Akuma no Uta
Encyclopedia
is the fifth full-length album by the experimental Japanese band Boris
. This album stands out as a combination of all the genres, stylings, and sounds of its previous works, yet maintains a mostly 1970s rock sound with a bit of sludge, punk, drone, and post-rock. Originally released in 2003 on Diwphalanx Records
with minimalistic artwork, it was re-issued in 2005 on Southern Lord Records
with the cover of the LP, which was limited to 500 copies.
The album cover of the US CD/Japan LP is a direct tribute to the cover of the Nick Drake
album Bryter Layter
. It is also slightly extended to around 39 minutes, almost the exact length of the Bryter Layter album. The notable difference in the cover design is Takeshi holding his double-neck
Ibanez instead of an acoustic guitar
. Southern Lord
's vinyl release of this album was in picture disc, 700 copies in the "Nick Drake" style and 300 in "Venom" style, which is a tribute to the black metal
band Venom
.
In an interview with Rad Company, drummer Atsuo remarked that the album was recorded on analog tape in one take.
Music videos were made for the songs "Ibitsu" and "Furi". They can both be found on the DVD Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter
.
Two of the tracks ("Naki Kyoku" and "Akuma no Uta") were re-recorded with Merzbow
in 2004, for their 2011 collaboration called Klatter
. As well, the original short edit of "Introduction" and an alternate take of "Naki Kyoku" appear on Variations.
"Introduction" features a drone take on the main riff from the album's title track.
Pitchfork Media
placed Akuma No Uta at number 198 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.
Boris (band)
is a Japanese experimental rock band, known for often combining and switching between different music genres including drone metal, sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelic rock, ambient and pop...
. This album stands out as a combination of all the genres, stylings, and sounds of its previous works, yet maintains a mostly 1970s rock sound with a bit of sludge, punk, drone, and post-rock. Originally released in 2003 on Diwphalanx Records
Diwphalanx Records
Diwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers...
with minimalistic artwork, it was re-issued in 2005 on Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
with the cover of the LP, which was limited to 500 copies.
The album cover of the US CD/Japan LP is a direct tribute to the cover of the Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
album Bryter Layter
Bryter Layter
Bryter Layter, recorded in 1970, was the second of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake. Like Five Leaves Left, the album contains no unaccompanied songs: Drake was accompanied by part of the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and John Cale from The Velvet Underground, as well...
. It is also slightly extended to around 39 minutes, almost the exact length of the Bryter Layter album. The notable difference in the cover design is Takeshi holding his double-neck
Double neck guitar
A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Although multi-neck guitars are quite common today, they are not by any means a modern invention...
Ibanez instead of an acoustic guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
. Southern Lord
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
's vinyl release of this album was in picture disc, 700 copies in the "Nick Drake" style and 300 in "Venom" style, which is a tribute to the black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
.
In an interview with Rad Company, drummer Atsuo remarked that the album was recorded on analog tape in one take.
Music videos were made for the songs "Ibitsu" and "Furi". They can both be found on the DVD Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter
Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter
見殺し塔からずっと: Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter is the first DVD release by Japanese band Boris. It was captured on their Black Summer tour on July 12, 2003. The first ten tracks are songs from the show, which are mostly from the Akuma no Uta and Heavy Rocks albums. Tracks 11-14 are music videos made by...
.
Two of the tracks ("Naki Kyoku" and "Akuma no Uta") were re-recorded with Merzbow
Merzbow
is the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
in 2004, for their 2011 collaboration called Klatter
Klatter
Klatter is the sixth collaborative release between Merzbow and Japanese experimental doom band Boris, released on the Japanese label Daymare Recordings in 2011....
. As well, the original short edit of "Introduction" and an alternate take of "Naki Kyoku" appear on Variations.
"Introduction" features a drone take on the main riff from the album's title track.
Reception
The music review online magazineOnline magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
placed Akuma No Uta at number 198 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.
Track listing
Pressing History
| Year | Label | Format | Country | Out of Print? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Diwphalanx Diwphalanx Records Diwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers... |
CD | Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
No | Minimalist art; the "original" cover |
| 2003 | Diwphalanx Diwphalanx Records Diwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers... |
LP | Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Yes | Same "Nick Drake Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone... " art as on the US CD (a tribute to the Bryter Layter Bryter Layter Bryter Layter, recorded in 1970, was the second of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake. Like Five Leaves Left, the album contains no unaccompanied songs: Drake was accompanied by part of the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and John Cale from The Velvet Underground, as well... album); ltd. 500 copies |
| 2005 | Southern Lord Southern Lord Records Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,... |
CD | US United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
No | Nick Drake Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone... art |
| 2005 | Southern Lord Southern Lord Records Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,... |
Picture disc LP | US United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Yes | Nick Drake Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone... art; ltd. 700 copies |
| 2005 | Southern Lord Southern Lord Records Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,... |
Picture disc LP | US United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Yes | "Venom Venom (band) Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general... " art (a tribute to the Welcome to Hell Welcome to Hell Welcome to Hell is the debut album by the English heavy metal band Venom, released in December 1981. Welcome to Hell is often described as speed metal, but it had a great influence on the then-emerging thrash metal style, and crystallized the elements of what later became known as death metal and... album); ltd. 300 copies |