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Last time I wrote a review? I can't remember....but I feel the need to write at least one. And this one is of the super-collaboration of Japanese art-wank band BORIS and Californian drone behemoths in druid cloaks SUNN O))) on their album ALTAR. Yes I know this review is pitifully late, but I'm gonna have a bit of fun with this one!

First off, this is about as much of a collaborative between two bands as Violent J's EP Wizard of the Hood was a solo album. This is actually more like

SUNN O))), BORIS, and EVERYONE ON OUR AIM BUDDY LISTS - ALTAR

And with that, this is probably the busiest album I've heard with about a dozen persons (and 9-10 on guitar no less!) on each track save for two. It's like a Godspeed You! Black Emperor album with all the people and each person doing so little, but injected with lava and without the faggoty bullshit. And most of these guests are either from Earth, have played in Sunn, or are in something else altogether. I guess Merzbow was out of town otherwise he'd be on this too.

The songs are mostly drone and experimental but there's some neat stuff on here, like Etna. A 9-minute mammoth featuring only the fab five. Even then it sounds busy, I mean FOUR people are playing a guitar and it sounds like two at best, unless they're switching places and letting everyone have a turn at playing their instruments. Busy or not, this song absolutely rules.

NO LAP TOP has no sunn at all, just Atsuo & Bill Herzog on bowed cymbal, GONG, and a sludgy upright bass. Truly manipulative and the opposite here. It sounds like they're creating MORE with only three minimalistic instruments.

The Sinking Belle (Blue Sheep) is a fun little song, and a real departure from the typical stuff these bands do. Really, I wish the whole album was this. Kinda dreamy with some nice female vocals, plus everything sounds pretty clear.

Akuma no Kuma is nothing short of comical. And very visual too. Plus it's that point to where the album just gets ridiculous with 893 people playing Moogs and s**t. I mean look at this ******** lineup:

* Atsuo: lead drums
* Joe Preston: vocoder
* Greg Anderson: Moog Rogue
* Stephen O'Malley: Korg MS20
* Bill Herzog: snare
* Steve Moore: trombone
* TOS Nieuwenhuizen: oberheim
* Troy Swanson: oberheim
* Randall Dunn: Korg MS20, sherman filter bank, echoplex
* Mell Dettmer: Roland SH101

The song is about Darth Joe Preston being an evil robotic bear that craves ALL the salmons while the Star Wars imperial theme plods on in the background. It's Sunn O))), Atsuo, & Thrones. But where did the boris bassist and japanese chick with boobs go at?

They wetn to the FRIED EAGLE MIND, that's what! And they partyed with all their friends (again, look at the ******** line-up!)

* Wata: vocals & space guitar
* Stephen O'Malley: clandestine guitar, califone
* Takeshi: bottle lead guitar
* Greg Anderson: bass guitar
* TOS Nieuwenhuizen: Moog Taurus
* Troy Swanson: oberheim 4 voice
* Randall Dunn: Korg MS20 & natural trouble

Wata sings her way therough basic english with words like "DREAM", "FRIED", and "BACON". I guess Takeshi's on the funny guitar. Or Stephen. Or I don't know because this song is very minimal and empty, and has SEVEN people on it.

The Sinking Belle (Black Sheep)? Well, I don't intend to spend 26 dollars for ONE EXTRA SONG. And if you think that's bad?

The Sinking Belle (White Sheep) is a 4-minute song that can only be obtained by buying the 100-dollar extra-elaborate Japanese 3LP. I rest my case.

Blood Swamp ends the album with the guitarist from Soundgarden, which is cool, but this song drags for 14 minutes, and while Kim Thayil should be the track's Superman, everyone else does too. That's totally BIZARRO!!!

And the last track "Her Lips Were Wet With Venom" is hands down the baddest, raddest drone meisterwork coming from either band. Plus it has Earth's Dylan Carlson twanging in his Fender Telecaster to give it a country feel. 28 minutes of pure, obscure awesome.

And that's your ALTAR in a nutshell. Seriously. 8/10.