Al Cisneros
Encyclopedia
Al Cisneros
Al Cisneros (icon is an American
musician
from San Jose, California
. He has performed bass guitar
and vocals for the bands Sleep
, Om
, Shrinebuilder
, and Asbestosdeath
.
, along with Chris Hakius
(drums), Matt Pike
(guitar) and Tom Choi (guitar). Cisneros performed bass guitar for the band, and they released two EPs in 1990. Shortly thereafter, Choi left the band.
Cisneros, Hakius and Pike renamed themselves Sleep
. In 1991 they released their debut album, Volume One
. They soon gained a devoted underground following in the doom metal
scene. In 1992 they released their next album, Sleep's Holy Mountain, which is widely considered a key release in the early development of stoner metal. Between 1995 and 1998, Sleep worked on what would become their final album, Dopesmoker, a single song lasting one hour. However, their record label refused to release it, and in 1998 Sleep disbanded. The album was released in shortened form during 1999, and in its entirety during 2003.
Immediately following the breakup of Sleep, guitarist Matt Pike
formed the band High On Fire
. In 2003, Cisneros and Hakius decided to form their own band named OM
, with Cisneros on bass and vocals and Hakius on drums. They released the albums Variations on a Theme
in 2005, Conference of the Birds in 2006, and Pilgrimage
in 2007. In January 2008, Hakius decided to leave the band. Cisneros has since recruited Emil Amos
on drums; the duo recorded a 7" titled Gebel Barkal
which was released on Subpop August 15, 2008. The bands 4th studio album God is Good
was released on September 29, 2009 by Chicago label Drag City. Cisneros is also a member of Shrinebuilder
along with Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus)
, Scott Kelly
(Neurosis)
, and Dale Crover
(The Melvins
). Their debut self-titled album was released October 20, 2009 on Neurot Recordings.
Amps
Cabs
Effects
Al Cisneros (icon is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. He has performed bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals for the bands Sleep
Sleep (band)
Sleep is a stoner doom metal band from San Jose, California. Active during the 1990s, Sleep earned critical and record label attention early in their career. Critic Eduardo Rivadavia describes them as "perhaps the ultimate stoner rock band" and notes they exerted a strong influence on heavy metal...
, Om
Om (band)
Om is a duo formed in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded Stoner doom metal band Sleep. The band's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums. Their music is similar in structure to Tibetan chanting....
, Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder is a heavy metal supergroup consisting of various established musicians, particularly of the doom metal subgenre. Their first album, Shrinebuilder, was released in October 2009.-Founding:...
, and Asbestosdeath
Asbestosdeath
Asbestosdeath was an American sludge/doom metal band from San Jose, California, and the precursor to the highly influential Sleep.-History:Asbestosdeath started life as trio consisting of Al Cisneros on bass, Chris Hakius on drums, and Tom Choi on guitar. Matt Pike later joined as a second guitarist...
.
Biography
He began his musical career in 1989 by founding a local punk metal band, AsbestosdeathAsbestosdeath
Asbestosdeath was an American sludge/doom metal band from San Jose, California, and the precursor to the highly influential Sleep.-History:Asbestosdeath started life as trio consisting of Al Cisneros on bass, Chris Hakius on drums, and Tom Choi on guitar. Matt Pike later joined as a second guitarist...
, along with Chris Hakius
Chris Hakius
Chris Hakius was the drummer of band Sleep. After Sleep's break up, he became the drummer for The Sabians, with former Sleep member Justin Marler. He was also the drummer of Om, until his departure on January 31, 2008. His final live performances was with Sleep in 2009 at the ATP Show for the reunion...
(drums), Matt Pike
Matt Pike
Matt Pike is an American rock musician best known as the guitarist of the influential doom metal band Sleep and frontman of High on Fire. He is quite well known in the metal scene for almost never wearing a shirt during live performances....
(guitar) and Tom Choi (guitar). Cisneros performed bass guitar for the band, and they released two EPs in 1990. Shortly thereafter, Choi left the band.
