Monoliths & Dimensions (CD - 2009)

Personnel: Attila Csihar (vocals, keyboards); Jessika Kenney (alto); Oren Ambarchi (electric guitar, keyboards, electric bass, cymbals, gong); Dylan Carlson (electric guitar, electric bass); Melissa Walsh (harp); Timb Harris (violin); Eyvind Kang (viola); Hans Teuber (alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Steve Moore (conch shell, trombone, organ); Julian Priester, Stuart Dempster (conch shell, trombone); Cuong Vu (trumpet); Eric Walton (piano); Rex Ritter (Moog synthesizer); Keith Lowe (double bass); Brad Mowen (bass drum, percussion); Mell Dettmer (tubular bells).

Recording information: Aleph, Seattle, WA (02/2006-11/2008); Forum Music Village (02/2006-11/2008); Litho, Seattle, WA (02/2006-11/2008); London Bridge, Shoreline (02/2006-11/2008); Rochuspark, Vienna, Austria (02/2006-11/2008).

Director: Eyvind Kang.

Illustrator: Cathy Ward.

Photographer: Rob McKeever.

Arrangers: Eyvind Kang; Randall Dunn; Stephen O'Malley.

Practitioners of the glacial school of extreme-volume music, Sunn O))) are the leading exponents of doom, the darkest and heaviest of all metal sub genres. While the group's black-cloaked garb and ritual theatrics have firmly aligned them to the imagery and aesthetic of metal, leader Stephen O'Malley's numerous forays into noise and experimental music, and member Greg Anderson's sideline as label head of Southern Lord (the leading label for adventurous metal) has fashioned the duo as gatekeepers to metal's uncharted paths. MONOLITHS AND DIMENSIONS, the seventh Sun O))) album, continues the monolithic low-end throb and stentorian guitar drones the duo are best known for, and features an array of past collaborators (Attila Csihar, Oren Ambarchi) and brand new guests, Julian Priester (trombonist for Herbie Hancock and Sun Ra), Dylan Carlson (Earth), and avant-garde composer and violinist Eyvind Kang. minimize