B O R I S // D E A R
Downloadable docx here.
"Dear, a note of appreciation to fans, pulls together 10 tracks from that stockpile that represent each era of the band even as it points towards the future." - Consequence of Sound
“On Dear, the Japanese trio hones in on their most essential quality—the ability to wrest subtlety from thick layers of distortion and volume." - Pitchfork (7.3/10)
"Boris has always been thoughtfully outrageous, balancing its sense of drama with sharp purpose. While Dear is one of Boris' heaviest records in recent memory, you can hear 25 years' worth of experience in its exquisite sludge. To reiterate, may Boris reign for another 25 years." - NPR Music
“..an album filled with surprises from a band that continue to impress” - Exclaim! [CA] (8/10)
“A string arrangement and whispered vocals lift the song back towards the heavens towards the clouds, but it’s clear that Boris will always put the “heavy” in “heavenly”." - A.V. Club (Memento Mori)
“Boris, Japanese experimental sludge-metal extraordinaires, celebrate 25 years together this year. They’ve also just announced their 23rd (!) studio album Dear, and shared a first peek, the thunderous “Absolutego,” which appropriately shares its title with their 1996 debut album Absolutego." - SPIN (Absolutego)
"Dear is a complete doom album in its own right, and a very intruiging one, encapsulating all the treats of the genre through compelling songwriting and powerful progression." - Pop Matters (7/10)
"There’s not much more one could ask for out of a Boris record - it’s very focused tonally, it’s inspired, and it heavy as f*ck.” - Sputnik Music (4.3/5)
“..one of Boris’s most experimental works yet” - MXDWN
"'Dear' is a shoegazey, cosmic, earth-shattering sludge-metal weapon possessed by the spirit of doom that can hold its own against some of Boris’ heaviest tracks to date.” - Treble Zine
"Sonically, Dear is as organic and lively sounding as any Boris album, the analogue recording proving as much a part of their presentation as their appetite for unexpected collaborations." - TeamRock (4/5)
“On 'Dear,' Boris again prove their mettle as rock leviathans.” - AllMusic (4/5)
"The forthcoming ‘Dear' not only continues their recent resurgence, it’s also the first truly great Boris album of the last decade.” - Indy Metal Vault (A)
"The trio washes its twenty-five years of shape-shifting and hallucinogenic leaps between style and genre over Dear’s hour-long majesty and madness.” - Heavy Music HQ (4/5)
"If you’re a fan of guitar rock or experimental, challenging, borderline trance inducing music, you’ll enjoy 'Dear'; and probably consider writing Boris a nice thank you for sticking around letter to boot.” - Get Some Magazine (4/5)
"...another fresh, powerful work from Boris. Twenty five years on from their inception, they’re as vital and wildly idiosyncratic now as they’ve ever been and remain an uncompromising and ambiguous entity; take the time to unravel the mystery that Boris put forth with ‘Dear’ and you’ll be richly rewarded.” - GigSoup
"The band has changed and evolved in ways most only dream of doing and their expansive catalog has always pushed the boundaries of what people would consider possible in metal, which is hard to do in a genre that’s already so extreme." - Metal Sucks (Absolutego)
"..the best Boris has been in nearly a decade” - Crossfader Magazine
“"Absolutego" released as the latest music video is a rock anthem that evokes an intuitive reaction.” - Get News [JP] (Absolutego)
"...'Dear' is an all-encompassing summary of Boris’ career in which they revisit directions taken in the past while uncovering new sounds in the process.” - Bandcamp
"...'Dear' registers as some of their most immediately-satisfying work.“ - Brooklyn Vegan
“Boris has proved to be one of heavy music’s most consistently exciting and prolific acts." - Sound Blab
"This collection exemplifies the band at their very best, working with several genres and experimental styles while also being a welcome return to unabashed doom metal." - Angry Metal Guy (4/5)
"...'Dear' is in some ways a celebration to 25 years of heavy-instrumentals, as well as a departure into the next stage of Boris’ evolution.” - Surviving the Golden Age