Boris

If there's a band I've fallen endlessly and madly in love with in 2011, it has to be Boris. They've put out 3 albums this year alone. THREE ALBUMS! Here's what I rated them:

New Album - Experimental metal band go electro J-pop... Confusing, But oh so good in a guilty pleasure way. (4/5)
Attention Please - Their 2nd album this year sees them make stripped back, yet bloody catchy, J-Pop, still with overtones of heavy rock (4.7/5)
Heavy Rocks - their only album of the 3 this year that channels their older metal sound, but with a garage rock twist (4.3/5)

That's a pretty damn good average score for 3 albums in one.

The thing about this Japanese band is that they push the boundaries and try so many new and interesting things. Consider this song from the album New Album:


Now consider some of their earlier work:


They did originally start as a doom metal band, but you know what, they'll try anything. And they'll do it great.

Boris
The HiFi
March 23

Church of Misery

Japan.
It's a country of great music. There's no doubt about it. So many great bands, of every genre, seem to come out of there. I think of it as Asia's Sweden. Both countries just export such quality music.

One Japanese band I stumbled across this year is Church of Misery. Imagine, if you will, some 1970s Black Sabbath. Now take that, mix it up with some Kyuss and Oliveri-era Queens of the Stone Age (fuck he made that band) and while you're at it, throw in some dirty southern rock (in a Maylene and the Sons of Disaster style) and just a pinch of the Melvins.


Finding all of those videos for those bands mentioned above has made me excited for this. They are just truly awesome doom-metal. So it's not surprising that they're headlining Doomfest this year. October 14 at the Jubilee.

If you like only one or two of those bands I listed above, do yourself a favour, head over to their MySpace and chuck a listen. Don't let the band name or the genre fool you, it's just great rock and roll.

EDIT: According to the festival's Facebook, Church of Misery are out. Stay tuned to see who the replacement is

日本！

As most of you probably don't know, I'm a huge Japan-o-phile. I studied the language for 7 years, went to a Japanese run high-school as the token Australian student for 2 years and my best and oldest mate lives there. Mere metres away from the ocean in Odaiba.

Everything about Japan is cool, even the construction signs:

When I heard about the earthquake/tsunami, I was a mess. I'd only seen Nick a few weeks before when he came to Wet n Wild for my birthday, but since then he'd gone back to Japan. The next day was crazy as I tried to text and call him, but then he finally sent me an email (of all things) that he was fine and at Starbucks getting coffee. Only in Japan...

But it made me think. Only a few months ago I was in the Brisbane floods and thought that was the end of the world. In the grand scheme of natural disasters in the last 6 months, I got off the most light. I am lucky. Japan, not lucky at all.

I wanted to do my part, and I was looking for a way to donate. Then I stumbled open this: VS. The Earthquake. It's a mix album of rare/B-Sides recorded by some awesome bands, with the profits going to relief in Japan. So not only am I helping, I am getting some kick ass music from bands such as The Swellers, The Wonder Years, Transit, Daytrader, Such Gold and Title Fight. But the best part? There's a live recording of my favourite La Dispute song at the gig I was at. Unfortunately you can't really hear me sing. Well, that's fortunate for you all.

So do your bit, even if it's just getting this album. It's great music for a great cause.