Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Sun O)))
Title
Black One
Type
LP/EP
Company
Southern Lord
YOR
2005
Style
Black
11/29/2005 - Review by: Veritas
Sun O))) - Black One - 2005 - Southern Lord Records

Track Listing
1. Sin Nanna
2. It Took the Night to Believe
3. Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)
4. Orthodox Caveman
5. Candle Goat
6. Cry for the Weeper
7. Báthory Erzsébet
California’s Sunn O))) is a very interesting ambient/doom metal band made up of Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley. Each of these guitar wizards have years of experience in various other notable bands, such as Khanate and Thorr’s Hammer. With Sunn O))) they have pushed the limits of extreme music to almost breaking point. This kind of metal is barely listenable, and to call it “enjoyable” would not be at all accurate. Instead, listening to Sunn O))) can only be described as a painful yet rewarding experience.

Since Sunn O))) don’t possess enough members to properly round off an album, several guest appearances are made by various artists, most notably Malefic of Xasthur on vocals, guitar, and keyboard. This combination of Anderson, O’Malley, Malefic, and several others has resulted in nothing short of the sheer aural destruction that “Black One” brings forth. Songs of epic lengths such as “Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)” and “Báthory Erzsébet” are frighteningly painful to listen to at times, not because they are bad but because of the extreme amount of intensity that Sunn O))) emits with their music. Ambient effects and noises in other tracks, such as “Cry for the Weeper” are at times merely psychedelic – as they become more pronounced the listener’s head may threaten to explode.

Metal fans – BEWARE! “Black One” is not for the faint of heart. Only the listeners with the strongest resolve, both physical and mental, will be able to handle this album. Personally, I couldn’t listen to it for over a week after first listening to it due to that fact that on my first listen I was simply overwhelmed. After a few days and a few spins, however, Sunn O)))’s music will implant itself into your consciousness, and you won’t be sorry that it’s there. This album transcends the dimension which we humans inhabit (save Anderson and O’Malley); therefore, mere numbers and rating out of ten do not apply to it. But I will leave my readers with this – it may be because either our brains require Sunn O))) to live, or Sunn O)) must feed on our thoughts to survive, but “Black One” is a necessity for your collection. Just mentally prepare for a week or two before purchasing.


--Veritas 11.28.05
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: SUN O)))
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Altar
2006
Southern Lord
David Loveless3/29/2007
-
Black One
2005
Southern Lord
Veritas11/29/2005
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: SUN O)))
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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