Published at 11:41 AM on April 28, 2008

By David Marek

Boris to conquer North America this summer

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about Japan creating a new, standing army. That seems a tad unnecessary, doesn't it? Who needs a standing army when you've got the face-melting metal of Boris to defend your great nation? Think about it: if it came down to some bootleg North Korean nuke versus the band that wrote Pink and Amplifer Worship (50-megaton records if we've ever heard one) we all know who would come out on top.

Just in time for the stateside release of its latest album, Smile, Boris has announced a new North American tour. After a tiny break from the conquest of the European mainland, the members of Boris will spend June and July roaming our continent like the soft-spoken Monsters of Rock they are. Boris will be joined by black metalheads Wolves in the Throne Room and the recently Band-of-the-Week'd Florida/Georgia rockers Torche.

And in case you haven't checked your upcoming releases calendar lately, Smile comes out tomorrow. Complete with collaborations with Sunn 0)))'s Stephen O'Malley and legendary Japanese guitarist Michio Kurihara, this record is Boris' first mainstream album (an uppercase "BORIS" record for those familiar with the band's album naming system) since Pink. You can check out the video for the band's earth-shaking new single, "Statement," here. And if anyone can explain this video of Boris guitarist Wata, that would be greatly appreciated.

Dates:

April
29 - Oslo, Norway @ John Dee $
30 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Kagelbanan Sodra Teatrn $

May
2 - Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia $
3 - Turku, Finland @ Klubi
6 - Leipzig, Germany @ UT Connewitz $
7 - Berlin, Germany @ Magnet Club $
8 - Wroclaw, Poland @ Firlej $
9 - Prague, Czech Republic @ Palace Akropolis $
10 - Budapest, Hungary @ A38 $
11 - Vienna, Austria @ Szene $
12 - Munich, Germany @ Feiewerk $
13 - Innsburck, Austria @ PMK $
14 - Milan, Italy @ Garage $
15 - Rome, Italy @ Circolo Degli Artisti Club $
16 - Ravenna, Italy @ Bronson $
18 - Winterthur, Switzerland @ Salzhaus $
19 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Club Schocken $
20 - Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique $
21 - Paris, France @ Nouveau Casino $
22 - Nantes, France @ Olympic $
23 - Poitiers, France @ Le Confort Moderne $
24 - Toulouse, France @ Vents du Sud $
26 - Porto, Portugal @ Porto Rio $
27 - Lisbon, Portugal @ Zedobois $
29 - Barcelona, Spain @ Parc del Fòrum (Primavera Sound)
30 - Clermont, France @ La Cooperative de Mai $
31 - Dudingen, Switzerland @ Kilbi Festival

June
24 - San Diego, Calif. @ Casbah *
25 - Tempe, Ariz. @ The Clubhouse *
27 - Denton, Texas @ Rubber Gloves *
28 - Austin, Texas @ The Mohawk *
29 - San Antonio, Texas @ White Rabbit *

July
1 - Baton Rouge, La. @ Spanish Moon *
2 - Gainesville, Fla. @ Common Grounds *
3 - Orlando, Fla. @ The Social *
5 - Atlanta, Ga. @ The Earl *
6 - Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat's Cradle *
8 - Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat *
9 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ First Unitarian Church *
10 - New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall *
11 - Cambridge, Mass. @ The Middle East *
12 - Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rosa *
13 - Ottawa, Ontario @ Barrymore *
14 - Toronto, Ontario @ Lee's Palace *
15 - Buffalo, N.Y. @ Tralf *
16 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Grog Shop *
17 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Diesel *
18 - Detroit, Mich. @ St. Andrews Hall *
19 - Milwaukee, Wis. @ Turner Hall *
20 - Chicago, Ill. @ Union Park for Pitchfork Music Festival
22 - Omaha, Neb. @ The Waiting Room *
23 - Lawrence, Kan. @ Granada Theatre *
25 - Denver, Colo. @ Marquis Theater *
26 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ Urban Lounge *
29 - Seattle, Wash. @ Neumo's *

$ with Growing
* with Torche, Wolves in the Throne Room

Related links:
Review: Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow
Boris on Southern Lord
Boris on MySpace

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