Sunn O)))

Sunn O)))

Sunn O))) at Brutal Assault 2015, wearing its characteristic robes
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Drone metal, experimental metal,[1] doom metal, dark ambient, black metal, noise
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, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, Thorr's Hammer, Mayhem, Scott Walker, Xasthur, Leviathan
Website sunn.southernlord.com
Members Stephen O'Malley
Greg Anderson

Sunn O))) (pronunciation: /sʌn/ sun) is an American drone metal band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 1998. The band is primarily known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and extreme metal, and for its notably loud live performances. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band was formed by two core members: Stephen O'Malley (also of Khanate and Burning Witch) and Greg Anderson (of Goatsnake and Engine Kid).[2]

History

Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn amplifier brand, the logo of which includes a circle next to the "SUNN" banner with waves heading off to the right. In interviews, Stephen O'Malley stated that the band's moniker was also chosen as a play on the name Earth, a band widely regarded as pioneers of drone metal throughout the 1990s. Before the band members moved to Los Angeles, it briefly used the moniker Mars.

The band's style is characterized by extremely slow tempos, heavily distorted guitars, avoidance of rhythm and melody, and alternate tunings. The guitars are notable for their low register, frequently utilising tunings as low as dropped A. Additionally, the band is known for using resonant feedback to create monolithic soundscapes and eerie atmospheres. Percussion is almost never incorporated, with a lack of any discernible beat. When performing live, the band wears 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 initially released ØØ Void (its second album) on multiple labels, including Rise Above Records, Hydra Head Records, and Dirter Productions (which pressed it as a double album on vinyl). Additionally, the original pressing of The Grimmrobe Demos was released by Hydra Head Records. It was later issued as a double picture record set by Outlaw Recordings and finally reissued by Southern Lord in 2004.

The logo the band uses is also that of the Sunn amplifier brand.

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.

Sunn O))) on stage at the Ritz in Manchester, 11 June 2012

Sunn O))) is widely regarded as leaders in its genre, including by The New York Times Magazine of May 28, 2006, when the band was written up in an article called "Heady Metal" by John Wray. It was praised in an issue of Wonka Vision, an independent music magazine, as one of the greatest modern metal acts. 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 a live album titled 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 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 band 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 (Mayhem) has performed as the primary vocalist since 2003.

Attila wearing a costume, Brutal Assault 2015

Sunn O))) released a collaboration album with Ulver titled Terrestrials in February 2014:[8] in October 2014, the band released the album Soused, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Scott Walker.[9] In November 2015, Sunn O))) presented a four-day program at Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands, including Annette Peacock, Magma, Julia Holter and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Sunn O))) itself.[10]

Discography

Studio albums

Demos

Mini-albums

Live albums

Split singles and collaborations

Singles

Sunn O))) Performing at Moogfest 2016

Boxed sets

Compilation-only tracks

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard". Billboard Magazine. Nielsen Business Media. 119 (1): 27. 6 January 2007. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 John Wray (May 28, 2006). "Heady Metal". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  3. ↑ "Q Magazine - Music news & reviews, music videos, band pictures & interviewsQ Magazine". News.q4music.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Sunn O))) Announces US Tour Dates: News at metal-underground.com". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  5. ↑ "Sunn O))) announces new album in May 2009". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Sunn O))), Ulver Ready 'Terrestrials' Album for February Release". Self-titledmag.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Minsker, Evan (July 17, 2014). "Scott Walker and Sunn O))) Team for New Album Soused". Pitchfork Media.
  10. ↑ "Le Guess Who? Festival official site". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "SUNN O))) To Release Triple Live Album From First Moscow Performance". Southern Lord Recordings. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Scott Walker + Sunn O)))". Scott-o.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
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