INFERNO SESSIONS (WRITE HERE FROM MAY 22-29)

[SNS4]

Tokyo session was amazing. Naraka and You Retreat in Time and Space are instant classics imo.

Tape 05 track is Deep Time.
Album teaser is Acts of Magic's first half

[landsendroad]

Just got back from the Shibuya session as well. ears are ringing…. Was really great overall and I particularly enjoyed the second half. There was a lot of spoken word scattered throughout the tracks, which kind of caught me off guard at first.

Apart from a continuously looping flame inside the new hexagon logo, there were no other visuals except the second to last song which switched up the flame to old 8mm family footage. My assumption is that this could be another single? It was also probably the most “classic” sounding song on the album.

My initial impression is that this is their most “produced” and complex sounding record with a huge emphasis on the drum work as well as a lot of speech and vocoder. The first half sounded like very new territory while the second half seemed to revert back to the sound we’re all familiar with.

[CDcaseMemories]

New album definitely still sounds like them but there more energetic hard hitting very similar to prophecy. Way less bleak than TH and more slasher movie soundtrack with a tinge of Justice/Daft Punk (I swear you’ll hear what I mean, it’s awesome).
More guitars, insane vocal chops in ways we haven’t heard before, and an amazing middle track with a lead sitar.

[Mexicola]

Sat in a rooftop bar in Soho around the corner from Stone Nest with Rikkiebags, waiting for Fugee. Two beers in. Hot and sunny.

COME ON!!!!

[outhudd]

Any videos yet?

Hopefully someone can get a clip of the extra bit before Introit.

[Rorsach]

Registered an account just to post some impressions from Tokyo:

I really liked the album. I think it’s their best since Geogaddi. It legit nearly brought tears to my eyes in a few places.

Just gonna put down some thoughts in no particular order:

- There are a LOT of vocal samples on this album. Spoken word, chants etc. Way more than on any other BoC release. Most of it is manipulated and robotic-sounding, but some of it is surprisingly clean and natural sounding. A few tracks feature spoken word throughout nearly the entire runtime.

- Most of the album sounds dark and menacing, although not as outright creepy or witchy as Geogaddi. Prophecy is a good example of the album’s overall tone. If I had to describe the album's tone briefly, I’d call it “something is urgently wrong” There are a few prettier tracks too though. The second-to-last track in particular was much lighter and more Music Has the Right-esque.

- Tape 05 is indeed on the album. It’s in the latter half of the tracklist and segues into the next track.

- As much as I liked the album overall, I thought the first half was significantly stronger than the second. The first several tracks all pretty much knocked me out, but a few tracks in the latter half didn’t hold my attention as much.

- The track after Prophecy reminded me a lot of Amo Bishop Roden, the main synth sounds very similar.

- Very diverse instrumentation. I heard sitar, marimba, grand piano, electric guitar on Prophecy. More than just hip hop beats and synth pads. Album is also very beat-driven for the most part.

- The visuals in the theater were mainly the hexagon logo slowly rotating against a black backdrop with flames inside it. There were unique graphics at the very beginning, and the looping hexagon visuals started at Prophecy. On the second-to-last track, the visuals inside the hexagon changed to sped-up vintage-looking footage of children and families in nature, very reminiscent of the Music Has the Right cover. The flames came back for the last track, except the hexagon was no longer rotating. There was also some kind of physical prop at the front of the theater that was glowing dark red through the whole session. I couldn't really tell what it was but I think it was a hexagon pointed upwards. It lit up at a specific point during the opening. I think the idea was supposed to be that the flames on the screen were "coming out" of the red hexagon in the theater.

- There was a special intro specifically for the session, before Introit. It was maybe a minute long at most and was mainly spoken word. A voice opened with something like: “You have been selected by MBT Industries to take part in this biosocial experiment. You will hear a series of audio triggers,” followed by a vocal sample of a girl giving some creepy monologue about Helter Skelter and how, if she isn’t careful, it will be “her turn.” Introit started immediately afterward.

- Merch they gave out was: a blue hexagon keychain, a poster inside a hexagon-marked envelope (interestingly with a barcode on the back), and a small red leaflet containing a few pages of artwork. They were also selling a few t-shirts and what looked like the whole discography on vinyl and CD.

- There was audio being quietly played in the theater for 30 mins before the start. Best way I can describe it is it sounded like wind blowing and occasionally a creepy computer-like hum. It was very quiet though, like ambient noise level. No idea if that was BoC or something else. We also sat there for a good 5 mins in the dark at the start with nothing on the screen. Wasn't sure if that was intentional or not.

