A discordant trudge through chaos

Boris is a Tokyo-based experimental music band that pushes the boundary of the rock genre. They are composed of a drummer, Atsuo, a guitarist and bassist Takeshi as well as guitarist and keyboardist, Wata. Since forming in 1992, Boris has been experimenting with almost every genre you could imagine. From their early days with heavy rock, to recent years with doom metal. One of their more eccentric was with harsh-noise musician Merzbow in 2020 titled 2R0I2P0. A critic for the website Beats Per Minute described the album as “enchantment all within a mess.” Heavy Rocks continues the band’s dive into the genre of sludge rock. This genre is a combination of heavy metal and punk to create an abrasive and harsh atmosphere.

Boris takes no time starting the beautiful hellscape with the first track, “She is burning.” The song starts with a scream while a brass instrument and drums duke it out for who sounds the harshest. Some lyrics that play into the sludge metal aesthetic roughly translate to, “A burning flame shines on me” and, “Dancing, flames, who are you lighting up.” The descent continues with the second and third track, “Cramper” and “My name is blank.” These tracks feature screeching vocals and heavy guitar hits that make it feel like your ears are getting punched.

The fourth track “Blah, Blah, Blah” continues the avant-garde brass in what sounds like a noise rock symphony. On the next track, “Question 1,” we get a classic metal sound like that of Black Sabbath. It’s easily the most accessible song to new listeners. With the sixth track, “Nosferatou,” Boris takes a bit of a detour for their sound to explore more atmospheric elements of post-rock. The next three track run of “Ruins,” “Ghostly imagination” and “Chained” put the album back in the sludge metal aesthetic. The album finishes with the piano-driven “(not) Last song.”

Heavy Rocks will not be an album for everyone. Its experimental qualities will likely be a turn off for many listeners. However, more enjoyment will come over repeated listens. It is a daunting LP that rewards the most committed listeners.