A guide to the music of the Japanese band Boris by Syd Fablo and Bruno Bickleby.
Boris [ボリス]
Formed: 1992, Tokyo, Japan
AKA: FangsAnalSatan or Fangs Anal Satan or fangsanalsatan (FAS)
Members: Takeshi [大谷剛 (Ohtani Takeshi)], Wata [水野陽子 Mizuno Yoko], Atsuo [水野敦夫 (Mizuno Atsuo)], Nagata (1992–1996)
A Brief Introduction
Boris was formed in 1992 as a quartet by students at Tokyo University in order to have a band with original member Nagata, who left in 1996. Although most if not all of their music falls under the category of “rock”, they have performed and recorded music in an unusual number of distinct genres. As to their recordings, many have been limited edition releases and they can be quite difficult to obtain in many parts of the world. The band has a proclivity toward alternate versions of releases, as well as re-using the same titles (and even the same or similar cover artwork), that makes their catalog rather esoteric and skewed toward obsessive collectors. On recordings, they usually capitalize the band’s name for material with more widespread appeal that comes from the “heart of rock” and use lowercase lettering for “experimental rock music that comes from inside and emanates outward” with more limited appeal — the capitalization is meant as a kind of guide for listeners. “FangsAnalSatan” is an alternate name for the band, to avoid having the name “Boris” appear too frequently. Although early artworks were more collaborative, eventually Atsuo came to design most of the band’s artwork, which frequently pays homage to releases by other bands through spoofs of notable album artwork.
Releases are presented below in chronological order by recording date (like a sessionography), though precise recording date information was not always available. Ratings and release information (dates, producer, etc.) on split and various artists compilations is provided only for the Boris recording(s). Genres are listed, though these are naturally a judgment call and not meant to be definitive. Boris operates across many genres, and on any given recording they may also blur the lines between genres.
Legend:
♥♥♥ = top-tier; an essential
♥♥ = second tier; enjoyable but more for the confirmed fan; worthwhile after you’ve explored the essentials and still want more
♥ = third tier; a less significant album, more for completists, with perhaps only one or so notable songs
The Early Years: 1992-1999
1st Demo (1993)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Take Care of Scabbard Fish (1994)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Water Porch”
Review:
2nd Demo (1993)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
3rd Demo (1994)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Eat the Chaos (1995)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Mosquito”
Review:
Various Artists – From Koenji to Eternity (1996)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Vacuum”
Review:
Absolutego (1996)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: July 1996; reissue bonus track: 1997, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s): Drone doom
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Barebones / Boris – Barebones / Boris (1996) [EP]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
See Archive II
Tomsk 7 / Boris – “Untitled” / “Mass Mercury” (1997) [Single; split]
Studio/Live:
Recorded: April to May, 1997
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Mass Mercury”
Review:
Various Artists – A Tribute to Evangelion (1997)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “調弦”
Review:
see Scott Slimm Presents: Archive (Vols. 1 and 2)
Keiji Haino with Boris – Black: Implication Flooding (1998)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: August 31, 1997, Koenji 20000V, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Amplifier Worship (1998)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: August–September 1998, Sound Crew
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Choukoku no Niwa / Boris – More Echoes, Touching Air Landscape (1999)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: “Kanau”: Part 1 recorded May 16 and 23, 1999, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan; Part 2 recorded May 2 and 3, 1999, Sound Crew [Boris recordings only]
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
International Recognition: 2000-2008
flood (2000)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: September 2000, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s): Post Rock, Minimalism
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s): “flood, Part 2”
Review:
Up Jumped the Devil: Tribute to Robert Johnson (2000)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Scott Slimm Presents: Archive (2005)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: June 21, December 21, 1996, August 8, 1997, August 2, 1998, and May 3, 2001, Koenji 20000V, Tokyo, Japan; August 9, 1997, Nagoya Music Farm, Nagoya, Japan; October 4, 1997, Shinjyuku Loft, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Scott Slimm
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Heavy Rocks (2002)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: July to September, 2001, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s): Stoner metal
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
“1970” / “ワレルライド” (2002) [Single]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: July to September, 2001, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s): Stoner metal
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Mangrove2002 (2002)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: June to September, 2001, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Dronevil”
Review:
boris with merzbow – megatone (2002)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2000 to 2001, Bedroom, Itabashi; 2001, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris with Merzbow
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – Walrus / Groon (2007) [EP]
Studio/Live: Studio [?]
