Sunn (band)

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This article is about the band. For the amplifier manufacturers, see Sunn.
Sunn
Sunno)))cloaks.jpg
Sunn at a 2007 concert, wearing its characteristic robes
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Experimental metal,[1] drone metal, doom metal,[2] dark ambient
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
Moog synthesizer

Sunn (stylized Sunn O))) and pronounced simply "sun" /sʌn/) is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 1998. It is mainly known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and extreme 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 and Engine Kid).[3]

Contents

History[edit]

Sunn 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 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 robes, fills the air with fog, and plays at an extremely high volume.[3]

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.

Logotype of the band Sunn.

Sunn 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 material, yet still marking a significant return to its traditional sound.

Sunn 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 Wonkavision, an independent music magazine, as one of the greatest modern metal acts. Sunn 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?[4]

In 2008, Sunn 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.[5]

The band's seventh studio album, Monoliths & Dimensions, was released on May 18, 2009, and was acclaimed by both press and public alike.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

For live performances, Hungarian-born Attila Csihar has performed as prime vocalist since 2003.

Discography[edit]
"NN O)))"
The second track from ØØ Void
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Orthodox Caveman"
The fourth track from Black One
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Studio albums[edit]

Demos[edit]

EPs[edit]

Live albums[edit]

  • The Libations of Samhain (Bastet 2003)
  • Live White (2xCD 2004)
  • Live Action Sampler (promotional mix 2xCD 2004)
  • La Mort Noir dans Esch/Alzette (limited to 1000 machine-numbered copies, sold on 2006 tour) (2006)
  • Dømkirke (2xLP 2008)
  • (初心) Grimmrobes Live 101008 (Cassette sold on 2009 World tour) (2009)
  • Live At Primavera Sound Festival 2009 On WFMU (Free Music Archive 2009)
  • Agharti Live 09-10 (Vinyl 2011, only sold via Southern Lord Subscription series, Roadburn 2011, and the Power of the Riff festival)

Split albums and collaborations[edit]

  • Angel Coma (limited edition split LP single with Earth) (LP 2006)
  • Altar (collaboration with Boris, CD 2006, 2xCD ltd. 5000 2006, 3xLP 2007)

Singles[edit]

  • The Horn and the Spear (EMS remix) (Digital 2004)
  • "Che" (with Pan Sonic) (2008)

Box sets[edit]

  • WHITEbox (4xLP boxed set reissue of White albums, ltd. 450 w/ both versions of the song "DECAY" and bonus track "CUT WOODeD") (2006)

Compilation-only tracks[edit]

  • "B/P Simple" from the Jukebox Buddha (Staubgold 2006)
  • "Isengard (Chopped/Screwed)" from the Southern Lord: Resurrection (Southern Lord 2010)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Billboard". Billboard Magazine (Nielsen Business Media) 119 (1): 27. 6 January 2007. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
  2. ^ Sunn O))) metalkingdom.net. 2007-02-03. Retrieved on 2009-09-08.
  3. ^ a b John Wray (May 28, 2006). "Heady Metal". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
  4. ^ The Q Daily: The 20 Loudest Albums Of All Time news.qthemusic.com. 6-28-2007. Retrieved on 2009-10-28.
  5. ^ 9:36 AM. "Sunn O))) Announces US Tour Dates: News at metal-underground.com". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20. 
  6. ^ "Sunn O))) announces new album in May 2009". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20. 
  7. ^ Greg appears on Jason Ellis Show[dead link]
  8. ^ Sunn O))) + Boris Present Altar, Tortoise, Hope Sandoval and More for ATP NY! blogs.myspace.com 2010-03-25. Retrieved on 2010-04-01.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sunn O)))
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