Double Fisting Experimental Metal

This settles it, Boris has the most sophisticated sense of humor in heavy music and, perhaps, the most elegant sense of timing. It’s the subtle kind of humor where it can be hard to tell if they’re joking.

For example, they released two albums, Attention Please and Heavy Rocks, at the same time in May. Attention Please was unusually poppy material for Boris and the band already had another album out called Heavy Rocks. Both albums are solid releases, Attention Please in particular because guitarist Wata’s lovely voice features throughout, but it also seems like kind of a weird gag and they do this kind of thing on the regular.

Their music has a similar quality — they can switch mood, tempo, or even genre on you without warning. But they do it cleanly, at the right moment, and with such sleight of hand that it’s stunning rather than annoying. Still, you get the feeling sometimes that they’ve got to be trying hard not to laugh.

But they’re a good-natured band. They do want you to be in on their joke. You just have to meet them halfway. Their new double-feature video for “Hope” off Attention Please and “Riot Sugar” of Heavy Rocks confirms this. It’s really two videos for two different songs spliced together, plus a two second shot of some Japanese suburbs. It’s ridiculous but it works.

The “Riot Sugar” part shows the band as fans are used to seeing them — surrounded by strobe lights and fog. The “Hope” part shows Wata starring in a typically high-concept J-pop PV or maybe a commercial for fancy perfume.  Those familiar with her usually casual dress and demeanor will be pleasantly jarred to see her new look — and maybe perplexed to see her without her axe. However it makes you feel, don’t be afraid to crack a smile.

Image courtesy of Sargent House.