2R0I2P0

by Boris, Merzbow

Overview

Japan's overdriven avant-metal power trio Boris and industrial noise pioneer Merzbow (Masami Akita) have been working together intermittently since 2002. This is their fifth studio outing and eighth overall. The title of 2R0I2P0 is a coded display of "2020 RIP." The band stated in their press materials: "This work becomes a monument to the requiem of the previous era. From here, a new world begins again." This set departs from what they've done together before. There are no new songs; six selections are collaboratively re-envisioned versions of tracks from Love & Evol. There is a cover of Tokyo's bludgeoning post-rock monolith Coaltar of the Deepers' "To the Beach"; a reading of the Melvins' tune from which Boris took their name; a redo of "Journey," from Unknown Flowers, Boris' 2018 split with the Novembers; and another version of "Absolutego." In opener "Away from You," drifting spectral guitars are paced by a languorous bass line and fluttering percussive sounds from Merzbow's tool kit. Cymbals shimmer and echo to illuminate the lilting vocal. Halfway through, spiky guitar leads, feedback, and echo enter and threaten, but just as quickly ratchet back down as the silvery melody re-emerges with gloriously illustrative sonic design from Merzbow. "To the Beach" weds shoegaze metal, post-punk, and radical experimentalism anchored somewhat by lushly layered vocal harmonies. They get drenched in reverb and digital delay, as Merzbow's power electronics deliriously expand the melody. On "Love" Merzbow adds a crush collision of screech, overdriven feedback, and punishing black noise squall to the band's plodding, shambolic metal in a mutant future blues. The swirling riff in "Absolutego" is stretched past the breaking point by Merzbow as it churns and grinds with apocalyptic glee. The 13-minute version of "Evol" weds backmasked instrumentation to drifting ambience and roiling sheets of power electronics. It refuses to let go until arriving at an overamplified moment of transcendence during the second third; however, it too collapses into a murky, dubwise post-psych freak-out with Pink Floyd-esque vocals from Wata and glorious drumming from Atsuo. The uber-heavy cover of "Boris" employs the raw, atonal power of the Melvins' original, fueled by its chugging doom riff from massively overamped guitars, and menacing electronics with intricately layered noise and nearly painful feedback. Closer "Shadow of Skull" is almost majestic. Its glacial pace ushers in distorted, tense chaos from Merzbow's unsettling junkyard of electronics. Drums crash ceremonially under droning guitar riffs, stabbing, single-note soloing, and moaned monosyllabic vocals. It sounds like Boris' vulnerability is being protected by Merzbow's overloaded electronic storm. Boris and Merzbow must have had a ball making 2R0I2P0; they seek real adventure in here, and attempt a method amid the sprawl and excess. This set takes the intermittent collaboration between these artists to a wonderful new level of creativity, communication, and nearly symbiotic experimentation. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	12/11/2020
Label:	Relapse Records
UPC:	0781676747115

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Away from You
2. To the Beach
3. Coma
4. Love
5. Absolutego

Disc 2

6. Journey
7. Uzume
8. Evol
9. Boris
10. Shadow of Skull

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Boris   Primary Artist
Merzbow   Primary Artist
Melvins   Primary Artist
Coaltar of the Deepers   Primary Artist
Masami Akita   Computers,Percussion
Atsuo   Vocals,Percussion,Electronics
Wata   Echo,Guitar,Vocals
Takeshi   Bass,Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Fangs Anal Satan   Track Engineer,Design,Mixing
Masami Akita   Electronic Noise
Amak Golden   Track Engineer