Sunn O))) have recently announced the release of their brand-new effort, entitled Life Metal, this is the first new studio album in four years, due for release on Southern Lord in April 2019.
At the very beginning of 2018, Sunn O))) co-founders Stephen O’Malley & Greg Anderson set out on a path toward a new album production. They were both determined to create new music and a new method of working in the studio, without forgetting the long and proud history of production and studio accomplishments forged during their first two decades of existence (and the members’ own musical experiences out of the band’s). One long term goal was completely clear: to record Sunn O))) with Steve Albini in his Electrical Audio studio. Steve took the call, said “Sure, this will be fun. I have no idea what is going to happen.”
Greg and Stephen gathered twice that spring for writing, conceptualising and riff woodshedding in the very building where the band was formed: Downtown Rehearsal in Los Angeles. In early summer a pre-production session with full backline, as a trio with T.O.S. on Moog, was recorded at Dave Grohl’s 606 studios, Northridge, California.
In July 2018, Sunn O))) spent just over two weeks in Chicago at Electrical Audio (Studio A) with Steve Albini at the helm. An all analogue technique was used, they recorded and mixed on tape, providing a creative gateway for Sunn O))) to evolve their production methods into stronger, confident, performance based and a more logical executive process. The album was mastered and lacquers cut from tape in October by Sunn O))) ally Matt Colton at Alchemy in London. The LP version is a AAA album, recorded and mixed on tape via a completely analogue production, from the input of the band’s amplifiers and the air coming off the speakers in front of the microphones to needle touching the pressed vinyl on your turntable.
Watch Life Metal trailer below.
Continuing one of the main currents of the Sunn O))) concept, depth of exploration within collaboration, brought forth Hildur Guðnadóttir to the Sunn O))) constellation. Hildur is a sometime live collaborator of Sunn O))) and a renowned film music composer, former member of the bands Múm, Pan Sonic and Angel. She was a long time collaborator with the composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (RIP).
Tim Midyett, a close friend of Greg and Stephen since the Seattle days of the early 90s (and member of Silkworm, Bottomless Pit and Mint Mile), joined in a foundational role tying earth to sound with wicked performances on aluminium neck bass and baritone guitars: instruments he helped pioneer playing back in the 90s (alongside Steve and Shellac of course).
Prolific new music composer Anthony Pateras arranged and recorded an incredible contribution of pipe organ for a piece titled “Troubled Air” (titled after an essay by author Aliza Shvarts, who also penned the liner notes for Sunn O)))’s Kannon) at Schlosskappelle, Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart.
The record was produced by the core of Stephen & Greg & arranged by the greater constellation Sunn O))). Paintings by visual artist Samantha Keely Smith graciously adorn the sleeve and provide a perfect suitable mask to the proceedings. They collide ideas of 19th century romanticism & late 20th abstract expressionism (mysticism) with Sunn O)))’s approach to metal (via reference points of Arbo, Turner, Delville, Richter, Turrel, Wou-Ki). Photographer Ronald Dick shot them in baths of light colour representing depth of sound pressure in the work.
Sunn O))) – Life Metal tracklisting and artwork:
1. Between Sleipnir’s Breaths
2. Troubled Air
3. Aurora
4. Novae
There is a second more meditative LP titled Pyroclasts, also recorded by Steve Albini in parallel, and which will be revealed in the autumn 2019 (more later) with all music performed by Stephen, Greg, T.O.S., Tim Midyett, and Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Sunn O))) are touring March (EU/France), April (USA), September (USA), October (UK & Europe).
March 2019 – Europe
February 28 DE Frankfurt Mousonturm
March 1 AT Graz Elevate festival/Orpheum
March 2 CZ Prague Divadlo Archa
March 3 E Hamburg Kampnagel
March 4 NL Amsterdam Paradiso
March 6 FR Lyon L’Epicerie Moderne
March 7 FR Nancy L’Autre Canal
March 8 FR Dijon La Vapeur
March 9 FR Rouen QuasaRites Day/Le 106
March 11 FR Tours Le Temps Machine
March 12 FR Nantes Stereolux
March 13 FR La Rochelle La Sirene
March 14 FR Bordeaux Le Rocher de Palmer
April 2019 – North America
April 17 Cleveland, OH @ Agora
April 18 Detroit, MI @ Masonic
April 19 Chicago, IL @ Rockefeller Chapel
April 20 Pelham, TN @ The Caverns
April 24 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
April 25 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
April 26 New Haven, CT @ College Street
April 28 Washington, DC @ The Howard