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Sunn O)))
Encyclopedia
Sunn O))) 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
).
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 soundscape
s. 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.
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.
))cloaks.jpg)
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/DC
s Back in Black
and below Jimi Hendrix
's Are You Experienced?
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.
The band's seventh studio album, Monoliths & Dimensions
, was released on May 18, 2009, and was critically acclaimed by both press and public alike.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone
Drone music
Drone music is a minimalist musical style that emphasizes the use of sustained or repeated sounds, notes, or tone-clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmonic variations throughout each piece compared to other musics...
, ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
, and black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley
Stephen O'Malley
Stephen O'Malley is a musician, predominantly a guitarist, producer and composer from Seattle, Washington who has conceptualized and participated in numerous drone doom, death/doom, and experimental music groups....
(also of Khanate
Khanate (band)
Khanate was a drone metal supergroup that brought together James Plotkin and Alan Dubin, two members of the defunct band OLD, as well as Tim Wyskida and Stephen O'Malley )) fame)....
and Burning Witch
Burning Witch
Burning Witch was an American doom metal band from Seattle, Washington, active between 1995 and 1998.-History:Burning Witch formed on Capitol Hill, Seattle in early 1995. After the breakup of the doom/death band Thorr's Hammer in 1995, Stephen O'Malley, Greg Anderson and Jamie Sykes formed Burning...
) and Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson (musician)
Greg Anderson is an American musician and co-founder of Southern Lord Records.Anderson is the guitarist in the doom/stoner metal outfit Goatsnake, but is also well known for his collaborations with Stephen O'Malley....
(of Goatsnake
Goatsnake
-Biography:Goatsnake was formed in 1996 after the disbanding of The Obsessed. After The Obsessed's disbanding, the rhythm section consisting of Guy Pinhas on bass and Greg Rogers on drums began jamming with guitarist Greg Anderson )))...
).
History
Sunn O))) is named after the SunnSunn
Sunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
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
Earth (band)
Earth is an American musical group based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989 and led by guitarist Dylan Carlson.Earth's music is nearly all instrumental, and can be divided into two distinct stages...
, 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
Dropped A tuning
Dropped A tuning is an alternate tuning for a 7 string guitar where an A is placed over the original standard E tuning or on a 6 string guitar where the strings are tuned to AEADF♯B. This is a "drop 1" tuning in the key of B...
, enriched by resonant feedback creating its soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
s. There is very little drumming and a lack of any discernible beat. When performing live the band wears Grimm Robes
Robes
Robes is an electronic indie new wave synth band from Carrboro, North Carolina. Members include Patrick Cudahy and Chris Williams. They've been in various bands over the last decade or so with lots of funny names: Joby's Opinon, Jacuzzi Brothers, Smooth Hedges, The Soft Drink. Sound reference...
, fills the air with fog, and plays at an extremely high volume.
The band releases the majority of its music through the label it founded in 1998, Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
. However, the band released ØØ Void
ØØ Void
-Guest musicians:* Petra Haden - violin, vocals* Scott Reeder - bass guitar* Peter Stahl - vocals...
, its second album initially on Rise Above Records
Rise Above Records
Rise Above Records is a London, England based independent record label owned by Lee Dorrian . It is named after a Napalm Death song from their EP Mentally Murdered. It was formed in the late 1980s and originally made to sell live releases by Napalm Death and S.O.B., but by 1991 had changed to cater...
and Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
, and Dirter Productions, with the latter pressing the album as a double
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
vinyl. The Grimmrobe Demos was first released also on Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
. It was later issued as a double picture record set by Outlaw Recordings and finally reissued by Southern Lord
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
in 2004.
White1
White1 is the fourth album by Sunn O))). It was the most significant departure from their original style to date. Each track was experimental in its own way, with Julian Cope reciting occultic druidist poetry for half of "My Wall," Norwegian lyrics sung by Runhild Gammelsæter of Thorr's Hammer as...
and White2
White2
White2 is the fifth album by Sunn O))). It was recorded during the same sessions as White1, but it was not released until a year later.This album features Attila Csihar of Mayhem fame quoting the Srimad Bhagavatam on "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]". The vinyl also features him on "Decay [The Symptoms of...
, 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
Black One
Black One is the sixth album by Sunn O))). It is a combination of both experimental and traditional Sunn O))), utilizing many guest musicians, including black metal musicians Malefic and Wrest from Xasthur and Leviathan, respectively...
