Sunn O))): Black One (2005)

Review

Let's round out Days of Doom with the least appreciated of all metal genres.

Sunn O))) is widely regarded as the quintessential drone doom band. Drone doom is not something that's really connected with me, but there is something to be said about the atmosphere created by these guys.

In short, Black One is the perfect Halloween music.

This album is scary as hell. It's slow-rolling, atmospheric music that's very repetitive, so it's not much to listen to if you're focused in on it. Through most of the album it's very bassy, distorted stuff, and where melodies are to be found they're quickly buried in the morass. The vocals, provided by guests from black metal bands Xasthur and Leviathan, are completely unintelligible but frightening. It's said they locked Malefic (a claustrophobic) in a casket to record album closer "Báthory Erzsébet".

It takes a while to get going, and when it does, it doesn't really get going that much. The first few tracks have very little bass, just repetitive notes and atmospheric sounds with scary vocals. The heaviness begins on the fourth track, "Orthodox Caveman". The only track on here that could stand as an actual song is "Candlegoat", with its shorter length (8 minutes), actual melody (at least to start), and some brief vocals.

But despite its shortcomings, this kind of atmosphere is something to marvel at.



The Verdict: Have you ever heard the Well to Hell recording, which claimed to be a recording of hell itself and the screams inside? This is like that, but better, and stretched for over an hour. I think I'll be playing it on Halloween, just outside the door. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.