I haven’t been publishing a lot of metal lately, which is too bad. There were some real gems featured earlier this year plus a few tunes that just came in recently. Here is the Top Metal Music of 2007, as selected from the ([HearingTest]) audio archive. ([More →])

Stephen O’Malley is oft recognized as a pioneer of doom and drone metal from his participation in Khanate and Sunn O))). But before either of these incarnations, O’Malley and Greg Anderson (also of Sunn O) were creating blackest doom metal in Burning Witch and Thorr’s Hammer. Thorr’s Hammer was an incredible band with a charming female who sang in Norwegian (Runhild Gammelsæter aka Ozma, who was a 17 year old exchange student from Norway at the time). My favorite song by them is “Norge” which starts out softly, Ozma’s voice fades in, chanting in Norwegian. Then, that same female voice dives deeply into gravelly death metal vocalizations. It’s hard to believe that it’s a female singing still, she is so convincing with her delivery! ([More →])

The West Coast US is positively spoiled for epic underground metal music. Especially in the last 6 years, when we’ve had regular access to incredible performances by Sunn O))), Earth, Ludicra, Wolves In The Throneroom, and many of Mike Patton’s incarnations. My apologies to metal fans of afar who are teased by our repeated thrashings and harmonic tremors. Behind this veil of an intro, lies news of a metal extravanganza for all ages. It begins with warnings for the weak of heart residing on the west coast which is about to be invaded by Ludicra, Wolves In The Throne Room, Wormwood, Middian, Orb of Confusion and more. But, if you are in the UK, you can skip the first half of this article and read the report on Earth, Sunn O))) and Boris in London below. West Coast and UK read on - if you dare… ([More →])

Southern Lord is giving away FREE STUFF including tickets to west coast shows on the 777 Tour, Sunn O)))/Boris LPs and Southern Lord goodies. This is your chance if you don’t already have tickets to see Earth, Sunn O))), Wolves In The Throneroom, and Weedeater in either LA, San Diego, Portland or Seattle. ([More →])

Sunn O))) album update -

Last week I mentioned the Sunn O))) album Oracle is being pressed to vinyl for release along with a 48 minute bonus disc consisting solely of the song “Helio)))sophist”. The album was available as a limited edition CD on their very recent tour through the Pacific Rim and Brainwashed got their hands on a copy. John Kealy has written up an honest review of the album which is accompanied by mp3 samples of all three pieces. Kealy reports that “Belülrol Pusztít” involves the FM3 Buddha Machines as its foundation, but the version of the song on Oracle is not the same version the band submitted for the Jukebox Buddha compilation. As previously noted, this new version utilizes the jackhammering of Joe Preston and the terrifying screeching of Attila Csihar. Meanwhile, “Orakulum” is a sonic venture that was originally commissioned for an art installation by Banks Violette and, as intended, is a solid representation of the droning riffs that Sunn O))) live shows have become notorious for. In a sudden plot twist, the epic track on the bonus cd, “HeliO)))sophist”, is in fact a sound collage of Sunn O))) live performances from 2005 that was arranged by their tourmate BORIS’ Oren Ambarchi.
Read the full review and listen to samples of all three songs on Brainwashed.

Oh that’s it. If I don’t build, buy, or otherwise acquire a teleportation device soon I’ll go mad! It started with the Roadburn Festival, then the upcoming Dour Festival, and now this - the lineup for the All Tomorrow’s Parties curated by Portishead… ([More →])

Sunn O))) has announced more tour dates on their artist page at Southern Lord Records! I guess the Pacific Rim and Roadburn festival were good to them, because after they play the Sonar Festival in Barcelona, they will be playing one show in the UK and then heading home to the US for some west coast shows with label mates and mentors, Earth.

Dang I wish I could have been at that Roadburn, but I would be happy to catch their performance in Belgium with Wolf Eyes. One of my very favorite Sunn O))) performances ever was with Wolf Eyes at the Lobot in Oakland. Both bands have been a huge musical influence on me. My bandmate in T113 grew up in Ann Arbor and was friends with Nate of Wolf Eyes, thus sharing some of the same musical influences and ideas. My mate first introduced me to Wolf Eyes’ brilliant chaotic noise and I was hooked. I think an ideal show for our band T113 would be with Sunn O))), Wolf Eyes and Merzbow in Japan (where they truly appreciate noise as an artform). This festival in Belgium comes awfully close! Who wants to fly T113 out to the Dour Festival to perform as well?

