Sunn O))) - Black1 (#3073)

Goat · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:58 pm

Desolate wrote:

"If there ever would be a list of bands who are being overrated, Sunn O))) will fit this list nicely." (c) Noizz

First of all I do enjoy this type of music and I even enjoy Stephen's work in other bands (Khanate, Thorr's Hammer, Burning Witch), but Sunn O))) for me is just a mediocre copy of Earth.

And Black1, imo, is Sunn O)))'s best release until now. I think it's their most integral and conceptual album (well, concept showed up only starting from White1, but still). Although again it isn't anything special: think of Earth and add some early Abruptum's experiments to it.

I won't lump my album perception with my attitude towards Stephen together, but speaking of O'Malley - he looks like a poseur to me. Revealing that he likes BM with the way Hollywood stars reveal they are homosexual. His music isn't ground-breaking and those news aren't either: today everyone in USA is "into BM" e.g. Rion Lipynsky, Phil Anselmo. And yes, I'm not the one to judge him, just telling what I think.

Why that should matter is beyond me.

Desolate · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:27 pm

Zad wrote:

Desolate wrote:

"If there ever would be a list of bands who are being overrated, Sunn O))) will fit this list nicely." (c) Noizz

First of all I do enjoy this type of music and I even enjoy Stephen's work in other bands (Khanate, Thorr's Hammer, Burning Witch), but Sunn O))) for me is just a mediocre copy of Earth.

And Black1, imo, is Sunn O)))'s best release until now. I think it's their most integral and conceptual album (well, concept showed up only starting from White1, but still). Although again it isn't anything special: think of Earth and add some early Abruptum's experiments to it.

I won't lump my album perception with my attitude towards Stephen together, but speaking of O'Malley - he looks like a poseur to me. Revealing that he likes BM with the way Hollywood stars reveal they are homosexual. His music isn't ground-breaking and those news aren't either: today everyone in USA is "into BM" e.g. Rion Lipynsky, Phil Anselmo. And yes, I'm not the one to judge him, just telling what I think.

Why that should matter is beyond me.

If you are speaking about O'Malley part then I already said that I can divide an attitude towards an artist and an attitude towards an album and those two criterias don't affect each other.

If you are speaking about the "Sunn O))) isn't very good, because it's a copy of Earth" part then I also stated that it is a mediocre copy. Hell, there are great Darkthrone rip-offs (Satanic Warmaster, Clandestine Blaze, Craft) that don't invent anything absolutely new, they take already pawned pathes, add a few elements of their own and create very good music and atmosphere. Sunn O))) doesn't belong in this category.

Anonymous · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:44 am

Reading some of the comments about this being not music and unlistenable.. I was expecting something like Vlad Tepes thrown into a blender. Instead I get the lost soundtrack to 2001 ...

Interesting.

Anonymous · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:02 pm

Slayer Of Kings wrote:

rio wrote:

That's quite a statement though, to say all Sunn 0))) fans are degrading themselves to fit in with other kvlt people? They're not really that kvlt anyway. I've seen them on the cover of mainstream magazines!

They don't all degrade themselves, bad taste has to come from somewhere. Magazine covers eh? Well, the hype has expanded to the press, then.

Quote:

Either way, they are actually much more "accessible" than many other bands that your statement may more accurately be aimed at :P

Accessibility varies from person to person. I personally can see why some people would like this, but I've never gotten on too well with total anti-hype music. I'm a visual artist, academically schooled, so perhaps I have peculiar views of why a piece of art is/was popular/unpopular, and personally I'm not buying this non-musical bullshit that tries to break all barriers, failing to recognise the purpose of these barriers.

I didn't know a damn thing about this band before I listened to it, but I liked it instantly. It may not be melodious (your narrow definition of music, evidently) but it is certainly emotive.

JeffMH · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:46 pm

To me its just thick awkward headache inducing noise....I've never got why people liked this shit...

Goat · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:47 pm

It's all about the atmosphere......

lizardtail · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:52 pm

they do indeed make a very dry and repetitive brand of drone.. there are plenty of bands that work to vary what seems to be a narrow genre. but I still say Sunn O))) has a place in the music world, just as Xasthur has relevance; even though his songs are frequently underdeveloped, the music is still rewarding to the right listener.

and if you're not the right listener, don't worry. I still can't get my head around the fact that people listen to the delta blues but they probably think I have taste just as bad, haha. let's not be so scathing just because we don't share a taste for a certain band.

