Boris, Gorilla. 16th December 2019

There are three people on stage. You wouldn’t think it considering the sounds emanating around Gorilla. Granted one has a twin necked guitar, but it’s still impressive. The unfortunately named Boris hail from Japan and unleash sounds reminiscent of Sigur Ros at their most delicate, Sunn O))) at their hardest, it’s bloody wonderful! A total gamble, I’d never heard of them until last month when I came here to see Earth, but what a find. For an over an hour I’m totally transported through sweeping sonic soundscapes and head banging workouts, sometimes accompanied by a giant gong on stage... a GONG! I don’t usually comment much on what bands look like, but this lot look bloody cool, all draped in black with thick long black hair, teenage goth me would’ve been very envious. The drummer especially with the shock of white in his vampiric hair, heavy make up and clear love of all things darkly theatrical. They look like a gang, as all bands should, all perfectly tuned, sharing vocals, switching between the loud and quiet harmoniously. This sort of music after all is all about atmosphere, not just creating it but believing it, getting lost in it, surrendering to it. The BPM rarely clocks over 60 giving an air of an ethereal dream as bodies sway in the smoke, but this steadiness just makes the moments when they let loose all the more mesmerically ferocious. I’m transfixed, smitten and maybe even a little stunned. Guitars are held aloft as they close, even the twin neck and the crowd bows accordingly having witnesses something truly special.