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
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
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
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
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/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
s Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
and below Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
's Are You Experienced?
In 2008, Sunn O))) released its live album Dømkirke
Dømkirke
Dømkirke is a live album by Sunn O))), recorded at Bergen Cathedral in Bergen, Norway, during the Borealis festival. The album was pressed only on vinyl, never to be released on other formats, though it has now been made available for digital download direct from Southern Lord's webstore.It is a...
, 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.
The band's seventh studio album, Monoliths & Dimensions
Monoliths & Dimensions
Monoliths & Dimensions is the seventh studio album by the avant-garde drone doom band Sunn O))). The album was created and recorded over a period of two years and features the collaborations of composer Eyvind Kang, Australian guitar player Oren Ambarchi, Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar, Dylan...
, was released on May 18, 2009, and was critically acclaimed by both press and public alike.
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
Jason Ellis
Jason Ellis is an Australian professional skateboarder, mixed martial artist, radio host, and actor. Ellis hosts The Jason Ellis Show weekdays on Sirius XM Radio channel Faction...
on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius/XM. Greg Anderson then appeared on The Jason Ellis Show on January 12, 2010.
The group played the ATP New York 2010
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
music festival in Monticello, New York, during September 2010, where it collaborated with Boris
Boris (band)
is a Japanese experimental rock band, known for often combining and switching between different music genres including drone metal, sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelic rock, ambient and pop...
to perform the Altar
Altar (album)
Altar is a collaboration album between Japanese doom band Boris and American drone doom duo Sunn O))), released on October 31, 2006 through Southern Lord Records. A limited two-CD edition was released on October 23 via Southern Lord with a 28 minute bonus track with Sunn O))), Boris, and Dylan...
album live.
For live performances, Hungarian-born Attila Csihar
Attila Csihar
Attila Csihar , also sometimes known as Void, is a Hungarian black metal vocalist, best known for his vocal work on the album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. Author Ian Christe describes his vocals as "operatic."-Biography:...
has performed as session vocalist. Some of Attila's masks are designed and fabricated by Egyptian-born artist Nader Sadek.
Collaborations with other artists
- Author/musician/occultist Julian CopeJulian CopeJulian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
provided the spoken word 'vocals' for the 25-minute song "My Wall" on White1White1White1 is the fourth album by Sunn O))). It was the most significant departure from their original style to date. Each track was experimental in its own way, with Julian Cope reciting occultic druidist poetry for half of "My Wall," Norwegian lyrics sung by Runhild Gammelsæter of Thorr's Hammer as...
, telling a Wodenist death tale that takes place upon England's medieval 46-mile land barrier WansdykeWansdyke (earthwork)Wansdyke is a series of early medieval defensive linear earthworks in the West Country of England, consisting of a ditch and a running embankment from the ditch spoil, with the ditching facing north. It runs at least from Maes Knoll in historic Somerset, a hillfort at the east end of Dundry Hill...
, Cope integrating O'Malley and Anderson into the fabric of the text. - Attila CsiharAttila CsiharAttila Csihar , also sometimes known as Void, is a Hungarian black metal vocalist, best known for his vocal work on the album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. Author Ian Christe describes his vocals as "operatic."-Biography:...
, best known for his vocal work on MayhemMayhem (band)Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
's classic black metalBlack metalBlack metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
album De Mysteriis Dom SathanasDe Mysteriis Dom SathanasDe Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is an album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. Songwriting began as early as 1987, but due to the suicide of vocalist Dead and murder of guitarist Euronymous , the album's release was delayed until May 1994...
, performed vocals for the songs "Decay [The Symptoms of Kali Yuga]" and "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]" on the album White2White2White2 is the fifth album by Sunn O))). It was recorded during the same sessions as White1, but it was not released until a year later.This album features Attila Csihar of Mayhem fame quoting the Srimad Bhagavatam on "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]". The vinyl also features him on "Decay [The Symptoms of...
, quoting directly from the Srimad Bhagavatam. He has also been performing live with the band, and additionally contributed to the 2007 EP OracleOracle (Sunn O))) album)Oracle is an EP by Sunn O))) containing material written for a collaboration with the American sculptor Banks Violette.The jackhammer in "Belülről Pusztít" was provided by Joe Preston. Belülről Pusztít is a Hungarian phrase meaning "destroys from the inside"...
as well as their 2009 full-length Monoliths & DimensionsMonoliths & DimensionsMonoliths & Dimensions is the seventh studio album by the avant-garde drone doom band Sunn O))). The album was created and recorded over a period of two years and features the collaborations of composer Eyvind Kang, Australian guitar player Oren Ambarchi, Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar, Dylan...