Goat · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:53 pm

lizardtail wrote:

they do indeed make a very dry and repetitive brand of drone.. there are plenty of bands that work to vary what seems to be a narrow genre. but I still say Sunn O))) has a place in the music world, just as Xasthur has relevance; even though his songs are frequently underdeveloped, the music is still rewarding to the right listener.

and if you're not the right listener, don't worry. I still can't get my head around the fact that people listen to the delta blues but they probably think I have taste just as bad, haha. let's not be so scathing just because we don't share a taste for a certain band.

*in awe* Make this man a moderator!!

deathkvlt · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:14 pm

O' Malley is not a poser. Check Emperor's Anthems thank list. O'Malley's been involved with the BM world for quite a long time. You can also thank O'Malley for making Deathspell Omega a lot easier to find now that he re-released Si Monvmentvum via Southern Lord; I've heard people finding DsO in Tower Records. The man knows his BM shit, and truly contributes to the "scene".

NewFriendAncientEnemy · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:20 pm

Making DSO more accessible is contributing to the "scene?"

If you say so.

deathkvlt · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:15 pm

Yes it is. I'm tired of limited to 12 copies kvlt bands. I want to be able to buy my BM in Tower Records

Desolate · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:24 pm

deathkvlt wrote:

O' Malley is not a poser. Check Emperor's Anthems thank list. O'Malley's been involved with the BM world for quite a long time. You can also thank O'Malley for making Deathspell Omega a lot easier to find now that he re-released Si Monvmentvum via Southern Lord; I've heard people finding DsO in Tower Records. The man knows his BM shit, and truly contributes to the "scene".

Ok. I actually know that O'Malley was involved for some time with BM (early on he played in a band Sarin and on this band's only album Nihilist there was a track called 6:66. And knowing O' Malley it wasn't called like this without a purpose). And I wouldn't have had anything against him if he would've been simply involved with BM world. But giving interviews to glamour magazines, inviting various artists to play along in the band with the sole reason of obtaining more fame... that's ridiculous. If the band would've created brilliant music one could forget about all this poseur stuff for ordinary people can't judge a genius, but Sunn O))) is nothing more nor less than a mediocre noise/drone band. But oh well, everyone will remain by his own views so no need to continue this on.

And I still love you. *toading-toading-toadnig*

EDIT: Grammar.

deathkvlt · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:23 am

Opinion is like a butt, everyone has one. And I love you too my good friend.

Adam · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:43 pm

JeffMH wrote:

To me its just thick awkward headache inducing noise....I've never got why people liked this shit...

Well, then just rate it a 0 like you do every other album you have a distaste for.

EDIT: Ooooooh, you gave this a 1! What was it that gained it that extra point?

OrDoS · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:10 pm

deathkvlt wrote:

Opinion is like a butt, everyone has one. And I love you too my good friend.

It's more like: "Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one." :wink:

deathkvlt · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:53 am

OrDoS wrote:

deathkvlt wrote:

Opinion is like a butt, everyone has one. And I love you too my good friend.

It's more like: "Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one." :wink:

My version is for the kids

Anonymous · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:23 pm

deathkvlt wrote:

OrDoS wrote:

deathkvlt wrote:

Opinion is like a butt, everyone has one. And I love you too my good friend.

It's more like: "Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one." :wink:

My version is for the kids

Children don't have opinions.

lizardtail · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:47 pm

if you want to get into drone but you can't stomach Sunn O))), try to check out something by Trollman av Ildtoppberg.. their music has limited melodic elements and less punishing track lengths, and as a bonus they tend to play more than one note every five seconds.

rio · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:25 pm

lizardtail wrote:

if you want to get into drone but you can't stomach Sunn O))), try to check out something by Trollman av Ildtoppberg.. their music has limited melodic elements and less punishing track lengths, and as a bonus they tend to play more than one note every five seconds.

All their stuff is up for dload on soundclick, so I picked it up a few weeks ago... NP: Tolling Beyond the Tombs of Ancient Grimnity. Awesome name for a record, but the music is several leagues below Sunn 0))), wouldn't you agree?

lizardtail · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:48 pm

rio wrote:

lizardtail wrote:

if you want to get into drone but you can't stomach Sunn O))), try to check out something by Trollman av Ildtoppberg.. their music has limited melodic elements and less punishing track lengths, and as a bonus they tend to play more than one note every five seconds.

All their stuff is up for dload on soundclick, so I picked it up a few weeks ago... NP: Tolling Beyond the Tombs of Ancient Grimnity. Awesome name for a record, but the music is several leagues below Sunn 0))), wouldn't you agree?

I wouldn't agree, no. :cry:

Sunn O))) is certainly more professional but there's charm in the melodic meanderings and distance of Trollmann. The "Voyage through the Aether" tracks remind me of Vinterriket. besides, I like the Casi O))) keyboards, haha. i'm a burzum fan after all.

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Sunn O))) - Black1 (#3073)

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