Black One
Encyclopedia
Black One is the sixth album by Sunn O)))
. It is a combination of both experimental and traditional Sunn O))), utilizing many guest musicians, including black metal
musicians Malefic and Wrest from Xasthur
and Leviathan
, respectively. The band supposedly also went so far as to lock the claustrophobic Malefic in a casket
to record the vocals on "Báthory Erzsébet".
2,000 copies included bonus disc titled Solstitium Fulminate, containing a mix of live performances recorded at Roskilde in 2005, and the immediately preceding European tour.
"Orthodox Caveman", previously known as "Caveman Salad", is based on live material from the White (see Live White
) tour. "Báthory Erzsébet" was recorded as a tribute to Quorthon
(as well as the countess who inspired Bathory
's name) and, according to an interview with Terrorizer Magazine
, is loosely based "around a really slowed down riff from 'A Fine Day to Die'".
The album is not a continuation of the White1
and White2
style. As the band has repeatedly stated, the title is written as the word "one", not the digit.
Sunn O)))
Sunn O))) is an American doom metal band known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and black metal. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson .-History:Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn...
. It is a combination of both experimental and traditional Sunn O))), utilizing many guest musicians, including black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
musicians Malefic and Wrest from Xasthur
Xasthur
Xasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
and Leviathan
Leviathan (band)
Leviathan is an American black metal band formed in 1998 by Wrest . In Leviathan, Wrest records and plays all instruments including vocals entirely on his own. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O))), and is an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight...
, respectively. The band supposedly also went so far as to lock the claustrophobic Malefic in a casket
Casket
A casket, or jewelry box is a term for a container that is usually larger than a box, and smaller than a chest, and in the past was typically decorated...
to record the vocals on "Báthory Erzsébet".
2,000 copies included bonus disc titled Solstitium Fulminate, containing a mix of live performances recorded at Roskilde in 2005, and the immediately preceding European tour.
"Orthodox Caveman", previously known as "Caveman Salad", is based on live material from the White (see Live White
Live White
Live White is a live album by Sunn O))), recorded at the Northsix in Brooklyn, New York. The first five tracks are from White1 and White2. "NN O)))" is from ØØ Void, and "Death Becomes You" is from Flight of the Behemoth. "Caveman Salad" would later become "Orthodox Caveman" on Black One.-Track...
) tour. "Báthory Erzsébet" was recorded as a tribute to Quorthon
Quorthon
Tomas Forsberg, better known as "Quorthon" , was a multi-instrumentalist and the founder and songwriter of the pioneering Swedish black metal band Bathory. He is also credited with creating the Viking metal genre...
(as well as the countess who inspired Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
's name) and, according to an interview with Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer is an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It is released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and features a 'Fear Candy' covermount CD, a twice yearly 'Fear Candy Unsigned' CD, and a double-sided poster.-1993:Terrorizer published its first...
, is loosely based "around a really slowed down riff from 'A Fine Day to Die'".
The album is not a continuation of the White1
White1
White1 is the fourth album by Sunn O))). It was the most significant departure from their original style to date. Each track was experimental in its own way, with Julian Cope reciting occultic druidist poetry for half of "My Wall," Norwegian lyrics sung by Runhild Gammelsæter of Thorr's Hammer as...
and White2
White2
White2 is the fifth album by Sunn O))). It was recorded during the same sessions as White1, but it was not released until a year later.This album features Attila Csihar of Mayhem fame quoting the Srimad Bhagavatam on "Decay2 [Nihils' Maw]". The vinyl also features him on "Decay [The Symptoms of...
style. As the band has repeatedly stated, the title is written as the word "one", not the digit.
Disc one (Black One)
- "Sin Nanna" – 2:19
- Oren Ambarchi: vocals, bowed cymbals, flies, drums, el. guitars, atmos
- "It Took the Night to Believe" – 5:56
- Mystik Fogg Invokator: axe, subs
- Taoiseach: lead guitar, subs
- Wrest: voices
- "Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)" (ImmortalImmortal (band)Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
Cover) – 10:10- Mystik Fogg Invokator: icy inverted crosswinds upon four string zamboni
- MK Ultra Blizzard: grail, eclipse, lead guitar
- M. Schneeberger: glacial winds
- John Wiese: whiteout
- Malefic: voice
- "Orthodox Caveman" – 10:02
- Mystik Fogg Invokator: guitar, riffs
- Caveman Skillz: guitar, bass, feedback
- Oren Ambarchi: caveman drums
- "CandleGoat" – 8:04
- Mystik Fogg Invokator: guitar, taurus
- MK Ultra Blizzard: decimator bass, crypt calls
- John Wiese: casket electronics
- Malefic: tundra guitar
- "Cry for the Weeper" – 14:38
- Mystik Fogg Invokator: guitar, keyboards
- SOMA: guitar, virus
- Malefic: guitar, keyboards
- Oren Ambarchi: el. guitars, horns, wood
- "Báthory Erzsébet" – 16:00
- Mystik Fogg Invokator: bass
- Drone Slut: bass
- Count Von Schneeberger: virus
- Malefic: calls from beyond the grave
- Oren Ambarchi: el. guitars, tubular bells, cymbals, gong
Disc two (Solstitium Fulminate)
- "Wind & Fog" – 21:29
- "Vlad Tepes" – 16:43
- Guitar L: Greg Anderson
- Guitar R: Stephen O'Malley
- Vocals: Attila Csihar
- Guitar/electronics: Oren Ambarchi
- Analog Synths: TOS Nieuwenhuizen
Black One musicians
- Malefic (XasthurXasthurXasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
) - Wrest (LeviathanLeviathan (band)Leviathan is an American black metal band formed in 1998 by Wrest . In Leviathan, Wrest records and plays all instruments including vocals entirely on his own. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O))), and is an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight...
, Lurker of Chalice) - Oren AmbarchiOren AmbarchiOren Ambarchi is a multi-instrumentalist who in major plays electric guitar and drums, with longstanding interests in transcending conventional instrumental approaches. He was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969 to a Jewish family originally from Iraq....
- John WieseJohn Wiese-Biography:Born April 18, 1977, John Wiese is an artist and composer residing in Los Angeles, California. In the late 1990s, Wiese moved from St. Louis, Missouri to the west coast in order to study graphic design at the California Institute of the Arts...
(Bastard NoiseBastard Noise-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
, Sissy Spacek) - Mathias Schneeberger
- Greg Anderson (credited as Mystik Fogg Invokator)
- Stephen O'MalleyStephen O'MalleyStephen O'Malley is a musician, predominantly a guitarist, producer and composer from Seattle, Washington who has conceptualized and participated in numerous drone doom, death/doom, and experimental music groups....
(credited as MK Ultra Blizzard, SOMA, Caveman Skillz, TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, and Drone Slut)