Sunn O))) is an American drone metal band formed in Seattle in 1998 by Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson — robes, fog, and Sunn amplifiers at maximum volume, starting out as a tribute to Earth. Monoliths & Dimensions (2009), with Attila Csihar and orchestral arrangements, is the acknowledged peak; Black One (2005) is the darker route in. Shop Sunn O))) vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Sunn O))) (pronounced 'Sun' - the O))) being a stylized representation of the Sunn amplifier logo) formed in Seattle, Washington in 1998 around Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson. They began as a tribute project to the foundational drone doom band Earth (Dylan Carlson). They are widely cited as one of the foundational acts of contemporary drone metal as a recognized genre. Their Black One (2005) - featuring Malefic vocals (recorded with Malefic screaming inside a closed coffin) - established their reputation. Their 2009 album Monoliths & Dimensions - featuring Attila Csihar vocals and choral and orchestral arrangements - is widely cited as one of the most important contemporary drone metal albums. They perform in monastic black robes with elaborate fog and stage productions. They have collaborative work with Boris (Altar 2006), Scott Walker (Soused 2014, Scott Walker's final studio album), Ulver, and many others. Their foundational influence on drone metal, doom metal, and broader contemporary extreme music is widely cited.
Sunn O)))'s sound is foundational to drone metal as a recognized genre - combining drone metal, doom metal, ambient metal, dark ambient, post-metal, and minimalist composition with extreme slow-tempo, dense guitar drones (use of Sunn amplifiers at maximum volume), absence of conventional rhythm or song structures, and atmospheric production approaches drawing on La Monte Young, Earth, and broader minimalist composition traditions.
Hydra Head Records and Southern Lord Recordings pressings of the Sunn O))) catalog are foundational items in drone metal collecting, with collector premiums on rare pressings and elaborate limited deluxe editions (use of triple LP, quadruple LP, and picture disc/colored vinyl variants).
Listeners new to Sunn O))) typically start with Monoliths & Dimensions (2009) or Black One (2005).
