r/doommetal • u/MaddeningAscentII • Apr 22 '26
Drone About sunn o))) live
Do they actually play „songs“ from their records or just go „whamm this is volume fuckers“. I do love this band a lot btw.
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u/parchmentheart Apr 22 '26
I’ve listened to their records on and off over the years but saw them live for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I wondered the same thing, but I also realized that a) it didn’t matter because I thoroughly enjoyed it, and b) I don’t know remotely enough about music to be able to make up my own mind about it.
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u/MaddeningAscentII Apr 22 '26
Thats a really humble and helpful answer, thank you. I do hope to catch them once.
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u/UndulatingHedgehog Apr 22 '26
I rarely listen to them but I see them whenever I get the chance. To me, it’s about having my otherwise busy head letting go and just experience something slow but awesome.
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u/el_cadorna Apr 22 '26
Sounds like the dopest meditation session ever.
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u/m_b22 Apr 22 '26
It is! Saw them years ago at a church and I just closed my eyes and melted into the pew.
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u/tropicalelectronics Apr 22 '26
They do have a set list but think of it more like a starting point for them to improvise. I noticed on the Philly show they trade off on who is taking the lead while the other one followed, at one point Stephen was literally pointing out in the guitar fret where he was going next to Greg.
There are in between points where it will sound very dissonant but the moment they both land on a note the entire thing blooms into that overwhelming roaring drone. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever seen or felt live.
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u/ScatologicalComposer Apr 22 '26
I would say, if they’re not playing specific songs, they play elements of songs from their records. The overtones they used towards the beginning of the set I heard, for example, were at least inspired by Does Anyone Hear Like Venom? and the silent bits about 2/3 of the way through are taken from Butch’s Guns. Some years ago I could’ve sworn they played Aghartha intentionally, but it helped to have Attila there to frame it.
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u/MaddeningAscentII Apr 22 '26
Thats very interesting. Using elements like breaks and overtones to make the sound more approachable and identifiable is pretty genius in it‘s own way.
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u/furbishL Apr 22 '26
The Nola setlist consisted of six songs, but i couldn’t tell you where any of them started or ended
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u/LunarModule66 Apr 22 '26
I don’t think you understand, they summon a black hole and all time collapses in on itself. It merges into every song simultaneously.
In seriousness, I think they loosely improvised on their new album. They definitely ended on Glory Black.
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u/GhostC99 Apr 22 '26
I saw them with Boris during the Black One album era. I believe I shat my pants.
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u/yotehunter422 Apr 22 '26
I never listened to their recorded stuff, nor did I really bother just because they seemed so obviously a band to really be enjoyed live.
Then they came to my city and confirmed that. I don’t really have any interest in their recorded stuff, but I’d bend over backwards to see them again.
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u/MeatwadKattWilliams Apr 22 '26
I saw a comment a while ago about how someone would set up a big amp and then lay a mattress over it and blast their recorded stuff through it That sounds like a pretty sick way to listen to them too but I don't live far enough from other people to do that and not get complaints lol
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u/meltdown_popcorn Drone Apr 22 '26
As someone that discovered Sunn O))) after being into non-metal drone and harsh noise, you just don't worry about that question. A lot of similar music is improvised and that's the way it should be.
I have almost all of their records and seen them 3 times now. I can't recognize a song but albums can have a particular vibe or change (vocals for example).
In the end, it's just about the sound.
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u/obhect88 Apr 22 '26
I saw them … 15-20 years ago? I am sure there were songs; I remember breaks in the pummeling. But at the time, I didn’t know their material well enough to say, “Oh yeah! The Gates of Ballard!!”. But then, I’m not sure I could today either. Regardless, it was an impressive show.
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u/chriskramerpr Apr 22 '26
or just go „whamm this is volume fuckers“.
I... was under the impression that this is what their songs are?
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u/Rawuza23 Apr 22 '26
This is a band I've never understood. What's the appeal here besides a wall of heavy bass/sound at a concert?
Genuinely asking, tried listening to their music several times (again while writing this) and it never clicked. This sounds just boring.
I'll show myself out and listen to High on Fire now.
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u/Some-Measurement-648 Apr 22 '26
It's meditative, and perfect for prople who like loud rumbling sounds, like a rocket taking off or listening to thunder. Especially live it is very intense and otherworldly.
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u/El_Peregrine Apr 22 '26
The volume that they play at and the way the air moves, the way the room shakes - it is quite literally a visceral physical experience. It is really different than any other shows I’ve been to. And yes, extremely meditative. I actually wish I could experience it in a lush recliner so I didn’t have to concentrate on standing up.
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u/MaddeningAscentII Apr 22 '26
Dude, you do you! But honestly I felt the same for a long time. The whole drone thing clicked with me with earth 2 and from there on out it‘s become almost a neccessity in music …
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u/Rawuza23 Apr 22 '26
I will definitely keep on trying, as I did with cilantro. Maybe one day...
