Sunn O)))

Sunn O))) emerged from Seattle's underground in 1998 as Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson's radical deconstruction of doom metal orthodoxy. Both musicians brought extensive credentials from Burning Witch and Goatsnake respectively, yet their collaboration transcended conventional heaviness through pure sonic immersion. The band's nomenclature references both the iconic Sunn amplifier heads and Earth's pioneering drone-doom methodology, while the triple parentheses symbolize the towering amplifier stacks that became integral to their live ritual performances.

The foundational releases The Grimmrobe Demos (2000) and ØØ Void (2000) through Southern Lord Records immediately established Sunn O)))’s distinctive approach: glacially-paced chord progressions, overwhelming volume levels, and tonal density achieving physical manifestation. Flight of the Behemoth (2002) expanded their palette through collaborations with Attila Csihar of Mayhem, transforming their drone-doom foundation into ritualistic ambient territories. The subsequent White1 and White2 (2003) incorporated church organ arrangements and experimental compositional techniques, demonstrating their evolution beyond traditional metal frameworks.

Black One (2005) stands as a watershed moment in experimental doom metal, recorded at Aleph Studios under Randall Dunn's production. The inclusion of Xasthur's Malefic, recorded while enclosed in a wooden coffin for "Báthory Erzsébet," exemplified Sunn O)))’s uncompromising approach to atmospheric intensity. Later works including Monoliths & Dimensions (2009) featured full orchestration with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, while Life Metal (2019) incorporated collaborations with Hildegard von Bingen interpreter Anna von Hausswolff, recorded at La Chapel in Belgium.

The band’s tenth studio album—their self-titled debut for Sub Pop—marks a return to the core duo's "telepathic intensity." Recorded with Brad Wood at Bear Creek Studios, the work is a panoramic journey through decaying time and space, influenced by the wooded environment of the Pacific Northwest. Eschewing external collaborators for the first time in years, O'Malley and Anderson blend massive, crackling guitar textures with delicate field recordings and piano interludes. Framed by Mark Rothko's paintings and liner notes by Robert Macfarlane, the album reinforces Sunn O)))’s position as a bridge between avant-garde art and the visceral power of heavy music.

Discography

2000 - ØØ Void (Hydra Head)
2002 - Flight of the Behemoth (Southern Lord Records)
2003 - White1 (Southern Lord Records)
2003 - White2 (Southern Lord Records)
2005 - Black One (Southern Lord Records)
2009 - Monoliths & Dimensions (Southern Lord Records)
2019 - Life Metal (Southern Lord Records)
2019 - Pyroclasts (Southern Lord Records)

Essential EPs
The Grimmrobe Demos (2000) established the fundamental drone-doom structures and remains essential for understanding sonic philosophy of Sunn O))).