Tokyo-based Boris’ English is not very expansive. When I saw them on their first American tour in 2006, they could barely muster a “Thank you!” after a song, and after five years and endless tours around the world, the only additonal phrase they seem to have learned in time for their show at the Black Cat on Saturday night was “We love you guys!”
But no matter. We don’t listen to Boris to hear them talk but to create and perform music, and that is something that they do very, very well.
Primarily a band with drone/sludge metal influences, their sound keeps you on your toes with an interesting inclusion of psychedelic, ambient, and noise elements that satisfies metal fans but can also be pleasing to the ear of anyone who enjoys multi-layered music with a disposition for the heavy.
Adding to the ambience was a liberal use of smoke machines, but these were not smoke machines that shoot out at you in a pyrotechnic fashion. Instead, they slowly spread over the audience, creating a thick fog that spookily suited the drone-y tones of the band’s songs.
And of course, drummer Atsuo had his trusty gong with him behind the drum kit, ready for action whenever he wanted to draw cheers from the crowd or add an extra level of doominess to a song. Fans also became additionally excited when tracks off of well-known albums like Pink and Smile were played.
Seemingly never tiring, the band performed a full hour and a half with no moment to rest. It is clear that even after many tours and countless releases of EPs, LPs and collaborations with acts such as Sunn O))) and Merzbow, this three-piece never tires of playing and making music.
