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Described
as a collaboration instead of a split, it could take a read from
the promotional material to clarify the point. Opening
track “Etna” sounds like a win for Sunno))) in the musical tug of war
that the making of this record must have been. Japanese doom-meisters
Boris have never been shy of experimenting, but this track
clearly tips the scale towards Stephen O’Malley’s side; it
slowly builds its low-end frequencies while feedback and what
could have been closing drum jams to an average song extend over
nine and a half minutes. This shit is not for the faint of
heart, but mainly because it gets you tired in all the wrong
ways; you can either sprint to a quick stop or pace yourself and
last the whole marathon.
Or you can really test your stamina by
putting up with this stuff; it’s all about the atmosphere I
guess, and if you are of those who don’t get it I recommend your
finger taped to the fast forward button. “N.L.T.” must have
also been a win for O’Malley, it’s the kind of tune that
Sunno))) has perfected and that Boris seems to simply comply
to. “The Sinking Belle (Blue Sheep)” is the first real
surprise; a pensive track with sweet keys and haunting pace is
crowned by the vocals of Jesse Sykes; her quasi-angelic pitch
sends shivers down your spine and is linked to dark music by its
robust composition and eerie atmosphere.
In the past
Boris has delighted its fans by being rocking, always rustic and
low tuned. Their material has that oriental allure that the
Japanese have always been so good at expanding on the occident’s
sub-cultures. Too bad then, that their presence in Altar
seems diminished. In the quasi rocker “Akuma No Kuma”; their
part seems relegated to paused drumming and weird psych noises,
in other words the drone still rules and the rock is nowhere to
be seen.
Altar
does not suck by any means; but I was expecting more of a
‘collaboration’ if you know what I mean. Other guests lend
their hand in this recording; most notably Joe Preston (Earth,
Thrones & High On Fire), Dylan Carlson (Thrones)
and Kim Thayil (Soundgarden); and is where the latter’s makes
his appearance (“Blood Swamp”) that the last nailed is hammered
to the coffin. This is Sunno))), man, just Sunno))). That’s
what happens when you approach a record like this with
pre-conceived expectations.
Boris
Official Site
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