SUNN 0))) "Life Metal"

SUNN 0)))

"Life Metal"

The hooded druids of drone return after a 4 year hiatus with one of their heaviest and most feedback laden albums yet.

It goes without saying that you have to be in a special frame of mind to appreciate the long-winded and sonically challenging epics this band conjures up. Many are not up to the challenge. And several times, I’ve been one of those myself.  But when they do lock into a groove of towering guitar tone, they can achieve a kind of meditative majesty that no other band creates. I'm happy to say that "Life Metal" is such an effort. This one leaves behind a lot of the weirder experimentation and twangy tones and focuses on super low tuned, crunching THRUMMMM! This is the Sunn 0))) I like best.

There are four tracks on "Life Metal" ranging from 11:46 to a staggering 25:24 in length. Don't expect typical metal riffing. I find the best way to appreciate this stuff is to light a lot of incense, turn the lights off, sit in a lotus position and just get engulfed by the thunder. I don't imagine mind-altering substances would hurt your appreciation of this a bit. First song "Between Sleipnir's Breaths" starts by lifting the neighing horse from BATHORY's "Oden's Rise over Nordland" but soon enters the world of majestic slow motion guitar crunch. SLOOOOW dragged out riffs are the essence of "Life Metal". This first track features that super-sweet, oh so precious female vocal used by BJORK and other folky chanteuses. That kind of singing has always made my teeth hurt and I don't like it any better here. Just focus on the THRUMMM and you can get past it.

"Troubled Air" brings more slowly churning guitar drone, this time mixed with keyboard sounds. It is very meditative and relaxing while being incredibly loud and heavy. Then the really long tracks start. "Aurora" is 19 minutes and 7 seconds of feedback tones and rumbling low frequency crush. This is s-t-re-t-c-h-e-d almost to infinity but definitely the most purely heavy track the band has done in a long time. Then you better pack a lunch for the 25 minute plus "Novae" which, impossibly, is even slower and longer, with very long stretches of pure feedback. A little bit too much to suit me and it will probably make the fan of "real" songs cry uncle. This one I would have trimmed a bit, but it still has it's mountain-flattening moments.

SUNN 0))) says this album is meant to be upbeat and inspiring, hence the "Life Metal" name and the beautiful, abstract cover. You may find it so. If you're a lover of heavy guitar drone, this is a must have. Fans of conventional songwriting will still be stumped.

SOUTHERN LORD

SUNN 0)))