Drone Metal

Drone Metal is a unique and experimental musical genre that emerged in the 1990s through the underground metal scene. This genre is characterized by heavy, distorted, and low-frequency drones, repetition, and minimalism. Drone Metal, also known as Drone Doom, is a sub-genre of Doom Metal, a more traditional sub-genre that originated in the late 1970s. The origins of Drone Metal can be traced back to the bands from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, including Earth, Sunn O))), and Boris. Earth, one of the pioneering bands of the genre, was formed in 1989 by Dylan Carlson. The band's music featured slow, repetitive, and minimalist arrangements, influenced by the minimalistic works of minimalist composers like La Monte Young and Terry Riley. Earth's landmark album, Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Version, released in 1993, is considered the first Drone Metal album. The album featured slow and heavy riffs with loud and sustained notes, creating a meditative and hypnotic atmosphere. Sunn O))), formed in 1998 by Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson, took Drone Metal to a new level. The band incorporated ritualistic and psychedelic elements into their music, creating an eerie and otherworldly sound. Sunn O))) also collaborated with numerous artists, including the experimental singer Scott Walker and the avant-garde composer Eyvind Kang. Boris, a Japanese experimental rock band, combined elements of Drone Metal and noise rock to create a sound that was both heavy and experimental. Their music was characterized by loud, distorted guitars, heavy drumming, and psychedelic effects. Drone Metal gained wider recognition in the 2000s, with the rise of music festivals like the All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK and the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands. The genre also attracted the attention of artists from other genres, including ambient and electronic music. Artists such as Tim Hecker and William Basinski incorporated Drone Metal's meditative qualities into their works, creating a new form of ambient music. Drone Metal has exhibited a strong connection to spirituality and mysticism. Many of the bands draw inspiration from Eastern philosophy and esotericism. The band Om, formed in 2003 by the former members of Sleep, was heavily influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. The band's music was characterized by lengthy and spiritual compositions, featuring heavy and repetitive bass, tribal drums, and Eastern-inspired melodies. Drone Metal has also been associated with the Black Metal scene. Bands like Nadja and Wolves in the Throne Room combined the heavy and experimental elements of Drone Metal with the raw aggression of Black Metal. The resulting sound was dark, atmospheric, and haunting. In recent years, the genre has continued to evolve and expand. New artists from around the world have emerged, including The Body, Anna Von Hausswolff, and SUMAC. Drone Metal's influence can also be seen in other genres, including post-metal, post-rock, and ambient music.

Sunn O))): Sunn O))) is a drone metal band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in 1998 and has released numerous albums and collaborated with other artists over the years. Their music is often haunting, slow and repetitive, and creates a massive wall of sound that engulfs the listener. Earth: Earth is a drone metal band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in 1989 and is considered one of the pioneers of the genre. Their music is often characterized by repetitive, monotonous riffs, heavy distortion, and slow, plodding rhythms. Boris: Boris is a Japanese drone metal band that was formed in 1992. Their music is extremely eclectic and merges elements of doom, psychedelic rock, noise, and ambient music. Their pioneering work has made them one of the most influential drone metal bands of all time. Nadja: Nadja is a Canadian drone metal duo consisting of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff. The band's music is often characterized by swirling, hypnotic soundscapes and ethereal vocals. They have released numerous albums over the years, collaborating with other artists and experimenting with new sounds. The Angelic Process: The Angelic Process was an American drone metal band led by the late K. Angylus. The band's music is often characterized by layers of dense, distorted guitars and ethereal vocals. Unfortunately, the band disbanded after K. Angylus passed away in 2008. Grails: Grails is an American drone metal band that was formed in 1999. The band's music is often characterized by experimental, psychedelic, and ambient sounds, and features a variety of instrumentation including strings, horns, and synths. Sunnata: Sunnata is a Polish drone metal band that formed in 2008. The band's music is often characterized by heavy, hypnotic rhythms and intricate guitar work. Their innovative approach to the genre has made them one of the most exciting newer bands in the scene. Hex: Hex is an American drone metal band who released their debut album "Hex" in 2017. Their music is often characterized by slow, churning riffs, massive walls of guitar noise, and intricate drumming. Their sound is both hypnotic and punishing at the same time. Teeth Of The Sea: Teeth Of The Sea is a British drone metal band who released their debut album "Orphaned By The Sea" in 2009. Their music is often characterized by experimental, psychedelic sounds, intricate percussion, and dynamic shifts in volume and intensity. Monarch: Monarch is a French drone metal band who released their debut album "Sabbracadaver" in 2005. The band's music is often characterized by crushing, doom-laden riffs, heavy distortion, and haunting vocals. Their sound is both brutal and beautiful, making them one of the most interesting bands in the genre.

