Boris with Merzbow: Gensho

A friend of mine, who knows very little about the endless variety of heavy metal genres, once told me, after hearing a few seconds of Boris, that the band sounded like white noise. He was mostly kidding, but I took the comment as a sign that it can be difficult to explain why bands like this matter. the comment struck me because it reflects how difficult it can be to explain why bands like this matter. I've generally liked Boris, Sunn O))), and other drone acts. My favorite of the bunch is actually Monarch, a killer band from France that connects a love for Black Sabbath with a love for drone.

This album is actually a collaboration that will certainly challenge anyone who is hearing this kind of music for the first time. It may even challenge anyone. The artists, Boris and Merzbow, are innovative and experimental musicians. This release, a double album, is meant to be played simultaneously so that the works by Boris match the work by Merzbow. I was unable to try this experiment, but I am certainly curious to know how it works out for those who do. Listeners are encouraged to experiment with the volume and the connections in ways that make each experience with this album new and interesting.

All the material by Boris is reinventions of older pieces. I found them haunting and beautiful and challenging. To my ears, they are more accessible than the far more noise-oriented work by Merzbow. Even though I like the former more than the latter, it doesn't seem right to split my opinion. This album is about meshing experiences in ways that create something new and original every time. It takes a Boris and a Merzbow to pull it off.

Track Listing:

Disc 1
1. Boris—Farewell
2. Boris—Huge
3. Boris—Resonance
4. Boris—Rainbow
5. Boris—Sometimes
6. Boris—Heavy Rain
7. Boris—Akuma no Uta
8. Boris—Akirame Flower
9. Boris—Vomitself

Disc 2
1. Merzbow—Planet of the Cows
2. Merzbow—Goloka pt. 1
3. Merzbow—Goloka pt. 2
4. Merzbow—Prelude to a Broken Arm

Added: March 26th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Bandcamp Page
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Language: english

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