Also on this upcoming tour, Sunn O))) will playing shows with Wolves in the Throneroom, whom I have also mentioned as a fantastic metal band. If you get the chance, definitely catch them live. They are TIGHT, and play furiously passionate metal. T113 has played shows with them, and Wolves has honored us on a few occasions by playing on our soundsystem, including at the Autonomous Mutant Festival. In fact one of my fave live performances as T113 was with Wolves in the Throneroom at Overload in Oakland. My mic wasn’t working, but my mate and I played a killer set that included a doom metal cover of Ledbelly’s “In The Pines”. The guys of Wolves in the Throneroom are such down to earth and sweet people in addition to playing stellar, dark music. Not theatrical, like Sunn O))) but intense nonetheless.

Tour

Jun 16, 2007 Sonar Festival Barcelona
Jun 18, 2007 Meltdown Festival London, UK w/Chrome Hoof
Jul 2, 2007 Casbah San Diego, CA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 3, 2007 El Ray Los Angeles, LA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 4, 2007 Independant San Francisco, CA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 6, 2007 Mt Tabor Portland, OR Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 7, 2007 El Corazon Seattle, WA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 14, 2007 SuperSonic Festival Birmingham UK Om, Mogwai, Miasma, etc
Jul 15, 2007 Dour Festival Belgium Wilco, Merzbow, Wolf Eyes

Sunn O))) has also announced that they will be releasing a 12″ vinyl record called Oracle in the US this summer. The 2 singles that would comprise the 2 sides of the record are:
1. “Belülrol Pusztít” – 16:01
2. “Orakulum” – 18:37

The jackhammer on the A side is provided by Joe Preston (Thrones).
It will be accompanied by a bonus disc:

“Helio)))sophist” – 48:17

You should be able to acquire your copy at any of the US shows. Southern Lord has not yet announced whether they will carry it in the online store, so expect a super limited edition.

Links

Sunn O)))

Wolf Eyes

Wolves in the Throneroom

Merzbow

Related posts on HT:

Sunn O))) and Wolf Eyes Play Sonar Fest
Growing Wolf Eyes On Thrones Touring Europe
Boris and Sunn O))) tour Pacific Rim 2007
Sunn O))) Adds Roadburn Festival To Tour
No Fun Noise Fest Tortures NYC 4th Year In A Row

Technorati Tags: metal, music, news, noise, Merzbow, Sunn O, Wolves, Wolf Eyes, doom, drone, guitar, tour, vinyl, album, UK, SF

I’m not sure if this has sold out completely or not… But this is another in the series of “I posted this so long ago, i feel it deserves a refresher post as the date soon cometh!” I want to be at this festival SOooo badly. Any transporters in the house tonight??

Roadburn Festival in Tilburg Holland has added yet another night of music to their already storming lineup! The weekend long festival, previously scheduled for April 20-21, is sold out. This third night, however, will be sold separately!
From the :: Roadburn Festival website ::

As if the forthcoming Roadburn Festival isn’t enough sonic overload, Sunn 0))), Bohren und der Club of Gore & Fear Falls Burning will play the Roadburn Festival Afterburner, scheduled for Sunday, April 22nd. Tickets will be sold seperately. Weekend tickets for the sold-out Roadburn Festival do not include entrance for this show.

Pre-sale tickets go on sale starting March 24th and there are only 325 total, so this will definitely sell out. don’t sleep!

I checked :: ideologic.org :: to see what else i could find out, and they have the lineup of who will be playing as Sunn O))) for this night :
Attila Csihar, Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley, with TOS Niewenhuizen

YES - even Attila will be with them!
I can’t believe the lineup for the other 2 days, it’s like sxsw for dark avant garde metal! Neurosis, OM, Red Sparrowes, Clutch, Growing, Circle, Thrones, Melvins, Amenra, and so many more!!
That’s just one more reason i should be living in Holland.

Technorati Tags: sludge metal, doom metal, drone metal, Neurosis, Sunn O))), metal, music, news, festival

Wow! it is a good time to be down under! this show not only features the notorious drone duo known as Sunn O))), but also includes a brand new collaboration with Tasmanian native - STRIBORG!

this is what is posted on Southern Lord’s news page :

SUNN 0))) PRESENTS: PENTEMPLE

GREG ANDERSON (of Sunn 0))), Goatsnake, Burial Chamber Trio)
STEPHEN O’MALLEY (of Sunn 0))), KTL, Khanate, Gravetemple)
OREN AMBARCHI (of Touch records, Gravetemple, Burial Chamber Trio)
ATTILA CSIHAR (of Mayhem, Tormentor, Aborym, Gravetemple, Burial Chamber Trio)
SIN NANNA (aka STRIBORG)

Tuesday 8th May 2007
The Toff in Town

As you will know, US doom-drone behemoth SUNN 0))) will be performing a HUGE must-see show together with Japanese monsters BORIS at the Hi-fi Bar on Wednesday 9th May. However we are pleased to announce a Melbourne-only intimate ‘improv’ show that will include collaborations with members of black metal legends Mayhem and Striborg! This show will be completely different to the Hi-fi show and strictly limited to capacity at Melbourne’s newest venue The Toff in Town on Tuesday 8th May

This ritual will feature the first public appearance of Tasmania’s Sin Nanna aka STRIBORG, making a special & rare live collaboration with Attila Csihar, (legendary vocalist of Mayhem), Aussie avant-maverick Oren Ambarchi, and Greg Anderson & Stephen O’Malley of Sunn 0))). Blackened low-end psychedelics not for the faint hearted - a one-time event not to be missed!!!

