Sunn O)))

{{More citations needed|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} {{short description|American drone metal band}} {{pp-move-indef|small=yes}}  {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sunn O))) | image = Sunn O))) @ Roskilde '05 (327956477).jpg | caption = Sunn O))) performing at the 2005 Roskilde Festival | landscape = Yes | background = group_or_band | origin = Seattle, Washington, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Drone metal * doom metal * {{nowrap|experimental metal}} * {{nowrap|black metal}} * {{nowrap|dark ambient}} }} | years_active = 1998–present | label = Southern Lord Sub Pop Records | website = {{url|http://sunn.southernlord.com}} | associated_acts = {{flatlist| * Boris * Justin Broadrick * Burial Chamber Trio * Burning Witch * Julian Cope * Attila Csihar * Earth * Goatsnake * Gravetemple * Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter * Khanate * KTL * Leviathan * Mayhem * Merzbow * Nurse with Wound * Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine * Thorr's Hammer * Scott Walker * Ulver * Xasthur }} | current_members = *Stephen O'Malley *Greg Anderson | past_members = *Joe Preston *Attila Csihar *Daniel O'Sullivan *G. Stuart Dahlquist }}

'''Sunn O)))''' (pronounced "sun") is an American drone metal band formed in 1998 in Seattle, Washington. The band is known for its distinctive visual style and slow, heavy sound, which blends diverse genres including doom metal, drone, black metal, and dark ambient,<ref name="allmusic genres">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sunn-o-mn0000924250/biography |title=Sunn O))) |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> as well as for their extremely loud live performances.

The band's core members are Stephen O'Malley (also of Khanate and Burning Witch) and Greg Anderson (of Goatsnake and Engine Kid).<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28artmetal.html?ei=5090&en=68f0bcd99797d7a3&ex=1306468800&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |title=Heady Metal |access-date=October 12, 2007 |first=John |last=Wray |date=May 28, 2006 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

==History== Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn amplifier brand, the logo of which includes a circle next to the "sunn" banner with waves heading off to the right. In interviews, Stephen O'Malley stated that the band's name was also chosen as a play on the name Earth, a band widely regarded as pioneers of drone metal throughout the 1990s. Before the band members moved to Los Angeles, they briefly used the name Mars.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

The band releases the majority of its music through the label it founded in 1998, Southern Lord Records. However, the band initially released ''ØØ Void'' (its second album) on multiple labels, including Rise Above Records, Hydra Head Records, and Dirter Productions (which pressed it as a double album on vinyl). Additionally, the original pressing of ''The Grimmrobe Demos'' was released by Hydra Head Records. It was later issued as a double picture record set by Outlaw Recordings and finally reissued by Southern Lord in 2004.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

[[File:Sunn.png|left|200px|thumb|The logo the band uses is also that of the Sunn amplifier brand. Stephen O'Malley has stated the band licenses the use of the logo from Fender, the owner of the Sunn trademarks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IPes2MzG2k&t=2s&ab_channel=EVILGREED.NET |title=Stephen O'Malley on Sunn O)))'s Bear design, mystery in symbolism & metal merch |website=YouTube.com|date=June 24, 2024 }}</ref>]]

In 2008, Sunn O))) released a live album titled ''Dømkirke'' and also announced a mini-tour consisting of four concerts to commemorate the group's 10th anniversary, which coincided with the release of ''The Grimmrobe Demos''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=38247 |title=Sunn O))) Announces US Tour Dates |website=Metalunderground.com |date=August 8, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>

Hungarian-born Attila Csihar (Mayhem) has performed live with the band as their primary vocalist since 2003.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

Sunn O))) released a collaboration album with Ulver titled ''Terrestrials'' in February 2014:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.self-titledmag.com/2013/11/18/sunn-o-ulver-ready-terrestrials-album-for-february-release/ |title=Sunn O))), Ulver Ready 'Terrestrials' Album for February Release |date=November 18, 2013 |website=Self-titledmag.com |access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref> in October 2014, the band released the album ''Soused'', a collaboration with singer-songwriter Scott Walker.<ref name="soused">{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/55864-scott-walker-and-sunn-o-team-for-new-album-soused/ |title=Scott Walker and Sunn O))) Team for New Album Soused |last=Minsker |first=Evan |website=Pitchfork |date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> In November 2015, Sunn O))) presented a four-day program at Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands, including Annette Peacock, Magma, Julia Holter and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Sunn O))) itself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leguesswho.com/ |title=Le Guess Who? Festival official site|website=Leguesswho.com |access-date=June 17, 2015}}</ref>

