Experimental psych-metal act Boris and noise emperor Merzbow shatter sound thresholds at the drop of a megaton guitar pick, but the first disc of Gensho, the Japanese peers’ seventh collaboration, is instead surprisingly accessible. Merzbow adds white noise to classic Boris sweetness like the shoegazing “Farewell,” droning “Akuma No Uta,” and a dreamy “Akirame Flower.” Then the sound sorcerer takes lead on disc two, putting his screeching static front and center. Rough going at 75 minutes, but it’s as pure an expression of Merzbow’s vision as the first half is of Boris’. (Boris only: Sat., 8:25pm, Levitation Tent)

***.5

This article appears in April 29 • 2016.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.