Sunn O))) : Sunn O)))
To best experience Sunn O))), it’s necessary to give their music your full attention—to become immersed in their drones, which are in a constant state of textural flux. For nearly 30 years, Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson have committed themselves to exploring the potential of drone in the service of heavier sounds. And in forgoing conventional rock and metal songwriting, they create bewitching soundscapes that evoke meaning through sound alone.
On their previous records, Sunn O))) showcased versatility in their atmospheric approach. Whereas the soundscapes of 2005’s Black One are unnerving and oozing with horror, those of 2019’s Life Metal are relatively more serene. O’Malley and Anderson have perfected their craft through the timing and pacing of an effective wall of sound, staying the course with their self-titled, 10th studio album and debut with Sub Pop.
Opener “XXANN” is one of two 18-minute-long tracks which unfurl over time to reveal variations in mood and texture. The duo’s guitars emit roaring, harsh distortion, the metallic ringing of feedback washing over the listener. At first, the combination overwhelms the senses, until the ringing and distortion come into harmony. A similar feel comes about in the following track, “Does Anyone Hear Like Venom?” What begins as bombastic eventually morphs into a relatively straightforward rhythm of sound (though, still ferocious in volume).
The dynamics of Sunn O))’s approach can be heard in how they balance volume; while some songs feature an unbroken sonic assault, the band’s best material often involves blending multiple drones of varying degrees of intensity. The listener who embraces these evolving soundscapes will likely find themselves in a flow state. I’ve always felt that Sunn O))) has an amazing power to construct a sense of place through their soundscapes, one you might experience while dreaming. The sound of running water played at the start and end of “Mindrolling” make for a beautiful contrast to the band’s thrum—gentle flow into electric storm, into gentle flow.
Throughout the record’s duration Sunn O))) consistently deliver an enchanting experience. However, while their performances are captivating, Sunn O))) is also one of the duo’s less experimental records. Compared to the lengths in which O’Malley and Anderson explore sound on records like Black One or Monoliths & Dimensions, Sunn O))) is a little more pared back in its scope. It still stands as a powerfully meditative experience, just one in which the duo play to their strengths.
O’Malley and Anderson’s art has the power to achieve an ideal you might think of as spiritual—transformative and ever-flowing with potential. For its abundance of sonic richness and ability to inspire meditative bliss, Sunn O))) is such a gift. For those who seek wonder, who seek mysteries riddled in sound, Sunn O))) welcomes you.
Label: Sub Pop
Year: 2026
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Sunn O))) : Sunn O)))
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