Recorded: 2001
Producer(s): Boris with Merzbow
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – 04092001 (2005)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: September 4, 2001, Milk, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris with Merzbow
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
あくまのうた [Akuma no Uta] (2003)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: January to March, 2003, Peace Music, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
boris at last -feedbacker- (2003)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: July to October, 2003, Peace Music, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s): Drone, post-rock
Tier: ♥♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
目をそらした瞬間 -the thing which solomon overlooked- (2004)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2004, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
dronevil (2005)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2004, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s): Drone, post rock
Tier: ♥♥♥
Key Track(s): “The Evil One Which Sobs” [dronevil -final- only]
Review:
sound track from film “mabuta no ura” (2005)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Winter 2003 to Summer 2004
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
sound track from film “mabuta no ura”; completely different from the song on 目をそらした瞬間 -the thing which solomon overlooked-
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2003 and/or 2004
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – Sun Baked Snow Cave (2005)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2001–2004
Producer(s): Boris with Merzbow
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – Klatter (2011) [EP]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: December, 2004, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Vein (2006)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2004; 2004-2013 (2CD reissue)
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Pink (2005)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2005, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Sunn O))) & Boris – Altar (2006)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: October 2005, [Studio] Litho; December 2005, Aleph [Studio]
Producer(s): Sunn O)))
Genre(s): Drone doom, post rock
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s): “Her Lips Were Wet With Venom (satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas)” [Southern Lord 2CD version only]
Review:
目をそらした瞬間 2 -the thing which solomon overlooked 2- (2006)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2006
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
目をそらした瞬間 3 -the thing which solomon overlooked 3- (2006)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2006
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Archive II (2014)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: 1993-1994; March 1 and 2, 1996, Capitol Theater, Olympia, WA, USA; May 15, 2003, Tokyo, Japan; May 31, 2006, New York, NY, USA
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Michio Kurihara – Rainbow (2006)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: January to July 2006, Peace Music, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): fangsanalsatan & Souichirou Nakamura
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s): “Rainbow”
Review:
Boris with Michio Kurihara – Cloud Chamber (2008)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2006, Peace Music, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Souichirou Nakamura and fangsanalsatan
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Doomriders vs Boris – Long Hair and Tights (2007) [split]
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: October 19 or 31, 2006, Slim’s, San Francisco, CA, USA
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris vs SBGM – Damaged (2007) [EP + DVD; split]
Studio/Live: Studio (vinyl), live (DVD)
Recorded: September 11, 2006, Northsix, New York, NY, USA; 2007
Producer(s):
Genre(s): Hardcore punk
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s): “Damaged 3”
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – Rock Dream (2007)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: November, 2006, Earthdom Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Invocation of Sacred Resonance I (2008)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: October 16, 2007, Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
(2008)
Invocation of Sacred Resonance I
Studio/Live: Live (previously unreleased material)
Recorded: October 16, 2007, Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA, USA (previously unreleased material)
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Statement (2008) [Single]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Floor Shaker”
Review:
Smile (2008)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2007
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Smile -Live in Prague- (2009)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: May 9, 2008, Palác Akropolis, Prague, Czech Republic
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Smile -Live at Wolf Creek- (2008)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: May, 2008, Wolf Creek, CA, USA
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Doggy Style: The Dogs Tribute (2008)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Slither”
Review:
Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v1 (2009) [Single]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v2 (2009) [Single]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v3 (2009) [Single]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v4 (2009) [Single]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: September, 2008, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
The Later Years: 2009-Present
Torche x Boris – Chapter Ahead Being Fake (2009) [EP; split]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Luna”
Review:
9dw / Boris – Golden Dance Classics (2009) [EP; split]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris & Ian Astbury – BXI (2010) [EP]
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2010, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan, Bazooka Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): BXI
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Rain”
Review:
Variations (2010)
Studio/Live: Studio, live (DVD)
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
New Album (2011)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Shinobu Narita
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Attention Please (2011)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Heavy Rocks (2011)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2009-2011, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris / Saade – Czechoslovakia / Vrah (2011) [Single; split]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Czechoslovakia”
Review:
Crossing Waltz (2016)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: Possibly August 5, 2011
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Asobi Seksu x Boris – Asobi Seksu x Boris (2012) [EP/single; split]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris / Joe Volk – Boris / Joe Volk (2012) [Split; solo EP]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris performing “flood” (2013)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: November 3, 2012, “leave them all behind 2012” show, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): [the entire album is a single track]
Review:
Various Artists – Yellow Loveless (2013)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Sometimes”
Review:
präparat (2013)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s): Boris, Shinobu Narita [?]