Any videos yet?

Hopefully someone can get a clip of the extra bit before Introit.

They were strict about no phones (as is usual for Japan). I doubt there will be videos of any kind from Tokyo.

[A_Northern_Soul]

Sat in a rooftop bar in Soho around the corner from Stone Nest with Rikkiebags, waiting for Fugee. Two beers in. Hot and sunny.

COME ON!!!!

Ah, man! "Two beers in" in the sunshine is just the *best* feeling isn't it? Enjoy, gents.

[SNS4]

- There was audio being quietly played in the theater for 30 mins before the start. Best way I can describe it is it sounded like wind blowing and occasionally a creepy computer-like hum. It was very quiet though, like ambient noise level. No idea if that was BoC or something else. We also sat there for a good 5 mins in the dark at the start with nothing on the screen. Wasn't sure if that was intentional or not.

This reminded me of that Circle excerpt from Hooper Bay, but way more subtle

[Rorsach]

- There was audio being quietly played in the theater for 30 mins before the start. Best way I can describe it is it sounded like wind blowing and occasionally a creepy computer-like hum. It was very quiet though, like ambient noise level. No idea if that was BoC or something else. We also sat there for a good 5 mins in the dark at the start with nothing on the screen. Wasn't sure if that was intentional or not.

This reminded me of that Circle excerpt from Hooper Bay, but way more subtle

Listening right now and I think that actually might be what it was. Sounds pretty much exactly the same.

[Spirit Fingers]

Cannot wait for everyone to hear Naraka, so much fun!

[Mexicola]

Visuald on the ceiling

[2020k]

Not Mexi being DRUNK AT THE LISTENING PARTY.

[Compound Candy]

Litterally obsessed hearing there is a sitar on one track!!

[rustyspoon]

Initial thoughts from the 3:30 Stone Nest session in London...

- venue was cool, a big church hall with domed ceiling onto which flames were projected within the hexagon logo. Seating arranged in a square on ground floor and first floor, all facing inward to a central red hexagon (sounds like same hexagon projection as Tokyo from earlier poster)
- goodie bag! Keychain,sticker, badge, poster and pamphlet
- you could buy a code for first access to cassette tape sale later on bleep
- no IPA on tap! Boo
- there was an audiovisual introduction with some female voice announcement at the start, the details evade me but it referred to "sonic triggers" if I remember correctly
- Prophecy absolutely SLAMS
- both Tape 05 and the backing audio the album teaser are on the record, but as part of longer tracks
- looooads more vocal samples than any previous record, both distorted and more natural
- a few tracks more reminiscent of TCH or MHTRTC, but most of it was notably darker/more violent. Lots of impactful drumwork
- penultimate track made me tear up, potentially the most "accessible" track and accompanied by nostalgic visuals of kids playing and cycling and natural landscapes (a bit MHTRTC vibe)

Overall emotional state - scared, but aroused

[jeannedarme]

I was also there earlier. Absolutely incredible and so many wonderful surprising moments/instruments. Everyone is in for such a treat!

[dj_todos]

Out of the 3.30 London session.
Mind blown.
One track with vocals reminded me of the Dead Dogs Two remix I thought. One very 80’s sounding in the 2nd half was a highlight as well as the penultimate track which was brilliant. Lovely bass guitar sequence that evolves into classic BoC. The most familiar sounding on the record.


Perfect.

[Negamuse]

Many thoughts but I've had to rush off for another thing. Great album. Everything I wished TH was

[Altruizine]

The descriptions are cool and all… but let’s get down to brass tacks. Y’all catch any fine BoC chicks at the sessions?

I mean literal chickens that go ”boc boc boc”. I’d expect at least a few at a BoC show

Ah this is a terrible comment Houston we have a problem abort mission abort mission

[egbdf]

Does it have any longer, distinct / 'singable' melodies? Kinda like Roygbiv, Smallest Weird Number, Dayvan, Peacock, IABPOITC, Kid For Today?

Prophecy at 1420 mhz has a couple melodies that come close but I'd say (somewhat arbitrarily) they're more like riffs

[thingsthingsthings]

I'll be at the LA one this eve - for those who attended thus far; how important was early arrival before doors? I'm working through the mechanics of child care/work - was wondering how critical spot in line would be. Or if there was any assigned seating for the theater venues or just choose your own. Beyond stoked.