Unearthly ritual with strictly limited capacity. You can pre-purchase tickets to avoid disappointment from The Toff in Town, Metropolis Bookstore, Polyester Records and the Corner Box Office - phone: 9427 9198 or on-line: www.cornerhotel.com. Tickets on sale Thursday 26th April. Pre-sale tickets: + bf / on the door if available.

The Toff in Town
Level 2, Curtin House
252 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 03 9639 8770

Read More about Sunn O))) : Sunn O))) news

Mono will be touring with Grails and World’s End Girlfriend this spring. Mono is from Japan and plays shoegazing drone metal that is very atmospheric.

Grails are a 4 man band from Portland, Oregon and are about to release their new album on Temporary Residence. The label describes their sound as “Grails have patiently developed into a rather radical study in tension and meditation, inhabiting a netherworld where virtually all earthly and otherworldly sounds are equally explored to reflect the disparate influences of its four members.”

The band page for Grails on Temporary Residence is http://www.temporaryresidence.com/bands/grails.php

Grails’ web page has news of their new album, Burning Off Impurities :
“The new Grails cd, Burning Off Impurities, drops April 24 on Temporary Residence. But the vinyl has been delayed a bit, comes out May 22. The vinyl version will be a double LP, with an etching on the 4th side. Will put up some photos when it’s back from the plant…..it’s gonna be beautiful.”

Temporary Residence has an mp3 from this upcoming album. You can listen to it or dl it - http://www.temporaryresidence.com/mp3s/grails_dead_vine_blues.mp3

Temporary Residence also releases Mono material and has this mp3 for your listening pleasure :
http://www.temporaryresidence.com/mp3s/mono_theflames.mp3

The band page for Mono on Temporary Residence is http://www.temporaryresidence.com/bands/mono.php

more places to listen :

http://www.myspace.com/worldsendgirlfriend
http://www.myspace.com/grailsongs
http://www.myspace.com/monojapanfansite

The tour, according to Mono’s website :

Apr 12 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 13 Montreal, PQ La Sala Rossa w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 14 Buffalo, NY Soundlab w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 15 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Mellon University w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 16 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 17 Columbus, OH Little Brothers w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 18 Louisville KY Headliners Music Hall w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 19 Dekalb, IL The House Cafe w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 20 Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 21 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Club w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 24 Bellingham, WA The Nightlight Lounge w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 25 Seattle, WA Neumo’s w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 26 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 27 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 28 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 29 San Diego, CA Casbah w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

Apr 30 Tucson, AZ Plush w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

May 2 Denton, TX Hailey’s w/ World’s End Girlfriend, The Drift

May 3 Austin, TX Emo’s Jr. w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 4 Houston, TX Mink w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 5 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 7 Orlando, FL The Social w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 8 Jacksonville, FL TSI w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 9 Birmingham, AL Bottletree w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 10 Atlanta, GA The Earl w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 11 Mt. Pleasant, SC The Village Tavern w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 12 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 13 Charlottesville, VA Satellite Ballroom w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 14 Baltimore, MD Ottobar w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 15 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 16 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

May 17 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ World’s End Girlfriend, Grails

Southern Lord announced the release of Earth’s newest album, Hibernaculum on heavyweight vinyl :

The vinyl version of Earths’ latest offering: “Hibernaculum” is upon us! Beautifully designed heavy cardboard, “tip-on” style (ie: like an old 70s jacket) jacket with thick printed innersleeve. Slightly different artwork then the CD.

Initial pressing:
(3,000 )180 Gram Black,
(1,000 )180 gram clear.

We are offering both colors for sale.

1. Ouroboros Is Broken
2. Coda Maestoso In F (Flat) Minor
3. Miami Morning Coming Down
4. A Plague of Angels

Please click over to the Southern Lord Store to purchase.

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In my continuing efforts to keep you up to date on the whereabouts of drone metal’s darlings Sunn O))) and their japanese experimental thrash metal cohorts, Boris, i present you with :

Boris and Sunn O))) will be touring Australia and Japan this year!!

MAY 3 - PERTH - totally huge new music festival

MAY 5 - BRISBANE - the columbian

MAY 6 - SYDNEY - factory theatre

MAY 9 - MELBOURNE - hifi bar

MAY 13 - NIIGATA - lots

MAY 16 - NAGOYA - quattro

MAY 17 - SHINSAIBASHI - quattro

MAY 20 - KAWASAKI - citta

more info should be available soon from the websites of :: Southern Lord :: or :: Steven O’Malley :: or :: Boris ::

this is not a collaboration of the 2 bands like the album Altar represents. each band will play a full set at each show. i can’t promise that there won’t be any overlapping of the 2 bands on stage though!