. - Joe PrestonJoe Preston (bassist)Joe Preston is a rock bass guitarist and a former band member of Earth, The Melvins, Men's Recovery Project, The Need and High on Fire. Preston has also played with Sunn O))), and has a solo project called Thrones. Joe Preston learned bass from Alexander Giles. In 2007, he joined Harvey Milk in...
known for his work in EarthEarth (band)Earth is an American musical group based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989 and led by guitarist Dylan Carlson.Earth's music is nearly all instrumental, and can be divided into two distinct stages...
, ThronesThrones (band)Thrones is the solo project of bassist Joe Preston.-Biography:Thrones began in 1994 with an untitled cassette on the Punk in My Vitamins? label. He soon released the "Reddleman" single. In 1996, Thrones signed to Communion Records to issue the full-length album Alraune...
, The MelvinsThe MelvinsThe Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
and High on FireHigh on FireHigh on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
contributed to the recordings of both the White1 & White2 albums, the EP Oracle, AltarAltar (album)Altar is a collaboration album between Japanese doom band Boris and American drone doom duo Sunn O))), released on October 31, 2006 through Southern Lord Records. A limited two-CD edition was released on October 23 via Southern Lord with a 28 minute bonus track with Sunn O))), Boris, and Dylan...
, and Monoliths and Dimensions. - Runhild GammelsæterRunhild GammelsæterRunhild Gammelsæter is a musician notable for being the vocalist for the American bands Thorr's Hammer and Khlyst. She is also a professional biologist.-Biography:...
from Thorr's HammerThorr's HammerThorr's Hammer was an American/Norwegian death/doom band.Thorr's Hammer was formed in Ballard, Washington by Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley during winter 1994-1995. Soon after, Runhild Gammelsæter, then 17-year-old Norwegian exchange student, joined the band as vocalist/lyricist. The band...
contributed with vocals on the song "The Gates of Ballard", from White1. - G. Stuart Dahlquist of Asva and Burning WitchBurning WitchBurning Witch was an American doom metal band from Seattle, Washington, active between 1995 and 1998.-History:Burning Witch formed on Capitol Hill, Seattle in early 1995. After the breakup of the doom/death band Thorr's Hammer in 1995, Stephen O'Malley, Greg Anderson and Jamie Sykes formed Burning...
contributed to the recording of The Grimmrobe Demos, ØØ VoidØØ Void-Guest musicians:* Petra Haden - violin, vocals* Scott Reeder - bass guitar* Peter Stahl - vocals...
, and the track "FWTBT" on Flight of the BehemothFlight of the BehemothFlight of the Behemoth is the third album by Sunn O))). Significantly, the band collaborated with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, who mixed tracks 3 and 4, and used drum machine and vocals on the track "FWTBT"....
. - Peter StahlPeter StahlPeter Marc Stahl is an American vocalist known for fronting the seminal Washington, D.C. punk/hardcore band Scream with brother Franz Stahl. At one stage, Scream also featured Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums....
and Petra HadenPetra HadenPetra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
contributed to the recording of ØØ Void. - Japanese noise master MerzbowMerzbowis the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
worked with the band on the tracks "O)))Bow1" and "O)))Bow2" on Flight of the Behemoth, as well as that LP's bonus disc tracks "O)))Bow3" and "O)))Bow4". - Rex Ritter of JessamineJessamine (band)Jessamine was a band that recorded three albums for Kranky records between 1994 and 1998 and a number of singles for other record labels. These singles were later collected by the band on a self-released compilation album....
and Fontanelle contributed live and on the production of both White1 & White2. - Dawn Smithson of JessamineJessamine (band)Jessamine was a band that recorded three albums for Kranky records between 1994 and 1998 and a number of singles for other record labels. These singles were later collected by the band on a self-released compilation album....
contributed live and on the recording of White2. - Anthony Sylvester and Savage PencilSavage PencilSavage Pencil is a comics artist, and is the nom de plume of English music journalist Edwin Pouncey.-Biography:...
contributed to the recording of Candlewolf of the Golden ChaliceCandlewolf of the Golden ChaliceCandlewolf of the Golden Chalice is an EP by Sunn O))). It was their first and only Peel session, although it was recorded and released after the death of John Peel...
