The Lord (Goatsnake, SunnO))) Streams New Singles “Psycho: Marion & Sam” and “Fahrenheit 451: The Reading” – New Bernard Herrmann Tribute Album Incoming


Having released two full lengths of emotive, atmospheric instrumental and/or wordless music throughout 2022, Greg Anderson returns as The Lord with Worship: Bernard Herrmann Tribute, an album of brand new suspenseful and evocative guitar music, inspired by the film compositions of Bernard Herrmann. Two tracks from the album are available to listen to today; “Psycho: Marion & Sam” and “Fahrenheit 451: The Reading”. Anderson has been working on these compositions since 2021, his solo output having been greatly influenced by Herrmann. Southern Lord & The Lord Recordings present this limited edition 12” and Bandcamp exclusive digital release in May-June 2024. Pre-order via Bandcamp and via the Southern Lord store. Continue reading


Sunn O))) Announce 25th Anniversary Rehearsal Demo LP and Kick Off US Tour


Cult drone metal band, Sunn O))), have announced an exclusive split-label release from Southern Lord records and Ideologic Organ records; the 25th Anniversary Rehearsal Demo LP. Limited to 1,000 machine numbered copies, it is only available on tour, and core members, Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley, have just set out on a US run. Find more details below.

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The Lord (Greg Anderson – SUNN O)))) and Daniel Kubinski Collaborate on New Single and Video “Palliare”


†The Lord† and Daniel Kubinski (Die Kreuzen, The Crosses) have released their haunting collaborative track, “Palliare.” Anderson and Kubinski teamed up to track guitars and vocals for the song late last year. Check out the video a read more from the duo below.

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Lord (Greg Anderson) – Forest Nocturne


 

Forest Nocturne (Southern Lord) is the debut full-length LP from The Lord, a solo project of the ever-prolific Greg Anderson, perhaps best known for his work with Sunn O))). The press release uses words like “pictorial” and “cinematic”, and mentions the influence of film composers such as John Carpenter and Bernard Hermann. Continue reading


GIVEAWAY: Win A Stoner Doom Cassette Bundle from Unknown Controller Records


Time to win some free shit! Oakland, California’s awesome Unknown Controller Records has relaunched and Ghost Cult is helping them celebrate! The indie label is headed by musician Paul Kott (Kalas, High Tone Son of a Bitch) and they are kicking things off with a cool, cassette-only series featuring releases from HTSoB, Ails (ex-Ludicra, Abrupt), Keverra (current and ex-Goatsnake, -(16)-) and Worshipper. You can win the entire cassette series right here, right now! Enter at the links below, but before you do, jam out to this awesome new HTSOB track “Tribute’, featuring High on Fire / Sleep guitarist Matt Pike!Continue reading


SunnO))) – Life Metal


Secrecy surrounds the release of Sunn O)))‘s latest opus Life Metal (Southern Lord Records), aimed for a limited release on Record Store Day. Who can blame them? With albums by megastars falling victim to hacks and illegal leaks, it’s frustrating but somewhat understandable to be reviewing a product after it’s initial release. Whatever the strategy an epic journey is guaranteed and, with four tracks spanning seventy minutes, the album doesn’t disappoint in that regard.Continue reading


Thorr’s Hammer Drummer Jamie Sykes Battles Cancer, GoFundMe Launched


Thorr’s Hammer was a seminal 1990s doom metal band from the pacific northwest/Norway that included Sunn O))) and Goatsnake members Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson. Now former drummer Jamie Sykes, who has been battling several medical conditions, has gotten a preliminary diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma, or a mass on one of his kidneys. Jamie’s family has set up a Gofundme campaign to help with the mounting medical costs. Please help if you can, and if you can’t donate, a simple click of the share button will aid in raising awareness. Continue reading


The Power Of The Riff Festival Invades Los Angeles This Weekend, Pre-Party Tonight


 

Los Angeles is the site of The Power Of The Riff Festival this weekend, including a sold-out pre-party tonight celebrating all things uber heavy and underground. Continue reading


Sunn O))) – Kannon


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It’s a staggering yet frequent reoccurrence: the hardest music to explain, often due to an apparent lack of infectious hook or because of the fact that little is actually happening, sees its orchestrators revered with an almost pathological devotion. Such is the case, of course, with US Drone gods Sunn O))). An overwhelming crush of Ambient noise, their worshippers hang onto every note, every sparing chime, as if it were a word from the heavens: their live shows remarkable for an inhuman level of sonic pain; each new recorded output more of an event, an experience, than a mere album or EP.

Latest full-length Kannon (Southern Lord) evolves in three movements, the first a sequence of pedal-strewn, cosmic, soaring chords. Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley take turns in expanding the eerie yet soothing soundscapes whilst positively terrifying guttural sounds emanate from the mouth of Mayhem’s Attila Csihar. Save for the brief introduction of didgeridoo and the atmospheric air coursing through this fifteen-minute opener, not much else of note occurs: yet it is inexplicably euphoric, haunting, muscle tightening; a spiritual epiphany which the guys conduct with almost superhuman understanding and control.

The opening chords of ‘Kannon 2’, just as economical, are nevertheless more ‘fuzzed’ and allowed to howl over an almost undetectable bass resonance. Chilling chants are intoned across a throbbing, fulminating body in an almost mournful yet Zen-like expression of emotion: an overtone of synthesised harmonics adding a barely recognisable sense of intrigue to an already hypnotic, captivating sound.

If ‘…2’ is the lament, ‘Kannon 3’ is the grave ascension. A similar structure sees that minimalist riff spike and clash with horrific anger, whilst the chanting bass voices become more sinister yet, paradoxically, reverberating to the verge of messianic celebration: a triumphal, fearful tribute to a returning, victorious tyrant. The intermittent Blackened roars, terrifying yet beatific, are both the counterpoint and the embodiment of the ability to stir and surprise while retaining control of an almost unbearably slow pace.

Masters of their sphere, legends of the galaxies, Kannon sees Sunn O))) display every shimmering ounce of their resplendent power.

 

8.0/10

PAUL QUINN

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Audio: SUNN O))) – Kannon Full Album Stream


SUNN O))) Kannon Album Cover 2015

 

Epic doom band SUNN O))) is streaming their entire new album Kannon, out this Friday via Southern Lord. You can hear the album at this link:

The band has also made available and entire set to stream live as well at Boiler Room TV here:

 

Kannon had a limited white vinyl Record Store Day release last Friday, but will see official worldwide release on gatefold LP, CD and digital formats this Friday. Order the album directly via the SUNN O))) store here, at Southern Lord here, at Bandcamp here.

The band is planning many live rituals in 2016, but has announced a brief tour of Australia already. Tickets are on sale now.

SUNN O))) Australian Tour Dates:

Mar 12 2016: Adelaide Festival – Adelaide, AU w/ Magma [tickets]
Mar 15 2016: Manning Bar – Sydney, AU [tickets]
Mar 16 2016: Max Watts – Melbourne, AU [tickets]

 

SUNN O))) photo credit by Pete Bestes

SUNN O))) photo credit by Pete Beste

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