Black One does exactly what is expected from a Sunn O))) record, it drones and feedbacks like a reliable fiend. While it’s nothing groundbreaking in terms of an evolution of their sound, it does provide some subtle new twists on their trademarked detuned riffing.
Album number six from Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson and all is not well. Of course that's expected from Sunn O))): an intense feeling of being unwell. Black Onemanages to sound blacker and more disturbing than Sunn O)))’s previouswork—like they distilled the anti-soul of Burzum down to its darkestand then tuned the results down a couple of octaves. The guitars aremore in the background on this album,as the majority of the action ishappening with the layers and layers of electronic noise and noisyvocals.
“Cursed Realms (of the Winterdemons)” features one of the many (veryunderground) guest collaborators Wrest on vocals and it sounds likedredging up a body from a murky river, amplified properly.Southern Lord label mate Malefic provides vocals on “Bathory Erzsebet”from within a sealed casket in a hearse. The entire song is so drenchedin dread that I nearly forgot that it’s only a piece of music. What Iliked most about this track, apart from the intense atmosphere, wasthat they completely steer clear of the traditional Sunn O))) guitardrones for the first seven minutes of the song. When the guitars dofinally kick in it’s breathtaking. especially for Malefic as hisgasping is clearly audible and the closeness of his vocals is ofsomething beyond the grave. It is an incredibly arresting piece.
While I was afraid for a while that Sunn O))) were becoming verystuck in a rut, they have managed to break out a bit on this album.They have shaken off their Earth tribute band status with the additionof more instruments and varied vocals and being far heavier than Earthever were. This is a mighty step in a good direction and this will, nodoubt, be the soundtrack to a doomy doomy Hallowe’en for me.
samples:
Read More
