SEIKIMA-II el-do-ra-do 07SH1893

The Golden Land of Heavy Metal: Seikima-II’s ‘El・Do・Ra・Do’ (07SH1893)

Let’s explore a monumental single from the discography of Japan’s demonic heavy metal legends, Seikima-II. This is their third “Small Scripture” (single), titled “El・Do・Ra・Do,” released on March 21, 1987, via the Fitzbeat label with the catalog number 07SH1893.

This 45 RPM 7-inch vinyl holds a special place in the band’s history. The title track, “El・Do・Ra・Do,” became one of their most defining anthems, a song so essential that it was re-recorded multiple times throughout their career and notably served as the grand finale for their “The Ultimate Black Mass” farewell concert in 1999.

The origin of the song is quite fascinating. It was reportedly not originally written for Seikima-II, but was a track from a session band called Murasaki-Umagoyashi, which involved members Demon Kogure and Luke Takamura. It was brought into the Seikima-II repertoire to help fill out the tracklist for their third album, “From Hell With Love,” but unexpectedly became a highlight of their live shows.

The single features two tracks:
A: El・Do・Ra・Do
B: Burning Blood

The A-side features lyrics by Demon Kogure and composition credited to both him and the Murasaki-Umagoyashi project. The B-side, “Burning Blood,” showcases a track composed by guitarist Ace Shimizu.

07SH1893 is an essential piece of history for any “believer,” capturing the original single version of the song that would become the emotional climax of the band’s 14-year saga.