Sunn 0))) - Black One
This album has been released for quite a while already, so let me explain why it took me so long to review it. Since I am a very big fan of this stuff I try to get as much material as possible. Now the metal dude of our local record store is also a big fan (even worse than me) and he ordered the limited 2000 double disc edition (with a live at Roskilde disc) and got one for me too. But since there were way over 2000 mail orders within a week they had trouble in processing it. But now I finally have what may be their masterpiece yet. Let’s find out.
As the title of the album may suspect, there is a high dose of black metal entwined through the subsonic drones. Now I don’t have a very nice opinion towards black metal, but these guys made me look onto it from another angle.
They’ve basically taken every aspect of black metal that can be described as ambient and thrown it in with their own noise. I mean playing tones really fast for a long time combined with slower strikes, chanting/screaming and samples of the arctic winds. It makes their music so much more versatile but in a non-disturbing way.
I used to prefer their very first recordings, the GrimmRobe Demos and Viod, but I think I’ve found a new favourite. The dark atmosphere that flows from my speakers is in a weird way quite enchanting, even when I’m not stoned as hell.
This album features the most guest performances they’ve done so far, which is clearly a signal that their band has become way bigger than they had expected. Their cult following keeps growing with every album even though it’s such weird extreme music. It varies from respected black metal artists like Malefic to their good friend Oren Ambarchi, who was with them on their last tour in Europe as well.
It’s also the most tracks they’ve ever put on an album, namely seven, with among them the shortest they ever did, just barely over two minutes! Don’t worry, there still are some long ones too.
I can only say that if you liked the previous stuff, this may surprise you yet. But in a very pleasant way. The live at Roskilde disc is a nice addition to have (especially if you love what Attila Chisar from Mayhem does with these guys), but not a real must. Only available through E-Bay nowadays. I just hope they’ll come over here to tour very soon. Like Morbid Angel once stated: extreme music for extreme people. All bow down to the drone!
95/1001Details Southern Lord
Released on Tuesday Oct 18th, 2005
drone
Writer @DemonDust on Thursday Dec 8th, 2005
Tags: #Sunn 0)))
Tracklisting
1. Sin Nanna
2. It Took The Night To Believe
3. Cursed Realms (Of The Winterdemons)
4. Orthodox Caveman
5. CandleGoat
6. Cry For The Weeper
7. B�thory Erzs�bet
2. It Took The Night To Believe
3. Cursed Realms (Of The Winterdemons)
4. Orthodox Caveman
5. CandleGoat
6. Cry For The Weeper
7. B�thory Erzs�bet
Line up
Stephen O’Malley & Greg Anderson
And a lot of guest performances by Malefic, Oren Ambarchi, John Wiese, Wrest and more.
And a lot of guest performances by Malefic, Oren Ambarchi, John Wiese, Wrest and more.