Boris - Dear

Boris - Dear

Sargent House (US) / Daymare (JPN) /  2017 / Experimental metal

After the trash fire that was the 2015 same-day release of Asia, Warpath, and Urban Dance, Boris kind of needed a win. You have to assume that was a motivating factor in last year's reissue and full album tour of their most critically acclaimed album, Pink, as well as the 25th-anniversary lovefest that's been featured on their social media accounts. Aaron Turner, Jim Jarmusch, and Iggy Pop have all weighed in on Boris' greatness, with more plaudits sure to come. Though these quotes have been a little light on the specifics about their current newest album, critics haven't failed to praise Dear, the newest offering from the high-volume trio.

Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

Armageddon Shop (US) / Stickman (GER) /  2017 / Stoner metal

Elder received quite a lot of well-deserved press for 2015's Lore, my first introduction to the band. I love Lore, so I was interested to see in what direction the Massachusetts band went with their fourth full-length. Reflections of a Floating World starts off in a similar place as Lore with heavy-rock riffs and a massive, deep sound. I hear echoes of Brent Hinds in the first solo on "Sanctuary," which is where that track becomes more spaced-out than anything I've heard from Elder before. It's these cosmic, ethereal sounds that feel new to Reflections, which lends further dimensions to the sound established in Lore.