Sunn O)))

Sunn O)))

Sunn O))) in Seattle 2008
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Experimental, drone metal, doom metal[1]
Years active 1998–present
Labels Southern Lord
Associated acts Boris, Burial Chamber Trio, Burning Witch, Earth, Goatsnake, Gravetemple, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Khanate, KTL, Merzbow, Nurse with Wound, Thorr's Hammer
Members
Stephen O'Malley
Greg Anderson
Notable instruments
Electric guitar

Sunn O))) ( /sʌn/) is an American doom metal band known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and black metal. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley (also of Khanate and Burning Witch) and Greg Anderson (of Goatsnake).[2]

Contents

History

Sunn O))) 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 uses this logo in the cover art of many releases); In interviews, Stephen O'Malley stated that the name was also chosen as a play on the name of the band Earth, pioneers of drone music throughout the 1990s, reasoning that Sunn O))) revolved around Earth. Before the band members moved to Los Angeles, the duo briefly used the moniker Mars.

The band's sound image is extremely slow and heavy, using electric guitars, in low tunings such as drop A, enriched by resonant feedback creating its soundscapes. There is very little drumming and a lack of any discernible beat. When performing live the band wears Grimm Robes, fills the air with fog, and plays at an extremely high volume.[2]

The band releases the majority of its music through the label it founded in 1998, Southern Lord Records. However, the band released ØØ Void, its second album initially on Rise Above Records and 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.

Sunn O))) experiments with a variety of 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 continued this direction, utilizing far more electronics, synthesis, and other instrumentation than earlier Sunn O))) material, yet still marking a significant return to its traditional sound.

The band is widely regarded as leaders in its genre, including by The New York Times Magazine of May 28, 2006, when Sunn O))) was written up in an article called "Heady Metal". It was praised in an issue of Wonkavision, an independent music magazine, as one of the greatest modern metal acts along with Lamb of God and other contemporaries. Sunn O))) was also shown in the August 2007 issue of Q Magazine (the "loud issue"), with its album White1 being named the 18th-loudest album of all time, just above AC/DCs Back in Black and below Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced?[3]

In 2008, Sunn O))) released its live album Dømkirke, and also announced that it would do a mini-tour consisting of four concerts to commemorate the group's 10th anniversary to coincide with release of The Grimmrobe Demos.[4]

The band's seventh studio album, Monoliths & Dimensions, was released on May 18, 2009, and was critically acclaimed by both press and public alike.[5]

On December 17, 2009, the song "Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)" from the CD Monoliths & Dimensions was named the Heaviest Song of All-Time by Jason Ellis on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius/XM. Greg Anderson then appeared on The Jason Ellis Show on January 12, 2010.[6]

The group played the ATP New York 2010 music festival in Monticello, New York, during September 2010, where it collaborated with Boris to perform the Altar album live.[7]

For live performances, Hungarian-born Attila Csihar has performed as session vocalist. Some of Attila's masks are designed and fabricated by Egyptian-born artist Nader Sadek.

Collaborations with other artists

Cover songs and remixes

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

Although "Rabbits' Revenge" from ØØ Void is often thought to be a cover of The Melvins' "Hung Bunny", it is actually a reworking of an earlier Melvins track.

Discography

Demos

EPs

CDs and LPs

Live albums

Split albums and collaborations

Singles

Box sets

References

  1. ^ Sunn O))) metalkingdom.net. 2007-02-03. Retrieved on 2009-09-08.
  2. ^ a b John Wray (May 28, 2006). "Heady Metal". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28artmetal.html?ei=5090&en=68f0bcd99797d7a3&ex=1306468800&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
  3. ^ The Q Daily: The 20 Loudest Albums Of All Time news.qthemusic.com. 6-28-2007. Retrieved on 2009-10-28.
  4. ^ 9:36 AM. "Sunn O))) Announces US Tour Dates: News at metal-underground.com". Metalunderground.com. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=38247. Retrieved 2011-07-20. 
  5. ^ "Sunn O))) announces new album in May 2009". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=114368. Retrieved 2011-07-20. 
  6. ^ Greg appears on Jason Ellis Show
  7. ^ Sunn O))) + Boris Present Altar, Tortoise, Hope Sandoval and More for ATP NY! blogs.myspace.com 2010-03-25. Retrieved on 2010-04-01.
  8. ^ Stannard, Joseph (08/04/2009). "Sunn O))) Exclusive Interview Transcripts: Oren Ambarchi". The Wire (Issue 302). Wire Magazine. http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/2343/. Retrieved 29 May 2011. 

External links

Sunn O)))
Studio albums
EPs
Live albums
Other releases
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