From the darkest nebulae of fuzz and distortion, of a dark sound that crushes and all before it, and distorts reality itself, SUNN 0))) has risen. And bleeds the Heavy once again. This time, though, they bring a friend, in the form of Scott Walker. And their union brings about a new sound, warped and ready pull you into their twisted overmind. It’s gonna get a little weird today, with the review of Soused by SCOTT 0)))!
To repeat, this is a collaboration between what Jason Ellis of Faction 41, on Sirius XM, called “after much scientific research over years of scientifically listening to songs, the heaviest fucking band ever,” SUNN 0))) (or O))) depending on who types it), and avant garde music weirdo, Scott Walker. The album has created a heated discussion between fans of drone/black fuzz, with many decrying the album as a “mistake”, “SUNN 0))) selling out!”, and cash grab being thrown about. Because S0) (henceforth the short hand) is a super marketable thing to pop culture. However, on listening to the album, one thing has become clear: It’s a pairing as delicious as box wine and cheese!
The album, in short estimation, is really like a very dark, fucked up movie soundtrack, with the vocals (Walker) similar to Les Mis style, with the music (S0)) accompanying and enhancing it. I feel like its Sondheim on a really depressed mushroom trip, and a really experimental streak. The music is very minimal, for S0) that’s really a crazy thing to say, and just creates a frustrating tension that slowly, tortuously, resolves a bit. Scott Walker adeptly uses overdriven vocals, fuzz, and layering to make some awesome sounding effects for his voice, and I could listen to just his end all day. Superb, but he has been in the game long enough to know what to do. S0) is fucking DARK; the album itself is very heavy, even tho not much happens for some extended periods of time. Many times a pause between any music with vocals will happen, and sometimes nothing happens. When it does, you find the band in fine form, using their trademark of the heaviest sound outside a black hole swallowing a planet, and actually throwing in some, albeit slow and winding, licks and riffs to great effect. Paired with the vocals, its almost like call and receive then fulfilled with a joyous union of the two trying to destroy your speakers.
The hallmarks of SUNN 0))) are here, with sustain and feedback making the songs just go forever, with some sounds I really couldn’t identify to you, similar to Mr. Claypool’s endeavors, but with guitar and hatred. The sound is aggressive, and may not be palatable to everyone, especially diehard SUNN 0))) fans. You don’t get into SUNN because you listen to Journey. And fans of Scott Walker may also be warned by this, for the same reasons. This album was a collaboration in what could be, and what became, and it has fulfilled its purpose nicely. It shows what should happen between two like-minded artists, and both are exactly that, and thankfully didn’t LULU itself. IF you have been wanting to hear something actually DIFFERENT, and feel froggy, jump on Soused by SCOTT 0))) (as they have been christened) and let your mind go places it probably wasn’t ever meant to go.