Sunn O)) have taken the minimalist metal approach first showcased by the band Earth, and driven it through guitar amp feedback of epic proportions! their live performances have a strong ritual influence, and are about as loud as sustained bass frequencies can get.

Boris, hailing from japan, bring their own unique twist to thrash metal. probably most famous for the enormous gong that looms over the drummer, waiting to add rippling emphasis to their loud and banging sound. Boris may be tiny in height, but they reign huge in sound!

the 2 bands toured together in previous years, developing a musical rapport that led to the collaboration album called, Altar. Other collaborators on this album include :
Jesse Sykes (vocalist:Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter)
Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
Joe Preston (Earth, thrones, melvins, high on fire)
Rex Ritter (Jessamine, Fontanelle)
Steve Moore (Earth)
Dylan Carlson (Earth)

more info on this album can be found here : http://www.sunnborisaltar.com/

According to :: Equation Records :: who is releasing Nadja’s Bodycage this month

Nadja is ::

* Aidan Baker :: guitars/vocals/drum programming
* Leah Buckareff :: bass/vocals

Originally formed in 2003 as an Aidan Baker solo project, the now-duo creates ambient-drone-metal, combining ambient electronics & fragmentary vocals with snail-crawl, epic riffs & dirge-like percussion.

You can listen to an excerpt from each song on Bodycage on this :: Equation Records :: page.
You can purchase the double vinyl from :: Equation - Order ::

:: Shows ::

Mon Mar 26 at The Metal Club, 1305 Dundas W. w/ Giant Squid & Grayceon, 8pm, $10
Wed Apr 4 at Poor Pilgrim The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., w/ Picastro, 9pm, pwyc
Sat Apr 14 Casa del Popolo in Montreal, more details tba
Sat May 19 at Buzz On Your Lips Festival at Recyclart in Brussels, Belgium
Wed June 27 Suoni per il Popolo Festival in Montreal, more details tba

Alien8 Recordings released Nadja’s EP Touched this month. You can listen to the whole album as a stream on the :: Touched by Nadja :: page and you can buy the cd from their store. The cd even includes a free digital copy of Touched!

Alien8 Recordings also released Truth Becomes Death in October 2005. You can listen to this whole album as a stream on the :: Truth Becomes Death :: page. It is also available as a cd which comes with the free digital copy.

Foreshadow in Poland will be releasing Nadja’s Base Fluid full length cd in May 2007. Until then, you can dl the free internet single plus an unreleased exclusive called “Numb” from :: nadja : basefluid :: on Foreshadow as well as preorder the cd.

Aidan Baker also has a net release on :: Noiseusse :: The album, Scouring Thin Bones is a collaboration of Aidan and Straiph. You can dl the album for free because NoiseUsse is licensed under Creative Commons. Lots of good music on that site specializing in glitch/noise/experimental/electronica/found sounds.

from the font of information this week, Southern Lord drops yet another tidbit about how we can best experience the power of the DRONE!

sunn 0))) will be making a rare appearance in a special performance in Bergen, Norway this weekend.
SUNN O))) @ BOREALIS FESTIVAL
March 18th - Bergen Cathedral, Bergen
(Lineup: Anderson, SOMA, Ambarchi, Csihar, Steve Moore,TOS, Lasse Marhaug)

for more info :
Borealis Festival webpage and
Visit Norway Article

oh, how i wish i could teleport to all the places that i want to be! Sunn O))) are amazing, especially in concert. i highly recommend seeing this if you are able to. they put on a very dramatic ritual metal performance. O’Malley and Anderson are super nice guys as well

Sunn O))) plays “Drone Metal” sometimes referred to as stoner metal. It is a genre that was created or made famous by the band Earth, which i have also been posting news about lately. Sunn O)))’s take on it is to play one note on electric guitar, and let it sustain for a long time. as this note lingers in the air, its harmonics morph and synchronize, producing other tones and sounds. this is enhanced by the interaction between guitar and amp, as the guitar is moved closer to or further from the amp, feedback and resonant frequencies come into play. it’s a very powerful effect, which is why i suggest hearing it live. it is best experienced LOUD!

Southern Lord Records has announced 2 special screenings of the new Earth documentary, “Within the Drone”!!
The first one is April 8th in Brooklyn NYC, and another one is April 17th at the DOMINO festival in Brussels.
Here is the flyer :

more showings will be announced, watch the Southern Lord Records blog…

this is the documentary by Seldon Hunt that will be included in the new Earth CD/DVD release, “Hibernaculam”.