Drone lords Sunn O))) return with new album Life Metal

Sunn O))) (Image credit: Ronald Dick)

Sunn O))) have announced that they’ll release their new album later this year.

The follow-up to 2015’s Kannon is titled Life Metal and will launch in April on a day still to be confirmed through Southern Lord.

The album was created with Steve Albini, with the core lineup of Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson joined by Hildur Guðnadóttir on vocals, electric cello and haldorophone, Tim Midyett on bass and guitars, and composer Anthony Pateras, who plays pipe organ on Troubled Air.

A statement reads: “Paintings by visual artist Samantha Keely Smith graciously adorn the sleeve and provide a perfect suitable mask to the proceedings. 

“They collide ideas of 19th century romanticism and late 20th abstract expressionism with Sunn O)))’s approach to metal. Photographer Ronald Dick shot them in baths of light colour representing depth of sound pressure in the work.”

In addition, it’s been confirmed that a “second, more meditative” album titled Pyroclasts by the band will be released in the autumn, with further details to be revealed in due course.

To mark the announcement, Sunn O))) have released a five-minute trailer for the album and announced a run of European tour dates, which will get under way at the end of the month.

Find further details below.

Sunn O))): Life Metal
1. Between Sleipnir's Breaths
2. Troubled Air
3. Aurora
4. Novae

Sunn O))) 2019 European tour
Feb 28: Frankfurt Mousonturm, Germany
Mar 01: Graz Elevate Festival, Austria
Mar 02: Prague Divadlo Archa, Czech Republic
Mar 03: Hamburg K6, Germany
Mar 04: Amsterdam Paradiso, Netherlands
Mar 06: Lyon L’Epicerie Moderne, France
Mar 07: Nancy L’Autre Canal, France
Mar 08: Dijon La Vapeur, France
Mar 09: Rouen Quasa Rites Day, France
Mar 11: Tours Le Temps Machine, France
Mar 12: Nantes Stereolux, France
Mar 13: La Rochelle La Sirene, France
Mar 14: Bordeaux Le Rocher de Palmer, France

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Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.