(Southern Lord/Stomp)

Prolific Japanese hard rockers blow my mind – again

Smile is Boris’ 15th full-length album in 12 years. The Japanese hard rock three-piece are known for changing genres as often as their guitar strings, and this release sees them delving into a wealth of psychedelic influences. It’s important to note that the band’s name on the cover is in full upper-case, which denotes the album’s content as more conventional rock than their lower-case releases like boris at last -feedbacker-, which are generally quite experimental. That said, the songs here still experiment whole-heartedly with sound, as fuzzed-up guitars conduct reverb-laden odysseys of a spiritual cadence. My Neighbour Satan sidesteps the rock trend with a syncopated break-beat Yoko Kanno would be proud of; what sounds like a dulcimer chimes languidly while distorted, fed-back guitars thrash mutely at the back of the mix. The full-blown bravado of the chorus is a gorgeous contrast when it comes, all grit and mind-bending modulation. The whole record makes me want to close my eyes, loll my tongue and thrust my pelvis into the back of a double-necked SG. Righteous.

JAKEB SMITH

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