. - Malefic from XasthurXasthurXasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
and Wrest from LeviathanLeviathan (band)Leviathan is an American black metal band formed in 1998 by Wrest . In Leviathan, Wrest records and plays all instruments including vocals entirely on his own. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O))), and is an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight...
provided vocals on Black OneBlack OneBlack One is the sixth album by Sunn O))). It is a combination of both experimental and traditional Sunn O))), utilizing many guest musicians, including black metal musicians Malefic and Wrest from Xasthur and Leviathan, respectively...
. - Oren AmbarchiOren AmbarchiOren Ambarchi is a multi-instrumentalist who in major plays electric guitar and drums, with longstanding interests in transcending conventional instrumental approaches. He was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969 to a Jewish family originally from Iraq....
and John WieseJohn Wiese-Biography:Born April 18, 1977, John Wiese is an artist and composer residing in Los Angeles, California. In the late 1990s, Wiese moved from St. Louis, Missouri to the west coast in order to study graphic design at the California Institute of the Arts...
contributed to the creation of Black One, providing experimental guitar and electronic elements and other instrumentation. John Wiese toured with the band across Australia, Europe and Scandinavia in 2005. Oren Ambarchi has since become a regular live performer with the band. - Malefic from XasthurXasthurXasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
and John WieseJohn Wiese-Biography:Born April 18, 1977, John Wiese is an artist and composer residing in Los Angeles, California. In the late 1990s, Wiese moved from St. Louis, Missouri to the west coast in order to study graphic design at the California Institute of the Arts...
contributed on the track "Coma Mirror" on Angel Coma. - UlverUlverUlver is a musical group from Norway. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled Bergtatt – Et eeventyr i 5 capitler , Ulver’s musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and...
provided production and contributions to the track "CUT WOODeD" on WHITEboxWHITEbox-See also:*White1*White2*Live White*Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice...
. - Thomas Nieuwenhuizen from BeaverBeaver (band)Beaver or 13eaver as it is now known is a stoner rock band from the Netherlands. All of their CD's are considered rare, and are all out of print.-History:Beaver appeared on the Amsterdam music scene in the late eighties...
, God, 350073500735007 is a band from the Netherlands. The sound of 35007 has elements of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, space rock and progressive rock.- History :...
and Jesus and the Gospel Fuckers has appeared on Solistitium Fulminate, Angel Coma on MicromoogMicromoogThe Micromoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer produced by Moog Music from 1975 to 1979.The Micromoog was designed by Robert Moog and Jim Scott as a scaled-down, cheaper alternative to the Minimoog. It was designed to tap into a market of musicians who wanted an introduction to synthesis, but...
, Moog TaurusMoog TaurusThe Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 or 1975 to 1981. Commonly called the Taurus I, it has a 13-note organ-style pedal board similar to the pedal keyboard of a spinet organ.-History:...
and Moog RogueMoog RogueThe Moog Rogue is a monophonic analog synthesizer produced by the original Moog Music in the early 1980s, but, was not designed by Bob Moog. Very basic in its design and use, the Rogue featured a 32-note keyboard and two VCOs. VCO number 2 is tunable between a half-step below to an octave above...
, and continues to perform with the group as an integral live member. - Collaborated with BorisBoris (band)is a Japanese experimental rock band, known for often combining and switching between different music genres including drone metal, sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelic rock, ambient and pop...
on Altar. - Guitarist Justin BroadrickJustin BroadrickJustin Karl Michael Broadrick is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band Godflesh, one of the first bands to combine elements of extreme metal and industrial music.-Biography:Broadrick was born in the council estates of inner...
, formerly of Napalm DeathNapalm DeathNapalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and GodfleshGodfleshGodflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
, currently playing with FinalFinal (band)Final is a project of Justin Broadrick, creator of the band Godflesh, which he started when he was just 13 years old. Unlike Godflesh, Final is primarily electronic in nature, taking on a space-like, dark ambient sound....
and JesuJesu (band)Jesu is a post-metal band formed in 2003 by Justin Broadrick following the breakup of Godflesh. Jesu was the name of the last song on the final Godflesh release, Hymns, and Broadrick decided to adopt it as the name of this project....