Cisneros, Hakius and Pike renamed themselves Sleep
Sleep (band)
Sleep is a stoner doom metal band from San Jose, California. Active during the 1990s, Sleep earned critical and record label attention early in their career. Critic Eduardo Rivadavia describes them as "perhaps the ultimate stoner rock band" and notes they exerted a strong influence on heavy metal...
. In 1991 they released their debut album, Volume One
Volume One (Sleep album)
Volume One is the debut album by the American band Sleep. It was the only album recorded with original guitarist Justin Marler, before he became an Orthodox monk. Volume One showcases a darker sound and stronger doom metal influence than Sleep's later work...
. They soon gained a devoted underground following in the doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
scene. In 1992 they released their next album, Sleep's Holy Mountain, which is widely considered a key release in the early development of stoner metal. Between 1995 and 1998, Sleep worked on what would become their final album, Dopesmoker, a single song lasting one hour. However, their record label refused to release it, and in 1998 Sleep disbanded. The album was released in shortened form during 1999, and in its entirety during 2003.
Immediately following the breakup of Sleep, guitarist Matt Pike
Matt Pike
Matt Pike is an American rock musician best known as the guitarist of the influential doom metal band Sleep and frontman of High on Fire. He is quite well known in the metal scene for almost never wearing a shirt during live performances....
formed the band High On Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
. In 2003, Cisneros and Hakius decided to form their own band named OM
Om (band)
Om is a duo formed in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded Stoner doom metal band Sleep. The band's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums. Their music is similar in structure to Tibetan chanting....
, with Cisneros on bass and vocals and Hakius on drums. They released the albums Variations on a Theme
Variations on a Theme (Om album)
Variations on a Theme is a 2005 album by the band Om. It was the first recording to feature former Sleep bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros in several years. The vinyl version of the album was released on April 18, 2005. It was pressed on black, clear and clear purple vinyl.-Personnel:Al Cisneros -...
in 2005, Conference of the Birds in 2006, and Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage (Om album)
Pilgrimage is the third studio album by the band Om. It is the band's first release for the Southern Lord label. It was recorded at Electrical Audio by Steve Albini.-Track listing:#"Pilgrimage" – 10:33#"Unitive Knowledge of the Godhead" – 5:50...
in 2007. In January 2008, Hakius decided to leave the band. Cisneros has since recruited Emil Amos
Grails (band)
Grails is an American instrumental rock band from Portland, Oregon.-Biography:Initially going by the name "Laurel Canyon", guitarist Alex Hall, drummer Emil Amos and second guitarist Paul Spitz garnered positive reactions following their first show, played on a whim...
on drums; the duo recorded a 7" titled Gebel Barkal
Gebel Barkal (single)
"Gebel Barkal" is a vinyl only 7" single by Om. It is the first release of the 2008 Sub Pop singles collection and is limited to 1500 copies. This is the first recording by Om to feature drummer Emil Amos....
which was released on Subpop August 15, 2008. The bands 4th studio album God is Good
God Is Good
God Is Good is the fourth studio album by the band Om. It was recorded at Electrical Audio by Steve Albini and is the first studio album by Om to feature the new drummer Emil Amos.-Track listing:#"Thebes" – 19:09...
was released on September 29, 2009 by Chicago label Drag City. Cisneros is also a member of Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder is a heavy metal supergroup consisting of various established musicians, particularly of the doom metal subgenre. Their first album, Shrinebuilder, was released in October 2009.-Founding:...
along with Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus)
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
, Scott Kelly
Scott Kelly (musician)
Scott Michael Kelly is one of three founding members of Oakland, California experimental metal band Neurosis, in which he is a vocalist and guitarist. He has been writing and publishing music since 1985 with Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot, Blood and Time and his solo acoustic project. He is also...
(Neurosis)
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
, and Dale Crover
Dale Crover
Dale Crover is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, and for a brief time, drummer for Nirvana. He is also guitarist and vocalist for Altamont...
(The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
). Their debut self-titled album was released October 20, 2009 on Neurot Recordings.
