a new dimension to the composition. He added, "I have no idea at all how the song sounds to other people… The guitar lead by Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth definitely gives another boost to the song." Thematically, Kawashima said the track reflects on the inevitability of fortune and misfortune, stating, "Unputenpu expresses the idea that whether a person is blessed with good fortune or struck by misfortune is determined by God’s will, the will of heaven, fate or something totally beyond our control and we cannot do anything to change it."

Sigh, formed in Tokyo in 1989, has evolved from a traditional extreme‑metal outfit into a group known for experimental, symphonic, and world‑music influences. Their latest album before Goh‑ka was I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV, released in 2025. The new album will be issued by Peaceville Records on September 4, 2026, and will include "Unputenpu" as one of its tracks.

Mikael Åkerfeldt, born April 17, 1974, is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Swedish progressive‑metal band Opeth. His involvement in "Unputenpu" follows previous guest appearances on other artists’ recordings. According to reports, Åkerfeldt’s guitar work on the track is intended to complement Sigh’s avant‑gothic sound and broaden the song’s sonic palette.

The single’s release was accompanied by a promotional video that features stylized animation. The video is available on YouTube and other video‑sharing platforms. In addition to streaming the track, fans can pre‑order the full album Goh‑ka through Peaceville’s digital storefront.

Sigh’s upcoming tour schedule includes a series of shows across North America and Europe. The band will perform in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 1, 2026, followed by a string of European dates: a performance in Aleksandrow Lodzki, Poland, on Thursday, September 3; a show in Cracow, Poland, on Friday, September 4; Metal III in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Saturday, September 5; Hansa 39 @ Feierwerk in Munich, Germany, on Monday, September 7; Moritzbastei in Leipzig, Germany, on Tuesday, September 8; Badehaus in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday, September 9; Beta @ Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday, September 10; Betty in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday, September 11; Death & Damnation Fest in Oberhausen, Germany, on Saturday, September 12; Neushoorn in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, on Sunday, September 13; DB’s in Utrecht, Netherlands, on Monday, September 14; and Backstage By The Mill in Paris, France, on Tuesday, September 15.

With the release of "Unputenpu" and the announcement of the Goh‑ka album, Sigh continues to assert its position within the avant‑gothic metal scene. The collaboration with Åkerfeldt is expected to attract listeners from both bands’ fan bases. The album’s September 4 launch will be followed by the scheduled European tour, providing opportunities for live performances of the new material.

As of now, the single is streaming, the album release date is confirmed, and the tour dates are set. Fans can anticipate the full album’s availability in September and the band’s performances across Europe in early September.