# Akuma no Uta > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Akuma_no_Uta > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Akuma_no_Uta.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akuma_no_Uta > Source revision: 1353526993 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2003 studio album by Boris Akuma no Uta 2005 reissue cover Studio album by Boris Released June 6, 2003 (2003-06-06) (original) 2005 (2005) (reissue) Recorded January–March, 2003 at Peace Music Genre Stoner rock noise rock sludge metal acid rock Length 31:59 (original) 39:00 (reissue) Label Diwphalanx (original) Southern Lord(SUNN41) (reissue) Producer Boris Boris chronology Heavy Rocks (2002) Akuma no Uta (2003) Boris at Last: -Feedbacker- (2003) Alternative cover Original 2003 cover ***Akuma no Uta*** (悪魔の歌, *The Devil's Song*) is the fourth studio album by Japanese [experimental music](/source/Experimental_music) band [Boris](/source/Boris_(band)). Originally released in 2003 on [Diwphalanx Records](/source/Diwphalanx_Records) with minimalist artwork, it was re-issued in 2005 on [Southern Lord Records](/source/Southern_Lord_Records) with a different cover and more music. ## Releases As well as running an additional 7 minutes, the opening track of the Southern Lord version is a totally different take; both use the same riff from "Akuma no Uta," but the original, shorter track repeats it far less and opens with over a minute of ambient, resonant amp noise absent from the longer version. An edit of the long version opens 2010 compilation *[Boris / Variations + Live in Japan](/source/Boris_%2F_Variations_%2B_Live_in_Japan)*, closely resembling the running length of the original intro, but sourced from a different point halfway through the 9 minute version and with a fade in. Music videos were made for the songs "Ibitsu" and "Furi" and can be found on the 2003 DVD *[Live at Shimokitazawa Shelter](/source/Live_at_Shimokitazawa_Shelter)*. In addition to a short edit of the opening track, an alternate take of "Naki Kyoku" appears on *Variations*; it and "Akuma no Uta" were also re-recorded with [Merzbow](/source/Merzbow) in 2004, for their 2011 collaboration called *[Klatter](/source/Klatter)*. Another collaboration with Merzbow for the title track – though its arrangement reflects the 9-minute take of "Introduction" more than the title track itself – is featured on their 2016 release *[Gensho](/source/Gensho_(album))*, both as studio and live recordings. In an interview with Rad Company, drummer Atsuo remarked that the album was recorded on analog tape in one take.[1] ## Reception Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [2] Mojo [3] Pitchfork 8.2/10[4] The album received praise for its cover and use of many distinct genres previously used by the band into a single album. In *[Mojo](/source/Mojo_(magazine))*, Andrew Male said that the album "sounds like a blueprint for every future Boris release".[3] *[Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media)* placed *Akuma No Uta* at number 198 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.[5] In 2026, *Rolling Stone* praised guitarist Wata's solo in the title track as one of the greatest of all time,[6] while *Consequence* named that song's central riff as one of the best of the 2000s.[7] ## Cover art While the original minimalist album cover has been part of Boris' website for an extensive period of time,[8] its US cover version is a direct tribute to the cover of [Nick Drake](/source/Nick_Drake)'s album *[Bryter Layter](/source/Bryter_Layter)*.[3] The notable difference in the design is Takeshi holding his [double-neck](/source/Double_neck_guitar) [Ibanez](/source/Ibanez) instead of the [acoustic guitar](/source/Classical_guitar) that Drake holds in his cover. The album's original length was extended on the reissue to 39 minutes, exactly the same length as *Bryter Layter*. [Southern Lord Records](/source/Southern_Lord_Records) released a vinyl pressing that had a third cover, in tribute to the band [Venom](/source/Venom_(band)). This was released as a picture disc with 700 copies featuring the "Nick Drake" cover, and 300 in the "Venom" style cover. ## Track listing No. Title Length 1. "イントロ" (Intro) CD:2:35 LP:9:44 2. "Ibitsu" 3:20 3. "フリー" (Furi) 3:20 4. "無き曲" (Naki Kyoku) 12:14 5. "あの女の音量" (Ano Onna no Onryou) 6:29 6. "あくまのうた" (Akuma no Uta) 4:01 Total length: CD:31:59 LP:39:00 ## Pressing History Year Label Format Country Out of Print? Notes 2003 Diwphalanx CD Japan No Minimalist art; the "original" cover 2003 Diwphalanx LP Japan Yes Same "Nick Drake" art as on the US CD (a tribute to the Bryter Layter album); ltd. 500 copies 2005 Southern Lord CD US Yes Nick Drake art 2005 Southern Lord Picture disc LP US Yes Nick Drake art; ltd. 700 copies 2005 Southern Lord Picture disc LP US Yes "Venom" art (a tribute to the Welcome to Hell album); ltd. 300 copies 2019 Third Man LP US No Nick Drake art ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Rad Company interview with Atsuo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051024095418/http://www.radcompany.net/Storys/NewsStorys/BORIS/BORIS.html). Archived from the original on 2005-10-24. Retrieved 2013-07-22.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Review of "Akuma no Uta" on Allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com/album/akuma-no-uta-mw0000255797) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mojo_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mojo_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mojo_3-2) Male, Andrew (January 2020). "Boris: *Akuna No Uta*". *[Mojo](/source/Mojo_(magazine))*. No. 314. p. 103. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Review of "At Last: Feedbacker", "Sun Baked Snow Cave", and "Akuma no Uta" on Pitchfork](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11696-at-last-feedbacker-sun-baked-snow-cave-with-merzbow-akuma-no-uta/) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Pitchfork staff (September 28, 2009). ["The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200-151"](https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/). *[Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media)*. Retrieved October 1, 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitar-solos-1235519961/). *Rolling Stone*. 2026-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["70 Best Guitar Riffs of the 21st Century (So Far)"](https://consequence.net/list/best-guitar-riffs-21st-century/). 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2026-05-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Boris' website with the minimalist album cover](http://www.borisheavyrocks.com/) ## External links - [*Akuma No Uta*](https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/75004ff1-1e28-3945-b946-3a46d088f134) at [MusicBrainz](/source/MusicBrainz) (list of releases) v t e Boris Atsuo Takeshi Wata Nagata Studio albums Absolutego Amplifier Worship Flood Heavy Rocks (2002) Akuma no Uta Boris at Last -Feedbacker- Dronevil Pink Smile New Album Attention Please Heavy Rocks (2011) Präparat Noise Urban Dance Warpath Asia Dear Love & Evol NO W Heavy Rocks (2022) Fade Collaborations 04092001 Sun Baked Snow Cave Altar Rainbow Rock Dream Walrus / Groon BXI Klatter Gensho 2R0I2P0 Hello There EPs Walrus/Groon Japanese Heavy Rock Hits Live albums 04092001 Boris Archive Rock Dream Related articles Boris discography "Boris" (Melvins song) Sunn O))) Merzbow Keiji Haino Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Akuma no Uta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akuma_no_Uta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akuma_no_Uta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.