Article & Photos by: Kyle Ostrander

New York City – Known for their heavy and genre-bending sound, legendary metal act Boris shook the walls of their NYC show earlier this week. The band is in the second-half of an extensive US tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album Amplifier Worship. Featuring two drummers and an extended mix of instruments, this tour is a ceremony not to be missed.

The sold out venue was packed with elated fans pushed right up against the stage as soon as doors opened. A chorus of cheers erupted as the lights went black, smoke enveloped the stage, and the band’s guitarist walked out in a bright red garment, contrasting against the dark backline. The rest of the band took their spots as their vocalist floated across the stage, extending his hands out to the crowd, inviting them into a world of sound and distortion. Humming instrumentation with chanting vocals filled the space as Boris dove into “Huge”, the first track off the aforementioned album. The band proceeded to play the remainder of the record, showing off their diverse style as their songs alternated seamlessly between slow drones, fast-paced palm muted grooves, and even borderline thrash metal at points. Augmenting their perfectly eclectic sound were the mix of instruments used throughout the show. Their drummer switched to bongo drums for a brief moment, and their vocalist had a spotlight moment using hand cymbals before jumping onto a second drum kit for a heavy jam featuring shredding lead guitar.

One of the highlights of the night were the extended and pulsating instrumental jams the group would play, featuring the classic Boris sounds of fuzzy guitars, hard-hitting rhythms, and clanking bass played on their iconic double neck bass/guitar. Enhancing the already exceptional instrumentation was the ever-changing light show. Ranging from nearly pitch black to fully lit, the stage oscillated in shifting lights and thick smoke. “What’s up New York! Thank you for a sold out show tonight. It’s special to be here playing Amplifier Worship for you. Here are some more songs!” said their singer in gratitude during their set.

Boris has just over a week left on their tour, including a stop at Levitation Fest in Austin, TX. You can view the full list of tour dates on their website.