The band worked with producer Steve Albini on two albums, ''Life Metal'' and ''Pyroclasts.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/sunn-o-amanda-palmer-spiritualized-saves-the-day-more-releasing-pink-vinyl-for-cancer-charity/|title=Sunn O))), Amanda Palmer, Spiritualized, Saves The Day & more releasing pink vinyl for cancer charity|website=BrooklynVegan|date=July 25, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref>

On October 14, 2025, the band announced that it had signed with Sub Pop Records.<ref>“Sunn O))) Signs to Sub Pop Records!” Retrieved from [https://sunn.bandcamp.com/community?from=com-e-nm&sid=1966247&st=sm Bandcamp.com] on October 14, 2025.</ref>

==Musical style== thumb|Sunn O))) on stage at the Ritz in Manchester, June 11, 2012 The band's style is characterized by slow tempos, distorted guitars, lack of rhythm and melody, and alternative tunings. The guitars are notable for their low register, frequently utilizing tunings as low as drop A. Additionally, the band is known for using resonant feedback to create monolithic soundscapes and eerie atmospheres. Percussion is rarely incorporated, with a lack of any discernible beat. When performing live, the band wears robes, fills the air with fog, and plays at a high volume.<ref name="NYT"/> Sunn O)))'s musical style has been described as drone metal,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/are-drone-metal-icons-sunn-o-the-loudest-band-on-the-planet-6349356 |title=Are Drone-Metal Icons Sunn O))) the Loudest Band on the Planet? |last=Roche |first=Jason |date=December 7, 2015 |newspaper=LA Weekly |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2016/05/sunn-o-to-play-metal-show-in-worlds-largest-maze/ |title=Sunn O))) to play metal show in world's largest maze |last=Brennan |first=Colin |date=May 27, 2016 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> doom metal,<ref name="allmusic genres"/><ref>{{cite web |author1=Sharpe-Young, Garry |author2=Born, R |title=Sunn O))) |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/los+angeles/sunno+29+29+29 |publisher=MusicMight |access-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721025537/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/los+angeles/sunno+29+29+29 |archive-date=July 21, 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref> experimental metal,<ref name=billboard>{{cite journal |title=Indies on the Verge |first=Todd |last=Martens |journal=Billboard Magazine |date=January 6, 2007 |volume=119 |issue=1 |page=27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mBIEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22experimental+metal%22+music&pg=PA27 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/02/scott-walker-teams-up-metal-duo-sunn-o |title=Scott Walker teams up with experimental metal duo Sunn O))) |date=July 2, 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> black metal,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interviews/sunn-o-s-stephen-omalley-metal-can-be-absurd-and-also-really-profound |title=Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley: "Metal can be absurd and also really profound"|last=Maloney|first=Ali|date=November 28, 2011|website=The Skinny|access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="allmusic genres"/> noise rock,<ref name="allmusic genres"/> and dark ambient.<ref name="allmusic genres"/>

Sunn O))) is widely regarded as leaders in the genre, including by ''The New York Times Magazine'' of May 28, 2006, when the band was written up in an article called "Heady Metal" by John Wray.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wray |first1=John |title=Heady Metal |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28artmetal.html |access-date=May 5, 2019 |date=May 28, 2006}}</ref>

==Discography== {{mainlist|Sunn O))) discography|List of songs recorded by Sunn O)))}} ===Studio albums=== *''ØØ Void'' (2000) *''Flight of the Behemoth'' (2002) *''White1'' (2003) *''White2'' (2004) *''Black One'' (2005) *''Monoliths & Dimensions'' (2009) *''Kannon'' (2015) *''Life Metal'' (2019) *''Pyroclasts'' (2019) *''Sunn O)))'' (2026)

===Collaborative albums=== *''Altar'' (with Boris) (2006) *''Terrestrials'' (with Ulver) (2014) *''Soused'' (with Scott Walker) (2014)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Sunn O)))}} *{{Official site}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091015164437/http://www.southernlord.com/band_SUN.php Southern Lord Records] * [http://www.ideologic.org Stephen O'Malley official site] * {{MusicBrainz artist|id=1d3da898-4fb4-4445-b704-cd7315e01789|name=Sunn}}

{{Authority control}} Category:American avant-garde metal musical groups Category:Drone metal musical groups Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Washington (state) Category:1998 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Musical groups established in 1998 Category:Musical groups from Seattle Category:Southern Lord Records artists Category:4AD artists Category:Sub Pop artists Category:American musical duos Category:Heavy metal duos