Sunn O))) - "Black One" | Album Review

Musically, drone isn't very complex. It's often a single note played for long periods of time. However, that's not to say that it's easy to do well. Despite it being a relatively simple genre, it still has to remain engaging to the listener. Bands can add layers upon layers to their music, creating an atmosphere no other style can truly conjure.
With a new project involving music icon Scott Walker and Sunn O))) collaborating together for a new album Soused, I thought it'd be good to review the band's magnum opus: Black One

Greg Anderson (owner of Southern Lord Records) is in my opinion, a bit of a genius. His music has an obvious simplicity which peels away slowly and painfully to reveal a whole new form of darkness. You don't get death growls and thrashing guitars, but this is so much heavier than those things could ever create. Doing more with less is a feat in itself and this artist is the perfect example of that.

Black One starts as it means to go on, as sinister and as bleak as you can imagine. Attila (of Mayhem and other outfits) provides vocals that don't just send shivers down your spine, they shatter it. The riffs (if you could call them that) are quite simply: hypnotic. They spiral and churn in a way I'm yet to encounter again. The rumble they deliver isn't unlike having your entire body in a vibrating chair. While they are highly repetitive (which is an understatement if ever there was on) I find this really does work in their favour.Lyrically, this album is surprisingly complex. It may take repeated listens, but it's very assuring to know that there's more to what you're listening to than want you initially imagine there to be.

In conclusion, Sunn O)))'s Black One is a fantastic drone album, and one that I'm sure will be a gateway for many to get into the genre.