, has played live with the band in their late 2006 tour of the UK and Ireland, as well as in a few west coast dates in 2007. - Other live collaborators have included Peter RehbergPeter RehbergPeter Rehberg is an author of electronic audio works.He has collaborated with: Jim O'Rourke, Christian Fennesz, Dennis Cooper, Gisèle Vienne, Stephen O'Malley , Tina Frank, Matmos, Tujiko Noriko, Kevin Drumm, Marcus Schmickler, Michaela Schwentner , Matt "Skitz" Sanders, Russell Haswell, Florian...
, Kevin DrummKevin Drumm-Biography:Emerging from the city's improvised music scene, in the 1990s he became one of the world's pre-eminent prepared guitar players. Since then his work has expanded to include electroacoustic compositions and live electronic music made with laptop computers and analog modular synthesizers...
, Daniel O'SullivanDaniel O'SullivanDaniel O'Sullivan is a multi-instrumentalist/composer from Manchester, England best known for playing in experimental art-rock bands Guapo, Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses, Ulver, Æthenor, Miracle and Mothlite....
, Lasse MarhaugLasse MarhaugLasse Marhaug is a Norwegian musician who primarily works in the field of noise music but frequently drifts into other areas such as improvisation, jazz, rock and extreme metal. Marhaug has also been involved in creating music for theatre, dance, art installations and video art...
, Bill Herzog, Holy McGrail, Steven StapletonSteven StapletonSteven Peter Stapleton is a British musician and the only constant member of experimental improv outfit Nurse with Wound...
and Robin Fox.
Cover songs and remixes
Sunn O))) occasionally covers songs by other bands, reinterpreting them to fit their style.- "F.W.T.B.T.", from Flight of the Behemoth, is a cover of MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - The full title is "F.W.T.B.T. (I Dream of Lars UlrichLars UlrichLars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
Being Thrown Through the Bus Window instead of My Master Mystikall Cliff BurtonCliff BurtonClifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
)". - "Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine" from Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron AgeCro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron AgeCro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age was an vinyl EP released by Sunn O))). The first track is a remix of a song by Earth and the second is a remix of a track of the album Frog+ by Merzbow. This was a limited release with only 300 red vinyl and 200 black vinyl being made.-Track listing:...
(EarthEarth (band)Earth is an American musical group based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989 and led by guitarist Dylan Carlson.Earth's music is nearly all instrumental, and can be divided into two distinct stages...
remix). - "Catch-22 (Surrender or Die)" from Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age (MerzbowMerzbowis the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
remix). - "Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)" from Black One (ImmortalImmortal (band)Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
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 BathoryBathory (band)Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
. - "CandleGoat" from Black One also quotes the lyrics from "Freezing Moon" by MayhemMayhem (band)Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
.
Although "Rabbits' Revenge" from ØØ Void is often thought to be a cover of The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
' "Hung Bunny", it is actually a reworking of an earlier Melvins track.
Discography
EPs
- Veils It WhiteVeils It WhiteVeils It White is an EP by Sunn O))) mixed by James Plotkin utilizing material recorded during the sessions for the band's third album, Flight of the Behemoth....
(12" 2003) - Cro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron AgeCro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron AgeCro-Monolithic Remixes for an Iron Age was an vinyl EP released by Sunn O))). The first track is a remix of a song by Earth and the second is a remix of a track of the album Frog+ by Merzbow. This was a limited release with only 300 red vinyl and 200 black vinyl being made.-Track listing:...
(12" 2004) - Candlewolf of the Golden ChaliceCandlewolf of the Golden ChaliceCandlewolf of the Golden Chalice is an EP by Sunn O))). It was their first and only Peel session, although it was recorded and released after the death of John Peel...
(12" 2005) - OracleOracle (Sunn O))) album)Oracle is an EP by Sunn O))) containing material written for a collaboration with the American sculptor Banks Violette.The jackhammer in "Belülről Pusztít" was provided by Joe Preston. Belülről Pusztít is a Hungarian phrase meaning "destroys from the inside"...
(12", CD & 2XCD 2007)
CDs and LPs
- ØØ VoidØØ Void-Guest musicians:* Petra Haden - violin, vocals* Scott Reeder - bass guitar* Peter Stahl - vocals...
(CD 2000, 2xLP 2003) - Flight of the BehemothFlight of the BehemothFlight of the Behemoth is the third album by Sunn O))). Significantly, the band collaborated with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, who mixed tracks 3 and 4, and used drum machine and vocals on the track "FWTBT"....