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Dead End Tribute -Song Of Lunatics- (2013)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “冥合”
Review:
Noise (2014)
Studio/Live: Studio, Live (Deluxe Edition bonus tracks only)
Recorded: 2013, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan; Deluxe Edition live bonus tracks: June 24, 2011, Madrid, Spain; July 1, 2011, Karlsruhe, Germany; July 7, 2011, Vienna, Austria; October 24, 2011, Montreal, Canada
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
目をそらした瞬間 -The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked Extra- (2014)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2013
Producer(s): boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris / Heap – “Big Peach” / “Noel Ford” (2014) [Single; split]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Whatever Nevermind (2015)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Lithium”
Review:
Boris + Endon – EROS (2015) [EP]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s): Boris, Endon
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Urban Dance (2015)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2015
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Surrender”
Review:
Warpath (2015)
Studio/Live:
Recorded: 2015
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Asia (2015)
Studio/Live:
Recorded: 2015
Producer(s): Boris
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – ニンジャスレイヤー フロムコンピレイシヨン「忍」 [Ninja Slayer Nin] (2015)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “キルミスター -Killmister-,” “Aurashi no Ken”
Review:
Various Artists – ニンジャスレイヤー フロムコンピレイシヨン「殺」 [Ninja Slayer Satsu] (2015)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Memento Mori”
Review:
Various Artists – ニンジャスレイヤー フロムコンピレイション「伐」 [Ninja Slayer Batsu] (2016)
Alternate Version Notes:
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Hey Everyone”
Review:
Boris + Goth Trad – Low End Meeting (2015) [Single]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Requiem for the Abyss (2016) [Single]
Studio/Live:
Recorded: 2015
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris with Merzbow – 現象 -Gensho- (2016)
Studio/Live: Studio, live (expanded edition only)
Recorded: 2016, Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan; Live tracks on Expanded Edition: November 27, 2015, Fever, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s): Shinobu Narita
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Mr. Shortkill (2016) [EP]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists – Urban Dance U-DNA (2016)
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “Day After Day (Urban Dance)”
Review:
Live at Third Man Records (2017)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: August 1, 2016, Blue Room, Third Man Records, Nashville, TN, USA
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Dear (2017)
Studio/Live: Studio
Recorded: 2017
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier: ♥
Key Track(s):
Review:
Various Artists –UGX: undergroundextra (2017)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s): “雨 -Heavy Rain- (Live Version)”
Review:
eternity (2018)
Studio/Live: Live
Recorded: December 28, 2017, Daikanyama Unit, Tokyo, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Phenomenons Drive (2018) [Single]
Studio/Live:
Recorded: Sound Square, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Boris / The Novembers – unknown flowers (2018) [EP; split]
Studio/Live:
Recorded:
Producer(s):
Genre(s):
Tier:
Key Track(s):
Review:
Related Releases:
朝生愛 [Ai Aso] / Wata – She’s So Heavy
Remixes:
Best-of Compilations:
(promo only)
Video/Film:
Wizard’s Convention: Japanese Heavy Rock Showcase
Live in Japan: “Smile” World Tour Final
Boris Boiler Room Tokyo Live Set
Music Videos and Concert Footage on Official Site
Web:
Authorized Digital Downloads Site
Other Guides:
Boris: Heavy Rocks: The Essential Boris
A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Heavy Rock Greats Boris
Amplifier Worship: A Spotify Introduction to Boris (and alternate link)
The StonerRock.com Guide to Boris…
Also Try:
Earth – Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Version
Les Rallizes Dénudés – ’77 Live
不失者 [Fushitsusha] – 悲愴 [Pathétique]
Various Artists – Inside the Dream Syndicate Series
Godspeed You Black Emperor! – F♯ A♯ ∞
The Theatre of Eternal Music, John Cale, Tony Conrad, Rhys Chatham
Jim O’Rourke – Live at Japan 2002.9.16 [bootleg]