Sunn O)))

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Sunn O)))

Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, USA
New York City, New York, USA
Genre(s) Drone metal
Drone doom
Dark ambient
Years active 1998 – present
Label(s) Southern Lord Records
Members
Stephen O'Malley
Greg Anderson

Sunn O))) (pronounced simply sun) is an American drone metal band, in its broadest sense; however, it incorporates elements of the dark ambient, metal and drone doom genres as well. The band consists of Stephen O'Malley (Khanate, Burning Witch) and Greg Anderson (Goatsnake). The band was formed as a tribute to Earth, another heavy-sounding band who were pioneers of the drone metal sound.

Contents

[edit] History

The band is named after the Sunn amplifier brand, whose logo includes a circle next to the "SUNN" banner with waves heading off to the right (the band use this logo in the cover art of many releases); a literal interpretation of the logo produces "Sunn O)))". In interviews Stephen O'Malley has stated the name was also chosen as a play on Earth's name, reasoning that Sunn O))) "revolved around Earth." However, before the band members moved to Los Angeles the duo were called Mars, in another tribute to Earth.

Their sound is extremely slow and heavy, using droning guitars accompanied by feedback and other sound effects to create their soundscapes. There is very little drumming and a lack of any discernible beat. When playing live the band wears long hooded cloaks.

The band is currently signed to Southern Lord and release most pieces through that avenue. However, they released ØØ Void, their sophomore album, on Rise Above Records, Hydra Head Records, and Dirter Productions, with the latter pressing the album as a double vinyl. The Grimmrobe Demos was first released also on Hydra Head Records. It was later issued as a double picture record set by Outlaw Recordings and finally reissued by Southern Lord in 2004.

Recently, Sunn O))) has been experimenting with a variety of drone styles and sounds, progressing the primarily guitar and bass style of The Grimmrobe Demos and ØØ Void. On White1 and White2, Sunn O))) noticeably expanded on conceptualization by inviting several guests (see collaborations below), resulting in everything from quiet meditative ambient sounds ("A Shaving of the Horn that Speared You" from White1) to a bizarre bass experiment track ("bassAliens" from White2). Black One continues this direction, utilizing far more electronics, synthesis and other instrumentation than earlier Sunn O))) material, yet still marking a significant return to their traditional sound.

Unlike related artists in the drone metal and dark ambient fields, they have enjoyed a high level of popularity from fans, and are widely regarded as leaders in the genre[citation needed].

In the May 28th, 2006, edition of The New York Times Magazine, Sunn O))) featured in the "Heady Metal" Article, with both members in their signature cloaks.

Stephen O'Malley, one of the guitarists for Sunn O))), creates roughly 90% of the artwork for Southern Lord, a record label he co-founded with Greg Anderson in the early 2000's. His primary style of art involves many random and sometimes connecting lines, and sometimes letters of the English alphabet, jumbled together very closely. It also involves a very fractured vision of seemingly formless shapes that give the impression of being very thick.

[edit] Collaborations with other artists

The band has notably and often collaborated with a wide variety of artists.

  • G. Stuart Dahlquist of Asva and Burning Witch contributed to the recording of The Grimmrobe Demos, ØØ Void, and the track "FWTBT" on Flight of the Behemoth.
  • Peter Stahl and Petra Haden contributed to the recording of ØØ Void.
  • Merzbow, known as the Japanese 'God of Noise', worked with the band on the tracks 'O)))Bow1' and 'O)))Bow2' on Flight of the Behemoth.
  • Joe Preston known for his work in Earth, Thrones, The Melvins and High on Fire contributed to the recordings of both the White1 & White2 albums.
  • Runhild Gammelsæter from Thorr's Hammer contributed with vocals on the song "The Gates of Ballard", from White 1.
  • Julian Cope provided the vocals for the song "My Wall" on White1.
  • Rex Ritter of Jessamine and Fontanelle contributed live and on the production of both White1 & White2.
  • Dawn Smithson of Jessamine contributed live and on the recording of White2.
  • Attila Csihar, best known for his vocal work on Mayhem's classic black metal album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, performed vocals for the songs "Decay [The Symptoms of Kali Yuga]" and "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]" on the album White2, quoting directly from the Srimad Bhagavatam.
  • Anthony Sylvester and Savage Pencil contributed to the recording of Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice.
  • Malefic from Xasthur and Wrest from Leviathan provided vocals on Black One.
  • Oren Ambarchi and John Wiese contributed to the creation of Black One, providing experimental guitar and synth elements and other instrumentation.
  • Malefic from Xasthur and John Wiese contributed on the track "Coma Mirror" on AngelComa.
  • Ulver provided production and contributions to the track "CUT WOODeD" on WHITEbox.
  • Thomas Nieuwenhuizen from Beaver, God, and Jesus and the Gospel Fuckers has appeared on Solistitium Fulminate, AngelComa on Micromoog, Moog Taurus and Moog Rogue, and continues to perform with the group as an integral live member.
  • Collaborated with Boris on Altar.
  • Guitarist Justin Broadrick, formerly of Napalm Death and Godflesh, currently playing with Final and Jesu, has played live with the band in their late 2006 tour of the UK and Ireland.
  • Other live collaborators have included Peter Rehberg, Kevin Drumm, and Holy McGrail.

[edit] Cover songs

Sunn O))) occasionally covers songs by other bands, reinterpreting them to fit their style.

  • "Rabbit's Revenge" from ØØ Void (cover of The Melvins' "Hung Bunny")
  • "FWTBT" from Flight of the Behemoth (cover of Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - the full title is "F.W.T.B.T (I Dream of Lars Ulrich Being Thrown Through the Bus Window instead of My Master Mystikall Kliff Burton)")
  • "Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine" from Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age (Earth cover)
  • "Catch-22 (Surrender or Die)" from Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age (Merzbow cover)
  • "Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)" from Black One (Immortal cover), although only the lyrics are used.
  • "Báthory Erzsébet" from Black One can be said to be a loose (even by Sunn standards) cover of "A Fine Day to Die" by Bathory.
  • "Candlegoat" from Black One also quotes the lyrics from "Freezing Moon" by Mayhem.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Audio samples

[edit] External links

Sunn O)))
Stephen O'Malley | Greg Anderson
Releases
The Grimmrobe Demos | ØØ Void | Flight of the Behemoth | White1 | Veils It White | The Libations of Samhain | Live Action Sampler | Live White | White2 | Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age | Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice | Black One | AngelComa | La Mort Noir dans Esch/Alzette | WHITEbox | Altar
Related Articles
Drone metal | Earth | Boris | Khanate | Goatsnake | Thorr's Hammer | Sunn Amps | Southern Lord Records |
Southern Lord Records
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