Boris
Newtown Social Club
Sydney, AUS
May 29, 2015
And then there was Boris.
The Japanese unikum named after a Melvins song.
Cue labels that span the spectrum from “doom metal,” “My Bloody Valentine-style dream pop,” and “experimental” via “psychedelic,” “post-modern,” and “citation-heavy rock.”
Add smoke machines, a gong, custom effects pedals, atmospheric lighting, meticulous attention to detail and accomplished musicianship.
Songs at times so hypnotically and painfully repetitive that is gets borderline annoying, before the trio unleashes a tidal wave of heaviness that changes the dynamics, which make your intestines resonate in unison with the bottom-heavy frequencies emitted from the Orange amplifier stack, the rhythm section majestically hovering above it all.
Heavy.
Melodic.
Dancey.
Ebbing and flowing.
Unpretentious.
A rich tapestry that pays homage to the who-is-who in rock without feeling the slightest need to employ a hint of irony.
The band itself: restrained, composed and detached, making it all look too easy.
Few bands are able to amalgamate such an array of influences into a coherent whole.
Boris does.
The show was sold out.
The audience left in awe.
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Photo by Gothic Mario
