Today I will be covering an album by a band that I like to call "The Rift Masters of Drone". This band certainly deserves more popularity, but unfortunately the style of music is considered on the "underground" spectrum.
Genre: Drone / Stoner Metal / Doom Metal
Artist/Band Name: Sunn O)))
Facts About the Artist/Band: Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn amplifier brand. The band itself was formed as a commemoration band of sorts for the inventors of Drone Metal, a band called "Earth" whom is often credited with being the inspiration that created Sunn O))). The band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley (also of Khanate and Burning Witch) and Greg Anderson (of Goatsnake and Engine Kid). 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.
Album: Monoliths & Dimensions
Cover Art:
Track Listing:
1. "Aghartha" 17:34
2. "Big Church [Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért]" 9:43
3. "Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)" 10:02
4. "Alice" 16:21 (best song on the album)
Total length: 53:00
Review:
When people think heavy metal, it has come to my attention that they think of two common things. 1: Barbaric, loud, and music that would be considered both non-complex and un-artistic. 2: A singular sound that all bands have (All bands sound the same). This is SO not true, and in Sunn O)))'s case, it is the opposite. Another thing i need to touch up on first, is that people assume "Heavy" metal requires fast, melodic, and deafening music with no real theme. Sunn O))), however, Is also the exact opposite, and yet, still a HELL of alot heavier than any band I have ever heard that is still enjoyable to listen to.
Now, the review. Sunn O)))'s "Monoliths & Dimensions" is often considered to be Sunn O)))'s heaviest album, and all in all, i have to agree. Although I personally feel that their album "Iron Soul of Nothing (Featuring: 'Nurse With Wound')" is their best, Monoliths & Dimensions deserves ALOT of praise. The album takes drone to a whole new level of heavy, gritty, harshness that Sunn O))) is known for delivering.
Monoliths & Dimensions is an album for those listeners out there who are looking for both Heavy music, and slow, progressive art. Sunn O)))'s style in Monoliths & Dimensions can be explained as "an Artistic way of drilling into the brain, planting a bomb, and exploding your mind". As you listen to this album, keep this in mind: Try to listen to the songs for their "Texture" not their melody.
The Album starts off with a heavy, AND I MEAN HEAVY, song that jumps right into the grittiness of the track and fades out over the entirety of the song. It is like jumping into a bed of nails and managing to drown. The feeling and sensation is fantastic. The second track is a very nice example of artistic brain drilling. The track consists of a choir, heavy guitar coupled with lots of amplifier humming, slow, gritty vocal techniques, and a constant buzz. In short, it sounds like the choir of doom, and that is fantastic. As I said before, the third track was actually named the Heaviest Song of All-Time by Jason Ellis on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius/XM. "Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)", the third track, is indeed a VERY heavy track and has a very rad feel to it. If you like heaviness that you can feel vibrate off your skin that still sounds like ambience you could sleep too (albeit the night terrors), this song will have you hooked. Every minute is different from the last while staying true to the slow, steady, and subtle style of drone metal. The final song, "Alice", is dedicated to the jazz artist, Alice Coltrane. This song is very unique in many ways, but most of all, it is a unique style for Sunn O))). This track starts off with a very slow but crisp and alive feeling. As it progresses, the song will pick up static and fade into a melodic and heavenly symphonic tune. This song goes from, Thick, crisp, fresh, Sub-bass and guitar with static, to French horns, harps, strings, and the hole 9 yards of fairy tale sounding symphonies. I can not stress enough just how awesome this song is.
Overall, the general Motive or feel of this album is to get listeners to feel what they wanna feel, think about what you feel, and reflect upon it. This is a typical feel with Sunn O))), but this album tends to really stress the "Drilling into the brain" as well. While listening, it is advised to listen to every sound and not follow a singular sound or note. By doing this, I find it easiest to feel this reflexive mood that the album is supposed to impose upon the listeners. All of the tracks are very Solid and and challenging for the brain to fully register and label as "pleasant music". But with the right attitude, this music can become the most pleasant to the ears in the known musical world. And to me, Sunn O))) is the best band out there for this genre. This album in specific is the very album that got me into Sunn O))) in the first place. The first track by Sunn O))) I ever heard was "Big Church [Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért]" (however you pronounce that).
Overall, I give this album a 4 of 5. The album was made over a 2 year period and i have to appreciate the time, effort and care that was placed ever so perfectly into the production of this album. A must have for any drone fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS9VbZKdsMs