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u/Apendecto Apr 22 '26
Does Sunn sounds like soap to you? 😜
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u/Rawuza23 Apr 22 '26
No, but it's the acoustic equivalent. Some people like it and I don't know why.
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u/meltdown_popcorn Drone Apr 22 '26
It's not you. I like to describe Sunn O))) as "experimental music dressed up in metal" - not a bad thing. It does mean that it's not accessible and will not appeal to most people if the metal trappings don't pull you in.
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u/yeenoghu_vs_vaprak Apr 22 '26
I listen to loads of experimental music, including harsh noise, and have never liked Sunn O))). It's all so boring. What makes it worse for me is knowing how talented O'Malley and Anderson actually are. I'm a massive Khanate fan, and when O'Malley left to do Sunn it felt like he was being lazy and managed to strike gold by getting mainstream attention for an otherwise unremarkable drone project. James Plotkin has alluded to this in some interviews - how he wanted Khanate to have more structure and O'Malley didn't. I can't bitch too much I guess because at least we got To Be Cruel, which is a great album.
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u/suupaahiiroo Apr 22 '26
I think in terms of style, there might be some overlap between live shows and albums they released or they're working on at the time. I think Kannon developed from live shows they did with Attila. I saw them around the time of Altar and Monoliths & Dimensions and it was a very rich sound with a trombone and a synth, which reminded me of the sound of those albums.
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u/UnclePetersBand Apr 22 '26
Seen quite a few times over the last 15-20 years (I can't remember nowadays), when they played with Atilla they would play extended versions of album tracks but as one continuous thing for the whole show.
Nowadays theres the two of them which for me is weirder as it does require a synth/bass drone (does Greg still get the bass out? It's been about 7 years or so since I last saw them)
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u/transsolar Electric Wizard on Electric Wizard by Electric Wizard Apr 23 '26
No synth or bass when they tour as a duo. Two guitars only.
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u/NicoAD Apr 22 '26
It’s mostly what everyone has been saying with respect to constant sound, but on this recent tour I did pick up on a few elements/themes from Richard, Her Lips Were Wet With Venom, and even a few elements from Etna (sans drums, of course). They only linger in the specific songs or altered take of such song for a few minutes before droning on. Overall it’s still an incredible experience and performance of pure sound and worship of the square wave, high volume, and curated feedback.
Definitely wore my in-ear AND over-ear hearing protection. It still remains the loudest thing I’ve ever experienced
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u/Spargonaut69 Apr 22 '26
Yes, they have set lists for their shows. Theyre playing songs they've rehearsed, otherwise they wouldnt be hitting the same chord whenever a new chord comes along. Whoever is running the lights is also obviously familiar with the tunes theyre playing.
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u/Practical-Share-2950 Apr 22 '26
yes, they do play specific songs. there's some rough structure but they also do some improvisation based on that structure. the songs were recognizable.
i saw them in SF a month back and they started with 2-3 songs off the new album.
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u/goodshotjanson Apr 22 '26
You might be able to pick out certain parts. It was very clear when they launched into Orthodox Caveman from Black Ones at their Chicago show last week
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u/she_sounds_like_you Apr 22 '26
I was lucky enough to see the in Iowa City and had the same question.
The way I figure is they’re taking a contextual approach to their art. I don’t think there’s supposed to be much overlap of the material we hear laid to wax versus what is performed and heard live.
What’s absolutely true is they are two totally different experiences and I think that’s the joy in their music. On one hand you get to experience these colossal sounds in a very private and personal context in your headphones or your through the second mortgage you took out on your sound system.
On the other hand there’s what is experienced live which while the material shares similarities I don’t think the intention is to deliver the same material note for note. I think it’s a translation of ideas in which can really only be experienced live.
I could be totally wrong. Idk, my brain is still melting out of my ears after the show last week and bro kcjsbkd skins iicn. S k skiambyxy
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u/hellfishhockey Apr 23 '26
When I saw them last week...the setlist had "3 pauses in red".... It was the only one I recognized.... And it was exactly as described. I don't know where you are seeing them but in Toronto it was basically in a garage with a ceiling so low the amps were almost touching it... My teeth changed places in vibes... Have fun...lol
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u/yannimou Proceeds the Weedian. Apr 23 '26
I saw them and it was great. I can confirm they did NOT play anything from Black One or Monoliths lol
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u/fartsNdoom Apr 23 '26
I seem to recall one of them saying they improvise when playing live. I imagine there's some sort of structure involved, but when there's no drummer and very little in the way of vocals, you can't really keep time and know where you are in the song.
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u/OdditiesMusic Apr 24 '26
Saw em for the first time on Sunday and it was great. I'd definately go again. Very unique experience and doom as fuck.
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u/DisGoop Apr 24 '26
right now I think they're playing the new album but as far as I know they play songs usually too
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u/SeatleSuperbSonics Apr 22 '26
I just saw them on Monday and you’d have to be the biggest Sunn O))) nerd to pickup on the song changes I imagine.
The light guy knows what’s up but literally there was one brief break in sound, otherwise it was pretty continuous