(CD & 2xLP 2002) - White1White1White1 is the fourth album by Sunn O))). It was the most significant departure from their original style to date. Each track was experimental in its own way, with Julian Cope reciting occultic druidist poetry for half of "My Wall," Norwegian lyrics sung by Runhild Gammelsæter of Thorr's Hammer as...
(CD & 2xLP 2003) - White2White2White2 is the fifth album by Sunn O))). It was recorded during the same sessions as White1, but it was not released until a year later.This album features Attila Csihar of Mayhem fame quoting the Srimad Bhagavatam on "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]". The vinyl also features him on "Decay [The Symptoms of...
(CD & 2xLP 2004) - Black OneBlack OneBlack One is the sixth album by Sunn O))). It is a combination of both experimental and traditional Sunn O))), utilizing many guest musicians, including black metal musicians Malefic and Wrest from Xasthur and Leviathan, respectively...
& Solstitium Fulminate (2xCD 2005, ltd. 2000 copies) - Black One (CD 2005, 2xLP 2006)
- Monoliths & DimensionsMonoliths & DimensionsMonoliths & Dimensions is the seventh studio album by the avant-garde drone doom band Sunn O))). The album was created and recorded over a period of two years and features the collaborations of composer Eyvind Kang, Australian guitar player Oren Ambarchi, Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar, Dylan...
(CD & 2xLP 2009)
Live albums
- The Libations of SamhainThe Libations of SamhainThe Libations of Samhain is a live album released by Sunn O))). The first track is a live performance in London, on Halloween 2003 and the second is an interview by Savage Pencil and Sharon Gal, originally broadcast on London's Resonance FM 104. 500 copies with "raw" covers and 100 with orange...
(live CD 2003) - Live WhiteLive WhiteLive White is a live album by Sunn O))), recorded at the Northsix in Brooklyn, New York. The first five tracks are from White1 and White2. "NN O)))" is from ØØ Void, and "Death Becomes You" is from Flight of the Behemoth. "Caveman Salad" would later become "Orthodox Caveman" on Black One.-Track...
(live 2xCD 2004) - Live Action SamplerLive Action SamplerLive Action Sampler was a 2-disc compilation self-released by Sunn O))). It was a free sampler that was sent out to promoters during 2003.-Disc one:# "Mocking Solemnity"# "Death Becomes You"# "NN)))" # "HELL-O)))-WEEN"# "Catch 22 "...
(promotional mix 2xCD 2004) - La Mort Noir dans Esch/Alzette (Live CD limited to 1000 machine-numbered copies, sold on 2006 tour) (2006)
- DømkirkeDømkirkeDømkirke is a live album by Sunn O))), recorded at Bergen Cathedral in Bergen, Norway, during the Borealis festival. The album was pressed only on vinyl, never to be released on other formats, though it has now been made available for digital download direct from Southern Lord's webstore.It is a...
(live 2xLP 2008) - (初心) Grimmrobes Live 101008 (live cassette sold on worldwide 2009 tour) (2009)
- Agharti Live 09-10 (Live Vinyl 2011, only sold via Southern Lord Subscription series and at Roadburn 2011)
Split albums and collaborations
- Angel Coma (limited edition split LP single with EarthEarth (band)Earth is an American musical group based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989 and led by guitarist Dylan Carlson.Earth's music is nearly all instrumental, and can be divided into two distinct stages...
) (LP 2006) - AltarAltar (album)Altar is a collaboration album between Japanese doom band Boris and American drone doom duo Sunn O))), released on October 31, 2006 through Southern Lord Records. A limited two-CD edition was released on October 23 via Southern Lord with a 28 minute bonus track with Sunn O))), Boris, and Dylan...
(collaboration with BorisBoris (band)is a Japanese experimental rock band, known for often combining and switching between different music genres including drone metal, sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelic rock, ambient and pop...
, CD 2006, 2×CD ltd. 5000 2006, 3×LP 2007)
Singles
- The Horn and the Spear (EMS remix) (Digital 2004)
- "Che" (with Pan SonicPan sonicPan Sonic was a Finnish experimental electronic music duo consisting of Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen.-Music:...
) (2008)
Box sets
- WHITEboxWHITEbox-See also:*White1*White2*Live White*Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice...
(4xLP boxed set reissue of White albums, ltd. 450 w/ both versions of the song "DECAY" and bonus track "CUT WOODeD") (2006)