For starters, leave all expectations of what a(nother) collaboration between Boris and Merzbow might sound like, because Rock Dream is nothing like Sun Baked Snow Cave, which was released by Hydra Head in 2005. This limited-edition double CD (5,000 numbered copies) was recorded live in November of 2006 at Tokyo's Earthdom festival. Rather than a free-form improvisation drone and noise fest, it features Boris running through their own set with the mighty noise master (here known as Merzbow One Man) as an additional member of Boris, transforming the power trio into a quartet. The band runs through its set, or, rather plods and hammers through it, from the 35-plus-minute Feedbacker and Black Out to Evil Stack and Rainbow on disc one. Make no mistake, there's plenty of noise here. Boris have never backed away from the loud and proud; it's just that Merzbow's textural additions give the band's already loosely based tunes on disc one more power and presence. The fantastic sound quality makes every one of these nuances ring in crystal distorto-sonic. Evidence as to what actual Boris songs sound like -- which are more in evidence on disc two -- can be previewed in the smoking rendition of Rainbow that closes the initial CD, with Wata's spooky voice and freakout guitar solos contrasted with the otherwise subdued tune. Merzbow brings a shockingly primeval yet controlled power to that mix. For all of its improvisation and volume overload, Feedbacker itself is amazingly listenable and its melody distinct. When it comes to Black Out, it gets rougher, and Evil Stack is simply too much for mere mortals.

1		Feedbacker
2		Black Out
3		Evil Stack
4		Rainbow
5		Pink
6		Woman on the Screen
7		Nothing Special
8		Ibitsu
9		A Bao a Qu
10		The Evilone Which Sobs
11		Flower Sun Rain
12		Just Abandoned My-self
13		Farewell