1. Sunn O))) - Black One 2. Earth - Earth 2: Special Low Frequency Version 3. Boris - Amplifier Worship 4. Pelican - Australasia 5. Om - Variations on a Theme 6. Khanate - Khanate 7. Electric Wizard - Dopethrone 8. Nadja - Touched 9. Magma Rise - Voices from the Black Book 10. Ufomammut - Idolum 11. Jesu - Conqueror 12. Gnod - Just Say No to the Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine 13. Sleep - Dopesmoker 14. Cult of Luna - Mariner 15. Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions 16. Earth - Pentastar: In the Style of Demons 17. Tribal DDB - Landschaft 18. Drug Honkey - Cloak of Skies 19. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality 20. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - La Novia 21. Swans - The Seer 22. Burning Witch - Crippled Lucifer (10-Inch) 23. Om - Advaitic Songs 24. Sunn O))) & Boris - Altar 25. Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine - Rampton

One of the most notable books on the subject is "Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music" by S. Alexander Reed. While not specifically focused on drone metal, the book covers the broader spectrum of industrial music, which includes bands like Sunn O))), Earth, and Boris. Reed writes that "drone is a kind of elemental music, primal and enveloping, seeking to alter both the body and the mind of the listener." Another book that explores drone metal is "The Electric Guitar in American Culture" by Kevin Dawe. In this book, Dawe examines the cultural significance of the electric guitar and how it has been used in various musical genres, including drone metal. He argues that the droning, repetitive nature of the music serves as a kind of sonic representation of the American landscape, with its vast expanses of desert and other open spaces. The late music critic Mark Fisher, who wrote extensively on popular culture and politics, also had much to say about drone metal. In his book "Ghosts of My Life," Fisher wrote that "there is something genuinely spine-tingling about the ritualistic quality of drone metal, the sense that this music is conjuring up long-buried, barely-understood forces that have been slumbering beneath our everyday reality." British music journalist Simon Reynolds has also written about drone metal, describing it as "a music of stasis, that instead of taking us on a journey, or lifting us up, plunges us down into a void." Reynolds sees the genre as a response to the fast-paced, consumerist society of the late 20th century, suggesting that drone metal offers a kind of "meditation on inertia." In addition to these writers, various musicians and artists have commented on drone metal over the years. Stephen O'Malley, the founder of Sunn O))), has described the band's music as a form of "psychological terrorism," designed to overwhelm the listener with its sheer sonic power. Similarly, Dylan Carlson of Earth has said that "drone is a really powerful tool for creating trance-like states in people. If you hit the right frequency, you can put somebody into a deep altered state of consciousness."

The social context of Drone Metal can be understood within the broader context of the underground metal scene, which has always been a site of subculture and counterculture resistance against mainstream culture. Drone Metal emerged at a time when the metal scene was experiencing a period of flux, as the dominant thrash and death metal styles of the 1980s began to give way to new sounds and subgenres. During this period, many metal bands were experimenting with new sounds and approaches to songwriting, and Drone Metal emerged as one of the most innovative and influential subgenres. Bands like Sunn O))) and Earth became known for their long and drawn-out compositions, which created an immersive and hypnotic listening experience for audiences. At the same time, the cultural context of Drone Metal was shaped by broader trends in popular culture, including the rise of digital technology and an increasing interest in ambient and experimental music. This created a fertile ground for experimentation and innovation within the metal scene, as artists were able to draw on a wider range of influences and explore new sounds and textures. Notable record labels played a key role in promoting and supporting the Drone Metal movement. Southern Lord Records, founded by Greg Anderson of Sunn O))), became one of the most important labels in the genre and was responsible for releasing many of the most influential Drone Metal albums of the 2000s. Other key figures in the Drone Metal scene included journalists and critics who helped to popularize the genre and raise awareness of its unique sound and approach. Notable figures included Pitchfork writer Brandon Stosuy, who championed the genre in his writing and helped to shape its critical reception, and other journalists like Kim Kelly and Grayson Haver Currin, who also helped to promote and support Drone Metal through their writing. Technologically, Drone Metal was enabled by advances in recording and production techniques, which allowed artists to create increasingly immersive and detailed soundscapes. The use of guitar effects pedals and other electronic instrumentation also played a key role in shaping the unique sound of Drone Metal, as artists were able to create complex and layered arrangements that were characterized by their texture and timbre.