Released in 2019 via Southern Lord Records, Sunn O)))’s Life Metal is a monumental return to form and renewal of purpose for the drone metal pioneers. Recorded by Steve Albini, the album captures the band’s immense sound with unprecedented clarity, presenting a work that feels both crushingly heavy and luminous. It’s an exploration of sound as energy, of volume as vibration, and of heaviness as transcendence.
The record opens with Between Sleipnir’s Breaths, introducing layers of deep, resonant guitar drones intertwined with subtle horn and vocal textures. The presence of guest vocalist Hildur Guðnadóttir adds an ethereal quality, guiding the piece toward something meditative rather than oppressive. From the very beginning, Life Metal establishes itself as an album of revelation one that channels Sunn O)))’s characteristic intensity into light rather than darkness.
Tracks like Troubled Air and Aurora expand this approach, their monumental chords sustained and shaped like sculpted air, vibrating with warmth and clarity. The interplay of Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley’s guitars creates vast harmonic overtones that feel alive, shifting subtly with every resonance. Rather than layering distortion endlessly, the duo allow space and tone to become central, emphasizing the physicality of sound itself.
Albini’s production is crucial here unembellished, dynamic, and precise. The recording captures the raw movement of air, the mechanical hum of amplifiers, and the microtonal interactions that define Sunn O)))’s music. The result is immersive and organic, transforming overwhelming volume into something almost sacred.
Life Metal is not a record of aggression; it’s one of devotion and presence. It invites deep listening, rewarding patience with moments of unexpected grace and vibrational beauty. Beneath the distortion lies a sense of renewal a reminder that heaviness can be radiant.
Ultimately, Life Metal stands as one of Sunn O)))’s most vital and life-affirming works. It captures the duo at their most focused and elemental, proving that even at their loudest, they remain capable of profound stillness and transcendence.