Equipment
Basses- RickenbackerRickenbackerRickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
4003. Cisneros has used Rickenbacker basses more or less exclusively throughout his career.
Amps
- Custom "Vivekananda" Electric Amp power unit.
- SunnSunnSunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
Coliseum amps. - Green Matamp slave unit.
- Ampeg SVT CL
- Acoustic 360
Cabs
- 2x Green 4x15
- 1x Jericho 2x15
- 2x Electric 4x12
- 1x AmpegAmpegAmpeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
6x10 - 2x Ampeg 8x10
- 1x Emperor 8x10
- 1x Emperor 2x15
- 2x Emperor 4x12
Effects
- Custom fuzz pedal used with OM, unknown manufacturer.
- Musitronics Mu-tron auto-wahAuto-wahAuto-wah is a type of wah-wah effects pedal typically used with electric guitar, bass guitar, clavinet, and electric piano etc...
, used with Sleep, can be heard distinctly on the song "Dragonaut". - Raagini Synth box.
- Boss DS-1 Distortion.
- Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner.
- Ernie Ball Volume Pedal.
- DOD 250 Preamp/Overdrive.
- Mountainking Electronics Megalith fuzz,used on Shrinebuilder's debut album
With Sleep
- 1991 – Volume OneVolume One (Sleep album)Volume One is the debut album by the American band Sleep. It was the only album recorded with original guitarist Justin Marler, before he became an Orthodox monk. Volume One showcases a darker sound and stronger doom metal influence than Sleep's later work...
- 1992 – Volume TwoVolume Two (EP)Volume Two is an EP recorded by Sleep in 1991. It contains a live cover of Black Sabbath's "Lord of This World", and two early recordings of tracks that would appear on Sleep's Holy Mountain. The artwork for the EP is reminiscent of Black Sabbath Vol...
- 1992 – Sleep's Holy Mountain
- 1999 – Jerusalem
- 2003 – Dopesmoker
With Om
- 2005 – Variations on a ThemeVariations on a Theme (Om album)Variations on a Theme is a 2005 album by the band Om. It was the first recording to feature former Sleep bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros in several years. The vinyl version of the album was released on April 18, 2005. It was pressed on black, clear and clear purple vinyl.-Personnel:Al Cisneros -...
- 2006 – Conference of the Birds
- 2006 – Bedouin's VigilOm / Six Organs of Admittance 7""Om / Six Organs of Admittance" is a split 7" by the bands Om and Six Organs of Admittance. It was released in 2006 by Holy Mountain Records. During pressing "Side A" and "Side B" labels on the record were accidentally reversed.-Track listing:...
(Split 7" with Six Organs of AdmittanceSix Organs of AdmittanceSix Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk, however it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and eclectic percussive elements...
) - 2006 – Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder)Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder)Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun is a split EP by the bands Om and Current 93. It was released in 2006 on the Neurot record label.The US pressing was limited to 1500 copies on 10" clear green vinyl...
(Split EP with Current 93Current 93Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
) - 2007 – PilgrimagePilgrimage (Om album)Pilgrimage is the third studio album by the band Om. It is the band's first release for the Southern Lord label. It was recorded at Electrical Audio by Steve Albini.-Track listing:#"Pilgrimage" – 10:33#"Unitive Knowledge of the Godhead" – 5:50...
- 2008 – Live at JerusalemLive at JerusalemLive at Jerusalem is the first live album of the experimental metal band Om. It was recorded at Club Uganda in Jerusalem on December 5, 2007....
- 2008 – Gebel BarkalGebel Barkal (single)"Gebel Barkal" is a vinyl only 7" single by Om. It is the first release of the 2008 Sub Pop singles collection and is limited to 1500 copies. This is the first recording by Om to feature drummer Emil Amos....
- 2009 – Conference Live
- 2009 – God is GoodGod Is GoodGod Is Good is the fourth studio album by the band Om. It was recorded at Electrical Audio by Steve Albini and is the first studio album by Om to feature the new drummer Emil Amos.-Track listing:#"Thebes" – 19:09...
- 2012 – New album