Om (band)

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Om
Origin California, United States
Genres Stoner rock, psychedelic rock, doom metal, ambient, avant-garde metal
Years active 2003–present
Labels Drag City
Southern Lord
Holy Mountain
Sub Pop
Associated acts Sleep, Grails, Holy Sons, Lichens, Shrinebuilder, Asbestosdeath, The Sabians
Website omvibratory.com
Members Al Cisneros
Emil Amos
Robert Lowe
Past members Chris Hakius

Om (sometimes stylized as OM) is an experimental drone metal band from San Francisco, California.[1] Formed as a duo in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded stoner doom metal band Sleep, OM is currently a trio.[2][3]

Background

OM's earliest works incorporate musical structures similar to Tibetan and Byzantine chant, as heard on the debut album Variations on a Theme. The band's name itself derives from the Hinduism concept of Om, which refers to the natural vibration of the universe. Hindus believe that as creation began, the divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound "OM".[4] Before creation began, it was "Shunyākāsha", the emptiness or the void. Shunyākāsha, meaning literally "void space", is more than nothingness, because everything then existed in a latent state of potentiality. The vibration of "OM" symbolizes the manifestation of God in form ("sāguna brahman"). "OM" is the reflection of the absolute reality, it is said to be "Adi Anadi", without beginning or the end and embracing all that exists.[4] The mantra "OM" is the name of God, the vibration of the Supreme. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary aspects: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction).[4]

2003–2008

Om's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums.

On December 5, 2007, Om performed in Jerusalem, Israel. Their performance lasted for over five hours[5] and a portion of that show was released on 12" vinyl by Southern Lord as Live at Jerusalem.[6]

The band's 2007 album Pilgrimage was chosen as Mojo Magazine's Underground Album of the Year.[7][8]

2008–present

On January 31, 2008, Chris Hakius left the band and was replaced by drummer Emil Amos of Grails.[9]

On August 15, 2008, Om released a 7" 45 entitled Gebel Barkal for Sub Pop's Singles Club. A live vinyl-only LP, Conference Live followed in 2009 on Important Records.

Om's 4th full-length studio album God is Good was produced by Steve Albini and released by Drag City on September 29, 2009.[10]

The band's 5th studio album, Advaitic Songs, was released by Drag City on July 24, 2012.[11] It met with critical acclaim.[12]

In November 2013, the band will play the final holiday camp edition of the world famous All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.[13]

Members

Current

Former

Discography

Studio Albums

Year Title Label
2005Variations on a ThemeHoly Mountain
2006Conference of the BirdsHoly Mountain
2007PilgrimageSouthern Lord
2009God Is GoodDrag City
2012Advaitic SongsDrag City

Live Albums

Year Title Label
2008Live at JerusalemSouthern Lord
2009Live ConferenceImportant Records

Singles and EPs

Year Title Type Label
2006Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder)Single (split with Current 93)Neurot Recordings
2006Om / Six Organs of AdmittanceSingle (split with Six Organs of Admittance)Holy Mountain
2008Gebel BarkalSingleSub Pop
2013Addis DubplateRemix "12Drag City
2013Gethsemane DubplateRemix "12Drag City

References

  1. ↑ Ali, Reyan (2013-02-07). "Om Drone Metal Riffs on Religion". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2013-05-25. 
  2. ↑ "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives - Om". The Metal Archives. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  3. ↑ Rice, Chloe (2012-07-13). "Om are now a trio, going on tour, including MHOW". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2013-05-25. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, The hidden power in humans, Ibera Verlag, page 15., ISBN 3-85052-197-4
  5. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle. 96hrs Jan 17, 2008 pp4
  6. ↑ "Om - Live at Jerusalem (Uganda)‏". YouTube. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  7. ↑ Mojo January 2008 pp86
  8. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Mojo End Of year Lists...". 2012-12-07. Retrieved 2013-05-25. 
  9. ↑ "R.I.P". Stonerrock.com. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  10. ↑ "Om, 'God Is Good' (Drag City)". SPIN magazine. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2013-05-25. 
  11. ↑ "News » Om Tracking". Drag City. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  12. ↑ Viney, Joseph (2012-07-29). "Review: Om - Advaitic Songs". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2013-05-25. 
  13. ↑ http://www.atpfestival.com/events/endofanerapart2.php

External links

Om
Albums
Live albums
Split releases
Singles
  • "Gebel Barkal" (2008)
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