Sun Baked Snow Cave
{{Infobox album
| name = Sun Baked Snow Cave
| type = studio
| cover = Sun Baked Snow Cave.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2005|08|23}}
| recorded = 2001–2004
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Drone metal|dark ambient|noise}}
| length = {{Duration|m=62|s=02}}
| label = Hydra Head / Double H Noise Industries
| producer = Boris with Merzbow
| prev_title = 04092001
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Rock Dream
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Boris
| type = studio
| prev_title = 04092001
| prev_year = 2005
| title = Sun Baked Snow Cave
| year = 2005
| next_title = Dronevil
| next_year = 2005
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Merzbow
| type = studio
| prev_title = Scene
| prev_year =
| title = Sun Baked Snow Cave
| year = 2005
| next_title = Senmaida
| next_year = 2005
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r787362|access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev2 = Robert Christgau
| rev2Score = D+{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Merzbow |title=CG: Merzbow |last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=2005 |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev3 = Delusions of Adequacy
| rev3Score = Mixed{{cite web |url=http://www.adequacy.net/2006/05/boris-sun-baked-snow-cave/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416090531/http://www.adequacy.net/2006/05/boris-sun-baked-snow-cave/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |title=Boris – Sun Baked Snow Cave |last=Davenport |first=Joe |date=May 11, 2006 |website=Delusions of Adequacy |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev4 = Dusted Magazine
| rev4Score = Favorable{{cite web |url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/2441 |title=Boris with Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave |last=Bivins |first=Jason |date=October 3, 2005 |website=Dusted Magazine |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev5Score = Mixed{{cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Metal/boris_with_merzbow-sun_baked_snow_cave |title=Boris with Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave |last=Hainey |first=Kevin |date=October 2005 |website=Exclaim! |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev6 = LAS Magazine
| rev7 = Pitchfork Media
| rev7Score = 6.5/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11696-at-last-feedbacker-sun-baked-snow-cave-with-merzbow-akuma-no-uta/ |title=Boris / Merzbow: At Last: Feedbacker / Sun Baked Snow Cave / Akuma No Uta | Album Reviews |last=Baron |first=Zach |date=December 13, 2005 |website=Pitchfork Media |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| rev8 = Prefix Magazine
| rev8Score = 6.0/10{{cite web |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/boris-with-merzbow/sun-baked-snow-cave/14589/ |title=Boris with Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave |last=Booty |first=Jack |date=September 26, 2005 |website=Prefix Magazine |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Sun Baked Snow Cave is a collaborative album between Japanese experimental doom band Boris and Japanese noise musician Merzbow. The album consists of a single track that clocks in at over an hour in length. The album artwork was done by Sunn O))) member and regular Hydra Head designer Stephen O'Malley.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Boris-3-With-Merzbow-Sun-Baked-Snow-Cave/release/561021 |title=Boris (3) With Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave |website=Discogs |access-date=July 29, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Boris/Boris_with_Merzbow_-_Sun_Baked_Snow_Cave/91153 |title=Boris - Boris with Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave |website=Encyclopaedia Metallum |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
Composition
Structurally, the album has three distinct sections: the opening 18 minutes consist primarily of quiet, sparse acoustic guitar strums backed by distant whirs and machine noises; a lengthy crossfade shifts the album into drone doom metal, with Merzbow's accentuation via harsh noise layers; eventually, the loud half-hour settles through movements of noise into 6 minutes of a quiet electric guitar and ambience coda.
Release
In 2014, the album was released as a double LP. Released as a limited edition of 1,200 copies pressed on black, white, electric blue, or clear with blue streaks vinyl. Initially available on August 16, 2014 as a limited release on the Hydra Head online store and from Boris on tour.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152613528097232 |title=Timeline Photos - Hydra Head Industries |date=August 16, 2014 |website=Facebook |access-date=August 16, 2014}} A general release followed on September 23.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/hydrahead/photos/pb.17962117231.-2207520000.1425604286./10152620989277232/ |title= Hydra Head Industries's Photos - Hydra Head Industries |date=August 19, 2014 |website=Facebook |access-date=March 5, 2015}} It was repressed in March 2015 on clear/blue splatter in an edition of 500 copies.{{cite web |url=http://hydraheadlines.blogspot.com/2015/02/boris-with-merzbow-sun-baked-snow-cave.html |title=BORIS with MERZBOW - Sun Baked Snow Cave 2xLP + T-Shirt |website=Hydra Headlines |access-date=March 5, 2015}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 62:02
| title1 = Sun Baked Snow Cave
| length1 = 62:02
}}
Personnel
;Boris with Merzbow
- Masami Akita – computer
- Takeshi – guitar, bass guitar
- Wata – guitar, echo
- Atsuo – feedback conduction, computer
;Production
- Fangs Anal Satan – mixing
- Stephen O'Malley – artwork
Notes
- Mastering at Peace Music 6 October 2004
Release history
| class="wikitable"
! Region ! Date ! Label ! Format ! Quantity ! Catalog ! Notes |
| rowspan=6|United States
| August 23, 2005 | rowspan=6|Hydra Head | CD | Unknown | rowspan=6|hh666-92 / 2xh-011 | |
| rowspan=4|September 23, 2014
| rowspan=5|LP | Unknown | Black vinyl |
| Unknown
| Clear with blue streaks |
| Unknown
| Electric blue |
| Unknown
| White |
| March 2015
| 500 | Clear/blue splatter |