Boris & Merzbow - 2R0I2P0

Man - as hard a year as 2020 has been - its pretty awesome that we at least get another collaborative record from Boris and Merzbow out of it. 2016's Gensho was impressive, but this new release, 2R0I2P0 is fucking leveling. This is an absolute gem of a release, cracking skulls with incredible waves of devastating volume. There is something weirdly horrifying about this album and the breadth of the sound that they tackle on it will leave listeners in awe. Crashing forward with quasi-horrific potency, 2R0I2P0 is an absolute stunner. 

What gets me about this record is the devastating ways that Merzbow's legendary harsh electronic sounds interlock with the incredibly loud, pulsing guitars of Boris. Where on Gensho many of these ideas were still in a nascent form, it feels like this record has brought this to a whole twisted new level. These songs have a weird beauty, even as they act as the soundtrack to the world falling apart. Feeling your soul get ripped apart by the incredible layers and glorious crush of 2R0I2P0 is a delight. It speaks to the power of a band who have gone above and beyond. It's this mind melting magic that leaves you scraping your jaw off the ground in awe. 

2R0I2P0 is masterful in its execution. There is a breadth to these performances that no other metal record released in 2020 is going to b able to even hint at. The two collaborators have simply refined their craft that much. When it all comes crashing to a terrifying and weird end on the 12 minute long opus, 'Shadow Of Skull' it becomes clear - Merzbow and Boris collaborating are greater than the sum of their parts. They bring out the best in each other and we are lucky enough to get to exist at the same time as this skull crushing magic. 

Pre-order the album!

http://relapse.com/boris-with-merzbow/