| Heavy Rocks | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover for Heavy Rocks. Cover for the 1970 Single below. | ||
| Studio album by Boris | ||
| Released | April 26 2002 | |
| Recorded | July - September at Bazooka Studio in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Genre | Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Heavy Metal, Rock and Roll | |
| Length | 47:20 (Original Release) 56:51 (Third Man Reissue) | |
| Producer | Boris | |
| Boris chronology | ||
| Megatone (2002) |
Heavy Rocks (2002) |
Akuma no Uta (2003) |
| Alternative Cover | ||
| ||
Heavy Rocks is the fourth studio album by Japanese band Boris, released exclusively on UK/Quattro Discs in April 2002 and billed as the introduction to the "capital letter" version of Boris (aka BORIS). Heavy Rocks is best known for being the first Boris full-length to incorporate a stoner rock/fuzz rock style that the band would become known for. This album was also notable for featuring multiple guests collaborating on half the album including Lori S. (Acid King), Yamazaki Maso (Masonna), Masami Akita (Merzbow), Komi (The Abnormals) and Eddie Legend (The 5,6,7,8's, Mad 3, King Rocker, Space Combo, etc.).
Background[]
Original issue and 1970[]
Boris began work on Heavy Rocks throughout the summer of 2001, working with a bigger label and stronger promotion leading up to the album's release. Music videos were shot for the tracks "1970" and "Korosu" and were originally viewable on FoodUnited's website. Both videos were later included on the 2003 DVD Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter.
1970 was a single by Japanese band Boris released by Inoxia Records. It featured demos of two of the songs from Heavy Rocks. The single was limited to 500 copies on black vinyl and until 2022 was the only way to hear any of Heavy Rocks on the format.
Re-issue[]
Notably, Heavy Rocks was only released on CD and never re-issued in any format for years (Until 2023). In a 2022 statement announcing a 7" re-issue, the band would state that the original stampers were lost by the label and the album has been long out of print.[1] In 2022, the band would announce a 7" release for the band's 30th anniversary, with the first 7" featuring "Heavy Friends" and "Korosu".[2] in 2022, the band would also announce a string of shows in Australia with Tokie to which they would perform the entirety of the 2002 Heavy Rocks for the band's 30th anniversary.[3][4][5] Boris would also perform the album in it's entirety on the Twins of Evil Tour supporting Melvins.
On 5 June 2023 Boris would announce that Heavy Rocks 2002 would be re-issued via Third Man Records. Along with a CD repress and digital, this re-issue would see the first ever vinyl pressing of Heavy Rocks. The reissue of Heavy Rocks 2002 would be released digitally on 18 August and physically on 8 September.[6] Notably along with a remaster of the album, Heavy Rocks' Third Man Re-issue features "dronevil" from the Mangrove 2002compilation and the 1970 single as bonus tracks, along with a slightly re-arranged track order.
Boris - Heavy Rocks 2002 (Full Album)
Tracklist[]
Original Release[]
- 1. Heavy Friends (4:49)
- 2. Korosu (4:48)
- 3. Dyna-Soar (3:44)
- 4. Wareruraido (2:44)
- 5. Soft Edge (3:50)
- 6. Rattlesnake (2:16)
- 7. Death Valley (6:56)
- 8. Koei (3:54)
- 9. Kane -The Bell Tower of a Sign- (8:28)
- 10. 1970 (4:58)
1970 Single[]
- 1. 1970 (5:01)
- 2. Wareruraido (2:45)
Third Man Records Re-Issue[]
- 1. Heavy Friends (4:49)
- 2. Korosu (4:48)
- 3. Dyna-Soar (3:44)
- 4. Wareruraido (2:44)
- 5. Soft Edge (3:50)
- 6. Dronevil (1:45)
- 7. Death Valley (6:56)
- 8. Koei (3:54)
- 9. Kane -The Bell Tower of a Sign- (8:28)
- 10. 1970 (4:58)
- 11. Rattlesnake (2:16)
- 12. 1970 (5:01)
- 13. Wareruraido (2:45)
Personnel[]
Boris[]
- Takeshi - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
- Wata - Guitar, Echo
- Atsuo - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Musical Guests[]
- Lori S. - Vocals (1)
- Maso Yamazaki - Analog Synthesizer (3)
- Masami Akita - PowerBook (7)
- Eddie Legend - Lead Guitar (8)
- Komi - Vocals (9)
Technical Personnel[]
- Tetsuya "Cherry" Tochigi - Main Engineer
- Takumi Iyobe - Assistant Engineer
- Osamu Kon - Assistant Engineer
- Kazuhiko Itoh - Assistant Engineer
- Souichirou Nakamura - Mastering Engineer
- Higasayama "Hatchaku" Kunihito - Recording Crew
- Fangs Anal Satan - Design
- Furuyong - Logotype
- Eri Shibata - Photography