Sunn O))) & Om London Koko 14 12 09
Title: Sunn O))) & Om - London Koko 14 12 09
Label: Southern Lord
Cataloge No: N/A
Type: Live
Reviewer: Freddy
Date: 20, December, 2009
After missing the rather awesome line-up for the preceeding weekends 10 Years of ATP Festival, I sure as hell wasn't going to miss the prospect of seeing two of modern heavy musics greatest acts play together. First up is Om, a band I have seen a couple times before but not yet with this line-up. Running through material from their latest record 'God Is Good', the presence of new drummer Emil Amos, of Grails and Holy Sons, was really noticeable. His playing is so much more powerful and intense than Chris Hakius, and really kept the pieces of music solid, but not so much as to lose the fluidity of their recorded output. There was also a third member on stage in the shape of Rob Lowe of 90 Day Men and Lichens fame. Sitting to the right of the stage, frantically bashing a tambourine and adding flourishes of electronics, he is a welcome addition to the Om line-up.
With an intro tape that seemingly went on forever, all grandiose and epic, the four members of Sunn 0))) finally take to the stage to perform their brand new album 'Monoliths & Dimensions'. Operating as the line-up of Stephen O'Malley, Greg Anderson, Steve Moore (Earth), and of course the stunning Attila Csihar, what is immediatly most apparent is how far they have come since first releasing 'The Grimmrobe Demos'. The tracks off their new record are so much more detailed and fascinating, and the live interpretations of them really do them justice. 'Big Church' in particular was a highlight, really utilising their imposing wall of amps, and the incredibly creepy and amazing vocals of Csihar. Another thing I noticed was just how loud the show was, easily being the loudest Sunn 0))) gig I have seen and making me feel slightly ill towards the end of the magnificent noise assault. As usual, Attila had an array of costumes to on display, including strange spiked headwear and some particularly cool looking lazers coming out of his hands (something I hear Marilyn Manson has nicked for his live shows!). Another mind-blowing set by Sunn 0))), and probably the best time i've seen them since their appearance at 2007's Meltdown festival.
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